r/WAbeer • u/Accurate-Gap-3823 • 3d ago

Beer Recs

I will be in Seattle during the week of Oct. 19. It's been a while since I visited the PNW. I started homebrewing in 2006 and I can think back to all the winter beers I used to get from that area: Full Sail Wassail, Pyramid Snowcap, Widmer Brrr (newer), etc. Most of these are discontinued or defunct now. What are your recommendations for seasonal beers while I'm up there that'll let me chase the nostalgia of my 20s? I'll take any recs but I'm specifically looking unspiced winter warmer styles. I'm looking forward to getting out of Texas and experiencing some fall weather and beers to match!

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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7

u/spudwebb3000 3d ago

Bro, it’s still fresh hop season here.

3

u/StatusMaleficent5832 3d ago

Just got back for Fresh Hop Ale Fest in Yakima. Holy smokes!

1

u/LeftHandLuke01 3d ago

We moved to Yakima a few years back after attending the Fresh Hop Festival.

7

u/eeisner 3d ago

You're way too early in the season for winter warmers. Those aren't getting brewed until the big dark arrives and it's cold and gloomy out. It is still super sunny and decently warm, for October at least!

Get to Ballard and walk around. Most of the breweries around here are brewing more modern IPA styles and less of the malty, caramel forward IPAs, but they're still delicious - and you should find plenty of fresh hop when you're here.

Recommend Stoup for IPAs but a bit of everything very well done, Obec for lagers and European styles, Dirty Couch for sours, Fair Isle for funky saisons, Reubens for a bit of everything (they're a huge name up here, but I have reasons to not like them)... tons of breweries in a couple blocks of each other.

4

u/Forgot-Already 3d ago

I love hitting up Dirty Couch in December and grabbing their limited releases. Such an outstanding spot to grab a beer.

2

u/cookedthoughts730 3d ago

You’re gonna be in the best place in the world for fresh hop beers in fresh hop season. Embrace one of the only true seasonal beers left in the world.

3

u/hamplax19 3d ago

Fremont Dark Star
Holy Mountain (darks)
Silver City Dark Lager
Bonus: Fort George Matryoshka (bottles only)

2

u/upleft 3d ago

Fresh Hops might be nearly out when you’re here, but seek them out, like everybody else says. It’s a brief season (late September to mid October), but so good. I’m seeing a lot of cans this year, too.

Go to the breweries. There are some great beer bars around, too.

-1

u/Forgot-Already 3d ago

Little early for winter, but still some good choices for cool weather beers. Seek out Maritime Pacific Nightwatch. One of my favorite fall beers. Great Notion always has a rotating selection of their seasonal brews and best can art in the game.

1

u/VelvetDesire 3d ago

Maritime Pacific doesn't exist anymore but rooftop took over their space and still brews night watch

1

u/Forgot-Already 3d ago edited 3d ago

My local spot has it on tap right now and it says Maritime Pacific on the keg and their reader board. I do remember hearing that they were bought out now that you mention it.
Edit: added reader board

1

u/VelvetDesire 3d ago

Yeah I mostly didn't want op to go looking for maritime Pacific brewing on Google maps. Rooftops location burned down and the maritime people wanted to retire so they took over their taproom, I believe as part of the taproom sale rooftop agreed to keep brewing night watch.

1

u/StatusMaleficent5832 3d ago

...and Jolly Roger. Still one of my favorite winter ales of the season. A lot of beer stores will carry it.