Gallaghers' U-Brew

Brew your own extract beer. Friendly and helpful staff. They have all the ingredients you need but one can bring in your own ingredients. Bring your own food, have it delivered, or enjoy the occasional food truck

For the person who wants to take the plunge and try brewing but without investing in all the equipment for a homebrew setup, this is a fantastic option.

There are tons of recipes on hand, most clones of well known brews. The option to design your own is also an option for those feeling confident. The staff from the owner on down are extrmely friendly and knowledgeable. They'll help you if needed and leave you alone if you don't.

It can be kind of pricey, so cut down on the cost by saving bottles and bringing your own.

There is nothing better then that first inhale of wort when you first walk in. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Anyways:

Quality: a rather decent variety of styles on tap that are all pretty good. They do it all there just like their customers do which I think is a good thing as it shows you that you can make some rather good stuff there yourself. As for the beer you make and take home it is pretty fun and tasty, especially when bottling. Bring some friends and a lot of bottles.

Service: Guys there are all very smart when it comes to the process and beer in general. Have talked with a couple of them at other breweries and bottle shops or festivals and they always love to share their information and learn new things. Getting a pint there is really easy as they are always moving around and checking on the customers.

Selection: As mentioned above they have a good variety on tap usually.

Atmosphere: Exciting and fun place to just get a drink or to actually make your own. If you're lucky you might see Gallagher himself.

A: Walking in and the U brew stations are to your immediate right. Its a busy place on a Saturday.

Q: The beer here is average at best. The establishment itself is nice, clean and quality

S: The guys here are super nice, excited and welcoming. Great group of guys and the patrons here are just as nice and welcoming. It is some of the best service around. I even left with a free goody thanks to the server.

S: About 6 to 8 beers ranging from Stouts, to Rye and IPAs of course

F: No food here to my knowledge

Gallaghers' is primarily a brew-on-premises place where people brew beer, wine, or cider using Gallaghers' gear. But they also brew and serve house beers and so technically qualify as a brewpub. They are centrally located in downtown Edmonds a few blocks from the ferry terminal inside a mini-mall.

While brewing, you can drink from one of eight house taps, including a root beer. When not brewing, the mug club is a popular option for local beer fans. There are beer-related books and magazines, abundant sports memorabilia, good music on the hi-fi and a small standup bar. And the place smells great - like fresh hot wort. Three small tables provide a modicum of seating, but people often arrange a semi-circle of folding chairs facing the brew kettles and converse as the beers take shape.

Sadly, most Gallaghers' beers are substandard. They are brewed with liquid malt extract using several of their six, copper-clad U-Brew kettles and fermented in a back room in 55-gallon plastic drums. Guest taps, cask ales, and booze are not offered, and food is strictly bring-your-own. The place is festive and gets surprisingly crowded at times. But beer quality is not competitive with regional standards.

Howdy-

I have not brewed at Gallaghers but I have downed a few pints there. My homebrew partner is an occasional extra hand there and because of that I have gotten to know all the guys. They are truly passionate about brewing and beer and always opening up new stuff. They have a half dozen taps and try and keep a rotating selection of the few hundred beers that have been and continue to be brewed there.

If you live in Seattle and dont want the mess of brewing at home or want an expert opinion on the ins and outs of making beer, this is a dandy place. Say Hi to Chris and Eric, they are damn fine folks.

Quality – At first glance the quality seems wanting. It’s in the middle of a hard-to-find small shopping building and when you walk in the cheap linoleum floors and bare walls immediately catch your eye.

However, upon further inspection, you notice that the beer-making equipment is all top notch, which is really all that counts. They also have a fabulous selection of authentic German beer steins.

They don't serve food "per se", just some munchies, but they let you bring in your own food. I brought some homemade pizza and shared it with the owner while we all brewed.

Service – The owner and one of his co-workers are always milling about, ensuring that the customers are doing everything right. The brew master in particular has a serious passion for beer and beer-making and will answer any questions that may arise.

It can get pretty busy there, but they always seemed to have the time to help out. As a footnote, I was to be out of town on “bottling day” and so they pushed it back a week, which was very considerate because their storage areas are quite packed.

Also, they have a club there that brews a bunch of different styles of beer called the “mug club.” I wasn’t ready to join on my first visit but the owner sold me a mixed case from the club, which was quite decent of him.

Selection – The selection is awesome. They have probably 50-some beers to choose from to include classic IPAs, dry-hopped IPAs, blondes, porters, stout, etc, and even a CA common steam beer. They also have a few taps going for good measure.