If you're like me, you're probably left wondering where May went. It seems that just yesterday spring began. But now it's time to kick off June, and the summer drinking season can officially begin. The lawn can wait.

JUNE 6

Talbott Vineyard Wine Tasting

Morso will tentatively pour 2011 Sara Case Chardonnay, 2012 Diamond T Pinot Noir, 2012 Kali Hart Pinot Noir, 2012 Logan Chardonnay and 2012 Logan Pinot Noir. There is a $5 fee per person for this event and is refunded with a wine purchase. Any wines purchased from the tasting may be served without a corkage fee on the night of the tasting. 5-7 p.m., $5, Morso Wine Bar, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Harbor, 253.229.0187

Emerald Downs Brewer's Night

Northwest Brewing Company will be at the track with $2.50 craft pounders, Ottomatic DJ, prize drawings and more. 5-9 p.m., Emerald Downs Race Track, 2300 Emerald Downs Dr., Auburn, $7 entrance fee, 253.288.7000

JUNE 11

Georgetown Brewer's Night

Puyallup River Alehouse hosts Georgetown Brewing Company for a night of Georgetown beers, giveaways, raffles, dollar tacos and more. 6-9 p.m., no cover, Puyallup River Alehouse, 120 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253.268.0955

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Every week we swap out the Served banner art above, introducing you to the people who serve food and drinks in the South Sound. This week, meet Todd McLaughlin.

Server Banner Boy, June 2-8, 2014

Todd McLaughlin

McLaughlin tends bar at Engine House No. 9, a restaurant, bar and brewery housed in a historic engine house in north Tacoma. He has been with X Group restaurants since 2008, and specifically E-9 for the last two-and-a-half years. Since September 2013, McLaughlin has also tended bar at Doyle's Public House in Tacoma Saturday nights.

Why do you serve?

"I serve for the people. And for the beer. Actually, I mostly serve for the beer."

Who is your favorite server in the South Sound?

"Favorite server has to be Ben Williams next door at Masa. He's just an all around badass bartender."

What are you most proud to serve?

"I'm most proud to serve anything coming out of E-9's barrel and sour program. It is all phenomenal beer that really sets our brewery apart from others."

What's your current drink of choice?

"Beer, of course and whiskey."

Favorite movie?

Old School

What don't you serve?

"I'll really serve whatever makes the guest happy. But I do my best to avoid selling Bud and Coors Light and encourage people to drink real beer."

What's on your radar at Engine House No. 9?

"I'm really excited for our annual sour fest on August 23 and for the new and first ever E-9 Berliner Weiss, which we just brewed."

LINK: Meet R.J. Adler from Pint Defiance

LINK: Meet Rose Peterson from 1022 South J

South Sounders head outdoors when the sun shines. In mild weather, we throw on a light jacket and ante up to patio furniture. Summer living - and eating - in the South Sound is even sweeter, especially with a waterfront view. Since we've been hitting 70-degree temps, it's time to take Eat This Now waterside, soak in some Vitamin D while treating the taste buds.

This week's al fresco dining dash takes us to Steamer's Seafood Café at Titlow Beach where you must eat its Blackened Rockfish Tacos ($9) now. A pair of fresh, warm golden brown flour or corn tortilla shells overflow with fresh rockfish. The tender white fish arrives with a little heat, mixed with roasted corn, black beans, cabbage and a creamy dressing.

My, oh my.

Served up with a small side of coleslaw and French fries perfectly seasoned with sea salt, pepper and a hint of sesame, this dish begs for seaside snacking.

Bonus: Steamer's family friendly digs includes a handful of warm weather brews on tap to pair with the tacos and delectable, creamy ice cream concoctions.

Or, skip the beer and introduce your Blackened Rockfish Tacos to the shoreline or neighboring sprayground.

STEAMER'S SEAFOOD CAFÉ, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8802 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.4532

"It's just a classic summer moment floating down the river with this apparatus tied to your butt with beer in hand," says 7 Seas Brewing "Sails Ambassador" Rob Brunsman, describing the Gig Harbor brewery's Life Jacket Session IPA.

7 Seas will launch the summer seasonal Saturday night at Cheney Stadium during the Tacoma Rainiers' game against the Albuquerque Isotopes.

"There isn't a better local location for a truly local brand like ours," says Brunsman.

The Life Jacket Session IPA - loaded with Amarillo and Nugget hops and juicy hop aromas of tangerine and grapefruit - will be at several locations in the ballpark for the 5:05 game. I suggest arriving early as it's Little Leaguers Night. Sip on Life and watch the kids grab pre-game player autographs and participate in on-field parades. After the game, the kids will run the bases.

