When most people think of Seattle, they see visions of grunge bands sipping coffee in their $5 designer latte shops while the rain is pouring outside and the Space Needle is spinning in the background. Sadly, most of us do not realize the many fine microbrews that come from this region. Not only is Seattle the birthplace of mainstream coffee shops, but they can also boast the birth of the microbrew fad. There are few places that have more of these brewery and grill joints in the United States. Many of the more popular micros come from the northwest. Here is a look at five of the must drink brew pubs in the area.
Triangle Pub:www.trianglepub.com
For any new visitor, or even the more seasoned ones, to the Seattle area, one must see stop on your tour of the town has to be the Triangle Pub. This is a huge part of the history of this town. Nestled in Pioneer Square, this place is a Seattle tradition. Whether you are on your way home, or just headed to the game, this little place is one of the best brew pubs in the nation. The peanuts are always free as long as the shells hit the floor, and the beer is always cold. While they do not brew their own varietals, they do offer several of micros from Denver, Portland, and Montana. They always have at least one Seattle brew on tap as well. The selection changes every month, so be sure to keep coming back.
Elysian Brewing Company: www.elysianbrewing.com
One of the best treasures of Seattle is the Elysian brew. This is a very hard to find bottle of goodness anywhere except the Pacific Northwest, and it is even better off the tap. There are three different locations for this brewery’s restaurants and they are all almost as good as the beer. These are always lively and fun little places in some of the best areas. They have some of the best food in the area and you really can not afford to miss this place. With such pairings as the Chipotle Chicken Burger with an Elysian Fields Pale Ale, you can not go wrong. They have a brew for every taste here, too. From British Blondes to more stout dark ales, you are sure to find a new favorite.
Pike Pub and Brewery: www.pikebrewing.com
Pike’s is a real step back in time. This ’20’s era bar and grill is a great place to eat and try new flavors. As if that was not enough, you can watch the beer being made while you eat. They are very open here and love to show their love for the brewing process. The brews really emphasize this love and attention to detail. The menu is like a trip around the world and each entrée has a perfect pairing listed with it. This also makes it a fun game to try to travel around the world (order a dish for each region represented with its paired brew), but I wouldn’t suggest trying to make the journey in one evening. If you do go, the spicy wild salmon is great, but the German sausage and chops is the best. The Pike Weisse is one of the best micros in the nation, but don’t take my word for it. When you do go, you have to get the sampler. This will give you a taste of all the brews they have to offer that day. Although, sampling by the glass is a good excuse to drink 8+ pints.
Trolleyman Pub: (206)548-8000
For the true micro enthusiast, you have to go to Trolleyman Pub and Tasting room. This was the launch pad for the microbrew fad that has a death grip on the nation. The Trolleyman is a local hang out with live blues and jazz on the weekends. It is a little bar with a huge appeal. There is some food here, but barely enough to even be called a short list of items. The real emphasis is on the brew. After a quick sampling, you will no longer wonder why America loves the micros.
Admiral Pub:www.admiralpubseattle.com
This is one of the best places to go in Seattle if you do not know which micro you love more. They have no less than 11 micros on tap for you to sample. They always have at least one local brew on hand as well as some regional and a national micro or two. The food is great and so is the atmosphere. If you are looking for a somewhat sophisticated type of joint where you can try a variety of micros, look no further than Admiral’s. With the Prime Rib Fridays, you can’t go wrong. Pair it up with a nice red ale, preferably a local brew, and you have yourself a meal fit for a king.
There are several different microbrews throughout Seattle and they are home to the microbrew explosion that we are in right now. From the small pub of Trolleyman, a fire of passion was lit in all of us brew lovers. With this passion, more micros are created and even the most common of us can truly strive to be the next mega brew founder. If anything, you can have some great beers while learning about the brewing process. Hopefully you will remember it in the morning.
