Ben Keene
@whereandback.bsky.social
Parenting, hiking, beer writing & marketing, not always in that order. Authored The Great Northeast Brewery Tour & Best Hikes Near NYC. He/him.
📍 Seattle, WA
📍 Seattle, WA
Winning lunch combo: Figurehead Brewing
9th Leg Belgian-style
Quad and Midnite Ramen's
Wontonmen Ramen with
pork+shrimp wontons. #beerpairing
9th Leg Belgian-style
Quad and Midnite Ramen's
Wontonmen Ramen with
pork+shrimp wontons. #beerpairing
October 29, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Winning lunch combo: Figurehead Brewing
9th Leg Belgian-style
Quad and Midnite Ramen's
Wontonmen Ramen with
pork+shrimp wontons. #beerpairing
9th Leg Belgian-style
Quad and Midnite Ramen's
Wontonmen Ramen with
pork+shrimp wontons. #beerpairing
You can find examples of #pumpkinbeer here in Seattle, but if you don't want something brewed by AB-InBev, you have to hunt around. This year I'm really enjoying Ravenna Brewing's Hello Gourdgeous. The spice level is just right, and while it starts sweet, a semi-dry finish adds to its drinkability.
October 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
You can find examples of #pumpkinbeer here in Seattle, but if you don't want something brewed by AB-InBev, you have to hunt around. This year I'm really enjoying Ravenna Brewing's Hello Gourdgeous. The spice level is just right, and while it starts sweet, a semi-dry finish adds to its drinkability.
People like to complain about pumpkin beers. They don't like how early they appear, they don't like baking spices, etc. Well, I'm here for it, especially because #pumpkinbeer is a style with North American origins. In the 18th century, colonists on the East Coast made "pompion" ale with this gourd.
October 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
People like to complain about pumpkin beers. They don't like how early they appear, they don't like baking spices, etc. Well, I'm here for it, especially because #pumpkinbeer is a style with North American origins. In the 18th century, colonists on the East Coast made "pompion" ale with this gourd.
For the sake of beer history, it's sad to lose another brewery that has remained dedicated to open fermentation for centuries.
October 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
For the sake of beer history, it's sad to lose another brewery that has remained dedicated to open fermentation for centuries.
After missing the past few years, it was fun to be back at a judging table for @sipmagazine.bsky.social again yesterday!
October 17, 2025 at 12:26 AM
After missing the past few years, it was fun to be back at a judging table for @sipmagazine.bsky.social again yesterday!
Had a great time helping to judge the Washington Beer Awards Fresh Hop Competition at Logan Brewing yesterday. Head to the Growler Guys in Seattle on Thursday, 10/16 to hear the results and try some of the winning beers on draft! thegrowlerguys.com/locations/se...
October 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Had a great time helping to judge the Washington Beer Awards Fresh Hop Competition at Logan Brewing yesterday. Head to the Growler Guys in Seattle on Thursday, 10/16 to hear the results and try some of the winning beers on draft! thegrowlerguys.com/locations/se...
Things were bleak in Portland over the weekend. I personally saw numerous combatants enjoying an autumn stroll or the city's many food cart pods. My own war rations included a brisket sandwich and fragrant fresh hop IPA.
October 7, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Things were bleak in Portland over the weekend. I personally saw numerous combatants enjoying an autumn stroll or the city's many food cart pods. My own war rations included a brisket sandwich and fragrant fresh hop IPA.
September is a special month here in the PNW, as expressive beers made with freshly picked hops appear and then quickly vanish at bars and bottle shops. I really enjoy them, & so far Bale Breaker, Fort George, Single Hill & Lucky Envelope have made my favorite examples this season. What about you?
September 28, 2025 at 10:40 PM
September is a special month here in the PNW, as expressive beers made with freshly picked hops appear and then quickly vanish at bars and bottle shops. I really enjoy them, & so far Bale Breaker, Fort George, Single Hill & Lucky Envelope have made my favorite examples this season. What about you?
Hop harvest is a special time of year here in the #PNW. To experience a symphony of Simcoe, I recommend Bale Breaker's Fresh Hop Topcutter. balebreaker.com/beer/fresh-h...
