In the beginning...

Part of me wants to just start this up in real-time and only document current and future excursions, but I have hit too many cool joints up in the past that I may not get to again any time soon so... I'm gonna start at the beginning as best as I can recall. (that is to say maybe not so well) The beginning for me was...

Redhook - Woodinville, WA - In more ways than one. The first whole beer I ever drank was when I was 17 was in fact a Redhook E.S.B. Never mind that it took me the better part of an hour to choke it down and strain to appear like it was no big deal. As a result I have always had a special fondness for Redhook and have enjoyed going to the brewery. The food at the brewery is pretty good although I would prefer it if they served fries instead of salad or chips. (what am I healthy?) Definitely a fan of the forecasters nachos though! have spent a few fuzzy sunny afternoons devouring that pile of cheesy goodness.

The brewery tour I think costs one dollar, and you get a cool tasting glass with the brewery logo to take home. They pour you a sample glassful of all of their regular beers, and a few extra if you are any good at their trivia. This last part worked out especially well the second and third time I took the tour!

Sadly I have been feeling lately that as I expand my horizons, I haven't found Redhook's beers to be as challenging as I would like them to be. I feel like E.S.B. has become weaker over the years and tastes pretty generic now. I still like the atmosphere and enjoy going there, but I usually try their seasonal beers in the hopes that they will come out with something more unique or intense. I was actually there last week for the first time in a while and I tried their double industrial IPA (OK.. so close approximation of the name anyway if I'm not remembering right) I had high hopes as I am a bit of a hop head. It wasn't bad but the hops were not as intense as I had hoped and it fell a little bit flat for me. But again.. cool place to hang out and family friendly. I will go back there many times again I'm sure.