Pacific Northwest Beer Chick

A staple in the Tacoma, WA brewing scene, Harmon Brewing Company has been crafting beer in Tacoma’s historic University District since 1997. I have been a frequent Harmon customer since moving to “the Sound” four years ago and upon each visit Harmon always has something new and exciting on tap! During this visit I was lucky enough to sample some of the winter and spring seasonal along with Harmon’s flagships.

Mt. Takhoma Blonde (4.4% ABV) – Brewed with Liberty hops, white wheat and German Pilsner malt, this beer is light and crisp with a touch of citrus.  Mt. Takhoma is a very easy beer to drink and perfect for spring and summer. But don’t let the fact that this is a blonde ale fool you, Mt. Takhoma is packed with beautiful flavor. The brewery serves Mt. Takhoma with an orange slice enhancing the lovely citrus characters.

Pinnacle Peak Pale Ale (4.4% ABV) – One of Harmon’s flagship beers, Pinnacle Peak is smooth, light bodied and slightly hoppy with subtle tones of caramel. 2-row malted barley, German malted barley and Palisade and Citra hops balance out the flavor rather nicely. Pinnacle Peak, from what I have been told, is one of the most popular beers served at the brewery. One sip and you will easily see why.

Vanilla Porter (5.4% ABV) – A popular winter seasonal, this was my favorite beer of the day.  Harmon uses 8 different malts and Madagascar vanilla beans to create this full-bodied beauty. Notes of milk chocolate fade in and out while the vanilla is a constant present. I would drink the Vanilla Porter by itself. It’s just too good to pair with any food.

Point Defiance IPA (6.1% ABV) – Okay hop heads, this one is for you! Point defiance IPA is not only one of Harmon’s flagship beers; it is also their most popular. Columbus and Centennial hops along with ten pounds of Amarillo hops creates that beautiful grapefruit aroma and strong hoppy flavor. Point Defiance IPA is a crisp pretty beer that even the most discriminating hop head will fall for. This beer is my hubby’s favorite.

T-Town Brown (6.2% ABV) – I enjoyed this brown ale quite a bit. I took a moment to enjoy the lovely vanilla and brown sugar aroma. Both qualities carried over into the flavor. T-Town Brown is medium to full-bodied and has a rich molasses finish.

Black Tartan IPA (6.8% ABV) – One of the most interesting beers of the day, the Black Tartan had a lot of different characteristics. Think of a stout and an IPA having a baby.  I caught a smoky, dark chocolate flavor but with a hoppy finish. Harmon uses 5 different malted barleys creating a black, full-bodied beer that they brew just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Order one soon before they run out!

Porter Porter (8-9% ABV) – Yes, it’s really called “Porter Porter.” If you like chocolate and coffee, then this winter seasonal is for you. Harmon uses 9 different malted barleys to create this full-bodied, toasty gem. There is a strong, hard “alcoholiness” taste when you first start drinking, but don’t put it down. The hard alcohol taste mellows out by the 2^nd or 3^rd sip and you end up with a great fireside porter.

Want to try some of Harmon’s beautifully crafted brews? You don’t have to go far. Harmon has three locations in Tacoma that also serve a great variety of food dishes; Harmon Brewery & Eatery, The Taproom, and The Hub.  Can’t make it to the brewery? Pubs all over the Puget Sound serve up Harmon’s creations on tap. Want to take it home? Harmon by the bottle can be found in many of your local Puget Sound grocery stores or whole food markets. So really, you have no excuse not to enjoy a Harmon beer.

Cheers!

Liz

www.harmonbrewingco.com

I am not one who drinks beer for the purpose of getting drunk. I choose to enjoy my beer and the company I keep instead of wondering what I did the night before while hugging the porcelain God (or Goddess for my pagan friends). In my opinion, frat boys need not apply and if forgetting the evening is your sole purpose of drinking beer…then why are you viewing this blog? But, there is the rare occasion when one does have a few too many and wakes up wishing for sweet death. How do you prevent this unfortunate side effect? Agua, H2O, voda, das Wasser, uisge, mizu, good old-fashioned water.