September 19, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Hop harvest is a special time of year here in the #PNW. To experience a symphony of Simcoe, I recommend Bale Breaker's Fresh Hop Topcutter. balebreaker.com/beer/fresh-h...
My first fresh hop beer of 2025 was an IPA dry hopped with wet Chinook from Sapwood Cellars: Wet Hop Maryland Summer. What's everyone else drinking?
August 31, 2025 at 3:31 AM
My first fresh hop beer of 2025 was an IPA dry hopped with wet Chinook from Sapwood Cellars: Wet Hop Maryland Summer. What's everyone else drinking?
It's been years since my last beer from Maryland's Burley Oak Brewing, so I was glad to find cans of this pithy, peachy IPA near my parents' place last night.
August 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
It's been years since my last beer from Maryland's Burley Oak Brewing, so I was glad to find cans of this pithy, peachy IPA near my parents' place last night.
Took the kid to Cloudburst for Szechuan-style dumplings (him) and hazy IPA hopped with Strata and Eclipse (me). It went well.
August 15, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Took the kid to Cloudburst for Szechuan-style dumplings (him) and hazy IPA hopped with Strata and Eclipse (me). It went well.
I'm a firm believer that date night dinners should end with a dessert.
July 30, 2025 at 4:03 AM
I'm a firm believer that date night dinners should end with a dessert.
Duvel is very much a world class beer, but does a badge from a publication that folded 8 years ago really motivate customers?
July 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Duvel is very much a world class beer, but does a badge from a publication that folded 8 years ago really motivate customers?
Tequila drinks are hot right now, and Portland-based Straightaway Cocktails has the best widely available RTD cocktails in the PNW. By a mile.
June 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Tequila drinks are hot right now, and Portland-based Straightaway Cocktails has the best widely available RTD cocktails in the PNW. By a mile.
When @allaboutbeer.bsky.social editor John buys you a beer but it's a 9.5% Golden Monkey Tripel and then he runs off to catch a train.
June 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
When @allaboutbeer.bsky.social editor John buys you a beer but it's a 9.5% Golden Monkey Tripel and then he runs off to catch a train.
This beer is made with fonio, an ancient African grain notable for its drought resistance, cultural significance, and wine-like character. At just 4.2% ABV, Lost Crop Grisette is semi-dry and supremely drinkable with a phenolic aroma, subtle fruity notes, and a touch of white pepper in the finish.
June 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This beer is made with fonio, an ancient African grain notable for its drought resistance, cultural significance, and wine-like character. At just 4.2% ABV, Lost Crop Grisette is semi-dry and supremely drinkable with a phenolic aroma, subtle fruity notes, and a touch of white pepper in the finish.
When Dad takes you to the brewery and lets you sit in a big kid seat.
May 25, 2025 at 1:14 AM
When Dad takes you to the brewery and lets you sit in a big kid seat.
If you enjoy: dark roast coffee, nutty toffee, bittersweet chocolate, or molasses crinkles cookies, you might like this #beer from Reuben's Brews.
May 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
If you enjoy: dark roast coffee, nutty toffee, bittersweet chocolate, or molasses crinkles cookies, you might like this #beer from Reuben's Brews.
Not mad that the IPA pendulum is swinging back towards bright and bitter TBH.
May 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Not mad that the IPA pendulum is swinging back towards bright and bitter TBH.
I made my first visit to Alesong last summer (with the whole family) and I can't wait to go back. It's special.
March 19, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I made my first visit to Alesong last summer (with the whole family) and I can't wait to go back. It's special.
For 20 years now, beer geeks have associated February with Pliny the Younger. But the bottle that got my attention earlier this month is this Russian River and Brooklyn Brewery collab. A Belgian Blonde, Fonio is made with the ancient West African grain of the same name. Have you tried a fonio beer?
February 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
For 20 years now, beer geeks have associated February with Pliny the Younger. But the bottle that got my attention earlier this month is this Russian River and Brooklyn Brewery collab. A Belgian Blonde, Fonio is made with the ancient West African grain of the same name. Have you tried a fonio beer?
Black IPA is dead.
Long live Black IPA.
Long live Black IPA.
February 22, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Black IPA is dead.
Long live Black IPA.
Long live Black IPA.