Visiting Seattle - Spring 2018

There are some groups that offer "Tours" of the breweries. I highly suggest that you visit the wealth of breweries, especially in Ballard, at your own pace. I've witnessed one of these third party tour groups pack the guests in a van only to drive one block and park at another brewery.

 

Did anybody hit Cask Fest today? Particularly the first session? I ended up pouring the second session, and it seemed less busy than in past years. Was wondering if it's my imagination, if the event is losing it's luster, if other events drew folks away, or....... ?

 

That was a fest I never attended when I lived in Seattle. I always heard it was a fest people only went to because you got more bang for your buck? Do you still get like 20 tickets/tokens to start?

I would think the younger generation doesn't even know what cask beer is. I'm not a fan of it, so that's why I never went. Leave the real ale to the Brits. Us Americans need CO2 in our beer.

 

My allergies were kicking in, so I didn't even have a drop, but there were some interesting beers there. I've always been a fan of the fest. There's a wide variety of styles, some barrel-aged stuff, hoppy brews, even some cask versions of the currently popular Murky-bomb brews. It was a good fest, I was just a bit surprised by the low foot traffic. shrug.

BTW, there were plenty of younger folks there, I think the night sessions tend to draw younger than the day sessions. Some of my friends went down for the first round, then went over to Brouwers.

 

Follow up question for my previous question about places to pick up beers en route from SeaTac to Lake Quinault, Copper Door and Edison City in Tacoma were recommended in the previous thread. I think we’ll also be rolling through Olympia. What about good food options? These places have food too? Any other food (with beer a plus) recommendations along our route? Thanks!

 

Copper Door just began food service, but is 21+, as @distantmantra noted. It is very close to some other good food options (I like Indo-Asian, one block away) so you could eat and then grab stuff to go (or have a beer at the bar if you're waiting for a table). Thriftway is right there and they have a pretty good selection of cans, and some crowlers to go.

If you ventured a little further into the interior of Tacoma you could hit up E9, which is family-friendly, has a huge menu, and a fridge full of their great sours and mixed fermentation beers. (They also have a big red cooler that has gems in it from time to time, like Fantome–but since you're coming up from California that's likely not as interesting.) The Red Hot is right there as well. (No bottles to go, but you can eat some food and have some pints.)

Just up from there is Peaks & Pints, also 21+ but good sandwiches and salads, pretty good bottle and can selection (which you can drink on site or take away), and a nice taplist.

Tacoma Boys on 6th has a great beer selection if you wanted to stop in after eating somewhere in that area.

Neither Pint Defiance or Edison City have food, and both are 21+. Both are great bottleshops, though.

If you're trying to get to the mountains as soon as possible, maybe a quick stop in Tacoma for bottles at Pint D or Tacoma Boys and food/beer in Olympia at 3 Magnets. Depends on how much time you have...

 

Yes on the kids. Thanks!

 

Is three magnets kid friendly?

 

I think their restaurant side is kid friendly. They change their shit around so much I’ve lost track, so I’m not 100% sure.

 

Good call on the three magnets. Thanks!

 

Visiting this weekend from Boston. Is Hooverville my best bet for a spot near Safeco with a good draft selection for before/after a Mariners game this sunday? Also any advice on the beer selection inside Safeco would be appreciated, especially if there are updates from people who go to the first couple games this week.

My in laws just moved to Kirkland from New Jersey. Any Kirkland brewery or bar suggestions? Chainline Brewing sounds like it would be a decent option. Thanks

 

Hooverville is indeed your best bet. You could venture further south and hit up Seapine before the game, but Hooverville is my go to.

https://craftbeermonger.files.wordp...erplate-safeco-field-beverage-initiatives.pdf

$6 bodhi is the best bang for your buck. Bale Breaker would be my draft rec.

 

I would second the collins pub recommendation and as for Kirkland, I would check out Flatstick Pub. Cheers!

 

As for Kirkland breweries, Chainline is good. Flatstick Pub is down by the marina has only Washington State beer on tap, and many at that. If the weather is nice, take a walk around the marina to enjoy the view of downtown Seattle across the lake. If you need a bottle shop, The Cave, again still in Kirkland, has probably the best selection on the Eastside (i.e. if you can’t make it in to Seattle).

 

Currently staying in belltown about 1/2 south of Seattle center, staying near 1st and battery. In good spots within walking distance? We will be hitting up cloudburst for sure. Any other recommendations for good food and drink within a general mile radius?

 

Collins Pub is my go-to pre-game beer spot.

As a huge baseball fan and one who goes to lots of Mariners games and visits ballparks in other cities when I travel, I can say without reservation that Safeco Field has one of the best --- if not the best --- selections of craft beer of any MLB ballpark. Good craft beer can be found throughout the stadium. The best spot IMO is near the Mariners HOF on the 100 level. And not far from the HOF, there's a spot that has two casks on tap. CASKS IN A MLB BALLPARK!

But you can find all of the beer selections in the stadium if you have the MLB Ballpark app --- it literally lists every beer served in stadium and the location(s) of those beers. I don't know if the app has been updated yet for this season but I used it frequently last season.