Quick question - which chucks is better?

Really depends on what part of town you are in and if it is a nice day. They both have roughly the same selection, same number of taps. 85th has a large outdoor area that is nice if it isn't raining (you got about a 20% chance of that this time of year). Both get really packed on weekends and evenings. Central District Chucks has a more open inside area since the beers are on the outer walls. Both have food trucks as well, so need to check their FB pages for specifics.

 

No question. Central District by a mile. Better taps. Better management. Better use of space. Better bottle selection. Fewer kids running wild. etc...

 

While there is always something to be said for the "original" (on 85th, in this instance), the physical space at the CD location is definitely superior (both for ordering and browsing), as @CardsWinAgain notes, and they do offer about 10 more taps. Bottle selection seems similar; I can't definitively say either way. But, like @crowellbw says, if you are primarily situated close to one or the other during your stay, just go to the one you're closest to, and don't feel like you're missing out. They're both great places to stop.

 

I do agree about the kids, but the only time I had to wait for a kid ordering ice cream was at the central district location fwiw.

 

CD, hands down, if for no other reason than Uncle Ike's is within easy walking distance...

 

But not a pit beef to be found in the entire state, so it isn't all sunshine.

 

Anyone else die a little bit inside when the op comes to Washington and is most excited about almanac?

I hope some of the amazing under and not so under the radar Washington beers made it into your basket.

 

Absolutely.
But we should be used to that by now.

 

Anything by Reuben's Brews, Black Raven, or Old Schoolhouse. And I'm now seeing Selkirk Abbey bottles on the shelf --- it's technically an Idaho brewery but so close to the border that I'm going to claim it as a Washington brewery.

 

I use my black Chucks for deadlifting and squatting. I wear my blue ones for when the clothes call for it.

 

don't worry. we just like to keep the hype for WA beers low and then we throw our hands in the air when people from out of state don't immediately know what they should be seeking out

you did well. bale breaker top cutter and field 41, reuben's (as mentioned), anything fremont (the sister, sour weisse, interurban) would be others i would recommend. it's too bad almanac's price point is so high, their beers are superb but they collect dust around town because of the price tag.