Over the past few weeks I’ve been working on a biking and beer story about the underground group of folks who have combined their love for cycling with their obsession for craft beer. After weeks of conducting interviews, I figured it was time the rubber hit the road … er, trail.
Many of the folks I chatted with enjoyed the Sammamish River Trail/Burke-Gilman Trail best. With tons of great breweries along the trail in Woodinville, Kenmore and Seattle, it made total sense. Also, having watched their evolution on social media, the recent opening of Burke Gilman Brewing sealed my decision to grab my bike and make my way to Woodinville.
I started at Crucible Brewing in Woodinville. Dick Mergens and Shawn Dowling’s second taproom is right off the trail near 178th Street and makes the perfect jumping-off point for a good ride. The day was hot, but the hope of a refreshing ale at the end of the 19-mile ride to Burke Gilman Brewing definitely motivated me.
I cycled along the Sammamish River into Bothell and tipped my cap to The Hop and Hound. Usually a short jaunt across the bridge at The Park at Bothell Landing would lead me to one of my favorite taprooms, but I was short on time. Same for Cairn Brewing, 192 Brewing and 9 Yards Brewing in Kenmore.
The ride cooled off as I started to hit the canopy of trees along Riviera Place and Lake Washington. About 3 miles from my destination, I started seeing signs for Magnuson Cafe & Brewery with the recognizable Octopus logo of one of my favorite Seattle breweries, Mollusk Brewing. It made me wish I had more time to stop and have a pint at the recently opened cafe just down the hill from the trail along Sand Point Way.
As the trail moved inland from the lake, I started to look out for the Burke Gilman Brewery. After a short ride, I came upon the place in the trail where the brewery was marked. I made the short walk down the sidewalk to the brewery and was welcomed by co-owner Eric Lundquist and head brewer Phil Pesheck.
Lundquist is part of a four-person partnership that opened the brewery, including Kenneth Trease and brothers Corey and Ty Ovendale. They hired the experienced Pesheck to run the brewhouse.
Lundquist and Pesheck gave me a tour of the seven-barrel brewhouse and the brewery, which opened just two weeks ago. There’s a spacious seating area inside as well as plenty of outdoor patio seating. With parking for 15 bikes in multiple spots, biking to get your pint is highly encouraged. Lundquist said that on a recent Sunday more than half of the patrons during the afternoon rush were cyclists.
It has room for 24 beers on tap, but so far there’s just eight Burke Gilman beers on. Lundquist said the goal is to double that number over the next year as Pesheck gets more comfortable on the new system and more beer gets in fermenters.
Lundquist poured me the brewery’s closest thing to a flagship IPA, its 111 Mile IPA. A hazy IPA with a slightly juicy up-front character, it’s another solid entrant into the Seattle IPA club.
I also really enjoyed the London Brown. Pesheck brewed this beer more at home in 1950s England true to style, including the low ABV of 3.6 percent. It was nice and roasty and really drinkable — the perfect tonic after the long ride.
Pesheck said he’s really looking forward to working with some wild yeast strains and pushing some of the recipes to the extreme. He highlighted a soon-to-be released beer, the Hop Whisperer, as one he’s really looking forward to tasting. Made with Ekuanot, Chinook and Citra hops, the double IPA should be a real crowd pleaser.
I hopped on my bike and made my way north. With a belly full of beer, the ride took a much more leisurely pace. By the time I made it back to Crucible, though, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready for another pint.
For more on local brew trails and biking and beer groups, read my follow-up story on Sunday at www.heraldnet.com.
Also on this week’s taster tray:
Something Blue, Crucible Brewing: Created in honor of taproom manager Angel Selwood’s upcoming nuptials to Daniel Sibrel, this blueberry cream ale will be pouring on nitro. Available on tap at the brewery.
Double Oh Oh, Dreadnought Brewing: The second in the Monroe brewery’s summer IPA series, this double IPA packs a punch of malt and hops. Available on tap at the brewery.
White Cap Wheat, Sound to Summit Brewing: A bright and bready American wheat beer with notes of lemon and tangerine. Available on tap at the brewery.
Juicy Brut IPA, 5 Rights Brewing: Dry, clean and loaded with a combination of Citra, Amarillo and Mosaic hops, this refreshingly crisp champagne-like IPA has a hoppy punch. Available on tap at The Hop and Hound, Elliott Bay Pizza and Pub, The Independent Beer Bar and Toggle’s Bottleshop.
3rd Street Sunrise Imperial IPA, 5 Rights Brewing: A big West Coast-style IPA bursting with citrus and tropical fruit flavors and aromas. Available on tap at The Hop and Hound, Elliott Bay Pizza and Pub, The Independent Beer Bar, Toggle’s Bottleshop and Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse.
DRINK THIS
111 Mile IPA
Burke-Gilman Brewing, Seattle
Style: IPA
Stats: 6.5 ABV
Available: On tap at the brewery
From the brewery: All ingredients are sourced within 111 miles of the brewery (Hint: Yakima is 111 miles from Seattle), including Azacca, Centennial and Citra hops from Yakima and Copeland malts from Skagit Valley Malting.
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