With so many breweries in Snohomish, it only made sense that the city is the first in Snohomish County to create its own ale trail.
Six breweries in the historic tourist town have banded together to create the Snohomish Ale Trail, a passport brewery tour that takes beer drinkers from Bickford Avenue to downtown Snohomish and finally the farmlands south of town.
“We didn’t have this opportunity three years ago,” said Frank Sandoval, co-owner and head brewer of SnoTown Brewery on the skirts of downtown Snohomish. “With the sudden eruption of breweries in town, it now makes sense to collaborate and cross promote each other and our distinct varieties of beer.”
Along with SnoTown, Sound to Summit Brewing, Scrappy Punk Brewing, Haywire Brewing, Spada Farmhouse Brewery and Lost Canoe Brewing make up the ale trail. Starting with Sound to Summit in the north, the six breweries are within 5 miles of each other.
“This is really a collaborative effort to bring people to Snohomish and spread the word on what we’re doing here,” Scrappy Punk owner and head brewer Greg Krsak said.
Snohomish Ale Trail passports and maps are available at any of the participating breweries. Collect two stamps (one stamp per pint) at each of the breweries and receive a free collectible Snohomish Ale Trail pint glass.
“The Ale Trail is not meant to be completed in one visit, but done over multiple days,” said John Carruthers, owner of Lost Canoe and Sound to Summit Brewing. “Take your time at each brewery, meet the brew masters and enjoy the experience.”
The current brewery tour doesn’t include every great craft beer stop in Snohomish. Between brewery stops are a number of great spots to drink craft beer, including Josh’s Taps and Caps, a taproom and bottleshop, Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse, the new Center Public House and Trail’s End Taproom.
Thursday, as if on cue, Josh’s Taps and Caps is hosting a Snohomish Brewer’s Tap Takeover from 6 to 9 p.m. All six breweries will each be pouring two beers. You can’t fill out your passport, but it’s an easy way to get a feel for all six Snohomish breweries.
For more information on the Snohomish Ale Trail, visit www.snohomishaletrail.com.
DRINK THIS
Citrus Saison Brett
Spada Farmhouse Brewery, Snohomish
Style: Wild saison
Stats: 5.8 percent ABV
Available: On tap at the brewery and at Josh’s Taps & Caps on May 31
From the brewery: John Spada will be bringing this crowd favorite to next week’s Snohomish Brewer’s Tap Takeover at Josh’s. Fermented and aged in neutral oak barrels with Brettanomyces Trois Vrai, this beer is packed with citrus and stone fruit flavor, and balanced out with a slight oak character.
Taster Tray
The Bee’s Knees, Middleton Brewing: Part of Middleton’s Cereal Killer Series, this Belgian golden strong ale is made with loads of Honey Nut Cheerios. Available on tap at the brewery and Toggle’s Bottleshop.
Buried in Light, Skookum Brewery: Fermented in a mix of wine and gin barrels with select yeast and bacteria, this grisette, or wheat farmhouse ale, has notes of green stone fruit, lemon, hay, oak and funk. Available on tap at the brewery.
Sultan Sweetie, Timber Monster Brewing: A light golden lager with Chinook and Saaz hops give this beer an earthy, herbal flavor and floral aroma. Available on tap at the brewery.
Motorboatin’ Summer Pale, Lost Canoe Brewing: Tropical fruity pale ale heavily dry hopped with Mosaic. Available on tap at the brewery.
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