Dirty Couch Brewing

Dirty Couch Brewing 24Nov2019


I took the D-Line down to the south end of the Ballard Bridge, and then walked past Fisherman’s Terminal to Dirty Couch Brewing. I got my steps on.


The office or retail-like space housing Dirty Couch Brewing looks unkempt as you approach and the low-lit interior seems vacant.

The "Open" sign looks promising

But the open sign says otherwise, so I popped on in. As you enter the doors and turn to your left you see the bar

The scene as you enter the taproom

and to the right of that an open seating area with an entrance set into the wall, presumably, to the brewery.

And the view to your right upon entering

The austere minimalist interior is not so inviting on this cool to cold day and could use some homey touches. Beer list is presented on a plasma screen behind the bar

The beer list. Paper copies with expanded information available at the bar

with a chalked-up menu of beer currently available in bottles.

The view as you step up to the bar

A guest beer from Ravenna Brewing and guest ciders from Greenwood Cider were on offer today. Flights of 4 by 5 oz samples, various size pours (12 to 16 oz), growlers, as well as the aforementioned bottles are available. I picked out a flight of 4 beers (one hazy and 3 sours) and sat where I could look out the window.

First flight l to r: Herdsman Apricot Sour (4.6%); Hazy Pale Ale #1 (5.5%); Founder and Argumentist: Raspberry (4.4%); and Rampant Sour Red (6.8%).

 Later I went back for a second flight of 4 more sours.

Second flight l to r: Plausibility Whiskey Sour Porter (8.4%); Discount Therapist (7.2%); BBCM (9.8%); and Irregularity Blackberry (6%)

Tasting Notes:


Herdsman Apricot Sour (4.6%): Hazy orange yellow, almost – you could say – apricot colored. Fruity lactic aroma. Sour, full body for a low alcohol beer, apricot, and dry. Finishes dry and sour.


Hazy Pale Ale #1 (5.5%): Hazy (duh) dark yellow. Dusty, tropical and piney hop aroma. Sweet malt, very fruity hops – slightly dank with some dust. Finishes sweet and fruity with a hint of bitter.


Founder and Argumentist: Raspberry (4.4%): Very hazy pink. Funky butyric acid with some lactic aroma. Sour and buttery raspberry, full body yet moderately dry. Finishes sour, sweet, and berry. I couldn’t get past the filling buttery-ness and butyrate.


Rampant Sour Red (6.8%): Described as a Flanders style red it is, indeed, a clear dark red color. Fruity lactic with some roast aroma. Very sour and woody-astringent with sweet fruity lactic flavor. Finishes sweet and sour.


Plausibility Whiskey Sour Porter (8.4%): Clear dark brown to black color with dark red highlights. Alcohol and whiskey aroma with barrel and chocolate. The flavor is mildly sour with deep chocolate and it presents as sweet not hot. Finishes sweet and sour.


Discount Therapist (7.2%): Slightly hazy pinkish-red. Musty, grapey aroma with faint lactic presence - meaty. Grape, slightly sour, with a dry thin body. A real thirst quencher even at 7.2%. Disappears with a late sour and bitter finish.


BBCM (9.8%): A barrel aged sour including purple corn. Clear deep red. Aroma of pine and wood. The aroma comes through in the flavor and features spices, a slight sourness, and fruit (cherry, to me). Finishes clean, woody and winey.


Irregularity Blackberry (6%): Slightly hazy red. Aroma includes lactic, mustiness, and some phenolics (rubber). Very sour berry flavor of unripe blackberries and very dry. Finishes berry sour.


As the sign says Dirty Couch Brewing is dedicated to sour beers even though not everyone likes sour. A nod to those who don’t are the trio of hazies on tap. I thought the sours were well made, but not uniformly so – the raspberry sour for instance – while the hazy beers were well executed even though hazies don’t do much for me. If you like sour beers, you will find something on the tap list to suit your fancy. I particularly liked Herdsman, Rampant, Plausibility, and BBCM (despite the high ABV).  I asked about the time line and learned that the present taproom has been open six months. Previous to that the brewery was located in Ballard and was production only. Since I don’t get out much, I haven’t seen their beers on tap in the city.


I sat at the front window and looked out on the ship canal, the locks, and downtown Ballard.

My view out the window onto the ship canal and Ballard

I needed something to munch on but the snack food offerings were meager and no food truck was in sight. The taproom was moderately attended with younger (relative to me, an old man) couples and families. Despite the minimal décor the presence of patrons having fun made the place homey. The area of lower Magnolia near the locks is mixed residential, commercial, and light industrial. Dirty Couch is just a hop skip and a jump from Urban Family though it won’t be for long as Urban Family is moving to the Ballard Brewery District soon.


I walked back past Figurehead Brewing and Fisherman’s terminal to 15^th Ave NW and the D-Line for the short bus ride home.