Craft Beer--Beer Events Calendar--Information
Hoppy recently visited Bad Dad Brewery in Fairmount where he not only enjoyed their beers, but their names, as well. He tasted three IPAs that included Tapestry of Obscenity at 6.6%, Pull My Finger at 7.1% and an Imperial IPA, Kiss The Cook, at 8.8%. He settled on a pint of the Tapestry of Obscenity. Other clever named beers included Because I Said So (Weizenbock), You’re Grounded, Mister (Coffee Stout), and Schitzengiggels (Festbier).
Hoppy’s 2nd and last visit in Tacoma was at E9 Brewing. This new brewery and tap room opened in 2019 in the city’s Historic Brewing District. E9 was the first brewery in Tacoma, opening in 1995 They still operate this location as a restaurant and taproom. It was the last operating horse drawn firehouse in Tacoma and is now listed on the National Historic Registry. (E9 Brewing was originally known as Engine House No. 9 Brewery.) They are currently best known for their sours, hence their slogan, “Keep Tacoma Sour.” Hoppy enjoyed a Farmhouse Deux, a barrel aged farmhouse ale at 6.2% ABV, while here.
Hoppy next had a short stop in Tacoma, Washington where he visited two breweries. The first of these was 7 Sea Brewing which opened in Tacoma in 2016. (Their original facility was in Gig Harbor, Washington, where they still have a location.) The Tacoma brewery and tap room is located in Tacoma’s historic brewery district in the former home of Heidelberg Brewery. They have food partners in the tap room which are 3uilt Tacoma and 3uilt Grind Espresso. 7 Seas is known for being the first brewery in Washington State to can their beers, beginning in 2009. While there, Hoppy enjoyed sampling some brews and quaffed a pint of their IPA, formerly known as Rude Parrot. It clocked in at 5.9% ABV and 75 IBU.
Hoppy’s last brewery visit in Anchorage was at 49th State Brewing. This location opened in 2016, although their original location opened in Healy, Alaska (Denali National Park location) in 2010. Their menu is filled with locally and sustainably sourced Alaskan ingredients.
Hoppy enjoyed quaffing a Solstice IPA at 7% ABV; 72 IBU.
Hoppy’s fifth brewery visit in Anchorage was at King Street Brewing. They began in October, 2011 and expanded into a newly built facility in July of 2018. It is a three story 21,000 square foot establishment with the brewery located on the first floor. There is seating available on all three floors as well as on a deck on the third floor. While there, Hoppy enjoyed a King Street IPA with 6% ABV and 60 IBU.
The next stop for Hoppy was at a brewery rated as one of the best in the world, Anchorage Brewing. Gabe Fletcher, an owner and the head brewer, is noted for his use of Brettanomyces, which is a wild yeast, often referred to as Brett. It adds what is described as a somewhat sour, funky taste to beer. After sampling the house brews, Hoppy decided to partake of a Lilith’s Brethren Hazy Double IPA at 8.4% ABV and a Gutted Belgian Dark Strong Ale at 10% ABV.
