Narrows Brewing Co.

Of all the craft beer breweries in all the country, Narrows Brewing Co. in Tacoma, Wash., might just have bragging rights to the most awe-inspiring location in terms of both view and drama.

Part of a historic mill building at Tacoma’s Narrows Marina, it offers visitors a sweeping view of Puget Sound and the Narrows Bridge, which the brewery was named after.

Narrows Bridge

Four months after Narrows Bridge opened in 1940, a moderate 42 MPH wind tore the road deck of the twin suspension bridge to pieces in a matter of hours (video below). Large black and white historic photos of “Galloping Gertie” (made famous when captured on motion picture film) line the walls of Narrows Brewing. Managing Partner Scott Wagner also duplicated the bridge towers in his cast medal tap handles forged at a local machine shop. The brewery serves Galloping Gertie Golden Ale to pay homage to the famous bridge that helps to uniquely define the legacy of the brewery.

Head Brewer Joe Walts was sold on the historical location when he and family relocated from Wisconsin in July of 2013. He has been in the craft beer profession since 2003 and learned his brewing basics at the Siebel Institute after homebrewing for several years. His brewing philosophy is to “treat your yeast well.”

“I was working as a quality manager at Ale Asylum wanting to make the move up to head brewing,” Walts said. “My wife and I always wanted to live by the ocean. This opportunity felt like I could be part of something bigger—and there is a great sense of community here.”

Narrows Marina

Wagner said there are several development plans for the old 250,000 square foot site, including condos. There is already a dockside restaurant and marina store.

“We always knew that we wanted a craft brewery to be part of the energy of the site,” said Wagner. “We’ve got 700 dock-side feet and we’re a destination for boaters all over the sound. In the summer months you can hardly find a seat in the taproom.”

Narrows Brewing offers six beers with plans to double-up the tap line in the next few months with seasonals. To that end, Narrows Brewing has what must be the most unique barrel-aging storage facility anywhere. It has a 20,000 square foot space beneath its brewery and tasting room built over the incoming and outgoing tide, which keeps the space at a near constant 50°F, perfect for barrel aging.

“We recently rolled out a 10.9 percent ABV Breakers Ball Black Saison that we aged in two barrels for four months,” said Walts. “I then used the same barrels to age an oatmeal stout for five months. Both of these sold out. I’ve got a porter in the two barrels now that I plan on aging for at least six months depending upon how fast the wood flavors transfers.

The only thing galloping these days on Puget Sound is beer out the door at Narrows Brewing. Its core beers—the already mentioned golden as well as an amber, coffee stout, IPA and red—are delicious. Wagner said their sales are split evenly between the tasting room and distribution.

“We’re brewing at capacity,” said Walts.

John Mitchell

John W. Mitchell has served from sailor to CEO, with stints as a reporter and writer. He is a published writer and award-winning photographer. John is the owner of SnowPack Public Relations in Cedaredge, Colo., and lives with his wife, who—on most days—loves him more than her horse. John is the author of the novel “Medical Necessity” (J. Willis Mitchell).

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