Thursday, May 7th, 2026
It is two years to the day, allowing for time differences in the recording medium, since Marg and Hector visited Alcatraz, San Francisco CA, Hector has once again headed across to the West Coast of the USA. This time in the company of Dr. Stan, and having started from Glasgow, not Honolulu. In 2018, it was Dr. Stan’s Big Birthday Tour, this year similarly belongs to Hector. 2018 coincidentally began by flying to San Francisco, this time Seattle WA is the focal point: two sets of four nights split with four nights in Portland OR. We shall be joined in Portland OR by Prof. G who also flew west today, but only as far as New York NY. He too is on a mission to visit some of the finest breweries that Dr. Stan and Hector have already visited, plus some of his own choosing. Fidens Brewing Company (Albany NY) is very much an objective for him. Whilst Marg and Hector may squeeze in a further NY trip in a couple of years, we all know that, unexpected windfalls excepted, this is our swansong as far as visiting the finest breweries in Washington and Oregon is concerned. Too far, and Business Class makes the nine hour flight bearable.
With the BA Lounge out of action, a hearty breakfast was taken at Glasgow Airport’s Lomond Lounge. Been here before in a different guise before the northern extension added more options. Following Mr. O’Leary’s proposed strict guidelines, we did not have six pints before boarding the 11.25 to Heathrow.
On the rare occasions I fly with BA, I always decline their miserable pretzels. Today, meal options, and served with proper cutlery, none of this wooden nonsense. The Salad, accompanied by Champagne was food and drink I did not need.
More Champagne, sir?
What did she think I am, it had just gone noon.
No needless second security check at Heathrow, straight up to the BA Lounge, which prior experience has demonstrated it to be stowed, constantly. Soft Drinks only, and the cheapest of green olives. Could have had more Champagne, many did.
Boarding the 16.30 to Seattle WA was no different than the waiting around on a Ryan Air/ easyJet flight. What awaited aboard the ‘plane was something else.
Champagne, sir?
The power sockets took a while to engage, I brought my own entertainment, just in case. The movie selection was not inspiring. If I have seen Polanski’s Chinatown before, it was fifty years ago. Deja Vu with Denzel, I knew I had seen already.
Two movies on a nine hour flight, dinner took two hours. By the time I had eaten three courses, stuffed. Chicken Tikka Pie, this belongs in another Blog.
Dr. Stan, sitting in the adjacent aisle, was served way more red wine than Hector, but a rather insipid Bloody Mary had come my way.
The second meal was passed up. In 2018, I missed out on a meal because I hadn’t realised two were on offer, and so only arranged one.
Most of our flight was over land. Iceland loomed two hours after take-off, yes we flew over Glasgow. Greenland, featureless, then Canada, a straight line on the map, because, as we all know, the Earth is flat.
What about RTW-80, Hector?
Oops.
Thirty minutes at Sea Tac waiting for our luggage. At least ours arrived, Paddy Air left Prof. G’s in Dublin. Meanwhile, we watched the queue, to wait to join the passport control queue, not move. Once we were in it, twenty minutes to get into the main snake, a further thirty to present our finger prints.
Nice chap, welcoming, unlike Newark NJ. Actually Honolulu HI was fine as was San Francisco CA. And after the time spent in line at Poznan earlier this year, and Lisboa last, this is where we are at. Getting out of Sea Tac in ninety minutes, reasonable, but then there was the walk through the car park to Sea Tac / Airport Station.
Both Dr. Stan and Hector have Senior – Orca – Cards. A quick reload and Green – Line 1 took us north to Westlake. Having cleverly chosen the correct exit at Westlake, the Hector still led us in the opposite direction. Sorted, and up to 8th Avenue and La Quinta.
The bags were dumped, straight back out, hopefully the last hour at Cloudburst. 21.00 closing, I was sure it was 22.00. The fallback came into play.
Seattle WA is not renowned for its night life. Taprooms are open from noon, some earlier.
In the shadow of the Space Needle, lies TeKu Tavern + Cafe. A Craft Beer Bar, it has everything except a late license on a Thursday Still, 23.00 should do us, or 07.00 as our body clocks would argue.
From the outside, TeKu immediately impressed. The long, narrow room had more fridges than any Bier shop ever seen. Drei Fonteinen (België) but no Hanssens.
The bar, two screens, three quarters of them featuring Bier on tap. Three Hazy IPAs, all local, one featuring an interesting collaboration. We had time for three 14oz, US servings.
Having arrived too late for Cloudburst, fitting that we kick off this tour with our favourite Downtown Brewery.
Look How They Shine (Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle WA) at 7.0%, listed as a Hazy IPA, a NEIPA then. Suitably Hazy, but a bit thin for the abv.
The hop flavour was there, but they have brewed better. Hops: Amarillo, Citra, Chinook.
The Bale Breaker Hazy was at the foot of the – Hops – list on the board. Dr. Stan never got that far, he returned with an AIPA.
*
Retrograde (Bale Breaker, Seattle WA / Maui Brewing Company, Honolulu, HI) at 6.3%, a gold, chill haze possibly mostly clear AIPA. The fruitiness was to the fore. Markedly different from the NEIPA, this almost WCIPA went down very well. The hop list included one never seen before: Citra, Dulcita, and Krush. An honourable mistake.
I took particular delight in informing The Good Doctor that not only had I visited Bale Breaker in 2024, I had also been to Maui Brewing in Honolulu HI. It is directly opposite The Cheesecake Factory. Penny!
Finally and at last orders: Retrograde (Bale Breaker, Seattle WA) at 6.5%, a true NEIPA. With a good haze, better body, this was why we had come to Seattle WA.
Our host gave us a few minutes after 23.00 to enjoy our Bier. We promised to return, but on weekend nights, I know a place open even later.
A block away from TeKu is a 24 hour dive bar – The 5 Point Cafe, time will tell. This evening, Dr. Stan declared himself to be tired. It was 08.00 BST when we called it a day.
The bar visited today:
Teku Tavern + Cafe – 552 Denny Way, Seattle WA 98109
Friday, May 8th, 2026
throw me a bone, it takes time…