Drink 2011: Cascade Brewing Barrel House

By MICHAEL MANNHEIMER

When it comes to hops, Northwest brewers are all about one-upping each other. The guys at Cascade Brewing didn't care to join that game—so they went sour. The tasting room serves over a dozen varieties of sour beer, produced with lactobacillus bacteria and aged for months in wooden barrels. Be there Tuesdays at 6 pm to taste the two weekly specials tapped directly from the barrels. (Traditionalists, rest assured: Cascade Brewing devotes five taps to regular beers.) The place is casual, with picnic tables inside and out, and though the decor is not particularly cozy, the waitstaff is friendly and enthusiastic about educating newcomers. While sour pints might not be for everyone, the novelty of the weird flavor makes the trip well worth it. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER.
What to drink: Cascade Kriek Ale.
Entertainment: Not much.

WWeek 2015

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