Wednesday 22nd June 2011

Bob Thompson

My second pub visit in Seattle on this day before catching the train back to Tacoma was Rock Bottom at 1333 Fifth Avenue, a really difficult pub to find. It is on the upper floor of yet another shopping centre.

Rock Bottom is a chain but, over the years I've been to several of their pubs, and am impressed, especially their commitment to cask ale, not always seen in North America.

The standard range on offer that afternoon in Seattle was: D-Light (3.0%), Wheat (3.5%), Pale (4.5%), Red (5.0%), IPA (6.5%), Stout (6.0%). The two seasonals on offer were Peashooter Pale and Summer Blonde. I have to endorse their policy of producing low-gravity beers. Not many North American producers do this.

The guy sitting next to me at the bar said he only came into the pub when they had Peashooter Ale on. When I asked the bartender what the unlabelled hand pumps were serving I was told it was Peashooter from cask. My next decision was obvious. It was fantastic, beautifully bitter, totally wonderful.

I then headed to the University Street station in the Transit Tunnel and boarded an electric bus to International District station. From there I walked one block to King Street station to catch the last southbound Sounder train to Tacoma at 18.15.

Important Information:

Rock Bottom Brewery & Restaurant, 1333 5th Avenue, Seattle WA. 98101.
Tel: 206 622 3070

Open: Monday-Thursday 11.00-23.00; Friday & Saturday 11.00-01.00; Sunday 11.00-23.30

When searching for this brew pub you mustn't loose sight of the fact that it is in a shopping complex with no clue of its whereabouts on the street outside. Not only that, it's on the top level. It's close to the intersection of University Street and 5th Avenue.
The location is two blocks east from the University Street station of the Downtown Transit Tunnel and also 3rd Avenue and its many bus routes. From the shopping complex just walk down University Street, or up, if you are arriving at the pub.