Something's Brewing: Tacoma's Stout Beer Scene

Earnest Hemingway, when writing about martinis, once opined, “I had never tasted anything so cool and clean. They made me feel civilized.” On a bright afternoon or calm evening, with just the right liquid accompaniment, we feel much the same way about beer.

Tacoma's relationship with beer and brewing dates back to just about the beginning of the city itself, with Puget Sound Brewing Co. opening in 1884, the same year that Tacoma City and New Tacoma would merge to form the City of Tacoma. Commencement Bay lent easy access for barrels to be shipped and received throughout the country, and Tacoma's special relationship with beer was firmly cemented.

 After years of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Rainier beer dominating the local bar scene, we're a bit glad that more variety has started to seep its way back into the landscape. Tacoma was an early and enthusiastic adopter of the craft brewery way of life, with more and more outfits opening all the time. These new breweries are operated by passionate people with a thirst for the sheer potential of beer – how malleable it is, how many of its nuances can be highlighted, how one brewer's personality can be expressed simply through the balanced combination of very simple ingredients.

 It's in this spirit of gleefully tipping a few back, especially in the middle of Summer, that we take a look at some of Tacoma's finer craft breweries. Many of these establishments now allow children, so we'll be sure to point those out when we get to them, in case a family outing is in order.

Once house in the same building as popular bars The Mix and Puget Sound Pizza, Tacoma Brewing Company expanded to a much roomier space in 2017. The new location allowed for Tacoma Brewing Company to grow their operation by leaps and bounds, and now provides a much warmer taproom for people to gather. The folks at Tacoma Brewing Company strive to have something new to taste just about every week, including incorporating adventurous flavors such as bourbon, licorice, coffee, and chili. For those not in the mood to experiment with more out-there options, Tacoma Brewing Company always has a strong backbone of IPAs (such as the very popular Broken Window IPA).

The taproom is only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 2pm-9pm – all the better to give the brewers time to create more intriguing concoctions – but the room is homey and inviting. On some nights, vinyl records are spun, and there's always an array of vintage pinball games to entertain you. All ages are welcome and, as Tacoma Brewing Company does not have a kitchen, they encourage customers to bring in their own food. Sounds like a great way to spend a weekend afternoon!

1116 Court E
Fridays and Saturdays, 2pm-9pm
tacomabrewing.com

Black Fleet Brewing takes their name from an unlikely source: the story of Jeanne de Clisson (AKA “The Lioness of Brittany”), a 12th century noblewoman who formed a fleet of vessels – painted black and crimson – seeking revenge against the French after the execution of her husband. Like the Black Fleet of old, Black Feet Brewing takes a rebellious, swashbuckling approach to their brews, with creations like Crown SmaSHer (a pale, crisp beer made from Vienna Malt), Freebooter's Dunkel Wiesbier (dark amber, with banana aromatics, and hints of clove, caramel, a coffee), and the Vengeance IPA (lightly golden, fairly hoppy, with a background of fruit).

 In addition to Black Fleet Brewing's selection of flagship beers and seasonal offerings, they also have an extensive food menu. Mostly, they provide expected bar fare like wings, sliders, fish and chips, and nachos – but they also have more out-f-the-box items, like fried cauliflower, and egg rolls with offbeat flavors (the Brat-Oberfest, filled with beer brats, three kinds of cheese, peppers, and stoneground mustard has us intrigued). The taproom is family-friendly until 9pm, so those underage can take advantage of their house-made sodas and floats.

 2302 Fawcett Ave
Monday-Thursday, 2:30pm-10pm; Fridays, Noon-11pm; Saturdays, 11am-11pm; Sundays 11am-8pm
253-327-1641
blackfleetbrewing.com

7 Seas Brewing Co. started in Gig Harbor in 2009, before expanding to a much larger second location in Tacoma in 2016. This new spot, situated in the famous old Heidelberg Brewery, features an enormous 10,000 square foot taproom to accommodate their many fans who want to take a crack at their 48 taps. In the time since they were founded, the 7 Seas Brewing Co.'s beers have become ubiquitous in just about every bar around town – but it's always better to go to the source!

Like any brewery worth its salt, 7 Seas keeps its lineup in consistent rotation, bringing in seasonal options (this spring's selection is the Last Chance Lone Hop, an American-style IPA with tropical notes) and their Bridge Series (limited edition brews each available only two months out of the year; March and April's offering Hula-Weizen, a wonderfully refreshing brew loaded with coconut and lemongrass). Attached to 7 Seas's Tacoma location is 3uilt, a counter-service eatery with a wide array of charcuterie, oysters, sandwiches, and salads. Both 7 Seas locations are family-friendly.