UPDATE: 7 Seas Brewing sent a news release with addition information about its Life Jacket Session IPA and scheduled activities at the game:

This NW summer classic style, Session IPA, balances low ABV, high drinkability, with bursting hop flavor and aroma. Life Jacket Session IPA is well suited to quench your thirst and deliver hoppy satisfaction.  Brewed with Pale Ale, Pilsner, and a touch of Wheat & Light Crystal malts -- the beer finishes crisp and clean with a load of Amarillo and Nugget hops imparting juicy hop aromas of tangerine and grapefruit.  At a relaxing 4.8% ABV, this brew is perfect for enjoying on our beautiful NW waters, backyard BBQ, or at a ball game! Available June-August on Draft.

Who'll be throwing out the first pitch? None other then, WA's Craft Beer Ambassador, Kendall Jones, a freelance writer and freestyle beer drinker. In 2008 Kendall founded the Washington Beer Blog, one of the Northwest's most popular and trusted sources for beer news and information. Beyond blogging, he writes and represents WA Beer for local and national publications and press.

If you can't make Saturday game, the Life Jacket will be a highlight during Dirty Oscar's 7 Seas beer pairing dinner June 10.

According to Jennifer Johnson, Dirty Oscar's operations manager, four 7 Seas beers - including seasonal favorite Life Jacket Session IPA - will be paired with a light four-course dinner by Chef James Bacher and sous chef Robert Orlando. Brunsman will be at the Sixth Avenue restaurant, discussing the brewery's history and brewing process, as well as explaining the reason behind each beer choice. 7 Seas received the Dirty Oscar's menu Friday.

"A multifaceted menu utilizing roasted rainbow beets, pickled fennel, grilled kale, poached quail egg, beef medallions, gulf prawn, flat shaved purple and orange cauliflower, IPA infused blueberries, jicama confit and more will be served," says Johnson, who has hosted many beer dinners at Dirty Oscar's.?? She's dialed in these beer dinners, with professional presentation, fast service and a fun raffle held throughout the night.

The 7 Seas Brewing dinner begins at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 10. Tickets are $50 per person. There are only 22 seats available, so RSVP now at jennifer@dirtyoscarsannex.com.

After owning several local restaurants - The Hob Nob, Engine House No. 9, John's Breakfast and others - Margaret and John Farrell, wife and husband, along with daughter Jacquelyn, opened Farrelli's Pizza and Pool Co. in Lacey in 1995. The Farrells interviewed potential employees for their first pizza joint on a card table where the Lacey store now stands. In 2006, they opened their fifth location at the Garfield Commons in Parkland, and in the same year were named "Independent Pizza Chain of the Year" by Pizza Today magazine. In article after article, the Farrells give recognition and accolades to their employees, many who have been with them since the card table. Today, they own six Farrell's Pizza joint, McNamara's Pub & Eatery in DuPont and the Party Place event center in Sumner.

In mid-July, the Farrells will open their seventh Farrelli's Pizza store in the Frederickson neighborhood. They are currently hiring for the new store, with open interviews from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 5, 12 and 19. You may download an application on its website.

A year or so ago, Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza partnered with Tacoma's Harmon Brewery Co. in the development of its Two Mama Blonde Ale, named after Farrelli's founder and matriarch Margaret Farrell and her sister, Mary Mulkey.

For every pint of the brew sold, 25 cents is earmarked specifically for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Fisher House, which houses families while an ill or injured service member undergoes treatment at Madigan Army Medical Center.

Last year, $3,500 was riased, and this year, the partnership is expanding to include a new brew for each season.

Expect an amber in the fall, a brown ale in the winter and an IPA next spring. Though not yet named, the chosen monikers will have a play on family similar to the currently available Two Mama Blonde Ale.

Speaking of Two Mama Blonde Ale, the Farrelli's Pizza in Parkland will pour the Blonde tonight at 7 p.m., once again donating 25 cents per pint to the Fisher House.

Hoist a pint while at Farrelli's and help military families. It's a win win.

BEER NEWS

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, age-gated children born in 1993 and beyond, the annual Washington Beer Awards have been doled out. Well, at least in the private world of the 40 judges who gathered at Elliott Bay Public House & Brewery May 10. The lucky 40 judged 460 brews from 70 state breweries, awarding medals for various styles, as well as spotlight categories Best Small Brewery and Best Large Brewery of the year. The winners won't be announced until Saturday, June 14, at the Washington Brewers Festival at Marymoor Park in Redmond. Standing before a crowd of folks wearing pretzel necklaces, fake cheese hats and that one guy who wears The Beeriodic Table T-shirt, 33 medals will be handed out, including Best Washington Agricultural Product Inspired Beer.

