Regional beer (what's good?) (Seattle, Ellensburg: new home, neighborhood, to buy)

[az2wa]

I'll be setting up shop in my new home in Seattle next month and I'm eager to try out all Washington has to offer. As far as stocking my fridge goes, what beers are worth checking out?

[Twehttam]

You're going to have a lot of excellent options. I like 'Dead Guy' from Rogue (Rogue Ales) out of Oregon, for one.

[toughguy]

Mac and Jack is excellent - The African Amber is my favorite beer. You would have to buy a growler or a keg from the brewery if you want it at home.

Pyramid makes some decent brew

Hale's Ales out of Ballard is pretty good as well.

[jenlion]

Second Dead Guy.
Mack & Jacks -- unfiltered, and if you get something from the bottom of the keg it can taste "off", but generally I like it.
Red Hook has several -- the brewery is in Woodinville -- ESB is a basic decent beer, but they've got some others with more specific flavors depending on your tastes
For something basic if I'm at the gas station and need a six-pack, I like Alaskan Amber. When I lived in Texas the fallback was Shiner, now in Washington it's Alaskan. Not the Best Beer Ever, but often the Best Beer Here Right Now.

Go to the Tap House Grill. They've got 140 (or is it 160?) beers ON TAP. They can certainly point you to all the local ones and you can sample them all.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm...... why is it so hard to find a good babysitter??......beer. :-)

[az2wa]

Thanks so much for all the replies. That's great news that I'll have plenty of good beers to try out. I tried Hales the last time I was there and had no idea it was from Ballard!

Can't wait to check out Tap House Grill and sample the 140-160 beers... Anyone wanna drive me home afterwards?

[Ira500]

Manny's is my current personal fave. Brewed in the Georgetown, neighborhood of Seattle not far from where the original Rainier Brewery was. I'm thinking it's not sold in stores, just taverns and from the brewery.

[Wanderlust07]

A must try: Sculler's IPA by Skagit River Brewery: Skagit River Brewery. Bay Street Ale House in Port Orchard usually has it on tap. You can also purchase it at Central Market.

Issaquah Brewhouse has a great selection of Rogue beers on tap and in the bottle.

[bobbilly79]

Gotta agree with Mack & Jack's, great stuff. Alaskan Amber is pretty decent, I'm in AZ right now and that's the best I can get down here (can't wait to get back to the PNW). IF you are ever on the east side of the mountains try Iron Horse Brewery out of Ellensburg. When I lived up there they had 4 or 5 different beers. You can find them sometimes on the west side. In January (I know, too late now) Eburg also has the Winterhop Brewfest which brings out microbrewers from all over the great Northwest!

[Ira500]

Elysian Brewery is another good one. I'm familiar with the Capitol Hill location, but I think they have more than one. Great beer, amazingly awesome French Fries.