North Cascade Heli gears up for 30th heli-skiing season with powder snow and new microbrew
Old Schoolhouse Brewery Rotor Wash IPA release and benefit for the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation
Jan. 11 at the OSB Taproom in Twisp celebrates 30 years of powder and mountains
MAZAMA, Wash. – January 1, 2019 – Premier heli-skiing operation North Cascade Heli fires up the helicopter Jan. 18 to commence its 30th-season of guiding skiers and snowboarders in Washington State’s rugged North Cascades. Based out of Mazama in the upper Methow Valley since 1988, North Cascade Heli (NCH) is among the longest running guided heli-skiing operations in North America and the only one serving Washington State.
“We are looking forward to another stellar season of shredding untracked snow in the beautiful Alps of America,” said Paul Butler, NCH co-owner. “And since it is our 30th anniversary, we plan on making this winter as fun and memorable as possible.”
To celebrate 30 years of powder, Winthrop-based Old Schoolhouse Brewery (OSB) has crafted Rotor Wash IPA, a special heli-skiing-themed seasonal microbrew.
“This winter-style IPA is brewed to be the perfect sipper as snow piles up in the Cascades,” said Jacob Young, OSB co-owner. “This has a true malt backbone, a clean mouthfeel, and is amber in color. We included some experimental 522 hops, as well as Chinook to provide a classic bitterness, while Simcoe, Amarillo, and Azacca Cryo add fruit characteristics. Malty notes and bitterness vie for attention while the creative hop additions round out Rotor Wash IPA to be your go-to post shredding brew.”
OSB will host a Rotor Wash IPA release night and benefit for the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) 6-9 p.m. Jan. 11 at the OSB Taproom in Twisp, with fresh cuts by Methow Valley jam band Loose Notes. There is no cover charge, and donations to benefit the MSRF are optional.
“It’s important to protect what we have here in the Methow Valley,” said Butler. “We’re excited to help raise funds for the MSRF who does immensely beneficial work, so join us at the Taproom for a night of music, Rotor Wash IPA and giving back to the community.”
The MSRF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, helps the Methow community steward its river ecosystems through scientifically based and locally controlled salmon recovery projects.
“Fresh water is a critical resource for the Methow Valley and our people, plants, and animals depend on it in numerous ways for their well-being,” said John Crandall, aquatic ecologist. “Thus protecting existing sources of fresh water is vital step towards sustaining life in the Methow. Restoration of degraded streams and wetlands is also important and helps to improve water quality and assist with the recovery of several species of fish including chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout and Pacific lamprey.”
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