Big Time Brewery

Big Time Brewery  21Oct2016

I haven’t been to the U district for some time so I hopped the 44 and jumped off at The Ave (University Way) to wander the nearly 4 blocks down to Big Time Brewery (http://bigtimebrewery.com/). Big Time has been in place since 1988 making it one of the long time breweries in town. This is not my first visit.

The brick facade gives Big Time a warm, welcoming presentation

The place has a nice saloon feel with the old school configuration of the brew kit walled off behind glass beside the seating area. 

Where's the brewer? We want a show!

The establishment is near the University of Washington making it a handy to Udub students, who seem to make up a large part of the clientele.

When you enter, you are confronted with the beer list and the food ordering window

I studied the beer list at the bar and ordered a sampler tray, which didn’t include the Baghwan’s Best IPA as it was tapped out. 

Left to right: porter, mild, IPA, Octoberfest

Tasting notes:

Rockhill Mild (5.1% ABV ?IBU): Clear dark amber. Sweet malty aroma. Some diacetyl, with malty sweetness but then a bitter finish. Good body. It’s a bit filling for a mild.

Octoberfest Marzen (6.5% ?IBU): Clear light amber with no aroma. Malty with slight sweetness and dry finish. Seems a bit hot for Octoberfest. Thin body.

Coal Creek Porter (5.4% ?IBU): Dark brown to black and nearly opaque. Sweet roasty aroma. Malty roasty flavor with balanced bitterness.

Galactigasm IPA (6.5% 55IBU): Clear dark gold. Sweaty hop aroma, malt body with hop oil richness. Mixed hop flavor. Fruity lingering bitterness and sweetness. Brewer’s notes give Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, and Citra hops in the recipe.

  

Big Time is a brewpub that doesn’t do a lot of production scale work, so most of its sales are food and drink to the local customers. I like the mix of old farts and students in a wood paneled, well used room. The beer is well made and reasonably priced. I can’t say anything about the quality of the food, as usual.