Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Red Oak

“For me, visiting the red oak that stands tall and broad in front of the W.W. Seymour Conservatory is like going home,” says Sarah Low, executive director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation. “After the chestnut blight swept through Eastern forests, red oaks, or Quercus rubra, became the dominant Overstory trees. Seeing this particular oak reminds me of the huge trees in the urban forest parks that shaped my early experiences. These forests were protected from development and throughout the urban landscape the trees were planted intentionally.”

This red oak is this week’s Tree-dimensional Tacoma, Peaks & Pints’ weekly Tacoma tree column. Inspired by our house beer, Kulshan Brewing Tree-dimensional IPA, Peaks & Pints branches out for a weekly look at terrific trees of Tacoma, in conjunction with our friends at Tacoma Tree Foundation.

“So many of the plants that we have in Tacoma are here because they were planted by someone who moved here from somewhere else or because they were protected intentionally despite urban development,” continues Low. “Figs planted in Hilltop by immigrants from Greece. Japanese cherry blossoms celebrated as part of the Sakura Festival from Japan. Red oaks perhaps planted by East Coasters like myself (please don’t hold it against me. I love Tacoma!). Douglas fir and madrone standing tall because they have been protected. The diversity of our urban forest is a reflection of the beautiful diversity of Tacoma’s community. It is something to cherish and embrace.”

Check out this giant red oak tree and the W.W. Seymour Conservatory, and then head to the Proctor District for a Campfire Crowler fill of Tree-dimensional IPA (6.8%) at Peaks & Pints. Kulshan Brewing collaborated with the Tacoma craft beer lodge on their house beer. Paying homage to the outdoor enthusiasts who join Peaks daily in Tacoma’s Proctor District, Tree-dimensional IPA is the perfect beer to toast the powder, currents or trails, as well as reveal the sprains. Tree-dimensional IPA, or Tree-D, continues Peaks & Pints’ love affair with old school piney IPAs, this time brewed with Simcoe, Idaho 7, CTZ, Centennial, and whole leaf Cascade in the hop back for all the pine, a little citrus, with a creamy mouthfeel and bitter finish.

Tacoma Tree Foundation is dedicated to educating, empowering, and supporting community members in neighborhood-based greening. In other words, the Tacoma organization strives for a greener, healthier, more connected Tacoma — which plants well with Peaks and Pints.

LINK: Kulshan brews Peaks and Pints Tree-dimensional IPA

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Sugar Maple

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Tulip Poplar

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Giant Sequoia

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Pin Oak

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Douglas Fir

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Incense Cedar

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Plume Sawara Cypress

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Western Red Cedar

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: Ponderosa lemon hybrid

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: London planetrees

LINK: Tree-dimensional Tacoma: “Vanderwolf’s Pyramid” limber pine