Seattle Beer Week: 5 Not-to-Miss Events
A new brewery, a beer garden and free babysitting
By Jessica Yadegaran May 7, 2015
Seattle Beer Week starts today, kicking off 10 days of serious beer tastings, celebrations and overall brew deals from West Seattle to Redmond.
Rather than detail the 250 events spread throughout the seventh annual festival, we thought it better to pick five not-to-miss happenings– including two grand openings–and send you on your hoppy way.
Naked City’s Brewing Buddies
Tonight, Naked City Brewery & Taphouse in Greenwood is hosting a tasting of wood-aged and unusual beers (Peddler Dark Saison oak aged with brett, anyone?) as well as eight collaboration beers by brewer Don Webb and friends exclusively for Seattle Beer Week. You’ll find me sipping on the Lemon Lavender Pale, a pale ale Webb brewed with Outlander Brewing Pale Ale, meyer lemon and fresh lavender. Oh lordy.
Reuben’s Brews Grand Opening
On May 9, the taproom that RateBeer named 2014 Best Taproom in Washington will unveil its big, brand-spanking new brewery two blocks down the road from its original digs in Ballard. The 4,000 square foot space features a larger taproom with 24 taps, an outside deck and 10-foot video screen.
The additional elbow room will allow head brewer Adam Robbings to expand Reuben’s barrel-aging program (with bourbon, whiskey and tequila barrels) and their line-up with sours and lagers (sherry and red wine puncheons are on their way). The Burgerphenia food truck will be on-site for the Saturday festivities, which will include special beers from the cellar, brewery tours and free bottle openers to the first 100 guests.
Stoup’s new Beer Garden
Speaking of decks, down the street, the folks at Stoup Brewing are opening their long-awaited beer garden in conjunction with the release of Stoup’s Citra IPA. Fez on Wheels will be parked out front as will Soda Jerks and Balleywood Creamery (ice cream and beer is a killer pairing). Head over on Mother’s Day to get $1 off pints for moms and whet your appetite with freshly-shucked oysters from Taylor Shellfish.
Iron Brewer Throwdown
On May 10, the naughty folks at Beveridge Place Pub in West Seattle are pitting brewers against each other for an ultimate live competition. They chose the secret ingredient, had the brewers brew the beer and now you will get to decide the most quaffable winner. The contestants: Harmon vs Hi-Fi using sesame and plum; Diamond Knot vs Valholl brewing with apricot and almond; and Schooner Exact vs No-Li using blackberry and lavender. Who will reign supreme? You decide. Event runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
Babysitting and Brews
Beginning at noon on May 16, let the good people of Firestone Walker babysit your kiddos while you sip on stylish brews at 20-plus tap Barking Dog Alehouse in Ballard. The alehouse, which showcases an eclectic list featuring everything from BeeHaven’s sparkling pear mead to Left Hand Brewing’s Nitro Poured Milk Stout, will even have face painters on hand to keep your offspring busy so you can focus on your brews.