How will the South Sound fare? Not even The Beeriodic Table Guy knows. Here's the South Sound medal count last year:

STRONG LAGERS

Silver: Fish Brewing Company - Leavenworth Navigator Dopplebock

Bronze: Ram Restaurant & Brewery (Tacoma) - Maibock

WHEAT/RYE BEERS

Silver: Ram Restaurant & Brewery (Tacoma) - Big Horn Hefeweizen

BROWN PORTERS

Silver: Harmon Brewing Company - Puget Sound Porter

AMERICAN AMBER ALES

Gold: Fish Brewing Company - Fish Tale Organic Amber Ale

STRONG ALES

Silver: Fish Brewing Company - Fish Tale 10 Squared Barley Wine

BELGIAN & FRENCH ALES

Gold: Ram Restaurant & Brewery (Northgate) - BPA

Bronze: E9 Brewery - E9 Belgian White

BELGIAN STRONG ALES

Bronze: Dick's Brewing Co. - Dick's Grand Cru

SPICE, HERB, & VEGETABLE BEERS

Silver: DUO Brewing - Twin Ports Coffee Porter

The much-anticipated 9th Annual Washington Brewers Festival takes place June 13-15 at Marymoor Park. The Washington Beer Commission welcomes more than 330 beers from 88 state breweries, including locals 7 Seas Brewing, Dick's Brewing, E9 Brewery, Fish Brewing, Harmon Brewing, Northwest Brewing and Wingman Brewers. Admission is $20 for the 21 and older, Hell's Belles rockin', 74 brewery Friday night; $25 for the all-ages Saturday or Sunday affair. Jump on Washingtonbeer.com for details and tickets.

BEER HERE

Here are a couple beer-related events going down this week. ...

Wednesday, May 4

The ParkWay Tavern hosts Dogfish Head Brewery beginning at 5 p.m.

Friday, June 6

Northwest Brewing Company will be at Emerald Downs race track with $2.50 craft pounders, Ottomatic DJ, prize drawings and more from 5-9 p.m

Saturday, June 7

7 Seas Brewing will release its Life Jacket Session IPA Saturday night at Cheney Stadium during the Tacoma Rainiers' game against the Albuquerque Isotopes. The Life Jacket Session IPA - loaded with Amarillo and Nugget hops and juicy hop aromas of tangerine and grapefruit - will be at several locations in the ballpark for the 5:05 game. Kendall Jones, a freelance writer and founder the Washington Beer Blog, will throw out the first pitch.

Tuesday, June 10

Dirty Oscar's in Tacoma hosts 7 Seas Brewing for a brewer's dinner at 6 p.m. Four 7 Seas beers - including the Life Jacket Session IPA - will be paired with a light four-course dinner by Chef James Bacher and sous chef Robert Orlando. Tickets are $50 per person. There are only 22 seats available, so RSVP now at Jennifer@dirtyoscarsannex.com.

Wednesday, June 11

Puyallup River Alehouse hosts Georgetown Brewing Company for a night of Georgetown beers, giveaways, raffles, dollar tacos and more from 6-9 p.m.

On the corner of Legion and Franklin streets in downtown Olympia, a building is coming to life. With 19 upper-story lofts and Thurston First Bank moving into the 26,000-square-foot space, one more business makes this trifecta complete: Three Magnets Brewing Co.

Owned by Sara and Nathan Reilly, who also own Darby's Cafe, a successful breakfast/brunch/Bloody Mary spot on Fifth Avenue in downtown Olympia, Three Magnets will be an extension of three things they love: beer, soccer and community.

The concept for the brewpub will include plenty of outdoor seating (gas fire pits anyone?) a family friendly vibe, up to 12 rotating beers on tap, a pub-version of a surf-and-turf menu and a 90-inch TV for catching all the Sounders' games.

"We're excited to make relationships and collaborate," said Sara. "I think everyone in Olympia wants Olympia to be known for beer again. And we are beyond supportive; we'd like to see this become a destination."

>>> Three Magnets Brewing Co. is currently under construction. Photo credit: Pappi Swarner

So what's behind the name Three Magnets?

Inspired by the garden city approach to urban planning, Three Magnets Brewing feeds off the book Garden Cities of To-Morrow, written by Ebenezer Howard in 1898. Howard's diagram of the concept of town, country and town-country, which asks the question, ‘Where will people go?' contains three magnets to represent the areas of residences, industry and agriculture.

