TACOMA, WASHINGTON
After leaving Puget Sound-sited Harmon Pub, took the two-mile journey up the hill to former fire station, ENGINE HOUSE NO. 9 BREWERY & RESTAURANT. A historic Tacoma landmark visited December ’09, brewer Shane Johns keeps patrons comin’ with his healthy selection of barleywines, Belgian-inspired brews, and archetypal American ales.
A red-black courtyard with chairs and tables fronts the red-bricked antique wood-furnished restaurant (with archaic garage doors next to side entrance). Behind the dining area lies the crown jewel, a rustic 10-seat back bar with beautiful wood mural serving Johns’ surefire creations. A private banquet area upstairs adds to the charm. Windowed brew tanks on the attached right side maroon-bricked space served eleven libations this fortuitous autumn afternoon.
Subtly fruited Rowdy Dick Amber allowed buttery crystal malts to sweeten lemon custard, green grape, red apple and tangerine nuances.
Both red apple-whiffed soft-watered crystal-malted Scottish Ale and hop-bitten wood-lacquered yellow-red-fruited India Pale Ale hit the stylistic mark.
Lemon-candied souring, subtle orange peel bittering, and grassy-hopped coriander spicing branded Belgian White. Hop-sharpened dried fruits inundated nutty tea-like cocoa malting of Engine House staple, Fire Engine Red.
Saison-styled Flemish Sour revealed oaken cherry dryness, white grape tannins, Granny Smith apple tartness and lime-y cranberry pucker for parched barnyard graining.
Another favorite, simply called Tacoma Brew, saturated grassy Saaz-hopped lemon-seeded orange-peeled bitterness with honey malt glaze.
Equally impressive, Ecuadorian chocolate sweetened hop-roasted black cherry fruiting and dry cappuccino finish of mild Chocolate Stout.
Coffee-roasted espresso-milked black chocolate-y Porter sufficed.
Best selections included sweet whiskey-wafted ’04 Barleywine, with its pureed banana-cherry creaminess illuminating candied apple, cotton candy and coconut oil undertones.
Meanwhile, rum-soaked medicinal-strength ’06 Oak-Aged Barleywine gathered butterscotch, almond paste and bruised cherry illusions.
Thanks for stopping bye John. sounds like you had a blast down south. have some new beers in the works.. most noteable a barleywine with smoked hallertau and a imp stout aged in bourbon barrel.. will have to work out a way to get you some samples.. cheers