Snohomish brewer breaks out red ale that looks like porter
Published 1:30 am Sunday, December 4, 2016
Color Blind Red, Prison Break Brewery, Snohomish
Style: Red ale
Stats: 5.5 percent ABV, 25 IBU
Available: On tap at the brewery
My thoughts: This is the only beer at this recently opened brewery that doesn’t have a prison-themed moniker. It’s easy to see why.
If the beer didn’t have red in the name beer drinkers would be hard pressed to know it was a red. Served in pint glass, it almost looks like a porter save the small red shine at the bottom of the glass.
Once you take a drink it’s easy to tell you’re drinking a red ale. Unlike many reds, which have a stripped off malt underbelly, the Color Blind Red has a strong malt structure with the classic hop finish. It’s not as light and dry as some reds, but I enjoyed it — especially for the time of year we’re in.
As for the brewery, Don Worthen and Mike Sexton opened Prison Break Brewery at its new location on First Street in Snohomish in August. The two have been making beer together for a while and opened Monroe Homebrewing Supplies in Monroe a few years ago.
Once a brewery became the goal, though, Worthen and Sexton set their sights on a new location, choosing a nice storefront spot among the antique and candy shops along First Street. The homebrew supply store is now in the back of the brewery, so if you like a beer on the menu, you can shop for the ingredients in the back.
Brewing on a three-barrel system, Prison Break is working hard to keep up with the demand of its seven beers on tap. Besides the red, the beers Prison Break has on tap include Penetentiary Pale, Hop the Wall IPA, Dog Run Wheat, Slammer Stout, Bug Juice Brown and Padded Cell Porter. Along with the red, I thought the wheat beer also stood out.
Prison Break is a family affair. On the night I was there with some friends, Erika Worthen, daughter of the Don, served us our beers and chatted with us about them. She was knowledgeable and helpful. Her brother, John Worthen, is the head brewer.
Prison Break is open from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
