Wednesday 22nd June 2011

Bob Thompson

I arrived into Tacoma that evening off the Sounder train from Seattle, changing to the tram and alighting at the Convention Center/15th Street stop. I then caught the number 1 bus to a stop on 6th Avenue where it intersected N Pine Street. All slightly complicated but necessary.

It was just a hundred metres from the stop to Engine House No 9 at 611 Pine Street. This, as the name may indicate, is a former fire station and is a historic building. See the report of my 29 October 2009 visit for more info.

Of the normal range the following were on offer that night: Belgian White (4.1%), Fire Engine Red Ale (7.0%), Tacoma Brew Pale Ale (5.1%), Porter (5.9%), Rowdy Dick Amber (6.2%), IPA (6.6%) and Scottish Ale. I passed on this lot as, on my previous visit, I had sampled them.

What I was really after here were the cask beers. I had three pints of three different cask beers. Firstly one from the home team, Engine House IPA (6.6%). Then two from the excellent Full Sail Brewery of Hood River, Oregon. These were Wreck the Halls (a special I'd not had before) and Elevation.

I confess that I like this brew pub very much, mainly because of its commitment to cask beer.

Important Information:

Engine House No 9, 611 N Pine Street, Tacoma, WA. 98406. Tel: 253 272 3435

Open: Mon-Wed 11.00-01.00; Thurs & Fri 11.00-02.00; Sat 10.00-02.00; Sun 10.00-01.00

To get from downtown catch the No 1 bus in the direction of TCC Transit Center. Alight at the Pine Street stop. The pub is just around the corner. Note: Should you continue later to the end of the route you will find the excellent Ale House nearby.