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
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.
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
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