RIP Dick Young - Dicks Brewing Company

Founder Dick Young of Dicks Brewing has passed. He was 56. Here is the rest of the story from The Chronicle Online a Centralia WA newspaper. Dick Young Dick Brewing Co

I was so fortunate to have met and had the time to chat with Dick over the past few years. Have had many run in at both the brewery and at various beer events. Dick will be missed.

Full Throttle Bottles

5909 Airport Way S
Seattle, WA 98108
206-763-2079
http://www.fullthrottlebottles.com/

Nice bottle shop not so sure about the location. With my trusty GPS I found the place with ease. It was a nice tidy place with a bottle selection of about 500-600 different labels and I was able to find a few that I had not seen. They had quite a Pacific North West selection that I was very impressed with. They also had a pretty big import section. If you’re in the area and need a special brew stop by they might just have it. I know I will be back when in the area.

The Collins Pub

526 Second Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 623-1016
http://www.thecollinspub.com

I have seen news/events advertised from this pub for the last few years and had wanted to see this for myself. Parking can be tough so look for it or pay for it across the street like I did. I found the place to be a new/clean look with high ceilings and new local art on the walls with a tap list that rivals the best. Russian River, to local flair with Big Al Brewing, Trade Route Brewing and Snoqualmie Falls Brewing there where also ore around 25 taps of some killer brews. I was impressed the food was a tad higher priced pub food I am sure for the location not far from some of the big banks and buildings in Seattle plus you have the football and baseball crowds walking buy. This is a great place I am sure I will be back. The bartender really knew the beer and how to sell what they had on there current list. They where very helpful and made me time enjoyable.

Spinnakers Brewpub

308 Catherine Street
Victoria, British Columbia
250-386-2739
http://www.spinnakers.com/

After taking a water taxi across the bay we arrived to Spinnakers Brewpub and wow what a view of the entire bay. The beer better be good and after trying the taster tray I was impressed. This was going to be our final meal and beers on our Victoria BC trip. The English bitter was buttery and tasty. The dark ales where also very good and the porter was one fine brew. This place made there own malt vinegar with the beer malts so they had about 5 different flavors from English ale to porter malt vinegars. We found out you can also stay here and over look the bay all night. I am thinking next time we might try to stay here. We found the service to be very good and the food was also excellent. We will be back.

Swans Hotel - Buckerfields Brewery

506 Pandora Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
Phone: 250-361-3310
http://www.swanshotel.com/brewery.php

Buckerfields brewing was a neat place to visit on the top of the place was a hotel Swans and this was a neat old building. We stopped at the bar and had a few of the beers this was the night before the GCBF. We had a Coconut porter which could have used more of the famed Coconut but was still tasty never less. The Swans Oatmeal Stout was pure heaven and I was hoping to remember to bring some back to the states. The service was great and they talked the beers up quite a bit. The also told us of several other places to visit while in town that also had great beers. I think this was one of the best places to visit the Raspberry ale to finish off the night was actually very good and fruit. This is a must stop in Victoria.

Canoe Brewing

450 Swift Street
Victoria, British Columbia CA
(250) 361-1940
http://www.canoebrewpub.com/

My first brew pub in Canada since I have started rating places. I wish I knew earlier back 10 years ago I could have added a few more. Canoe Brewing was a excellent stop on our first day of the trip. Beautiful weather, scenery and the pub was also very good looking and clean. We ended up getting an outside table with the sun on our backs we had a taster try of some of the most excellent ales. I loved the ESB with all the flavors and malt richness this was giving off. Service was not the best she seemed super busy and really could care less we where there. Typical college kid who can careless just wants her tips. Did I mention the prices where pretty high so that was a shock. The dark ambers and porters also had such great flavors. I knew I was in for a great time in Victoria.

Bard & Banker Scottish Pub

1022 Government Street
Victoria, BC
250.953.9993

http://www.bardandbanker.com/
http://www.victoriapubcompany.ca/

What a great Scottish pub the look of the pub was that of an old Bank. I found out this was a bank fro 130 years then it left and the pub opened up. The old look has been freshened up and it looks awesome the wood work and glass was spectacular. Over 30 taps and they where mostly all Canadian craft beers mixed with some Guinness and other awesome macros. We had some food and that was also very good the service was also just as good. We got a great Bartender and he knew the beer and was able to show me some great brews. This is a great place and if you miss this one just a few feet down the road are 2 others that have the same feel just different styles Irish and British. Great times…I was over for the Great Canadian Beer Festival and this city has a vast amount of beer to visit.