Tacoma Armory: From Drill Hall to Brew Five Three
Oh, the Tacoma Armory—once a mighty fortress, now a boozy carnival of civic delight. Born from Tacoma’s early 1900s swagger and a city’s collective urge to shout, “We’re here, damn it, notice us!” this sturdy 20,000-square-foot edifice sprang forth in 1908, decked with battlements, rifle ranges, stables, and an absurdly charming pool. Imagine New Year’s Eve 1908: polished leather boots gliding, champagne droplets shimmering mid-air, brass buttons gleaming beneath vaulting ceilings, celebrating its suitably dramatic entrance into local legend.
Through two global conflagrations, the Armory was as much a societal salon as it was military muscle. Not just soldiers—oh no—this place hosted somber mourning ceremonies (5,000 strong for Congressman Cushman in 1909), raucous USO dances, brawling boxing matches, emotional high school graduations, and thunderous wrestling matches. Even music royalty—Roy Orbison, The Fabulous Wailers—swung through, and presidents such as Taft, Wilson, and Truman lent fleeting gravitas before skipping town.
By 1976, safely landmarked as an unknockdownable relic, the Armory entered a gloriously raucous adolescence. Think sweaty wrestling matches, teen dances pulsating with hormones, and ear-splitting garage band battles—each decade leaving its mark on the Armory’s splendidly unruly soul.
Then, in 2011, the National Guard marched out, leaving this brick behemoth yearning for fresh thrills. Enter stage left: Tacoma Arts Live, who, after a savvy developer grabbed the reins in 2013, turned military drills into artistic chills—national acts, community performances, and youthful exuberance filling halls still vibrating with historical echo.
And behold, this Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 1-7 p.m., the Armory cracks open another chapter of splendid mischief: Brew Five Three, Tacoma Arts Live’s annual beer-and-music bacchanal spilling exuberantly onto Yakima Avenue. Inside, craft beverages flow freely alongside soulful sets from Riio, brass-fueled covers from &Friends, and Jayza’s honey-drizzled vocals, plus the Grit & Grain Podcast at 3:30 p.m., while outside food trucks, games, raffles, and doggo-friendly vibes reign supreme.
Here’s a tease of Saturday’s boozy brilliance:
Brew Five Three Cider
- 2 Towns Ciderhouse: POG Cosmic Crisp, The Bad Apple
- Fierce County Cider: Marionberry, Hazy Raspberry, Bay Breeze, Country Apple
- Off Set Ciderworks: Off Dry, Peach
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Republic of Cider: Lavender Hefauweisen, More Cowbell
- Tieton Cider Works: Watermelon Basil, Hazy Strawberry, Huckleberry, Tieton Dry
- Woodenvile Cider: Traditional Orchard Blend, Barrel Pomme Gris
Brew Five Three Mead
- Axis Mead: Big Red Rocket, Mexi Cali Sunshine
- Honey Dragon Meadery (Brian Sprouse, former Kvlt wizard): Tetra’s Treasure
Brew Five Three Beer
- 7 Seas: Willie Maize Hazy, Ballz Deep Double IPA
- E9: T-Dome Pilsner, Realize Real Lies IPA
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Dicks Brewing: El Ricardo Mexi Lager, Working Man’s Brown Ale
- Ghostfish: Pacific Ale, Gosefish, The Sour of Persuasion
- Lucky Envelope: Galaxy West Coast IPA, Black Heart Dark Lager, Helles Lager
- Mac & Jacks: African Amber, Marty Time Lager
- Matchless: Hazy River IPA, Blueberry Breeze Sour Ale, Crispy Bois Dry Hopped Lager
- Merchant du Vin: Samuel Smith Organic Chocolate Stout, Lindemans Framboise
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McMenamins: Astro King Kolsch, Sunflower IPA
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Narrows: Canadian Lager, Raspberry Botanica Sour, Peanut Butter Cookie Blonde Ale, Queen Octo Hazy IPA
- North 47th: Haunted Wind Chimes, Thorn in Your Side, Cerveza Camerones Mexican Lager, Awkward Androids Hazy IPA
- Odd Otter: Ottcho Borracho Mexican Lager, Carrotid Ottery Saison
- pFriem: Japanese Lager, Cosmic Guava
- Stoup: Cervecita Mexican Lager, Citra IPA
More sudsy magic awaits. See you in the revelry.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
