June 21, 2007
What's on Tap: Thursday, June 21, 2007
Some of you may be interested in checking out the newly opened Tap House Grill in downtown Seattle. Although we have had issues with service, beer quality and availability of beers on their list at the Tap House in Bellevue, we are still hoping the Seattle location works out. With 160 beers on tap, it should not be hard to find something you want. The new Seattle location is in the old Planet Hollywood building on 6th Ave., between Pike and Pine. The location is prime, which means it will likely be constantly packed.
Here are a few suggestions for your drinking exploits to finish off the week and start the weekend:
Full Sail Son of Spot – This beer’s father was the Sunspot IPA, released in bottles by Full Sail last summer. It is a medium-bodied IPA that is refreshing, balanced and not overpowering with the hops. Definitely worth a try. Son of Spot weighs in with a bit less alcohol (6%) than it’s dad, and the result is a much more enjoyable beer. You should be able to get this at most local grocery stores.
Rogue Red Fox Amber Ale – Damn you Rogue. We love your beers, but if you sell another of your already existing beers under a new label in the US, we are going to boycott. This beer is the same as the Rogue American Amber. We like the beer, but not when we thought we were getting something new. Rogue often labels their current beers under different names for export (mainly to Japan.).
Big Time Ave Rat Malt Liquor – Ok. So, there is really nothing that exciting about this beer. It is malt liquor. But, it is malt liquor made by Big Time, and that makes it at least worth a schooner. Sadly, they do not serve this via a 40oz in a brown paper bag. But, Brouwer’s has it on tap and you may still be able to find it at Big Time.



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Since I live in the Northlands, I frequent the Porterhouse in Mt. Vernon with some regularity (an always amazing selection of West Coast beers). On Friday, they had Stone Imperial Stout on, a beer I had never tried and knew I had to. It may be one of the best beers I have ever tried, very complex in a wine sort of way. No idea who serves it down Seattle-way, but it made me excited enough to post here about it. I don't see it on the Tap House menu though....
Which surprises me, actually. In the realm of IPA, porter and stout where I tend to gravitate, I see nothing spectacular on their beer list. I'll definitely be trying the Dogfish Head and Fish Tale brews, and the Rasputin Stout is one of the best, but where's the Alaskan IPA or the Sierra Nevada Porter, or as far as local beers anything from Anacortes Brewery or Flyer's? I'd personally have a hard time filling 160 taps of beer, but they've managed to fit a fair amount of yawn-worthy beers. Hopefully the magic lies in the 10 rotating taps.
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Stone Imperial Stout is a fantastic beer for sure...I'm not sure I've ever had the pleasure of having it on draft, but Bottleworks likely still has bottles left I would imagine. I'll have to check out the Porterhouse sometime!
That is exactly how I feel about the Bellevue location; I was hoping they might put more thought into the Seattle bar.
Put that bar in some cities, and it would be the best place in town. But, not in the NW...
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I agree with you guys. Look what the Hopvine does with 12 or so taps. You would think the Taphouse Grill could blow anyone else out of the water but there are a lot of boring or just plain crappy taps being wasted. I will definitely check it out when I'm downtown for shows, etc. If they have half decent service combined with half decent food plus the half decent beer selection we might have something we can count on downtown.
Maybe their presence will put the Fox Sports Grill into action to get something decent on tap.