Torch NW

If you are like me, then you prefer to enjoy a tasty grain with a tasty strain. Here are 5 local beers & 5 local recreational marijuana strains that will go well together (in this author’s opinion, of course):

(Oh yeah. This is just a pairing guide for tasting, NOT for drinking. And remember, consume responsibly. We are not responsible for your irresponsibility.)

Beer: Elysian Brewing Co. – Immortal IPA (6.3% ABV)

Strain: CannaSol Farms – Jack Herer

Let’s all forget that Elysian was just acquired by Anheuser Busch (capitolhillseattle.com has a wonderful write up and dialogue about it). Elysian Brewing makes a mean IPA, and this Immortal IPA has a refreshing hop flavor that isn’t overpowered. In our review for Jack Herer, we suggested enjoying the strain with a fragrant IPA – so here’s our choice!

Beer: Fremont Brewing Co. – 77 Select Spring Session IPA (4.0% ABV)

Strain: Dutch Brothers – Seattle Cough

One of my favorite breweries, the Fremont Brewing Company creates a vast amount of select delicious brews – made all the better from the tap at their humble Fremont location. Seattle Cough is a potent strain that will take the drivers seat when combined with this crisp 77 Session IPA – the herb is nitrogen purged to lock in flavors of vanilla, pine and grapefruit. Day = made.

Beer: Pike Brewing Co. – Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ruby Ale (6.5% ABV)

Strain: High Altitude – Obama Kush

Ach lads, a good thick ale is just what Dr. Fischer ordered. This Kilt Lifter Ruby Ale is malty scrumptious, offering caramel thickness in a style I can only describe as “Scotchtoberfest” (yes, I went there). Such luxurious nature should be accompanied with a presidential nug, namely Obama Kush: a spicy funky specimen worthy of your vote.

Hales Ale Supergoose Avitas Agriculture Snoops Dream

Beer: Hale’s Ales Brewery – Supergoose IPA (7.0% ABV)

Strain: Avitas Agriculture – Snoop’s Dream

A classic Northwest brewery, Hale’s Ales has been around since the 1980’s and is located in Fremont. Supergoose is a balanced borderline-imperial IPA. The hoppy flavor will lend itself to Snoop’s Dream’s duality of sweet and spice. Meerkat! With a cape!

Bellevue Brewing Company Torch NW UFO Flower

Beer: Bellevue Brewing Co. – 425 Pale Ale (4.8% ABV)

Strain: Torch NW – UFO Flower

Pale ale’s are usually light on taste, but this 425 packs a punch of crisp malty love. This author can only recommend sampling generously, preferably from a tap. The flavorful 425 really made me want some UFO Flower, a ludicrously good tasting strain. Picture a white mystery flavored Airhead, smack it some skunk-funk and you’ve got this tasty bud.

(Again. This is just a pairing guide for tasting, NOT for drinking. And remember, consume responsibly. We are not responsible for your irresponsibility.)

Close to Capitol Hill and in the Central District, you’ll find Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop. A darling little spot with a name that this author can see becoming synonymous alongside Beechers, Pike Place Market, and other traditional Seattle standbys.

High Above Seattle visited Uncle Ike’s, and picked up a 2 gram bag of UFO Flower from Washington State processor Torch NW.

Torch NW bill themselves as “premiere processors.” They have a team with a combined 25+ years in wholesale product distribution, and they are active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram.

One of the special items Torch NW brings to the table is “a stand alone interface that allows producers to bring their product in whatever sizes they like. The high frequency sort system allows for damage free packaging of various densities and sizes”. This is basically new technology that Torch NW is confident will become the “norm” statewide.

Another special factor of Torch NW is that they have an art team with 20+ years experience specializing in brand recognition. As of now, pot shops have been struggling just to get product through the doors – however once there is an abundance and the real competition starts, brand recognition will play a key role in customers deciding which strain to buy.

I do kind of wish Torch NW would list the producer of the strain, just so we could give credit where it’s due – considering UFO Flower is such a great product. However I’m not sure how all the works, so for now I’m presenting the strain as Torch NW’s product.

UPDATE: Torch NW have reached out to us and confirmed that they are in fact the producer as well as the processor. It goes without saying that this is super cool, but I’m going to say it anyway. This kind of cyclical “jack of trades” business ethic is admirable, and harkens to the “farm to fork” movement (at least in this author’s opinion). From bud to bowl, from cut to cure, from seed to sealed – Torch NW are practicing excellence in their marijuana efforts.

Let’s take a look at the packaging – which is pretty simple. There is a large Torch NW sticker on the front, which includes a tiny sticker detailing the strain’s information – and that’s about it. A clear bag displays the hallowed nugs inside, which I think is always a good thing. It’s important for processors to focus on see-through packaging, as shops are unable to open up packages to display the product; hence if you’ve got opaque packaging, your bud is literally a mystery to the customer until they get home and crack the package open.

Moving on to UFO Flower’s specifics:

“Potency Analysis” total – 18.331%
THC – 1.759%

The fragrance of UFO Flower is hard to pin. I try to not let the names of strains influence my perception of the smell and taste, but true to it’s title – the smell was alien to me. Breaking a nug apart and holding it close, one can make out a combination of grape, spice, and funk. It’s quite the quandary to describe, and can only be solved by the fact that you’ll just have to try it for yourself.

Looking at the buds, they are are a deep hue with lovely greens & purples. UFO Flower burns superb as well, not being too dry – it’s a bang up job, if I do say so myself.

According to Torch NW’s website: UFO Flower’s taste is described as “sweet, grape, and funky”. Smoking out of a pipe, I’d concur with the descriptors used. The taste is strong, lingering on your tongue – which is what I’d imagine a space flower actually tasting like.

Getting high with UFO Flower is a relaxing experience. It’s ideal for concentration – whether being creative, or just enjoying some music/tv (like watching the X Files). The euphoria is strong coupled by the fact that you can pretend you’re smoking alien herbs, making me wonder why more strains aren’t named after cryptids. Overall the vibe is calm, it’s a good “rainy day” bud, and considering the weather we’ve been having lately UFO Flower suited me perfectly.

A tip of the hat to Torch NW for UFO Flower, a truly stellar experience. I’m looking forward to sampling further products from the processor, and grabbing them at good ol’ Uncle Ikes.

UPDATE: Check out more weed reviews and our guide to Seattle marijuana stores.

5 Local Beers For 5 Local Weed Strains: A Tasting Pairing Mini-Guide

Marijuana Review: ‘UFO Flower’ by ‘Torch NW’ From ‘Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop’