Friday 24th June 2011

Bob Thompson

I arrived in Tacoma on the 18.15 train from Seattle. After the inevitable tram, I caught a no 2 bus to the Tacoma Community College Transit Center. A short walk south bought me to my destination. I would say that it's about six miles from downtown, and it's the Ale House pub. The Transit Center is also the terminus of the no 1 bus so it would be possible to connect up with Engine House No 9 very easily.

The Ale House is remarkable, if only for the sheer number of draught beers it sells. There are sixty-four draught beers offered and of these only thirteen were from big domestic breweries or were imports. Obviously a list of each would be too long so I thought I'd just mentioned the breweries but there were still twenty five of them so you'll just have to take my word for it.

I can, however, tell you what I had, all of my favourite IPA style. My first pint was Mac & Jacks Two Tun IPA from Redmond, WA. I then tried Boundary Bay IPA from Bellingham, WA, followed by Snoqualmie Plant 1 IPA brewed in Snoqualmie, WA. My final beer of the night was Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA which originated in Healdsburg, CA.

Because of the enormous selection I actually consumed more than intended, so can't give precise tasting notes, however I didn't have anything I didn't like.

Nevertheless I made it onto the penultimate no 2 bus, or was it the no 1? What a fantastic pub.

Important Information:

Ale House Pub, 2122 Mildred Street W, Tacoma, WA. 98466. Tel: 253 565 9367

Open: Mon-Tues 11.00-24.00; Wed 11.00-01.00; Thurs-Sat 11.00-02.00; Sun 11.00-24.00

Bus No1 runs through the downtown area and terminates at the Tacoma Community College (TCC) Transit Center (Bus Station). Bus No 2 begins downtown and runs through the TCC Transit Center. The pub is one block south.