Spokane Beer News (2021)

Both have excellent pizza (same owners). Republic Pi is a good visit on Tuesdays because all their pizzas are capped at $12.

 

On Sunday I finally paid a long-overdue visit to Genus Brewing, out on the far end of Spokane Valley.
I had an ALL, a kolsch brewed with coffee (reminded me of Carton's Regular Coffee, except "only" 6% abv), and an American style barleywine that clocked in at 10.5% abv, and I'm guessing, because of it's relative mellowness, might have been something they'd aged for a while (I shoulda asked).

My impression: the folks at Genus are Mad Scientists with some outstanding brewing skills! Wish they were closer to me.

 

Finally got around to hitting this Spokane-area beer, Couples Skate, a collab hazy DIPA courtesy of Lumberbeard and YaYa.

Brewed with Mosaic and Motueka, it tastes of berries and light citrus.

 

The local ABC affiliate did a piece on Hidden Mother Brewing:
https://www.kxly.com/made-in-the-northwest-hidden-mother-brewery/
Sounds like they've signed up with King distributing, so maybe we'll be seeing more of their taps around town.

 

Hopped Up Brewing, in Spokane Valley, is closing, as the couple who own it have decided it's time to retire.
https://www.facebook.com/507515942643896/posts/4327111950684257/
In their fb post, they seem to hint that the business is for sale. While too far away for me to hit very often (I try to limit my drinking to what I can reach either on foot or a very short car or bus ride away), I've noticed they have a strong following in their part of town, so perhaps someone will buy the brewery, which is located in an old IHOP along Sprague Ave.

 

Definitely a building that stands out.

 

Garland Brew Werks has opened up. TJ & Sarah Wallin, who recently sold Community Pint, are the proprietors. Adam Boyd, longtime Iron Goat brewer and general factotum, is brewing the beers. It's located in a building that was most recently a sewing goods store at the eastern end of the Garland business district.
I started with their Kolsch:

Then I had the Original Garland, a "PNW IPA (seen here with a Korean BBQ flatbread):"

Finished with Hops AF, a hazy DIPA that had a lot of tropical fruit-like flavor.

This was my favorite of the three I had. If memory serves they had at least one other IPA and a pineapple sour as well.
Check 'em out!

 

Speaking of Community Pint, their new owners, Rachel & Joss, are outstanding beer folks (one of them has won Gold at GABF):
https://www.facebook.com/686144198223954/posts/1822342594604103/
https://www.facebook.com/686144198223954/posts/1828177620687267/
Anybody who visits Spokane and skips CP will be missing out.

 

Anybody know if there's still tennant brewing going on at Steel Barrel? Their social media hasn't been updated in months, but it seems the bar portion of the business shut down around the time of Hello's closing down. I know No Drought was working on a space out in the Valley, and it's possible they could be doing their brewing there if construction has gotten to the point of that being viable. Golden Handle Project's tasting room has got to be too small for brewing, so I can't help but think they're still using the system at Steel Barrel.

 

In other, regional, news, Top Frog Brewing, located to the west of Newport, WA, has closed their doors. I'm not sure when that happened.

To the east, just over the border in Priest River, ID, Timber Town Brewing is set to open next month.

 

Apparently, a brewpub is now open up in Deer Park, called Masters BrewHouse. I'll add it to the database when i get a moment (presuming someone else hasn't already). Maybe I'll mosey up that way sometime soon and check it out.
EDIT: Looks like it's already been added. No place review yet, just a beer rating.