210 Brewing, Arlington, Wa.

Many of the breweries I cover here are breweries that I have sampled at the local beer festivals held in the Northwest. I have long had a 210 sticker affixed to my coffee mug and another on my fave brew bucket. I recently relocated to a town that puts 210 as one of the third closest craft beer stops.

I had reservations, however, that this brewery and taproom is located inside of the Angel Of The Winds casino. Naturally, I was expecting the lack of intimacy and the small community feels that most NW taphouses provide. I was also concerned that I'd have to fight the stench of cigarette smoke. Most modern casinos are very well vented, but never perfect.

Still, expectations must be real... this is a casino.

True to form, we prefer to haunt beer spots in the afternoon. We are old and are expected back at the "home" by 6... Maybe not, but we like to have beers in the afternoon all the same. This made parking a much better prospect, and of course, the valets are glad to assist you with a nice gratuity. The casino proved to be like most other, modern, well vented, and totally devoid of any real clue as to the time of day.

After a self-guided tour and quick loss of ten bucks on a slot, we wandered into the 210 to imbibe in the craft of frosty malt wonderfulness. We usually find sitting at the bar lacks the intimacy we like when we are out, however, the barstools were cozy the bar wide and somehow separated from the bustle of the casino. 210 offers a pretty typical beer menu, but for me, any craft menu that has at least 2 IPAs 2 Pale Ales and at least 1 Stout and 1 Lager is off to a great start. They offer 4 IPAs but one was not currently available. The *menu is pretty cool and by itself a reason to return. We settled for a great plate of nachos cooked in the pizza oven.

A plus for me is to be able to enjoy the craft in the company of the three-pot system and several 3barrel fermenters bubbling merrily away as we enjoy the very beer fermenting before us!

I began my normal grilling of the manager/ beer-tender over typical craft geek questions about hops, notes... etc. The manager was not a brewer, however, was happy to share the actual server's notes so I could read up. I like that willingness to do the best for me.

I was offered as many samples as I wanted, I finally settled on the Pin-Splitter IPA. This is the lighter beer pictured here. This was a dry but floral smelling sip, easy on the IBU but just enough to linger a bit. This went well with a good pile of nachos!

My second selection was a double IPA (damn if I can remember the name). Doubles are hit-and-miss for me. They can tend to be a little thick and sweet and under hopped. The 210 double was a nice surprise, the amber color was nice and deep with a light head. The sip was not exactly dry; enough sweetness to remind you its a double, ABV as I recall is less than 8, and the hoppiness bitter just cut through the residual sugar leaving a pleasant second taste on the tongue. I would drink this with a pulled pork sandwich or pork belly sliders. It needed more saltiness than the nachos could provide.

My only real complaint was drinking from plastic cups, this is fine if I'm at the Gorge, a rodeo or a wild home kegger. I prefer a nice goblet or even a standard pint shaker.

Randa and I found it to be a nice experience, it allowed us to overcome some preconceived biases. Can't wait to return for more of the beer and food menus.


*https://www.menupix.com/menudirectory/menu.php?id=30070391

Stoup Brewing, Ballard Seattle, Wa.

My admiration of the craft beer industry took bloom in Ballard, Wa. maybe about 5 years ago. I never really enjoyed the typical dive bar scene or culture. My wife and I with our social Bohemian nature and the fact that we are middle-aged aged found it weird fitting in with many places our peers hung out. Enter Ballard/ Freemont and the Craft brewery taproom culture... unpretentious, plenty of flannel, no pool tables and pure enjoyment of craftwork of the malt beverage and contact with really really cool people.

Entering this neighborhood is a treat these days as I now live a long hour north of Seattle. Still, contract work brings me into the Emerald City occasionally. This day allowed a research mission (an excuse to drink beer). Nonetheless, I made the most of my visit to Stoup Brewing.

My research indicated that Stoup is dog friendly, but being without my Corgi... I contemplated feeling naked without my sidekick. I braved it and strolled right on in to an absoulutely wonderful experience. The exterior is a mix of modern industrialism and funky grunge decor, clearly lots of outdoor seating; winter in Seattle precluded access to this cool space.

I am a mid-afternoon haunter of these breweries for a couple of reasons: 1. I'm getting old and turn into a pumkin after 6, aaaand at the right brewery I can watch the brewers work their magic. As a home brewer, I get a bit fan-boyish when I can get ahold of a brewers ear to pick their mind. Ive always found them to be kind and patient with my noob questions.

