The Arlington Community Food Bank will soon receive a Super Saturday check.
On the first Saturday of the month — aka Super Saturday — In The Shadows Brewing serves beer for a cause.
Owners Cole and Sarah Rinehardt were inspired by Arlington’s Super Saturday to host a once-a-month fundraiser. The brewery donates a portion of that Saturday’s proceeds to a local charity. The most recent Super Saturday was July 4.
“We were only open on Fridays, but then we decided to open up one Saturday a month,” Sarah Rinehardt said. “We figured the first Saturday of the month was the most appropriate because it’s Super Saturday in downtown Arlington.”
In The Shadow Brewing was founded in 2014. It was established in an outbuilding on their property in Granite Falls. When the Rinehardts sold their home two years later, the brewery went on hiatus. The taproom there — at just 240 square feet — was too tiny.
In 2019, they reopened ITS Brewing in a 900-square-foot taproom just south of Arlington. Like the old brewery in Granite Falls, it’s literally in the Rinehardts’ yard.
“I like our tagline to be ‘Find your friends here’ because we’re just trying to create a space where you can go, relax and feel like you’re visiting your friend’s house, hanging out in the back yard, having a beer,” Rinehardt said.
In addition to the Arlington Community Food Bank, ITS Brewing has donated to the Arlington Education Foundation, Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, Humane Society at Happypaws Farm, Arlington Kids Kloset and Snohomish for Equity.
The donation isn’t large, but neither is the brewery. Rinehardt estimates ITS Brewing has donated $600 so far.
She said about 30 customers showed up on Fourth of July weekend to fill their growlers for their Fourth of July celebrations — and more than a few of them were first-timers.
“We count that as a success,” Rinehardt said. “The only way to really know about us is to see our name on Google Maps. It’s been unpredictable at best.”
She said they’re donating to Arlington Community Food Bank because it’s a much-needed resource during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carla Gastineau, executive director of the food bank, reports a 65% increase in the number of families needing groceries — many of them from households that had never stopped by before.
Gastineau said volunteers have modified services to include emergency groceries, supplemental school meals and home deliveries. They also changed their hours to 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday to better serve the community.
“Every dollar makes a difference,” Gastineau said. “We just really appreciate it. It’s neighbors helping neighbors in need. Everybody is stepping up to do their part. We’re all in this together.”
Cole Rinehardt is brewing off the same two-barrel system he had in Granite Falls. ITS Brewing has nine beers on tap right now. It also distributes kegs to Steins Taphouse in Arlington and Fanny’s Restaurant in Marysville. Its seasonal brew is ITS HBL, a blonde ale made with local honey, as well as fresh basil and lemon juice.
In Phase 2, ITS Brewing has reopen for growler fills and on-site pints. At 50% capacity, there’s indoor and outdoor seating for up to 50 customers. Pints are served in compostable plastic only. No reusable glassware is allowed at this time.
“During pre-COVID times we encouraged people to bring their own glass if they wanted to drink out of glassware, but at the moment to keep things even more sanitary, we’re putting a hold on that for now,” Sarah Rinehardt said.
They’re only open on Friday — and the first Saturday of the month — because Cole Rinehardt’s day job is at Boeing. They also prioritize family time with their two sons. Gavin, 15, will be a sophomore at Arlington High School, and Justin, 12, will be a seventh grader at Post Middle School.
“They’re fairly self-sufficient, which means it was a good time to start the brewery,” Sarah Rinehardt said. “They can take care of themselves while we’re working, and just pop over if they need something. It’s pretty nice.”
Did you miss Super Saturday at ITS Brewing? You can donate directly to the Arlington Community Food Bank at www.arlingtonfoodbank.org.
If you go
In The Shadow Brewing, 19731 Old Burn Road, Arlington, is open 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 9 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. The next Super Saturday is Aug. 1; the charity has yet to be determined. Call 425-876-9253 or go to www.itsbrewing.com for more information.
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