Northwest Washington Update

I'm a long time fan.

 

They've made the first AOA I've actually liked, and enjoyed.

 

Looks like Melvin will have a restaurant when they infect, oops, invade Bham, which isn't a surprise considering they started in a Thai restaurant.

Another rumor has another brewery going into the same neighborhood as Menace and Melvin, but if they're going to use the building I think they are, a lot of work will need to be done.

Structures continues to pump out the AOA beers, newest one being HazeMaze, made with the 2nd type of experimental South African hops of the 3 that they have.

The fresh hops are around, tried Aslans Azacca FH a couple days ago, solid, but not sure that hop is my thing.

Things seem quiet on the Kulshan front, been a bit since I've been in though.

South Nut isn't brewing just yet, but the hours the tasting room is open have started to stabilize.

Atwood Ales released a FH brew as their first kegged option. I missed out on it, but heard good things.

Boundary Bays FH Amarillo is nicely enjoyable.

Aslan has a couple versions of a barrel aged stout on right now, one from red wine barrels, the other from whiskey barrel, with peppers added. Had tasters the other day, and enjoyed them both. Gonna head back for full pours before the limited amount is gone.

 

That's for Subdued. Right now there's a hang up with the landlord. The newly rumored brewery is going (supposedly) into the old Oriento restaurant building that's been closed for about 5 years (if not more). It's on a slab, no basement, and has always been a restaurant, to make that into a viable brewery/tasting room is going to take some effort.

Unless the CoB has really streamlined their processes, I don't see Melvin being open by the end of the year. I was very surprised that Structures got open as quickly as they did, so hope does spring.

 

Go ask the guys at Gruff or Stones Throw. One inspector will tell you to change something, and if a different guy comes for the follow up, he might tell ya to change it back. As Tony at ST about the 'Exit" sign on the brewdeck.

As far as Melvin goes, that's a big space, and they have the money (I assume) to hire people, and get on it, but still cutting the concrete downstairs (where I'm guessing the brewery and prep kitchen would go) and running all that plumbing and electrical takes time. We'll see, as I said, and maybe CoB is getting better at dealing with breweries?

 

That building has a full basement the same size as the street level floor. When it was Fountain Pharmacy they had an awesome toy section, and a pretty nice kitchen shop sown there, with a bunch of other stuff too. You could easily put a 3bbl brew system, and about a dozen fermentors and brite tanks down there, and still have room for a prep kitchen and dry storage. Then you would have the main floor for your line kitchen, a 21+ bar area, an all-ages dining room, and plenty of outdoor seating along both sides of the building.

It's a killer spot, it was my "If I hit the Lotto tomorrow, that's where my brewery is going" fantasy spot.

 

So, this isn't really an update, more like whispers and rumors. Apparently, according to a couple different sources, a certain Wyoming brewery has perhaps made a bid on a spot in Bham's waterfront redevelopment project, for "destination"brewery (think Stone type thing). It doesn't pass my personal smell test because they just opened a brewery in their home, and are currently involved in another project.

Also heard Big Sky is looking for a Bham spot. If true, I hope they would find a space that would let them put on concerts, like the series they do at home, I'd like that.

Also whispers that 1 or 2 others are looking at spots along Meridian, where Menace and Melvin are building, for more breweries.

In actual news, Structures will be receiving their canning line soon, and are scheduled for reps to come in for training on Nov 7.

Everything else seems pretty static at the moment, this is kind of a slow time, between summer, and the busy Holiday/snow-sliding season, but Kulshan Kitten Mittens Winter Warmer is out in cans already, and Boundary Bay will be bottling Cabin Fever (a personal favorite) on Nov 7.

 

Structures strength, to me, is in their Saisons. Their IPAs/hoopy things tend to be to much AOA for my tastes. However, they had had a couple recent releases using new South African hops that were pretty tasty.

I've said it before; I'm a long time fan of Skookum, they're doing great work. I think they're our best "secret" brewery in the state, and I hope it stays that way.

 

Different animals, HazeMaze not a FH. Plus, it's very much in the AOA style.