Bothell Brews

Since my job is moving from Everett to Bothell in a short time, I thought it would be appropriate to conduct a reconnaissance mission to learn about some surrounding craft breweries.  We hooked up with our friends Bob and Kathy on a recent Saturday, and being residents of the area they were the perfect tour guides.

Our first stop was a little place called Foggy Noggin.  This joint doesn't just feel like it's in someone's garage.  It IS in someone's garage.  And it's only open once a week, on Saturdays, and just for a few hours at that.  Like the Machine House in Georgetown, they specialize in British style ales, with their flagship beer being a low alcohol session English Bitter called Bit o' Beaver (I later learned that the owners are huge fans of Oregon State University).  BowlingWidow and I shared a sampler tray which consisted of an array of eight beers.

A quiet unassuming garage from a distance

Foggy Noggin also got some press recently by brewing a concoction called "12th Man Skittles IPA" as a salute to both Seattle Seahawk fans and Skittle-popping running back Marshawn Lynch.  They received a cease and desist order from Texas A&M University over the use of "12th Man" and ended up calling it....you guessed it:  Cease and Desist IPA.
 

The offerings at Foggy Noggin

Next it was on to Twelve Bars Brewing.  The proprietor is a blues guitarist, hence the name.  We enjoyed the dry, crisp and hoppy Wicked Riff IPA.  And these guys get bonus points and the friendliest brewery of the day award for the impromptu tour the gave us "backstage".
 

The Twelve Bar Boys

Our third and final stop was at the stylish and impressive Triplehorn Brewing Company.  We went with a Landwink IPA and enjoyed chatting and watching both the homebrew competition, and some sort of wedding or graduation party that was taking place in the big room.  A lot seems to happen at Triplehorn, and I noticed on the way out that they have a cask night every Thursday that starts at 4:00pm.  Right after work and just a few miles away.  Hmmmmm.
 

The bar at Triplehorn:  a nice use of space

To end the day, Bob and Kathy took us to their favorite Mexican restaurant.  Pasion Tequila is located in downtown Bothell.  It's a small family-run restaurant that is worth going to.  I can probably count the number of what I think are good Mexican restaurants in the Seattle area on one hand.  Pasion Tequila has earned a spot there.