2101 Jefferson Ave
Monday-Sunday, 11am-10pm
253-572-7770
7seasbrewing.com

WINGMAN BREWERS 

The days may be warming up around here, but the nights are still cool. This being the case, we're still finding ourselves very much in the mood to enjoy some rich, dark beers – with a bit of a sweet side. Color us delighted when our eyes were drawn to these words on the Wingman Brewers tap list: Peanut Butter Cup P-51 Porter and Chocolate Cheesecake P-51 Porter.

 Swooning though we may be for those delectably creamy brews, Wingman Brewers offers a commendable variety of styles, such as Blackberry Bam-Ba-Lambic (that decidedly fruity and puckery Belgian beer) and British pale ale. Opened in 2011, Wingman Brewers is located near the Tacoma Dome, and the adjacent transit station, providing a much-needed respite for all manner of folk coming to or leaving from Tacoma. Children are welcome here, as well, but there is no food served. Much like Tacoma Brewing Company, though, Wingman Brewers are pleased to let you bring in your own food to pair with their refreshing offerings.

 509 ½ Puyallup Ave
Sunday-Thursday, 2pm-9pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 2pm-11pm
253-256-5240
wingmanbrewers.com

Boy, contemporary breweries don't get much more Tacoma-centric than Engine House No. 9. True to its name, Engine House No. 9 started as an honest-to-goodness firehouse in 1907, back when fires were tended to via horse-drawn carriages. After being shut down in 1965, it was eventually reopened in the early '70s as a tavern and apartment. It is now officially listed as one of Tacoma's Historical Landmarks.

But what's been going on in the intervening years? As it happens, Engine House No. 9 claims the title of Tacoma's first craft brewery, getting into the game in 1995. With a brewery attached to the bar, Engine House No. 9 has only grown in scope and ability since 1995, with a wealth of beers rotating through their taps – at the time of this writing, 24 beers are listed being on tap, with another nine waiting on deck to fill in for any spent kegs. Ranging from your standards like lagers, pilsners, and IPAs to more specialties like sours, lambics, and English bitters, Engine House No. 9 has something for every palate.

Those with a strong thirst can have a go at joining Engine House No. 9's Beer Club; if you're able to drink all 45 domestic and imported beers on your punch card in 90 days, you'll get your name on a plaque, and a membership that allows you to get any 20 ounce beer for the price of a pint for the rest of your life. That's a challenge we can get behind!

With kids welcome until 10pm and a full service menu, Engine House No. 9 is one of Tacoma's quintessential hangout spots – and recently, its brewery has made a move to a bigger location on S. 25th and Fawcett, right by Black Fleet and 7 Seas, which should allow them to double their operations! Beyond offering stunning beer, the new, more modern, brewery features DIY charcuterie and small plates as accompaniment. This is a must visit place. 

Engine House No. 9
611 North Pine Street
Monday-Wednesday, 11am-Midnight; Thursdays, 11am-1am; Fridays, 11am-2am; Saturdays, 8am-2am; Sundays, 8am-10pm
253-272-3435
ehouse9.com

E9 Brewing Co. 
2506 Fawcett Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
253-383-770
e9brewingco.com

Over on the west side of Tacoma, with a beautiful view of the bridges, is Narrows Brewing. Here, you can stop in for a taste, a pint, a six-pack, a growler, or keg of many of Narrows Brewing's finest. While their beer has quickly found a home in bars, grocery stores, and produce stands around town, it's worth coming to the source, which boasts a clean, inviting taproom, and an outstanding waterfront locale.

Part of what makes Narrows Brewing so delightful is how dedicated they are to tying their brews to Tacoma's makeup and history, with beers like the Galloping Gertie Golden Ale, the Hazard Zone Hazy Pale Ale, and the Giant Octopus IPA. They also have the Neighborhood Series, with each beer dedicated to a pocket of Tacoma: Fircrest IPA, Hilltop Haze Double IPA, and Proctor Dry Double Hopped Pale Hazy Ale being among them. It's like a continuation of the loving correspondence that Tacoma and beer have shared since the very beginning.

