Brasil were playing Schweiz this morning as we awoke for the final full day of fun on this trip. Fox, the only TV channel available in the Marco Polo Motel which has been covering the World Cup, reminded us of where we are and showed the golf. World Cup v US Open, I suppose it is the last round of the golf today.
Tomorrow we fly back to Scotland, via Heathrow, this saga ends today. An extraordinary amount of effort has gone in to writing up this trip and maintaining a level of accuracy, whilst hopefully being entertaining. Seventeen days of highlighting both the venues and the Bier I would make a beeline for if/when I next get back.
For the first time on this trip I led Dr. Stan to a venue which I had been to, and he hadn’t. Bus 44 took us east towards the University District. The welcome at Chili’s South Indian Cuisine was unforgettable. Two chaps walking in together at lunchtime. It’s – Father’s Day. We were indeed asked if that was why we were here. Mmmmmm.
The Curry was excellent, we were approaching celebrity status by the time we departed. The full story is of course related – here. Brasil 1 v 1 Schweiz, so we know already who is not going to win the World Cup.
Big Time Brewery & Alehouse is diagonally across the street from the Curry House. If I count correctly, Big Time Brewery is our fifty third Brewpub /Brewery Tap of the trip and is the first of the Brewpubs in Seattle, being established in 1988.
The décor was very much – American Bar. It was still early and so pretty empty. One very tattooed and pierced lady was clearly well known. Having taken up our preferred spot at the bar, she engaged once we had established ourselves.
The Citra Smash IPA at 6.0% with 50 IBU has Citra Hops. The flavours were totally in one’s face, a perfect start to the day. Actually, the Curry was, this just maintained the level.
Ironically, the following did not match this one. That we stayed for a third was all down to the barman who was in excellent form. Samples of Coast to Coast NW-NE IPA at 6.0%. with 50 IBU were offered in both cask and keg. A sample was appropriate, there was definitely a strange aftertaste. Stan had the Cask, Hector moved quickly on to another IPA – Scarlet Fire – at 7.2% with 64 IBU. Despite the glorious – milkshake – appearance, this did not have the flavour or impact of the Citra Smash.
It was time to cleanse the palate. Guava Squeezed Sour at 6.5% with 10 IBU, again hazy. With Citra hops and a fruity flavour, it was not as sour as hoped for. I am still coming to terms with Sour Bier having a low IBU.
One thing is certain about any future return to Seattle, Citra Smash will again follow a visit to Chili’s.
It was time to head back west towards West Woodland and the largest cluster of breweries we have encountered on this trip, our reason for staying in the adjacent Fremont. There are six breweries spread across three blocks, and the same again within a kilometre radius. It may well be a stagger home.
Bus 44 dropped us three blocks above Stoup Brewing. Walking down the hill, leaving the residential area behind, here was an industrial estate, essentially full of Brewpubs. On entering Stoup Brewing a question came to mind – were people here for Bier or a picnic? There was a food wagon parked outside the entrance and a lot a families. That meant weans occupying many seats inside and out. Having spotted the upstairs we were happy to find another bar. From there we could oversea the outdoor seating area. We also had space, though a couple did come and sit beside us. As always, we chatted.
The sensible start was Citra IPA at 5.9% with 50 IBU, a yellow, almost totally clear Bier, with great body and a full on Citra flavour. This would have been enough for many. What followed was another standout Bier for this trip.
Other Side of the Pillow IPA at 6.8% with Hector’s favoured 70 IBU is similarly yellow but more hazy. This Bier is thicker, way chewier, and even tastier with the citrus again to the fore. Some would have been tempted to sit and sup this until closing time, but that is still not what this trip is about.
Next door to Stoup Brewing is Obec Brewery, we passed it by. Having chatted to quite a few people in Seattle, Rueben’s Brews was highly recommended.
Across the street and around the corner, this felt more like a pub crawl than a tour of breweries. Reuben’s Brews has no bar stools and so we took up space at a ledge on the far right of the room. With twenty four taps there was much to digest. Three taps were off, this still left a choice from seven IPAs.
