Today we travelled north from Portland to Seattle on Train 504. The scheduled departure was at high noon, a three and a half hour journey. As before, we had to check our luggage in seriously early. It will be waiting for us in Seattle – we were assured.
The World Cup/ Mundial began today at 08.00 local time. The US Open also teed off, I wonder how much football we shall see? For us, kick-off times are @08.00, a bit early given our present lifestyle.
Having had only a glimpse of Mt. Hood as we arrived in Portland from the south I hoped to see Mt. St. Helens today, not to be. The scenery was uneventful. What did register, apart from the slow speed of the train, was the vegetation, one could easily have been in the lowlands of the UK.
On the approaches to Seattle, the airport and the adjacent Boeing aircraft plant were on our left. My Uncle John worked for Boeing for most of his life, I possibly have cousins in Seattle, not that I would know how to contact them.
The train terminated at King St. Amtrak Station in downtown Seattle. We had to stand at an airport style luggage belt and wait for our bags to appear. Security, jobs for the boys, or just a better travel experience? Make your own mind up.
The LG is becoming more erratic by the day, rebooting is becoming a too often occurrence. It did provide the necessary information on how to get to the Motel Marco Polo in Fremont in the north of Seattle.
An E line Bus was at the stop on Yesler Way. Not only did the driver not pull away as we hastened our pace to catch it, on asking for a day ticket and fumbling for change he announced – Have this one on me.
Yay! – one could just imagine a driver on the Glasgow bound bus at Edinburgh Airport being so welcoming, not. (An empirical dig.)
Progress was slow. Our anticipated thirty minute journey grew longer, by the – minute. Thirty minutes became the hour. We passed the Space Needle. Is that it? Seriously? An adjacent crane towered above the famous landmark, at least we were seeing one – crane – in Seattle. There must have been a detour, leading to an impossible junction to negotiate at the top of a hill. Eventually we sprinted towards the Aurora Bridge crossing the narrow straights which separate Fremont from Downtown.
Our stop was four blocks past the Marco Polo, leaving a steep downhill walk. Already I was wondering how/where to get the bus back to town.
Check-in was strange. Mein Host, the resident receptionist, was listening to The Archers, or similar, on his radio. Were we interrupting him? Our allocated room was on the first floor, a few doors along from the infamous – Room 226. Dr. Stan and Hector were again sharing for the final four nights. Dr. Stan took the queen bed to the rear opposite the toilet, leaving Hector nearer the front window and facing the television. Ah well, I might get to see some footay.
It was a fifteen minute walk downhill to Fremont Brewing. The taproom has an extensive Beer Garden out front which had the largest gathering of people I have witnessed on this trip. Inevitably, there was a queue for the bar, then we realised there are two bars selling different Biers. We stuck to the two Bier model for the trip, a high IBU-IPA to start, then something different to follow. The number of hazy/juicy/fruity/milkshake style Biers on offer could have had us stay here all night. Hector was determined to move on, hopefully away from the crowd, Dr. Stan may well have been happier to stay put. Food was required, there was none here, it was too dangerous therefore to have more Bier than planned.
Lush IPA at 7.0% with 80 IBU is typical of what we have drunk a lot of on the trip. Gold, with a slight haze, and the New World hoppy flavours one could easily now take for granted. However, this is never the case for 80 IBU.
The young ladies at the other end of our table were engaged, one was more than happy to take the required photo of the chaps. It has been a couple of days since we were indulged.
Trial by Haze at 7.0% is more than a – Hazy IPA. I had to look up ACT IBU, – a crap ton – of hops, Mosaic, Citra and Ekuanot to be precise. The overall flavours were similar to the Lush, or had the palate been assaulted by hops?
Having dragged Dr. Stan away, for his own good, we headed west and under the Aurora Bridge. We passed a Cider House where the palates could have been cleansed, Dr. Stan was having none of that.
*
Outlander Brewery and Pub was some ten minutes away. If I found the grounds of Fremont Brewing busy, then the entire area around Outlander was buzzing. Various bars had people spilled out on to the pavements, sorry, side-walks, and this was a decidedly residential area.
The aroma of Cannabis filled the air. It is legal, and we have spotted many an outlet on this trip. However, this was the first encounter, just the aroma, of course. We are here for hops, not weed.
Outlander is very much a house on the street which has been converted into a Brewpub. On entering, Joy Division were being playing followed by Simple Minds. The Cure followed later, no Hotel California here. We were not here for the music, but this does set the scene for the atmosphere which was truly welcoming. The chaps behind the bar know their stuff, we were well fed and watered.
The Chicken and Asparagus Pie may have been on the small side given US portions, but was well seasoned. Knowing this would be our last venue this evening, we very much got our feet under the table.
Cascade Warrior IPA at 6.0% is an amber Bier very much in the hoppy style sought.
This was followed by Sour Apple at 6.5% which clearly was not a Cider but an actual Sour. A new experience, the apple content if any, was incidental. Hector likes his Sour Ale.
One can tell when it’s getting late, time to try a Stout/Porter at a silly abv. The X-Treme Peanut Butter Stout at 10.7% therefore couldn’t be ignored. Indeed, the taste of nuts came across, but peanuts? Again a new experience.
The walk back to Motel Marco Polo was uphill, it had to be. On reaching the west side of Aurora Avenue, there is a convenient pedestrian bridge over the otherwise impassable road, which took us very close to our destination.
Only two Brewpubs visited today, this was almost like a day off. We’ll be raring to go again tomorrow.
The Brewpubs visited today:
Fremont Brewing Company – 1050 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Outlander Brewery and Pub – 225 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103