Lagunitas Brewing Seattle

Lagunitas Brewing Seattle 14Jan2018

Lagunitas has conveniently located themselves in Ballard near Peddler Brewing and the Bergschrund. I walked down there of a Sunday afternoon to sample some beer, especially those brewed on site.

Lagunitas front entrance and a good look at all the window space

Lagunitas is located in that semi-industrial area of Ballard near Leary Way. They have taken over the former Hilliard’s space. Hilliard’s sold themselves to Odin, abandoned their building, and put it up for sale with most of the brewing equipment intact. The idea was for the buyer to have a turnkey system ready to commence brewing as soon as possible. Lagunitas put a lot of effort into fixing up the taproom space, opened in January of 2017, and produced their first brew in July of 2017. At the time I visited they had two locally produced beers, a coffee stout, which I avoided, and a brown ale. As you enter Lagunitas you see the entire taproom in an attractive open space arrangement with the bar right in the middle.

A view from inside the door with the bar, brew kit, and way back seating

On the far wall is the beer menu with plenty of choice. 

The tap list

The greeting from behind the bar is friendly, energetic, and knowledgeable. Beer menus are also readily available at the bar. I studied the list, inquired as to what was brewed on site and ordered a flight of four 5-ounce tasters. 

l to r: Pils, Touch and Go Brown, 12th of Never, and Wet Hop Fusion 2000

Trial sips of various taps were offered freely.

Tasting Notes:

Pils (6%): Clear gold. Bready malt and Saaz hop aroma. Malt flavor is dry almost sour, balanced bitterness, and hop flavor of Saaz. Bitter dry finish.

Touch and Go Brown (6.5%): Slightly hazy brown. Esters and perhaps some peppery phenols. Toasted malt (not burnt) flavors, sweet, medium body. Low bitterness. Slightly sweet slightly bitter finish. This beer is in mild territory but is above the usual strength for that style.

12^th of Never (5.7%): Slightly hazy pale gold. Tropical, fruity hop aroma. Dry malt, medium body, tropical hop flavors and then moderate bitterness. Bitter finish.

Wet Hop Fusion 2000 (5.8%): Slightly hazy pale gold. Tropical fruit aroma. Leafy, vegetal flavor up front with basil and melon touches. Malt body and moderate bitterness. Bitter finish.

I sat at the bar and watched the bartender in frenetic motion. The taproom filled with youngish couples, groups and families. I should mention that since I am ancient, most people look young to me. The beers brewed by Lagunitas off site (Pils, 12^th of Never, and Wet Hop) were all well made as might be expected from a mature brewery. The brown ale was good but lacked something in the middle of the journey from sip to swallow. Initially sweet and finishing sweet, the in between was thin and the sweetness gave out for just a blink.

Sunday was bright and clear and the windows in the taproom made for a bright cheery room. The seating areas were well occupied if not full and the pool table was in use.

I finished my flight and cleared out. Lagunitas Seattle is a place in which I feel uncomfortable. Even if they weren’t owned by Heineken, I wouldn’t find myself in this taproom very often. Lagunitas reached for national distribution early in its lifetime and has been trying to establish a national footprint even before they were bought out. Expanding that footprint is a model I call world domination and it fits into the AB InBev, Molson Coors, and SAB Miller business models. Having ranted all that nonsense I must say that if you are a fan of Lagunitas beer, you should visit to taste your favorites on draft.

On the walk back home I stopped at the Bergschrund for a black saison before climbing the hill back to my house. Along the way I helped out a couple who were looking for the Ballard Farmers’ Market. Of course, I steered them in the wrong direction. Never take direction from a slightly inebriated old guy.