From: joseph@joebloe.maple-shade.nj.us (Joseph Nathan Hall)
Newsgroups: alt.beer,rec.crafts.brewing
Subject: Seattle Area Beers (Impressions)
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 92 23:34:45 EDT
Organization: 5 Sigma Software
Reply-To: joseph@joebloe.maple-shade.nj.us
Distribution: world
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(Followups to alt.beer--just thought this might be of interest to
other brewers, too)

I just returned from a trip to Seattle, which included visits to a
few area brewpubs and micros.  I thought I'd pass along some of my
impressions to my fellow brewers and beerdrinkers.

The names and/or geography may be slightly confused at times.  Sorry.

Liberty Malt--a block or so south of the Pike St Market, on Western.
A supply shop with a reasonable selection.  A nice assortment of brewer's
souvenir glasses and mugs (1-1/2 dozen types, maybe?) and an equally
nice assortment of brewer's t-shirts and other souvenir items.  A
sample of red ale on tap was clean, yummy, and full-bodied.

Brewer's Warehouse--a half-mile or so from University Place shopping
center.  A supply shop.  Good selection of supplies and apparatus.
Nice stainless steel brewpots in 5, 7-1/2, 10 gal and up (but $$$--
about $150 for the 10-gal).  I recommend a visit.

Pacific Something-or-other Brewing Co.--about 3 blocks from the start
of the famous Underground tour.  Brewpub.  Selection of a half dozen
or so house brews, mostly (all?) ales.  An amber ale was malty,
beautifully colored, served at the correct temperature, hoppy, lightly
carbonated ("real ale") and generally yummy.  A "black and gold" (beer
w/ blackcurrent juice) was rather hoppy and could have had more fruit
flavor.  A decent entry in the yuppie brewpub category.

Thomas Kemper--take the Edmonds-Kingston ferry (15 min. north from
downtown on I-5) and drive inland another 15 min. or so.  There is
*no more* blueberry beer.  The tour was fun and "homey."  Vikingfest
was clean, medium malty, and very enjoyable.  (This was before I heard
of MJ's "recommendation.")  Dunkel was enjoyable, with prominent black
and/or chocolate malt.  Pilsner was American-style, not particularly
malty and hopped like the dickens (Sam Adams, etc.).  <hic>  A sample
of the light lager revealed no blueberries.  A sample of the hefe-weizen
was pleasantly cloudy, foamy, somewhat clovey, spicey, and generally
nice.  Birch and root beers (for my companion, the driver) were also
cleanly flavored and as good as the best of the ordinary supermarket
brands.  I came to Thomas Kemper hearing pretty mediocre reports about
the beer and was very pleasantly surprised.  This is a great way to
spend an afternoon (tours at 230), especially if you have a pal to 
drive you back ...

Red Hook--near 99, by the canal in the University District.  A porter
served in the Trolleyman was too cold, but when warmed a bit had a
delightful malt aroma and excellent flavor.  Samples of special bitter
and another ale were clean and pleasant.

Hopefully next year will include pilgrimages to at least one of Portland
or Denver ... 'till then ...

uunet!joebloe!joseph   (609) 273-8200 day   joseph%joebloe@uunet.uu.net
v   v  sssss | Certified Guru: all-grain brewing,| 2102 Ryan's Run East
 v v  s   s  | C, synthesizer comp & arranging,  | Rt 38 & 41
  v    sss   | photography. Also not a bad cook. | Maple Shade NJ 08052
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