Brewing Master

Question:

I was there a few weeks ago and went to Anacortes and Laconner-both lovely towns with good beer pubs.The calico cupboard in Anacortes is a pleasnt lunch spot-great bread/pastries.On the advice of this n/g, I swung by Larry’s Market in Tutwilla,near Sea-Tac airport and picked up some great bottled beer to take home-Mirror Pond Ale,Viking Winterfest and what I consider the ultimate beverage-Obsidian Stout. The Marriott Courtyard near Sea-Tac has a nice restaurant which featured Mac and Jac’s African Amber at happy hour.M&J AA was once the rave out there but I have recently reac complaints and rumors that  the recipe might have changed.I thought it a 3 out of 4.

Response:

I was there a few weeks ago and went to Anacortes and Laconner-both lovely towns with good beer pubs.The calico cupboard in Anacortes is a pleasnt lunch spot-great bread/pastries.On the advice of this n/g, I swung by Larry’s Market in Tutwilla,near Sea-Tac airport and picked up some great bottled beer to take home-Mirror Pond Ale,Viking Winterfest and what I consider the ultimate beverage-Obsidian Stout. The Marriott Courtyard near Sea-Tac has a nice restaurant which featured Mac and Jac’s African Amber at happy hour.M&J AA was once the rave out there but I have recently reac complaints and rumors that  the recipe might have changed.I thought it a 3 out of 4.

Minor nits with the above.  "Tutwilla" HAS to be Tuckwilla… it’s a spelling thing.   Mirror Pond and Obsidian Stout are both part of the stellar product line-up of an Oregon state craft brewery– Deschutes Brewery located in Bend, Oregon rather than Seattle, Washington.  Other than that, I suppose that Seattle has some decent brews.  But, hey!  If you’re that close– barely a 2 hour drive south –to Portland, Oregon… come on down and drink some REAL ales!!!!! — –DAsh obvious with attbi)

Response:

No trip down the I 5 corridor would be complete without a stop at Dicks Brewing at Centralia (midway between Seattle and Portland) Dick runs a deli and a brewery that is two minutes off the freeway.  He has an amazing array of brews for a three man operation.  I get the half case sample pack.  His mainstay is Dick’s Danger Ale but I prefer some of his higher gravity seasonal brews myself. art

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was there a few weeks ago and went to Anacortes and Laconner-both lovely towns with good beer pubs.The calico cupboard in Anacortes is a pleasnt lunch spot-great bread/pastries.On the advice of this n/g, I swung by Larry’s Market in Tutwilla,near Sea-Tac airport and picked up some great bottled beer to take home-Mirror Pond Ale,Viking Winterfest and what I consider the ultimate beverage-Obsidian Stout. The Marriott Courtyard near Sea-Tac has a nice restaurant which featured Mac and Jac’s African Amber at happy hour.M&J AA was once the rave out there but I have recently reac complaints and rumors that  the recipe might have changed.I thought it a 3 out of 4. Minor nits with the above.  "Tutwilla" HAS to be Tuckwilla… it’s a spelling thing.   Mirror Pond and Obsidian Stout are both part of the stellar product line-up of an Oregon state craft brewery– Deschutes Brewery located in Bend, Oregon rather than Seattle, Washington.  Other than that, I suppose that Seattle has some decent brews.  But, hey!  If you’re that close– barely a 2 hour drive south –to Portland, Oregon… come on down and drink some REAL ales!!!!! — –DAsh obvious with attbi)

Response:

Tutwilla is Tukwilla….  :) While M&JAA is (was?) an excellent ale, I don’t get to drink it often enough with all the beer diversity around here.  I’ve never seen another M&J beer anywhere.  Wouldn’t that be a shame to change there primary offering? Mirror Pond is a great example of a PNW American Ale.  I can’t believe I’ve never found time to go out to the Deshutes brewery. In all, Seattle has come a long way in the last four years to serve beers like those found down in Portland.  The little guys are making their mark. The Redhooks, Pyramid’s and Pikes and falling back into the shadows. Seattle is still short on the specialty stuff like oak aged BW’s, etc. They’re there but are hard to find. Burp, -Dan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was there a few weeks ago and went to Anacortes and Laconner-both lovely towns with good beer pubs.The calico cupboard in Anacortes is a pleasnt lunch spot-great bread/pastries.On the advice of this n/g, I swung by Larry’s Market in Tutwilla,near Sea-Tac airport and picked up some great bottled beer to take home-Mirror Pond Ale,Viking Winterfest and what I consider the ultimate beverage-Obsidian Stout. The Marriott Courtyard near Sea-Tac has a nice restaurant which featured Mac and Jac’s African Amber at happy hour.M&J AA was once the rave out there but I have recently reac complaints and rumors that  the recipe might have changed.I thought it a 3 out of 4. Minor nits with the above.  "Tutwilla" HAS to be Tuckwilla… it’s a spelling thing.   Mirror Pond and Obsidian Stout are both part of the stellar product line-up of an Oregon state craft brewery– Deschutes Brewery located in Bend, Oregon rather than Seattle, Washington.  Other than that, I suppose that Seattle has some decent brews.  But, hey!  If you’re that close– barely a 2 hour drive south –to Portland, Oregon… come on down and drink some REAL ales!!!!! — –DAsh obvious with attbi)

Response:

while In Seattle what are some need to see "BEER" attractions. M

Response:

Fish Brewing in Olympia, Elysian, Far West Ireland, LaConner, … geez, too many to list. Go to:  http://www.washingtonbrewersguild.org/ .  Don’t waste your time with Big Horn, Gordon Biersch, Redhook, Rock Bottom, or McMenamin’s. I went to LaConner for the first time last week.  It’s about an hour north of Seattle in a nice little seasdide town.  Very nice beers.  A few excellent lagers on the list as well.  There just aren’t enough breweries brewing lagers…yet. Burp, -Dan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – while In Seattle what are some need to see "BEER" attractions. M

Response:

Fish Brewing in Olympia, Elysian, Far West Ireland, LaConner, … geez, too many to list. Go to:  http://www.washingtonbrewersguild.org/ . Don’t waste your time with Big Horn, Gordon Biersch, Redhook, Rock Bottom, or McMenamin’s.

I wouldn’t say don’t go to Redhook.  If you go on a day when they are doing the bottling line then it can be pretty interesting.  The beer isn’t great, but isn’t bad either, and you get a lot of it for the $2 tour fee (plus a small sampling glass). I’d add Bigtime, Hales (both of which have their brewing equipment exposed) and Pike Place to the list.  Pike Place’s beers on tap are much different than what they sell in bottles (I believe the bottles are contract brewed). alex

Response:

There’s enough incredible beer in Seattle to not waste your time on beer that "isn’t bad. " If you want to see a brewery in operation, go to the Miller Brewing plant in Olympia.  They’re all pretty much the same except for the size of the equipment.  Well there is the difference in the samples at the end of the tour.  That’s why I always recommend Widmer in Portland or Anchor in SF. Burp, -Dan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -sniP< The beer isn’t great,  but isn’t bad either, alex

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