Three Crushketeers at 6.0% with 50 IBU had – juicy – in the given description. We are coming to recognise this term, it has only taken seventeen days. What arrived was another golden yellow – milkshake. Passion fruit hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Galaxy, this Bier had to compete with the remnants of what lay on the palate after Stoup. Didn’t it do well?
Dr. Stan has carried a bottle of water with him throughout the trip, his way clearing the palate and staying hydrated. A keg of still water sat in the middle of the room with a bicycle pump arrangement on top. It was help yourself, and so he did. Of all the photos I have taken on this trip, these may in time, become the most memorable. Dr. Stan, a keg, a pump, water, and no potato peelings.
Triumvirate at 6.2% with 52 IBU is surprise, surprise, another IPA. As clear a Bier as we have had, this had great body but suffered from a slight sweetness at the start. Again, this was probably down to what came before. Grapefruit was promised, this I did not get, passion fruit is the name of the game at Reuben’s Brews. This proved to be another outstanding Bier.
There were simply too many tempting choices, once more we were in the situation of having to move on. We could have spent an entire day here, but that would have meant missing out on Lucky Envelope Brewing which was a whole block away.
*
At Reuben’s Brews, I had spotted a couple who had also been at Stoup Brewing. On walking into Lucky Envelope and finding them sitting at the bar, there was mutual recognition. They were doing six breweries today and somehow managing to get home thirty five miles away, I will not say how, but only in the USA.
*
With a mere eight Biers to choose from, plus a Cider, the board looked limited after Reuben’s, however, quality was maintained.
Grapefruit Eniac Mosaic IPA at 6.8% and 68 IBU looked to be just what we desired, and indeed it was. Some IPAs are milky, some hazy, this was clear but still packed the full hoppy punch. We are doing well today – I remarked to Dr.Stan.
With just the four customers, Hanna, who was serving, was very much part of the ongoing conversation. When I did my usual photographic ritual, she congratulated me on taking photos of the surroundings rather than selfies, which the majority seemingly do.
Hanna provided a taster of the B.A. Hazelnut Coffee IMP. Porter. A sample of this 9.5% Bier was appropriate, as it was not – goodnight Bier – yet, though Lucky Envelope was closing soon. This did exactly what it would have said on the tin, the best Stout/Porter I have tasted on this trip.
The twin of our first Bier followed, Eniac Mosaic IPA, same abv, same IBU. I noted the – body – which puzzled after the Porter, the hoppy flavours were once again to the fore. Yet again this afternoon, we had found a Brewery well worth the visit.
Hanna had cleared up but was not quite ready to leave. A large bottle of the Grapefruit Eniac Mosaic IPA was divvied up between the three of us. Cheers, Hanna!
A Sunday night, all the local Brewpubs were allegedly now closed, and so Hanna sent us across to Trailbend Taproom.
Trailbend Taproom is halfway back to Reuben’s Brews from Lucky Envelope, we had passed it earlier. Open until midnight, and with forty two taps, just what we needed. Bier from all over was represented on the board. There was Bier from the sublime Cloudburst Brewing visited yesterday and Stoup. That was it, let’s drink Bier, no more note taking.
We have stopped using cash. The final note is a $50.00 bill which looks as though it will make it all the way home.
We had to get back to Marco Polo, some of us have a ‘plane to catch, tomorrow afternoon. The half hour walk was declared too long. We walked back up the hill, Bus 44 was due at 12.04, perfect.
After tonight, no more Bier for a very long time, please. The Glasgow Real Ale Festival (G-RAF) starts in four days, Dr. Stan and Hector are manning the Foreign Bar – Bieres sans Frontieres. So it goes.
The Brewpubs, bar and restaurant visited today:
Chili’s South Indian Cuisine – 4220 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Big Time Brewery – 4133 University Way Northeast Seattle WA 98105
Stoup Brewing – 1108 NW 52nd St, Seattle, WA 98107
Reuben’s Brews – The Taproom – 5010 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Lucky Envelope Brewing – 907 NW 50th St, Seattle, WA 98107
Trailbend Taproom – 1118 NW 50th St, Seattle, WA 98107