Under the radar NW breweries

Propolis was mentioned but I have to push that name again. They win GABF gold for brett beer, beer blogs like Dont Drink Beer, rave about their stuff, and nobody in the PNW cares. Yeah, I guess the prices are a bit high. And maybe some people aren't down with some of the herbal elements ... or the naming is off-putting. And the packaging makes them seem like meads. But they're one of the more adventurous breweries in Washington. I've seen threads lamenting how there aren't good saisons and such in Washington. Sadly, or maybe it's a good thing, their most ambitious stuff doesn't make it into shops. I'm thinking stuff like the BA Gruit (spelled Grewit), Cedar (imperial saison with honey and cedar), the Imp-Wyrt (brett imperial farmhouse stout with vanilla, licorice, and herbs), the syrah BA huckleberry saison, etc. Most only have 1 or two ratings, many aren't even listed. A while back I saw a bunch on shelves at Blemont Station marked down to $9.99 because nobody was buying. Maybe it's the fact that people in the NW rate "hard" and a 4 there might equate to a 4.25+ elsewhere? I love Upright's herbal stuff and this seems like something people who dig Special Herbs, BA Flora Rustica, Flora Rustica, etc, would gobble up.

Snipes Mountain does some great stuff too. They miss big sometimes.

 

My wife and I are fairly regular visitors to the Ballard Farmers Market and Propolis is there now and again. I have to say that pulling the trigger on a $30 bottle of beer is tough.

 

Yeah, I don't know why Propolis isn't a bigger deal either. I'm impressed with the amount of beers they put out considering they don't really have a regular line-up, and everything I've had from them is solid.

Oh, and I don't think I've paid more than $16 for a bottle from them.

 

They're also at the University Farmers Market on Saturdays. I regularly pick up a bottle from them, but don't think I've ever spent more than $17.

 

The BA stuff like Grewit and the Huckleberry are more ... definitely in the $20s.

 

Some underrated beers I really like from unexpected breweries:
HUB Motherland RIS
Seapine IPA
Snoqualmie Wildcat IPA

 

More info please?

 

Santiam Brerwing in Salem.. so far under the radar they are positively subterranean!
Their barrel series is pretty tasty

 

Epic Ales and Machine House seem a bit underrated to me, or maybe just not talked about much on here, but they do tend to make more niche type beers.

I've wanted to try more Propolis beers but they come across as juuuuust a tad too hippie and crunchy for me. Tried them several times at fests and it didn't particularly wow me.

 

Epic is an odd duck. I like Cody's vision (and the fact that he used to be the cheese guy at my Whole Foods) and some of the beers are good, but way more misses than hits. They sadly made the worst fresh hop beer I've ever had. :-/

Machine House is really good, but they don't make the kinds of beers that get people excited on a beer nerd web site.

Have you had Beltane yet? That's the one that finally sold me on them. They normally have bottles for sale at the U District farmers market, and they've very generous about free samples.

 

This is the only Epic beer I would drink again, Misty Rains of the Quinault, brewed with spruce tips. Very interesting. But needless to say, I wasn't too pleased after I popped the cap. The other Epic beers I've tried have been totally flat, disappointing, or worse. Maybe they have upped their game of late, but I've been a little gun shy to try anything else from them.

 

Wait, there's actually a Washington brewery called Epic? How have they managed to stay off the radar of Epic Brewing in Utah?

 

Epic Ales vs. Epic Brewing. Not a huge distinction, but I dunno, they've managed to not have any issues yet.

 

Cody's had Epic Ales up running for four or five years now, I'm sure Epic Brewing in Utah knows about him.

There's also an Epic Brewing Company in New Zealand.

 

And also Epic Beer from New Zealand.

 

I'm impressed as hell that all three of these folks aren't in some kind of litigious roundabout regarding their respective names.

On the other hand, it does seem to indicate the coast is clear for my new brewing company, Epic Beers...

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15586/
The owner of Bier One (Luke) has been selling his own brews on tap here. Some standouts are his Berlinerweise, Flanders Red and barrel aged Stouts. Also Has a very nice IPA of course.

 

i finally went last week. i agree that the style of beer brewed might not be the type people get too excited for on a beer nerd web-site, but that's a shame because everything else is so perfect. beautiful space, quality sessionable english cask ale, cheap prices, and they are brewing while you're there.