Mountain Biking Galbraith & Kulshan Brewing
Kulshan Brewing Company // tahoefabulous.com
After an absolutely amazing time in Canada, it was time to head back the US. Luckily, we couldn't be too sad, because we were heading to one of my favorite towns, Bellingham, to visit some good friends, Rebecca and Corey. We had a few goals - ride Galbraith, see friends, and drink good beer. We managed to do all of them.On day one in Bellingham, Greyson went and rode Galbraith with Corey while Rebecca and I hung out with their daughter. After Greyson and Corey got back, we headed to Kulshan Brewing Company. When I lived in Bellingham, there was only one brewery - Boundary Bay. Now there are way more and it seems like new ones pop up every few months! I've had Kulshan beer a bunch of times while back visiting the PNW, but this was my first time visiting their brewery location. We went for the very generous six-beer sampler, and here's what I tried (descriptions by Kulshan):Party iN the Woods (4/5)
Pilsner (4.25/5): We raise a glass to the men and women who pioneered this classic session beer in 1842. Crisp and refreshing with clean and balanced bitterness from floral, bright and spicy Noble hops, this lager is our tribute to their hard work, precision and good taste. Prost.
Good Ol' Boy Pale Ale (4.25/5): This beer is your best friend, reliable, refreshing, honest and true. Life is gritty, wash it all away with a Good Ol’ Boy Pale Ale, and do it again tomorrow. Enjoy Absolutely.Bastard Kat IPA (3.5/5): Brewed with passion and precision, Bastard Kat is an American Style West Coast IPA with a prolific full hop flavor and aroma predicated upon the citrus notes of the Cascade Hop. Brewed for your next adventure.
Bull of the Woods Double IPA (3.5/5): Walking down endless rows of a green forest, the onslaught of hop aroma seduces one to a time, a place, a dream, a memory, an ideal ideal. How can I put that in a pint and deliver it unto you? Never limiting, always pursuing, climbing to the top. Allow yourself to be enveloped by this blanket of hops, and dream a little dream, of a forest of green.
Galbraith Mountain Biking // tahoefabulous.com
Sunnyland IPA (5/5): Crisp, Refreshing, Hoppy, Hoppy punch up front, soft middle, and an evaporating finish.After only a couple of days in Bellingham, we had to be on the road, but I still hadn't had a chance to ride at Galbraith this trip. We decided to go on a short ride before we headed east.I'd ridden at Galbraith a few times before, but this time we tackled a different section of the trail network. We parked at the parking area on Samish Way and headed north on Gailbraith Lane. The first real trail we hopped on was Dog Patch, a pretty easy climb. We popped out on a fire road and climbed that for about a third of a mile before getting back on the trail with Three Pigs. We only stayed on Three Pigs for about a half mile before turning right onto Pony Express. Pony Express crosses a fire road, and there we got back on Dog Patch before finishing it out on Last Call.I'm by no means an expert on Galbraith, but I thought that was a fun short loop - it was under 4 miles with less than 500 feet of climbing. It took us under an hour - and I imagine it would be way shorter if we didn't have to route check quite so often.While we were bummed about leaving Bellingham and our friends behind, we were looking forward to our next destination - North Cascades National Park!