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 their first episode, Team Grit and Grain — Matthew McLaren, Sean Jackson, and Ron Swarner — aim their microphones toward Shane for his feisty interpretation of E9 Brewing’s history and accomplishments, recorded in the Parkway Tavern’s Red Room. We record a two-part episode with Shane because E9 and him are fixtures in this town and beer industry. Tune in next week to hear Shane discuss his brewing techniques and beer.
“There are very few American beers that are timeless today. And, as a brewer, that’s what you should strive for.” — Shane Johns, E9 Brewing
Engine House No. 9/E9 Brewing History
Although Shane dives deeper into the history of his brewery during the podcast, the Engine House No. 9 rolled up the doors with the intent of protecting Tacoma North End from fires sparked by bumped lanterns in 1907. It was the last station in Tacoma to convert from horse-drawn to mechanized equipment. In 1965, it abandoned and fell into disrepair. Tacoma News Tribune reporters Win Anderson and Bob Lane restored the building, converting the lower floor to a tavern. Many of today’s successful bar and restaurant owners got their start at E-9. Along comes Dusty Trail. In 1995, he converts the landmark building into a brewpub. With the help of Douglas McDonnell, the grandnephew of the German immigrants who founded Tacoma’s historic Columbia Brewing in 1933, “E9” produces Tacoma Brew, a salute to the original Puget Sound Brewing beer of 1888. Neighboring University of Puget Sound teachers and students come in droves. It became the first stop on the infamous “21 Run.” Dick Dickens buys E-9 in 2002 and resident head brewer Doug Tiede takes E-9’s beers to the next level with the help of former chef, Shane Johns. In 2011, X group (Asado, Masa) purchases E-9, with Shane running the kettles. In May 2019, the brewery, E9 Brewing, moves out of the Engine House No. 9 building and into a much larger production facility and taproom in Tacoma’s Historic Brewing District. Shane and crew invent new brews, grabbed awards, and revamp the famous Tacoma Brew, a Kolsch.
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Oh man you are so very ready we mean don’t you just feel it? That racing pulsing tickling groin-tightening need to bust open and break your own mold and mold your own break and say what you mean and mean what you say and do it all with this sort of wet radiant screw-this divinity saturating your every word because after all what the hell else is there? If this Grit and Grain podcast is not what you expected, please alter your expectations. No such thing as a bad time to visit Tacoma. No such thing as too much barleywine. Tune in next Friday for more sweet chatter with Shane Johns! Cheers!
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