 |
| Railroad Avenue, Bellingham |
Bellingham is the thirteenth largest city in the state of Washington with a population of over 85,000 (2015) according to Wikipedia.
The
Bellingham Tap Trail ™ leaflet shows 11 breweries and 11 taphouses and pubs in the city.
Boundary Bay Brewing
 |
| Maureen at Boundary Bay brewery taproom |
On a sunny Friday 30 September, Maureen, my long-suffering second cousin, kindly drove me around the city so that I could visit four breweries in one afternoon. Boundary Bay brewery & bistro was our first stop.
This independent brewery, located in a restored 1922 warehouse, has played a role in the community since 1995 and received Washington's Small Philanthropic Business of the Year award in 2014.
There was a chance to see some of the brewery vessels before ordering our drinks.
Maureen was not drinking beer but I made up for her by ordering two 5oz glasses. The (left) Inside Passage Ale (Flagship IPA 7.5% ABV / 78 IBU) was pleasant but my favourite was (right) Cedar Dust IPA (6.5% ABV / 66 IBU) from the Galbraith Mountain Series, named after trails between Bellingham and Sudden Valley.
The taproom has plenty of interesting decorative features with a nautical theme.
Two cask ales are available served from handpumps at the rear of the bar.
Best Bitter ESB (5.4% ABV / 45 IBU) is another flagship Boundary Bay beer and the most traditional pale ale brewed there.
We passed repurposed Boundary Bay stainless steel kegs walking the fifty yards to the second brewery stop of the day.
Gruff Brewing
Open all day Friday - Sunday, situated at 104 E. Maple Street, Gruff Brewing is a recent addition to the Bellingham brewery scene.
At the bar, I gave Eric a copy of Ullage, the West Berkshire CAMRA magazine, and as the taproom was not busy he kindly gave me some beer samples to taste. The Pineapple IPA (5% ABV) is brewed with Mosaic hops and was very fruity.
 |
| Pinball can be played at Gruff Brewing |
|
Wish Rock Wit (4% ABV), the Bellingham Beer Week special herbed beer, brewed with blackberries, a collaboration with The Racket bar and pinball lounge, was also nice.
A schooner of Pale Wheat Ale (4.4% ABV, $4) tasted good in the extensive outside area at the back of the brewery, giving panoramic views of old industrial buildings and the bay beyond. The time left on the car parking ticket was running out so it was time to visit our third brewery.
Aslan Brewing Co
The sunny weather meant there were plenty of people on Aslan Brewing Co's outside terrace.
We found a place at one of the high tables inside with a view of the bar and the brewery further back, behind a glass partition.
There were plenty of beers, listed on a blackboard strip behind the bar, to choose from so a flight seemed like a good idea.
My order for lunch was sweet potato fries and fish taco. The service was friendly and efficient.
The chosen beer flight comprised Black Gold (Blackberry Kolsch brewed for Bellingham Beer Week, 4.4% ABV / 13 IBU), FIFA (French India Farmhouse Ale brewed for Bellingham United, 6.2% ABV / 55 IBU), Nectarine Farmer (Saison, 5.8% / 24 IBU), Festbier (5.1% ABV / 20 IBU) and Dawn Patrol (unfiltered Pacific Ale using Rye malt, 5.3% ABV, 18 IBU).
FIFA and Dawn Patrol were my two favourites from the beer flight.
There is some variation in beer prices. Festbier is
priced at $4 (9oz), $5 (16oz) and $6 (21oz). During Happy Hour (daily 2pm-5pm and 9pm-kitchen close) there is
$1 off the two larger glass sizes (prices applicable in September 2016).
A framed photo records that, since the summer of 2012, 'The Aslan owners committed 8 months of sweat equity to the renovation of a historic industrial building into a brewery and restaurant. L to R: Boe Trosset, Pat Haynes, Frank Trosset & Jack Lamb.'
Before heading to our fourth brewery we made a detour to shop at Joe's Gardens in Happy Valley for some produce to go with the evening meal.
Kulshan Brewing Co
A little way out from the centre of Bellingham, we visited the first site of Kulshan Brewing Co which is situated at 2238 James Street. The brewery was founded in 2012 by Bellingham native David Vitt.
The external sign's posts and the base supports for the bicycle racks are made from stainless steel beer kegs.
A sign by the bar lists the beers on tap. The Good Ol' Boy Pale caught my eye because of the similar name to Good Old Boy from West Berkshire Brewery, a beer that I drink regularly in the UK.
Although several other beers looked tempting, there was really only one choice for me!
We sat outside at a shaded table. The tasting notes for Good Ol' Boy Pale Ale (5.35% ABV / IBU 20) mention flavour as 'Light Biscuit/Bread, Citrus Tartness, Crisp Bitterness, Subtle Green Hop Character' and ingredients as Malt:
2-Row, Pale Wheat, Munich, Crystal. The hops are
Apollo, Cascade, Willamette. This was my favourite beer of the day and a beer to look out for on my next visit to Washington.
Once again, I took the opportunity to get a photo of the friendly staff with a copy of
Ullage, to prove how far it travels!
We called in at
Rocket Donuts on the way home but they had sold out of donuts for the day!
Never mind! There was still a can of
Bastard Kat IPA (6.66% ABV, IBU 70), brewed with Apollo, Cascade and Centennial hops, from the fridge at
Elizabeth Station, for one more beer later in the evening. This is one of my favourite IPAs.