Enter my new friend Lisa; one of the brewers at Stoup. A true doppelganger for Rosie the Riviter, took 20 or so minutes to talk brewing with me. I love that kind of kindness, but from a business sense gives an even more complete experience to a brewery visit. Later as I returned to my table and beverage she even brought me a sample of the wort (the beer before addition of yeast and fermentation). I forget the name of the product, but I believe it to be a light bodied brown ale with just enough hopiness to keep it interesting.

The tap-room is situated in a well lit corner of the large building with a clear view of the large 10 barrel system of  at least 10 fermenters. Again, I can never get enough of  drinking in the actual brewery.

Rather than a paper menue, a clearly visible board listing all the beers, types of beers and info on ABV, and IBUs were quite informative in making a decision. The beertenders are very happy to provide samples of anything on the board. That said, I sampled a dry hopped lager called "Ray of Light" reccomended to my by Lisa the brewer and was very surprised at the enjoyability of it. I am a recovering IPA snob trying to branch out... this was a vital waking up moment to taste it. I also tased a wonderful porter called Robust Porter, this coffee-chocolate sip also had enough hop bitterness to cut through and make it a complete sip from my lips, over my tongue, and into my belly.

I met the owner and head brewer of the brewery next door who were sipping on secret  projects provided to them that were not on the board. I have a habit of asking people around me what they are having and what they think... my next visit I'll take advantage of this knowlege and ask to taste some backroom hootch. Great discussion with those guys, I'll review THAT beer-stop later this spring.

Did I drink more than samples? Why of course! My first pint was an IPA called Good as Hell Hazy. The name is a bit obvious because frankly I've had few bad hazys, the hame is catchy though! It had a very pleasant oaty mouthfeel. My nose was not operating well, but I got a little stone fruit scent with a little bit of pine cone. The taste was a bit of a surprise as I was hit with light citrus with a gentle bitter that sat mid tongue . Color a carmelized beige haze that I could not see through. I'd sip on a few of these easily when not driving.

Next was a must try! As a home brewer one of my fave hops is Simcoe. This IPA is called the Simcoe Bomb. This mid amber beer was rife with the woodines and clean bitternes that would wash down a gourmet pepper bacon burger with ease! The 61 IBU was right on for a crisp IPA. Let's hear it for Simcoe!

I got so wrapped up in this experience, the only thing I did not photograph was my actual beer! Who does that?...right? So I stole pics from their website!   Perhaps on my next visit I'll actually get the pics and update this post.

I don't give breweries an actual rating, but I will say I cannot wait to return this spring with my girls (wife and Corgi), to take in all Stoup has to offer.

Cheers,

Crash

North Sound Brewing, Mt. Vernon, WA.

Often times, I simply wander into a place out of thirst, boredom, or a drive to be in a social place... or not-so-social place. This is an important thing to an extroverted/ introvert such as myself.

In an effort to seek something new, we looked North. As transplants from the Everett Wa. area, we were previously unexposed to the malted beverage industry to our north. We have since relocated into the far northwestern region of Washington State. There is no shortage of craft beer here. 

Ogham tree script: Happiness

Our first stop on the Skagit Valley beer tour brought us to North Sound Brewing. As I mentioned, sometimes I want conversation and socialization, and other times I like the quiet that a secluded corner on a late weekday afternoon brings. Enter North Sound: from the parking lot, it was evident it was a pupper-friendly establishment. Upon entering, more surprises abound.
The beer-bar area was sectioned off from a larger more open area. The beer bar area had a true Irish Pub feel: dark, loud and small. I liked it! My wife, my Corgi and I made camp in a cozy area with a sofa, fireplace and lots of windows. Popular among NW taprooms with no restaurant, they allow outside food. We ordered in and enjoyed a delivery meal. Sara, the beertender helped us out with forks and napkins (which our food purveyor failed to provide).

Bodhi approves of the cozy furniture

Oh! Did I mention there was a brewery there? So we had a couple frosty malt beverages, and true to form... IPAs. Tasted a couple of offerings: Hopsolute, with a good hoppiness balance from beginning to end, it smelled of citrus and pine. Nice sip. The crisp bite and medium-light body has a great mouthfeel as hazys often do. It really smelled like orange blossoms! Good sip.

I loved the Irish pub theme! It's not overdone, but subtle and not fake. I can't wait to return!

Plenty of samples... NSB IPA lineup