9007 S. 19th Street
Monday-Thursday, 4pm-9pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 12pm-11pm; Sundays, 12pm-6pm
253-327-1400
narrowsbrewing.com

Speaking of that history, Pacific Brewing and Malting Co. has it in spades: originally formed in 1897, the original Pacific Brewing and Malting Co. was shut down in 1916, thanks to Prohibition (which Washington embraced a few years before the rest of the country). In 2014, Pacific Brewing and Malting Co. was revived in 2014, bringing everything full circle.

Located on 6th and Pacific, right by the soon-to-be McMenamins Elks Temple, Pacific Brewing and Malting Co. specializes in solid takes on classic brews, like the 1897 Pale Lager (a flavorful rebuke to the mass-produced pale beers we're all familiar with), the Dirty Skoog IPA (a bitter number, named after the mythic Skoog Saloon speakeasy, rumored to have been somewhere in Old Tacoma), and the Potomac Citric Pale (a tropical fruit-forward beer taking its name from Tacoma's original taproom).

On Thursdays, three of Pacific Brewing and Malting Co.'s beers are available for $3 a pint (a heck of a deal!), and it's not uncommon for live bands to perform on certain nights. Kids are welcome, and can even sample some snacks, sodas, or free juice boxes

610 Pacific Ave
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-9pm; Fridays, 4pm-10pm; Saturdays, 2pm-10pm; Sundays, 2pm-6pm
253-383-2337
pacificbrewingandmalting.com

Just down the street, on 7th and Pacific, is Odd Otter Brewing Company. Its logo – a scraggly little otter wearing spectacles – might be up there with our favorite in town. True to their name, Odd Otter is always striving to do things just a little differently – like their Ottermelon Hefeweizen, which packs a surprisingly juicy, refreshing punch of watermelon, making it an ideal accompaniment for warmer days.

Other offerings like the Blood Orange Sour Gose, the Tears of a Clown Vanilla Stout, and the Odd Odd Leroy Brown IPA run the gamut of flavor sensations. The weeks at Odd Otter are packed with events: Sundays are devoted to open mic night, Tuesdays and Thursdays are for karaoke, and on Wednesdays you can play some good old pub trivia. Not to outdo themselves for creativity, Odd Otter also offers a yoga class on Saturday mornings, followed by a complimentary pint. Kids are welcome until 9pm, and with Wooden City next door, they've got food covered for you, too!

716 Pacific Ave
Monday-Friday, 2pm-Midnight; Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-Midnight
253-327-1680
oddotterbrewing.com

Dunagan Brewing Co. takes its name from Ezekiel Dunagan, a prolific moonshiner in the 1800s. Eventually, Ezekiel's luck caught up with him, and his whiskey-making operation was dismantled by local law enforcement. Something tells us he'd be happy to know that many, many years later, a descendant named Jesse Dunagan would go into the alcohol business himself – although in a much more legal way, to be fair.

And so, Dunagan Brewing Co. has set up shop on 11th and Commerce, serving up beer that hearkens back to more traditional Irish roots, with hearty offerings like Irish Red Ale, Kraken Irish Dry Nitro Stout, and Whale Bones Oatmeal Porter. Don't be surprised to see some lively Irish bands come through and play, either, as there's always some pep in Dunagan Brewing Co.'s step! Kids are welcome, and trivia goes down on Thursdays.

1126 Commerce Street
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2:30pm-9pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 2pm-11:30pm
dunaganbrewing.com

Lastly, we'd like to shout out Gig Harbor Brewing. Like 7 Seas, Gig Harbor Brewing started out on the other side of the bridge before expanding to Tacoma, bringing with them a sense of traditionalism mixed with a loopy spirit. While they've placed emphasis on reliable, easy-to-drink brews – all the better for fitting a session in with friends – they do allow themselves to branch out into wilder territory with specialties like their Blood Orange Blonde, Black Cherry Stout, Blackberry IPA, and Wild Strawberry Blonde. Just a sip of any of those will have you craving the arrival of summer.

Their quintet of flagship beers are no slouches, though: Giggly Blonde, Round Rock IPA, Sturdy Gertie Double IPA, Racing Rooster Red Ale, and Gig Harbor Imperial Stout are the delicious bedrocks on which Gig Harbor Brewing was founded, and for good reason. Playing mix and match with anything Gg Harbor Brewing serves you will inevitably put a smile on your face. Kids are welcome, games are available to be enjoyed, and you are free to bring in your own food!

3120 South Tacoma Way (Tacoma Location)
Monday-Saturday, 2pm-9pm; Sundays, 12:30pm-6pm
253-474-0672
gigharborbrewing.com