Area’s two loves — craft coffee and brews — converge at bar

In the Pacific Northwest, where craft coffee and beer are equally popular, it’s surprising that nobody has thought to open a coffee and beer bar.

Until now, that is.

Mike and Brandi Varnell, in a converted bank along Main Street in Sultan, recently opened Timber Monster Brewing Co., a coffee bar and drive thru in the morning and a craft beer brewery and restaurant by night.

Mike, who has been brewing at home for eight years, knew there was a void of craft beer establishments along Highway 2 between Monroe and Index. So when Brandi and he decided they wanted to expand their Timber Monster coffee stand in Gold Bar to a storefront location and include a brewery, they looked first in Sultan.

The early results are promising. The Varnells estimated averaging 500 customers per day over their grand opening this past weekend.

“We got wiped out,” said Mike of the beer consumption. “I have to brew every day this week just to keep up. We also had to shop every day to keep up with the food sales.

“But we’re really blessed to have that kind of reaction.”

Not that Mike is surprised.

“When we went to breweries in Snohomish and Monroe in the past, we’d run into all kinds of neighbors who lived near us,” Mike said. “I really believe this is something the upper Sky Valley has wanted for a while.”

Craft breweries have gone a long way in revitalizing downtown areas, big or small, across the country. Mike said the city of Sultan welcomed them with open arms and helped with the permitting and licensing process.

“We want to get people off of Highway 2 and stop, come in and check out downtown Sultan,” he said.

Timber Monster’s business model might be new, but it’s not complicated. They open the drive thru at 4:30 a.m. to sling coffee and small breakfast bites. At 7 a.m., they open the coffee shop and remain a typical laptop-and-cuppa-joe spot until 11:30 a.m. when the beer starts flowing, and they transition the food to lunch and dinner fare like wood-fired pizzas, burgers and wraps for the rest of the day.

Timber Monster is in the former Seafirst Bank building. The Varnells put some of the old bank-specific amenities to good use, including the old bank drive thru and vault as a walk-in cooler. Instead of Benjamins, it now holds brewskis.

Mike and Brandi did all the design work, and Mike and his two sons did nearly all of the construction on the project, which lasted nine months. The overall feel the Varnells went for in the design was “old cabin,” emphasizing wood, metal and open areas.

As for the beer, Timber Monster has released six beers so far, including two IPAs. Mike said that he’s going to let customers decide what becomes the brewery’s flagship beers.

“So far we’ve heard a lot of people say don’t take the IPAs off or the Blood Orange Blonde,” said Mike, who added that they brewery will also have on tap a guest beer tap (currently: Scrappy Punk’s Coconut Blonde), two ciders, kombucha, homemade root beer and nitro cold brew.

Mike credited the local brewing community for providing not only inspiration but practical help. In particular, Scrappy Punk owner Greg Krsak was Mike’s sounding board throughout the process and Justice Brewing’s Nate McLaughlin installed Timber Monster’s tap lines.

DRINK THIS

Coffee Oatmeal Stout

Timber Monster Brewing, Sultan

Style: Stout brewed with coffee

Stats: 5.5 percent ABV, 38 IBU

Available: On tap at the brewery

From the brewery: The only beer so far that uses both of Timber Monster’s products. Dry hopped and made with Timber Monster’s own espresso roast blend from Honeymoon Bay Roasters gives this earthy stout a smooth finish and big flavor.

Other brews on this week’s taster tray:

Liquid Starburst, Lake Stevens Brewing: New England-style IPA dry-hopped with Amarillo and Cascade hops has notes of lime, orange and dank pine. Available on tap at the brewery.

Auxiliary, Decibel Brewing: The Bothell brewery’s first hazy IPA features Idaho No. 7, Mandarina Bavaria and Mosaic hops. Available on tap at the brewery.

Little Groove IPA, 5 Rights Brewing: A twist on 5 Rights’ popular Juice Groove IPA boasts huge hop flavor and aroma from Galaxy, Citra and Mosaic dry hops. Available on tap at Chuck’s Hop Shop-Greenwood, The Independent Beer Bar, Toggle’s Bottleshop and The Hop and Hound.

Fn Spruce Tip IPA, Foggy Noggin Brewing: Made with collected new growth tips from local spruce trees, this rare English IPA clocks in at 90 IBU. Available on tap Saturday at the brewery.

Make Me Hoppy IPA/Dortmund Lager, Beardslee Public House: This double IPA featuring Galaxy and Mosaic hops is the first beer from Beardslee using cryo hops, or just the resinous glands of the hop cones; the German-style lager uses malts from Skagit Valley Malting and German Topaz and Hallertau hops. Available on tap at the brewery.

Strawberry Bavarian Hefeweizen, Lazy Boy Brewing: A traditional Bavarian hefeweizen brewed with strawberries. Also, a lagered pilsner Made with flaked rice. Available on tap at the brewery.