Northern Ales & Grocery

Didn't notice any groceries in this brew pub restaurant. There is a stage for live bands though. Fairly big and older concrete industrial ambience which is a bit dark. Just popped in for one of their libations, a wee heavy, and enjoyed it.

A brewpub and grocery store combination. That’s a new one for me. You’ll first notice it on the sign facing Center Ave. stating “Northern Ales and Grocery.” Somehow “ales and grocery” sounds incontestably normal despite its bizarre pedigree. Step through the front door and browse among shelves of whole foods and sundries. Stock up on bulk honey and organic peanut butter then stroll to the rear for a pint of fresh ale. Once you arrive and step to it, it all seems to flow so smoothly and logically. It makes me wonder why major grocery chains throughout the world haven’t already latched on to and exploited the concept thoroughly. Ales and grocery. Of course.

I was primarily drawn to the ales. And seeing as it was Wednesday evening, I naturally tuned into the open mic jamboree, which keeps the place bustling until the wee hours. I arrived just ten weeks after Northern Ales opened for business, having learned of the place by word of mouth down in Colville. But the local community was already well attuned to the prospects of the state’s only grocery brewpub and business was brisk. You just can’t hide something this good in a town of 350 people.

Tapped corny kegs poured ales whose potency caught me by surprise. Somehow I wasn’t expecting two of the four house beers to weigh in at 9.5% ABV. The situation required that I pace myself, yet even before I got to the imperial stout, I was pegged for a musician, handed a mandolin, and steered to the guitarchestra. It’s a friendly place and everyone knows at least eighty-percent of the lyrics to any Grateful Dead song.

Beers take shape in the back room on a 20-gallon homebrewing system that Northern Ales has already outgrown. Quality varies though the honey basil beer, brewed with 12 pounds of honey, is worth investigating. Food is limited to sandwiches and grocery items though you may order from the restaurant across the street when they’re open. Northern Ales opens at noon and closes when the last patron leaves. No bottles, no cask, and no nitro, but growlers are available to go.