Hello all. I recently moved to the PNW after 3 years in Belgium. I know a lot about Belgian beers but little about those from the U.S. After trying everything I wanted to in Belgium it will be nice to find new favorites, especially IPAs since there aren't many great ones in Belgium. I'll have to get it figured out before my supply from Belgium runs out! Feel free to hit me up for info on European beers/breweries. Looking forward to talking to new people.
You should check out Tacoma Boys and Pint Defiance. Both sell a bunch of beers. Make sure to explore the local breweries as there are a ton around here! Here is a map that I found that shows where they are: http://www.communitywalk.com/map/303396
Thanks for the link. Looks like there's plenty to explore out here! I've been to Tacoma Boys. I thought they were just a farmer's market type store and was shocked at the amount of beer they have.
I know, it's ridiculous how many great ones there are in this area. Sculpin, Toppcutter, and FW Union Jack are my favorites so far.
Posted the below in a moving to Tacoma post the other day. A great, consistent IPA is Bale Breaker Top Cutter. It will never let you down and it is readily available at Fred Meyer. Some of this is redundant, but is what I know for the area minus Seattle. Tacoma Boys is open 24 hours, good beer selection, good produce, meats, etc- one in Tacoma (6th Ave), one in Puyallup. Pint Defiance is close to 6th Ave Tacoma Boys, nice bottle shop, sells pints and growler fills too- pretzels is only food. Copper Door has pints, growler fills and decent bottle selection (no food). Breweries/Bars 21+ Parkway (full menu), Redhot (awesome hot dogs), Narrows (no food), Wingman (no food). Kid Friendly- Odd Otter (no food), Pacific Brewing, (No Food); Harmon Brewpub (only Harmon beers-full menu), Harmon Taproom (Harmon beers and others- full menu), E9 (full menu, great tap/bottle selection and bourbon selection). Dorky's Barcade has old arcade games and a decent selection of beers, kid friendly until 9. Short drive to Gig Harbor and 7 Seas, great beer. 99 Bottles in Federal way is a nice bottle shop with growler fills. Down South you have Edison City Alehouse in Lakewood (15 minutes), 3 Magnets and The Eastside in Olympia (40 minutes). Puyallup River Alehouse has closed to focus on brewing operations. Should reopen soon as an irish pub with decent beer menu. Farelli's and The Rock are regional pizza places with good pizza and decent beer selections. Bale Breaker Topcutter is readily available at Fred Meyers and Albertsons in cans. Bottomcutter (Bale Breaker IIPA) and Barley Browns beers pop up at the Redhot, Pint Defiance, Parkway and Eastside on occasion. Edison City Alehouse in Lakewood has had some great tap offerings and they do crowlers- check their website.
Keep your eye out for Georgetown offerings as well. One of the many great breweries that don't bottle, Lucille and Johnny Utah will crop up time to time in the area. Or when you are in the Seattle area just drop on by. Do what we do here, always travel with a growler, you never know what you will find.
I actually had the Lucille and was quite impressed. I wasn't aware that Georgetown doesn't bottle. Good advice on the growler, I'll toss it in the car.
