Visiting Seattle (Winter 2018 Update)

All due respect, if you only like 1 out of 5 beers at Reuben's, there's something wrong with you.

 

Well, I'm on record stating that Reuben's is my go to in Seattle because I generally love their Crush series and other Haze and West coast special releases. But anyway, in response to your comment, these are the 5 tasters I had:

Haze maze good
Bits and Bobs meh
Roasted Rye not great
Hop Tropic mediocre
Imperial Black IPA admittedly not my style.

I'd already had Triumpherate so didn't try it even though I like it. I think Crikey is average so didn't try that either.

So there you have it, 1 of 5. Just happened to be a weak hops list for them this time around. But I'll be back next month!

 

Stoup has been my go to place for IPAs. Participation Trophy is my favorite right now. You just won't find any hazy ones, which is fine by me.

 

Roasted Rye is far from a hoppy IPA. They describe it as a mix between an IPA and a winter warmer. I'm not surprised you didn't like it if you wanted hops. Don't confuse it with the Imperial Rye IPA though, which is delicious.

Hop Tropic is a Pale Ale, so naturally less hops than you might want if you are a hop head. Same with Crikey, really. If you really want hops, I doubt many flagship IPAs are going to knock your socks off. However, I was there this weekend and they had Bloody Crikey (Crikey randalled through blood oranges) which I'd recommend you try if you get a chance.

A bit surprised you don't like Bits and Bobs though. A bit on the sweeter side, but certainly full of hops and I'm loving every sip. Given what you said about liking their special releases (Blimey? Gobsmacked? Expat? Imperial IPA?), I would've guessed you would like this one.

 

I honestly wouldn't have tried the Rye, or Hop Topic, or the Black IPA. In fact they've all been there the 5 or 6 times I've been to Reubens and I've ignored them for things like the crush series, the fresh hop series, international juice, 3Way, etc.

 

Why would shambles automatically be included on the list, when we know nothing about their food or beer first-hand?

 

If you know who's involved, you know it's a safe bet.

 

Yeah, a guy from Fremont Brewing and a guy from Whole Foods. It doesn't elicit "next best thing" status in my book. I will wait until they earn their stripes.

 

The PDX thread inspired me to talk about new Seattle breweries hopefully opening within 2018.

Floodland
Burke Gilman Brewing

Any others?

 

Well I guess you've read everything you need to know on the Internet. If you knew something outside of that, like, personally knew the people involved, or had any sense of Seattle beer scene history–and I admit I don't go that far back–you'd know that they've "earned their stripes" long ago. And that's why people are excited in the first place.

 

I believe Unified and Fair Isle are both in Seattle.

 

Did Fair Isle actually get a spot? I know they intend to be in Seattle, but if they don't have a spot yet, I'm not sure we can count on them opening in 2018.

 

What did I say that wasn't true? That's what those two do. And I did read it on the internet, which is what most people do to get information these days. Are you, by chance, involved in the business?
I didn't notice BBQ Smith get pushed to be put on the list before they opened.

 

Everything I’ve heard suggests that Fair Isle has very lofty goals and good intentions with the beer, but a lack of understanding when it comes to the Seattle real estate market.

 

What is "The Shambles"?

 

In this context, it is a forthcoming bar & butcher in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood, which shall be run by two people whose knowledge, expertise, experience, passion, skill, and service-commitment is pretty much second to none in our community. Building this place has been a labor of love for them, and, countless bureaucratic and other delays notwithstanding, they're finally close.

Here's their website: http://www.delimeatsbar.com/

 

I did not need to see photos of such magnificent pastrami at this hour of the night. And yet I am somehow still glad that I did.

 

In the smallness that is Hamsterham, I also encountered @TheBungyo today. He was having a, ahem, "business meeting". I believe he'll be interested in this project as well.

 

You and distant mantra, who said this-"Too bad The Shambles didn't open in time, maybe it'll make the Spring list," strongly suggested that, if it was open, it would be on the list with pretty much no vetting at all. How can you include a place on the list right when they open? At one time I suggested Teku be added right after they opened and the idea was vetoed, even though it's clearly it's in the upper echelon of beer bars in our city