THURSDAY JAN. 19 2017: Drink up South Sound …
YEE-HAW
Cowboy literature isn’t exactly an oxymoron, although it is a rare breed. Its authors publish books of vernacular verse, but are part of a living oral tradition that sticks close to its working-class roots. Tacoma Art Museum hosts a Western Reading Club at 7 p.m. Join fellow enthusiasts of the American West in roundtable discussions and hear from guest facilitators.
PREFUNK: Peaks and Pints feels fortunate every time we tap a Holy Mountain Brewing Co. craft beer. These days, the demand for all things Holy Mountain is so high that the brewery can’t accept any more bars that want to tap their delicious beers. It has everything to do with the talent of the three owners — Adam Paysse, Colin Lenfesty and Mike Murphy — who are old hands, having worked in various jobs at Schooner Exact Brewing Co., Bainbridge Island Brewery and Westland Distillery. Thankfully, Peaks and Pints has the Seattle brewery’s Wayward Black Beer on our Western red cedar tap tree. Brewed in the spirit of the great English porters and dark milds, it pours an opaque black with a thin creamy tan head that dissipates before too long. A whiff produces a lovely roasted malt and faint sweetness. The first sip hits with roasted malts, some dark fruit and a light sweet sugar.
PREFUNK: Over at the Parkway Tavern, Paso Robles’ Firestone Walker Brewing Company is one of the country’s finest brewers of traditional ales and lagers. There’s a reason that the California brewery has won the Great American Beer Festival’s Brewery of the Year honor so many times. When Firestone releases a new beer, you can rest assured that it’s been well executed. The Parkway will tap the full gamut of Firestone, beginning at 5 p.m.
PREFUNK: West Pierce Fire and Rescue firefighters Bryan Copeland and Aaron Johnson are the brewers and co-owners behind Wet Coast Brewing Company, along with their wives Molly Copeland and April Johnson. They opened in Gig Harbor in 2015 on a 3.5-barrel brewing system, with three 7-barrel bright tanks and four 7-barrel fermenters. Wet Coast will travel across the Narrows, across the county to BrewDad’s of Bonney Lake bottle shop and taproom for a brewers’ night. Expect to drink Wet Coast’s Moving Day IPA, Two Flight UP IIPA, Sneak Thief Milk Stout and Cream Ale, as well as bathe in swag, from 6-9 p.m.
PREFUNK: Founders Brewing, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been churning out beers since its founding in 1997 — but, until recently, not in the Pacific Northwest. Founders dropped by Peaks and Pints today for a chat before their 5 p.m. brewer’s night at Pint Defiance. Expect to drink All Day IPA, Centennial IPA, Ruebeus Raspberry Ale, Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout, Backwoods Bastard Barrel Aged Scotch Ale and Lizard of Liz Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Blueberries. Founders recommends you don’t skip the blueberry stout!
PREFUNK: Rainier Growlers hosts seven beer from 7 Seas Brewing from 6-8 p.m. Expect to drink 253 Pilsners, Rude Parrot IPA, Cutts Amber, Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout, Ballz Deep Double IPA, Cascadian Dark Ale and Winter Ale on tap with their new Vintage Barrel-Aged Barleywine in bottles.
