EVERETT – It started as a simple Father’s Day gift: a home brewing kit.
About 15 years later, it’s one of the popular brews in the area, and one of the best places to enjoy it is fresh from the kettles at the Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. on the Everett waterfront.
Scuttlebutt opened in July 1996, producing just an amber ale, a porter and a hefeweizen.
| 1524 W. Marine View Drive, Everett; 425-257-9316
Specialty: microbrews, house root beer, pub grub Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday Price range: inexpensive to moderate Liquor: beer and wine Smoking: not allowed Reservations: not accepted Disabled accessibility: no apparent barriers Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard accepted |
Since then, it has grown into a full-blown producer of hoppy goodness.
While the restaurant isn’t the big attraction at Scuttlebutt, its casual atmosphere, quintessential pub grub and fresh beer selection keeps the customers happy.
“We’re more like a brewery that happens to have a restaurant,” said owner Phil Bannan, 66.
And that’s all because of some zoning restrictions.
When Bannan and his family were looking for a place to put their new barley-fueled venture, they found a spot on the Everett waterfront, just north of Naval Station Everett on West Marine View Drive.
Zoning laws didn’t permit a brewery to stand alone, but said it was fine to have a restaurant that also brewed beer.
A kitchen, some tables, chairs and a menu later, Scuttlebutt had a kitchen and the kettles got cookin’.
While the restaurant is located on the waterfront, you won’t be checking out the sunset. The stripped-down environs of Scuttlebutt have windows facing the railroad tracks across the street and just a couple of TVs up in the corners of the dining area.
This is a place for beer lovers who want to try something new and support Everett’s diamond in the rough.
Scuttlebutt brews are served in some area pubs and are available in bottles and many local grocery stores and mini-marts, but the brewery is the only place to find eight taps flowing with a variety of light to dark and mild to bitter beers.
Seven regulars – including the original trio, Anthony’s Ale, India Pale Ale, Giant Sequoia and a Homeport Blond – join one seasonal brew at any given time.
Not bad for a guy who started with a home kit and one day discovered, “You can make some pretty good beers at home.”
Scuttlebutt is an immediately welcoming place, which makes sense given its deep family roots. Bannan started it with his wife, its namesake (more on that later).
Bannan’s son, Phil Jr., now manages the restaurant and his daughter and son-in-law, Maggie and Pat Dowd, have been involved in the past.
So, what about that name, anyway?
It works on two levels. “Scuttlebutt” was the old name of a drinking fountain on a ship, which is a nod to the brewery’s spot near the marina.
On a more personal level, it’s the nickname of Bannan’s wife, Cynthia. She’s had the moniker all her life, and then some.
“Her dad was in the Navy and they always said it was ‘scuttlebutt’ that they were going to have another child,” Bannan explained. “When she was born, they sent out an announcement that ‘Scuttlebutt’ was born.”
By the time she was 13, she’d convinced her dad to drop the final syllable and became simply “Scuttle.”
“In order to get her out of retirement to help run the place,” Bannan said, “we had to name the brewery after her.”
Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
Michael V. Martina / The Herald
Ashley Anderson serves Eric Troili and his wife Desiree from Everett at Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. in Everett.
Michael V. Martina / The Herald
Ray Horstman enjoys a Giant Sequoia Ale while eating with his wife Sharon at Scuttlebutt.
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