Pike Brewing 30th Anniversary Prefunk

Oct. 17, 1989, the Pike Place Brewery, as it was then known, officially opened in the old Liberty Malt Supply space under the Pike Place Market on Western Avenue in downtown Seattle. Owners Charles and Rose Ann Finkel had opened specialty beer importer Merchant Du Vin 11 years earlier, bringing their favorite ales in England, fruit beers in Belgium and pils, dunkels and dopplebocks in Bavaria to the States. At the time there were only three other craft brewers in Washington state and IPAs were hard to find on tap or in bottle. A lot transpired at the brewery since, including a name change to the Pike Brewing Company, but Charles and Rose Ann still proudly own the brewery and the history of beer museum that doubles as their restaurant and taproom. Thursday, April 18, Peaks and Pints will cheers Pike Brewing’s 30th anniversary pouring the Seattle brewery’s latest beers and hosting past and present Pike brewers.

On that fateful day in October 1989, The World’s Shortest Non-Motorized Uphill Parade marched toward Pike Place Brewery to officially open the brewery’s doors. Leading the parade was Liberty Malt Supply’s John Farias, pushing a keg of Pike Pale Ale in a silver, two-wheeled hand truck. Following were the Finkels, Franz and Angela Inselkammer from Bavaria’s Ayinger Brewery, and Pike Brewing’s first brewer, Jason Parker. Parker will join current Piker brewer, Art Dixon, who began brewing at age 7, and went on to be the head brewer at Pyramid Brewery. Parker is the co-founder and president of Copperworks Distilling.

Please join Peaks and Pints in saluting the third brewery to launch in Washington state, Pike Brewing, at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Proceeds from Pike Brewing sales will go toward nonprofit Washington Trails Association and its efforts to protecting trails, mobilize hikers and build a statewide system worthy of our state’s majestic wild places.

Cheers!

PIKE BREWING 30TH ANNIVERSARY PREFUNK, 6-8 p.m., Thursday, April 18, Peaks and Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp proctor, Tacoma, no cover