“When we first name “Bodhizafa” … we spelled it B.o.d.h.i.z.a.f.a. phonetically, and then we Googled it and Patrick Swayze was the first thing that came up. “That’s it!” explains Manny Chao, co-founder of Georgetown Brewing,…
In 2002, after eight batches, Manny Chao and Roger Bialous high-fived in their Seattle backyard after nailing their Manny’s recipe — a pale ale that went on the be Seattle’s beer. Chao was the first…
Prohibition ended Pacific Brewing & Malting Company and other Tacoma breweries’ heydays. But it didn’t stop Tacoma from drinking. Under the shadow of alcohol prohibition in America, those who stole away to secret speakeasies and…
“I’m lying on a block of cheese. I’ve got a block of cheese that’s half melted into the carpet, and I have no God damn idea what just happened except all six of those bottles…
“I rolled the forklift over when I was aligning for the truck because it was not the right sized forklift and I f—ing bailed out of the forklift, which you’re not suppose to do but…
It’s March 3, 2014. The inaugural Tacoma Beer Week comes in like a lamb. Tacoma Brewing is brewing in the former Amocat Café. 7 Seas is only in Gig Harbor. The Copper Door will open…
“My whole brewery had a foot of foam in it. He was like, ‘Just fire me, Mike! Just fire me!’ No, just give hug me, dude. I’m just glad you’re alive. Whatever. You didn’t get…
During Prohibition, a blind pig called “The Skoog” poured beer and liquor for Tacomans who, first, could find the speakeasy, and second, knew the password or secret phrase. The Skoog still exists in Tacoma for…
“Still to this day I would like to someday make the iconic beer,” says Shane Johns, brewmaster at E9 Brewing. “I think that any brewer that doesn’t want to say that they don’t want to…
E9 Brewing didn’t put Tacoma beer on the map, but it was the first modern-day brewery in the City of Destiny and its brewmaster, Shane Johns, is known worldwide as a mixed culture crackerjack. For…