What many people forget about when drinking is that alcohol is a diuretic which means it causes frequent urination and flushes water from the body. The result? Dehydration. The headache one gets the next morning is a direct symptom of dehydration. The best thing to do to prevent the “kicked in the back on the head” feeling is to drink water before, during and after you drink alcohol. Now the amount of water you should drink is still up for debate but it has been proven that drinking water throughout the night helps keep you hydrated and most people have reported either a slight headache to no headache whatsoever. This is no old wives tale, drinking water helps to prevent the morning after headache.

Scott and I have experimented with this theory for quite some time (years actually) and we both agree that when we drink water while drinking beer neither one of us experiences the infamous headache. I personally try to drink at leat 1 pint of water with each pint of beer. The other benefit of drinking water is it slows one down from chugging their beverage and they actually drink less. Another plus if you ask me. Now some may say drinking water is for wusses. My response, I would rather enjoy my night instead of regretting my morning.

Cheers!

Liz

Sometimes some of the best places are found completely by accident. About 3 years ago, when my husband and I were new to Washington State, we went exploring down 6^th Ave in Tacoma. I just happened to be looking to my left when I spotted a gorgeous brick building with fluorescent beer signs in the windows. Thinking it was probably a dive bar, hubby reluctantly turned the car around to investigate. And boy, are we glad we did! Turns out this brick building is home to Tacoma’s first micro-brew. Engine House No. 9, built in 1907, was once the original fire house for Tacoma’s North End and is registered on the National Historical Register.  

Talk about ambiance! The place is packed full of antique fire fighting equipment and memorabilia including the original pole the firemen slid down a hundred years ago. The brewery not only carries its own beers, but has many guest taps as well featuring some of the best beers from around the world. I ordered the Engine House No. 9 (AKA E9) sampler tray for $5.00. The sampler features 6 of E9’s best home beers, some of the finest micro-brews in Tacoma.

Belgian White (4.1% ABV): If you are looking for a springtime ale, this may be the ale you want. The lowest ABV of the bunch, the aroma is soft and citrusy with a hint of lavender and wheat. This is a crisp, floral ale with a good clean finish. The Belgian White is very easy to drink and would go great with just about any meal.

Tacoma Brew (5.1% ABV): Brewed with Czech Saaz hops, this pale ale has a smooth, hoppy flavor with a sweet caramel finish.  The caramel seemed to intensify with every sip. Tacoma Brew is my husband’s “go to” beer.  It may be yours too!

Roasted Porter (5.9% ABV): As many of you know, I’m a big pan of porters. Made with coffee, this porter is so sweet and creamy; I thought it was nitro tapped.  The iced coffee flavor and aroma is so prominent, you may forget you’re drinking beer. Delicious!

Rowdy Dick Amber (6.2% ABV): Crisp and slightly hoppy, the malty finish rounds out this nice ale.  I pick up subtle hints of spice and think of autumn when I drink this ale. This ale is great for crisp October nights.

Winter Warmer (6.3% ABV): Like I’ve shared in my previous blogs, winter ales are a bit stronger than the average ale. And, like I am about to share, this ale is true to form. Beautiful and toasty, hints of caramel and coffee smooth out this rich ale. There is a bit of the hard alcohol taste I have warned you about in previous blogs, so be careful. This ale is definitely a sipper.

India Pale Ale (6.6% ABV): As you are all aware, I’m not a fan of IPAs but I actually enjoyed this one. Full bodied and full of hops, this IPA has a beautiful citrus aroma and the bitter flavor of grapefruit. Being the IPA fan, my husband really enjoys this beer. Though this ale may sound strong, it was actually quite easy to drink.

Fire Engine Red (7.0% ABV): With the highest ABV on my list, Fire Engine Red has a high alcohol nose and a strong winter ale style taste.  It’s quite hoppy and yet toasty with a malty finish. Like hard alcohol this beer is quite warming but I wouldn’t suggest you drink it while you eat.

Engine House No. 9 is family friendly and has a great, eclectic food menu. Try one of their fantastic pizzas with the house brews. Since stumbling upon Engine House No. 9 over 3 years ago we have become regular customers. If you come by on a weekend chances are pretty good you may run into me.

Cheers!

Liz

www.ehouse9.com