NWRBC: First Thoughts
I (Nate) competed in the Northwest Regional Brewers Cup today. Here are a few thoughts before I hit the hay and get ready for day two:
1. We all enjoyed the fragrant welcome afforded by a Tacoma low tide today. My nose was definitely voting down the lunchtime walk (it got over-ruled because Mt. Rainier was out).
2. Can you say dead crowd? We were a small and under-caffeinated crew, probably due in part to the dramatic winnowing of barista talent between last year and this. Expect the noise to pick up come day two and three, when we’ll all be so caffeinated we’ll be cheering / crying at the sponsorship thank you’s. Or not. 
3. Where are the pour overs? Clevers out-numbered Chemexes on the brew line, and I used a cupping variant (recipe to come after Sunday). No AeroPresses or siphons in sight.
Plenty of photos for the day over at Sprudge’s day one tweet / picture roundup, including this lovely animated GIF of me wearing one glove and looking like a shortstop waiting for the batter. Brewer’s Cup is an athletic event. Really. I’m just glad the judges merely evaluated my coffee!
One Glove Only, like Michael Jackson!