"Essentially, the third magnet, town-country, is proportionate parts of all," explained Nathan, "and what Olympia strives to be."

Plus, said Sara, the symbol of the horseshoe is a nod to Olympia's beer history.

>>> Nathan Reilly double checks details with the contractor. Photo credit: Pappi Swarner

For the Reillys, the third magnet is represented in their relationship with many local farms, specifically Helsing Junction, where they picked up one of their brewers, Pat Jansen, whose creativity with hops, yeasts and brewing is exactly what Three Magnets desires.

One signature beer will be Helsing Junction Farmhouse Saison, with different botanicals from the farm in each batch. For example, they hope to start with fennel pollen. The other brewer is Jeff Stokes, who hails from Olympia businesses Gravity Beer Market and Skip and Skein.

Other unique qualities of the brew side of things are the offering of session beers that contain no higher than 5 percent ABV, featuring a balance between malt and hops and, typically, a clean finish for drinkability. In addition to an ABV board, the temperature of the beers will be listed, too.

"We think that's the direction micro brew is going," said Nathan. "In the '90s, there were staples ... but now, people want something new.  Our idea is to have constantly rotating taps and a few flagship beers for those that don't like change."

And to continue with the vision of unique and local, the kitchen side will pump out casual versions of surf-and-turf: housemade burgers and in-house cured fishes, for example. Condiments will be made in-house as well, and a kid's menu will be featured.

"We want to do what we did for breakfasts for brewpubs," Nathan said.

The Reillys hope for a soft opening in July.

THREE MAGNETS BREWING CO., 600 Franklin St. SE, Suite 102, Olympia

>>> Another rendering of the building Three Magnets Brewing Co. in downtown Olympia. Photo courtesy of Thomas Architecture Studios

Weekly Volcano researches (that is, drinking) and writes (often while drinking) and fact-checks (usually not while drinking) on a daily basis to connect the South Sound with the nearest libation. This week we put in a few more hours of liver-enlarging labor. ...

Day-drinking in Tacoma

How I learned to stop worrying and pass out with my shoes on by Rev. Adam McKinney

Garden-to-glass cocktails in Tacoma

A few herb-y concoctions by Jackie Fender

New Brewery Alert

Three Magnets Brewing Co. to open in downtown Olympia by Nikki McCoy

PLUS: 2014 summer drinking calendar for the South Sound by Pappi Swarner

LINK: South Sound happy hours

Today is National Donut Day. Instead of attending your company meeting about changes to your benefits that make no sense on paper, head to a doughnut shop and celebrate. 

While we usually think these national ____ days are bogus, this one involves doughnuts so we're in favor of it (plus this one actually has some history.)

So where can you get free donuts in our area?    

Krispy Kreme is the best-known national brand handing out doughnuts, no strings attached. Guests take their pick of any variety totally for free, no purchase necessary.

House of Donuts in Lakewood is handing out free doughnuts to the first 1,000 people.

What other doughnut shop is celebrating?

The elegance of the re-imagined comfort food crafted at STINK Cheese and Meat shines through in every dish, and its mac and cheese is no exception. Proprietor Kris Blondin dons a lab jacket, offering a different and highly creative version of the dish every week. All cooking is chemistry, but Blondin's macaroni and cheese feels more like the work of alchemy.

Last week, Blondin changed her mac and cheese roux.

"I came up with a combination of sharp cheddar and my old cheddar, and added some cream cheese," says Blondin. "I've been playing with it a lot, making it more decadent. Not insanely decadent. I found the sharp alone was separating the béchamel. So I added mild cheddar to the sharp, and it seemed to bind better. Then, I added a quarter stick of cream cheese, which also helps bind it together.

Last week, Blondin debuted the new roux in one of STINK's most popular, and most delicious mac and cheese recipes - the mushroom truffle mac.

"I infuse the béchamel with truffle salt, to keep the price reasonable, then I season the mushrooms with truffle salt, then a sprinkle of the salt on top along with the homemade bread crumbs and herbs from my garden. It's not too salty," says Blondin.

STINK's mac and cheese special, as well as its grilled cheese sandwich special, change every week, and by week I mean Tuesday through Saturday. For the next two days, you may delight in the "Sweet Mac," starring three cheese - Jack, cheddar and blue - and a grilled cheese Cuban, a Swiss, pulled-pork, ham, pickle and Dijon sandwich.

"The Cuban ties in with the film Chef now playing at The Grand Cinema," says Blondin.

As if we needed a reason.

STINK CHEESE AND MEAT, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, its wine bar stays open later, 628 St. Helens, Tacoma, 253.426.1347