Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant  17May2017

I rode the D-Line downtown to run errands. For instance, I needed new notebooks in which to record my scintillating tasting notes. Once I was done I stopped into Gordon Biersch to try some lagers.

Gordon Biersch store front with awnings, sidewalk tables, and French doors.

Gordon Biersch is on the top floor of Pacific Place at 6^th and Pike. The presentation is as if the brewery is on a ground floor with a sidewalk on which to place a few tables. The place is visible once you reach the top floor. As you approach you see awnings, huge openings framed by French doors, and a fenced off seating area to simulate being outdoors. As you walk in the main opening you can see the bar to your left with the brew kit behind and the main restaurant seating area to the rear and to your right. 

The view as you enter with the bar on the right and the main dining area toward the rear.

The beer list is on paper and presented along with a menu when you sit down. I studied the beer list and ordered a flight of 6 four ounce tasters.

The beer list. I hope you can read it. 

The flight (r to l) Märzen, Maibock, 7th and Pine IPA, Belgian IPA, Czech Pilsner, and Irish Dry Stout

Tasting Notes:

Märzen (5.7%, 18 IBU): Clear amber. Lager yeast and malt aroma. Sweet and malty with caramel or very slight roast. Sweet finish with a touch of bitter late.

Maibock (7.5%, 25 IBU): Slightly hazy red-gold. Yeast and malt aroma with some hops. Sweet, yeast, bitter noble hops. Sweet bitter finish.

Czech Pilsner (5.6%, 36 IBU): Clear gold. Saaz hop aroma. Bitter, semi-dry malt, with perfume of hops. Bitter sweet finish. If you gravitate toward hoppy ales, this is your lager.

7^th and Pine IPA (7.1%, 65 IBU): Clear red-gold. Piney citrus aroma. Sweet malt, very bitter, with citrus and pine hop flavors. Sweet finish then lingering bitterness.

Belgian IPA (7.1%, 65 IBU): Clear red-gold. Piney floral hop aroma (dusty?). Sweet, bitter, esters, perfumed hops. Garlic? Lingering bitter finish. The Belgian yeast seems to have diminished the fruity nature of the hops.

Irish Dry Stout (4.1%, 35 IBU): Opaque black with red highlights. Roast malt (coffee) aroma. Sweet roast malt flavor with late bitterness. Full body. Sour bitter finish. Mineral?

Pacific Place is an indoor mall full of stores. I sat at a table in the simulated outdoors under the bright sky light so I could watch the mall walkers. This brewery restaurant has plenty of room, which was more than adequate on a mid-week afternoon – pretty quiet. Gordon Biersch specializes in lagers and does them well. The Märzen and the Maibock were sweet or malt forward with that sulfur-y lager yeast aroma and flavor. The IPAs and the stout were well made but seemed a little out of place here. I didn’t try any of the Belgian style offerings. The Czech Pilsner was dry with challenging bitterness and a beautiful hop aroma. 

A 0.25 liter (about 12 oz) serving of the Czech Pilsner. My treacherous camera decided to focus on the floor.

I ordered a 12 ounce pour of the pils after I finished the tasters and read my book in peace and quiet.

I braved the bus stop scene in front of Mickey D’s on 3^rd Avenue to catch the D-Line back to Ballard.