Phil Bannan Sr. and his family founded Scuttlebutt Brewing in 1996. Family, indeed. The family business, which today employs about 75 people, started with a homebrewing kit Bannan’s wife, Cynthia, bought him on Father’s Day in 1990. Cynthia eventually kicked him out of the kitchen and into a facility at the Port of Everett. They decided to name their brewery “Scuttlebutt” after Cynthia’s nickname bestowed upon by her father after her impending birth became the scuttlebutt of Naval Station Norfolk where he worked. Phil Bannan Jr. is the brewery’s general manager, and he and his wife, Mindy, designed the taproom the recently opened taproom inside the production brewery in downtown Everett. For the last 16 years Matt Stromberg runs the brewing operations. Former Engine House No. 9 head brewer Doug Tiede sells the craft. Peaks and Pints organizes Scuttlebutt’s craft beer into a flight called Craft Beer Crosscut 6.1.17: A Flight of Scuttlebutt.
Scuttlebutt Tripel 7 Belgian Style Ale
9% ABV, 11 IBU
Belgian beers are unique in their fruity, spicy, warming flavors, and over the centuries, the monks of Belgium have perfected their brewing and left an indelible mark on the beer world. At roughly one-fifth the size of Washington state, Belgium has contributed more original beer styles than any other nation. Finding Belgian-style beers brewed here use to be a scavenger hunt. No anymore. Aim your nose toward Scuttlebutt’s rendition with delicate aromas of clove, pear, banana and other fruit esters. A smooth biscuity-malt carries flavors of honey, spicy esters and a mild tartness. The Tripel 7 finishes dry with a bit of alcohol warming. Nicely balanced.
Scuttlebutt Homeport Blonde
4.6% ABV, 17 IBU
The blonde ale is an American style that emerged as alternative to premium U.S. lagers. It’s really a catch-all category of light-bodied, light-colored ales (styles like the cream ale and kölsch loosely fall into such a description). As the name indicates, the blonde ale is clear golden to straw color. It’s crisp and light- to medium-bodied. Scuttlebutt’s Homeport Blonde follows suit with crisp, light body with clean, subdued fruitiness, grassy bitterness and light bready, malty sweetness.
Scuttlebutt Barleywine Ale
12% ABV
This is Scuttlebutt’s10th year of brewing the Old No. 1 Barley Wine. The 2005 and 2008 versions were awarded bronze medals in the English Barley Wine category of the North American Beer Awards. The 2009 version won a World Beer Cup gold medal and has since been awarded a silver and bronze medals in the NABA in the same category. It’s deceptively subtle, strong hints of raisin, maple, vanilla, and black currant work together in pleasant harmony.
Scuttlebutt KEXP Transistor IPA
5.6% ABV, 68 IBU
Beer advertising is certainly a staple of any radio station aiming at a mostly male demographic, and beer companies sponsor many concerts and radio events. But how many stations actually have its own beer? KEXP 90.3 FM does. The Seattle nonprofit radio station partnered with Scuttlebutt to create Transistor IPA, a refreshing, session friendly Northwest IPA that will help fund KEXP with 100 percent of the net proceeds benefiting the radio station. “We are very excited to work with Scuttlebutt,” said KEXP Morning Show host John Richards in a released statement. “They are a local, family run, family owned brewery who makes great beer, and we are a Seattle based radio station run by the community, for the community — it couldn’t be a better pair. We are grateful for this partnership and can’t wait to share this delicious beer with the city.” Transistor IPA hits the nose with piney hops upfront, followed by dry biscuity malt. Brewed with Columbus, Chinook, Glacier and Nugget hops from Yakima Valley the flavor follows the nose with piney hops galore and crisp, crackery malt.
Scuttlebutt Hoptopia Imperial IPA
8% ABV, 75 IBU
If ever there is an appropriate time and place for the phrase, “Go big or go home,” an imperial India pale ale is it. Scuttlebutt knows it, too. The classic Northwest imperial IPA hops with Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Columbus, a medium body and strong malt backbone. Dip your nose in for pine, citrus, and light tropical fruit. A strong blast of grapefruit and piney hop bitterness arrives on the first wave; alcohol makes its presence known in the middle. There’s some caramel malt sweetness, but it’s dominated by hop bitterness. Hoptopia finishes dry with lingering grapefruit hop bitterness and a touch of alcohol.
