It's here! HI-YU BRÜ, the latest West Seattle/White Center charity beer made by BIG AL BREWING, is now pouring! Named by contest winner TIAN RICHARDSON, HI-YU BRÜ is the successor to WHALE TAIL ALE and the wildly popular LÖWMAN BRÄU, all beers benefitting local charities. HI-YU BRÜ starts pouring Friday, April 6, 6PM at THE FEEDBACK LOUNGE, WEST 5, SHADOWLAND, MISSION, THE BRIDGE, LOCÖL, BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB, COMPANY BAR, and of course, BIG AL BREWING.
In a three-week contest to name the beer, West Seattle resident TIAN RICHARDSON'S entry was chosen out of more than 300 names, using the area's annual Hi-Yu summer celebration as his inspiration. (LÖWMAN BRÄU was named in tribute to Lowman Beach and WHALE TAIL ALE paid homage to the the iconic Whale Tail sculpture on Alki Elementary School's playground.)
The judges for the contest to name the beer are community business members from THE FEEDBACK LOUNGE, WEST 5, SHADOWLAND, MISSION, THE BRIDGE, LOCÖL, BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB, COMPANY BAR, and of course, BIG AL BREWING. And we've enlisted several folks from THE WEST, the new West Seattle/White Center arts collective, to lend a hand.
The competition was tough; with hundreds of names submitted by residents of West Seattle and White Center, it was no easy task to select the one name to best embody the spirit and unique vibe that is our community. Some of the names considered were ALKI “PASTY LEG” ALE, PIRATE'S LANDING PALE ALE, GATEWOOD GROG, LINCOLN LAGER, VIADUCT FAIL ALE, INNOCENT AMANDA ALE (you got that one, right?), ROLLING ROXBURY, and WES C. ADDLE PALE ALE.
HI-YU BRÜ is a BIG AL BREWING artisan beer brought to you by THE FEEDBACK LOUNGE, WEST 5, SHADOWLAND, MISSION, THE BRIDGE, LOCÖL, BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB, COMPANY BAR, and of course, BIG AL BREWING.
WHAT DOES “HI-YU” MEAN?
From the official website: “Hi-Yu is a non-profit organization, established in 1934 by West Seattle's service clubs to produce a summer festival to promote the West Seattle Community.”
“The annual Hi-Yu Summer Festival is held throughout the month of July. Dozens of events occur all around West Seattle during this time. The kick-off event is the Seattle Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach, and it finishes at the end of the month with the Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Scholarship Program and the Seafair Torchlight Parade. Named in 1934 (16 years prior to Seafair), in a community contest, Hi-Yu means "much, plenty, abundance" in native Chinook jargon.”
WHICH WEST SEATTLE/WHITE CENTER CHARITY DOES THE PERCENTAGE OF THE SALES OF HI-YU BRÜ SUPPORT? As part of the winning prize, TIAN RICHARDSON got to choose the beneficiary. This time around it goes to the Holy Rosary Parish Ministries, which has a number of different local benefits in the West Seattle community, from meals for the elderly/low-income to a weekend women's shelter.
IS THIS CHARITY BEER ONLY SOLD IN DRAFT?
Yes, it's offered only as pints. The Beveridge Place Pub fills growlers, though, so come on in and load 'em up.
I OWN A BAR/RESTAURANT...HOW CAN I CARRY THIS NEW BEER?
The new beer will be made available to any liquor licensed West Seattle/White Center venue not initially participating in the roll-out through K&L Distributors after April 26, 2012. It will be up to each bar and/or restaurant to participate in the charity aspect or not, and to set their own price as well. After April 26, 2012, any establishment with a liquor license can carry it.
WHICH WEST SEATTLE/WHITE CENTER CHARITIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE SALES PERCENTAGE OF THESE BEERS?
Löwman Bräu and Whale Tail Ale have benefited the West Seattle Helpline, West Seattle Food Bank, the Hiawatha Summer Concert Series, and many more. And once we re-launch Löwman Bräu this summer, the entire community charity cycle begins all over again!
WHO DETERMINES WHAT WEST SEATTLE/WHITE CENTER CHARTIES AS BENEFICIARIES FOR ALL THE OTHER BEERS?
Each bar/restaurant chooses the West Seattle/White Center charity of their preference. All are open to suggestions, however. Contact any one of the participating establishments below and make a pitch!
WHY A WEST SEATTLE/WHITE CENTER BEER?
Because we can't think of any other neighborhood in Seattle that's as cool as ours :-)
FEEDBACK LOUNGE • 6451 California Ave. SW • (206) 453-3259
WEST 5 •
4539 California Ave. SW • (206) 935-1966
MISSION • 2325 California Ave. SW • 206-937-8220
SHADOWLAND • 4458 California Ave. SW • (206) 420-3817
BIG AL BREWING •
9832 14th Ave. SW • (206) 453-4487
LOCÖL • 7902 35th Ave. SW • (206) 708-7725
THE BRIDGE • 4439 35th Ave. SW • (206) 402-4606
BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB • 6413 California Ave. SW • (206) 932-9906
COMPANY BAR • 9608 16th Ave SW • (206) 257-1162
For more information contact Jeff Gilbert at The Feedback Lounge: feedbacklounge@gmail.com
or Alejandro Brown at Big Al Brewing: bigal@bigalbrewing.com