Under the radar NW breweries

Benidictine Brewery, when its available which is rarely and only at the Monastary.

 

As @distantmantra said, we're pretty much agreeing. I love Commons and, obviously, many from the PNW do as well. But take a bottle of Urban Farmhouse to a big bottleshare in California, Illinois, etc and observe the disinterest. Which is fine - that's not what the beer is made for. If it blows us away it does so by not trying to "blow us away" if you know what I mean. They practice restraint.

The fact that their beers are popular - and the original brewery that prompted my comment, Machine House, is doing well - is a sign, to me, of a more mature market.

 

Yeah, I know, and totally agree. The bit about "disagreeing" was a bit tongue in cheek. Things get lost in translation on the internet and all. Just giving another voice of support to a great brewery.

 

Not sure they qualify as "under the radar" since they're so new, but I had Culmination's El Dorado dry hopped sour Sunday night, and holy crap! Light, crisp, tart, and lemony. Such a refreshing beer, and great for the warmer weather. I know it's one of the first beers they've put out on their system, and it really surprised me. Hopefully we'll continue to see top-notch stuff like that coming from them as they get their feet under them.

 

Lompoc occasionally makes some stellar brews. Their barrel aged stuff is usually top notch.

I also have a soft spot for Tugboat... There's a brewery most people forget about, even as they're sitting in Bailey's staring right at it.

 

I like to think that the push of session IPA, Gose, and Berliner Wiesse is the step in the direction of lower ABV and more subtlety. Yes, those styles focus on things that are decidedly NOT subtle (hops, sourness, fruit and such), but it's a step in the right direction. Ten years ago ABV was king. It's nice to see some more sessionable styles grabbing the interest of craft beer drinkers.

 

I made a similar comment in another thread (I think the phrase was "mind-blowing") and couldn't agree more. Although admittedly, I'm more of a sucker for something that's spent some time in a barrel than I care to admit.

I also share this sentiment, except in my case this usually happens when I read/respond to posts in Beer Talk. It's not always so bad, but sometimes I feel like I'm speaking a different language—like when I'm trying to explain what's so great about fresh hop beers and just hear a lot of people calling it a "gimmick." Overall I just think the whole beer experience is so different here in some ways that it often doesn't make sense to people in other regions. They just don't have the same frame of reference. But yeah, hopefully that is changing.

 

this literally may be the greatest Pils I've ever had (well, along with Hill Farmstead Mary). I'm obsessed with it now and need a steady supply of it. So...who wants to be that supplier?!

 

I've mentioned this numerous times in other threads; I first got into beer when I lived in Germany, so I like to think I have a pretty good palate for pilsners. In my opintion, this one is hands down the best American take on the style and easily on par with anything I had in Germany.

 

I was three beers into my evening when I tried it (all sours and my tongue felt eviscerated) but Holy Mountain's Pils is up there with the finest I've ever tasted. I absolutely can't wait to try it again under better circumstances.

 

I've only had Three Fates on cask so far, but it's good.

Chuckanut and Heater Allen are still the kings, though.

 

Has anyone mentioned Geux? I forgot about them. In Seattle I was always perplexed that two breweries didn't get any local BA love: Standard and Geux. Standard now seems slightly above the waterline, but Geaux? Still not a mention.

Seattle, get off your asses, cross the lake, and drink at Geaux, aiight?

 

Id have to go to Bellevue, and I don't want to do that.

I've had Geaux's beer before and it is good.

 

True, it is very nice, but the chucks nut pils is no slouch either.

 

And this is why we have under the radar breweries - because 10 miles is WAY too far to travel to get beer. And, ya know, I guess when there are dozens of other options closer, that's quasi valid.

 

It's not too far, I just dislike the Eastside. As a product of 1980s South King County my bias toward the Eastside just won't go away.