Despite the volume of beer being pumped out of this state’s kettles, breweries keep opening at a breakneck pace. We’re just fine with that, especially when those breweries come with taprooms, because taprooms are a really good way to daytime drink and somehow seem less alcoholic than if you were sequestered in a bar. Going to a taproom is like being a beer tourist in your own town, and also, it’s kind of educational.
There are so many worthy breweries in Washington state that you could never dream of covering them all in a day, but you can get a taste of several if you plan right. The Washington Beer Commission invites you to visit some of our state’s many innovative, esteemed, and downright friendly craft brewers noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. The WBC calls their annual event the Washington Beer Open House. We call it an excellent way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Obviously, visiting the 105-plus participating state breweries is an impossible task. We suggest you pick a region and make a day of it. May we suggest you pick the South Sound region, grab friends, tour the breweries, chat with the brewers, sample the beer, fill some growers and snap a photo with the hashtag #WabeerOH. It’s also a great opportunity to fill out your South Sound Craft Crawl passports.
Without further ado, here’s the list of participating South Sound-ish breweries.
7 Seas Brewing
The downtown Gig Harbor brewery opens up for tours led by head brewer Travis Guterson beginning at noon. In addition to learning how your favorite 7 Seas beers are brewed, Guterson will give details about the brewery’s expansion into downtown Tacoma. Bonus: Expect “breakfast beers” all day, as in Pilsner Beermosa (orange juice and 253 Pilsner) and 7 Bloody Seas (Spicy Bloody Mary Mix and British Pale Ale). Wheelchair Barleywine will also hit the taps. The brewery will open at 11 a.m.
Dick’s Brewing Company
The Centralia brewery will pour beers as well as lead tours at 4:30 and 6 p.m. at their tasting room. Their retail location will open noon to 5 p.m. with 11 beers on tap.
Fish Brewing
The downtown Olympia brewery will conduct tours every hour on the hour from noon to 5 p.m. Tours will include beer tastings and a commemorative glass.
Harmon Tap Room
Harmon Brewing Company’s brewing operations are housed at the Harmon Tap Room in Tacoma’s Stadium District. From noon to 5 p.m., you may tour the facilities, check out their new foeder fermentation vessel and drink Harmon beer, including special beer pourings plus barrel and Zwickel samples. Expect $1 flagship beers from 1-2 p.m.
M.T. Head Brewing
The Graham brewery will open at noon for the Open House with tours and tastings. Rumor is they’ll be serving a barrel-aged barleywine and a chipotle
pepper brown ale. Bring cash.
Narrows Brewing
The Tacoma brewery celebrates the Open House from noon to 5 pm. with tours from 1-4 p.m. In conjunction, Narrows will release a new beer, Chili-ocolate Stout, with complementary treats crafted with said stout. The second batch of Ring Of Fire IPA (as in Pacific Rim, not spicy) will also be re-released for the event. Free pint glass with every flight.
Northwest Brewing
In the city of Pacific, close to Auburn, Northwest Brewing will tap 10 beers, including two sampling beers — Road Trip Pale Ale and Imperial Oatmeal Stout — as well as a new hard root beer. No brewery tour is planned.
Odd Otter Brewing
The downtown Tacoma brewery kicks off the day with a 10 a.m. yoga session. What follows is still a mystery, but you know it will be Odd.
Pacific Brewing & Malting Co.
Brewery tours every hour on the hour starting at 1 p.m. will be part of the Open House festivities at the downtown Tacoma brewery. Expect a new beer release, happy hour pricing on pints and growler fills, as well as 15 percent off on all merchandise. Rumor is Stacks Burgers will be on site.
Tacoma Brewing Co.
Say kids, do you like the IPA? Tacoma Brewing will have plenty — Mo IPA, Broken Window IPA and Penalty Kick Triple IPA — as part of Open House day. Morgan Alexander’s Black Sun Bourbon Stout is still on tap too.
Top Rung Brewing Co.
The Lacey brewery will host tours every hour, as well ass pour special beers through the Randall. Jason and Casey’s new pale ale will be on tap, too.
Wet Coast Brewing
Brewer Bryan Copeland will lead tours through his Gig Harbor brewery at 1 and 3 p.m. Expect special pricing on pints, and a raffle every hour.
For a complete list of participating Washington state breweries, including any additional South Sound breweries that join in, visit http://washingtonbeer.com/.
