Washington Beer Guide: Atlas of Beer for the Seattle Seahawks' 2016-2017 Regular Season

 "You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline — it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." — Frank Zappa, musician

Beer, much like football is unique and inspires countless memories.
Local football purists will recall Steve Largent's record-breaking reception, the first time The Boz stepped on the field, or that fateful day when the Kingdome was demolished to make way for Qwest Field (now renamed Centurylink Field). Beer equally has had its fair share of local heroes and heartbreaks. This writer remembers the first sip of a Redhook ESB, the first visit to Bend stopping at no less than 8 breweries in a weekend, or the sale of the beloved Elysian Brewing Company to Anheuser-Busch's parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV. From beer to football, locals hold onto good and bad memories when it comes to supporting local.

Ask anyone in the Greater Seattle area and they will recall what life was like before the Seattle Seahawks won their first sports title in 2014. A year later (in 2015) hopes of a back-to-back Super Bowl repeat were dashed at the hands Bill Belichick's New England Patriots. Humbled in their loss, the team almost returned a third time, before their dreams were dashed by the Carolina Panthers. Some would argue that the loss crushed many recently converted 'fans', while loyal season ticket holders would remind you they've seen it before. This is what it is to be a Seattle Seahawks fan, in a flock of 12th Man fans.

Unlike their beloved team, the beer selection at Centurylink Field has not seen the same improvement. But like the past five years under Pete Caroll, the selection is maturing, albeit much slower than Pete Carroll's squad. Last year, under new management, Centurylink Field trialed several regional and national craft breweries, to see if fans really preferred an India Pale Ale, over a Light-Pilsner. The results so far are mixed, but that hasn't stopped the coordinators at the "Clink" from expanding their menu of beers.

And before you step up to the mic to infer that buying local isn't that hard, then you've clearly never navigated around the maelstrom that is corporate sponsorship. As the official beer of the National Football League, Budweiser is guaranteed a ubiquity more accommodating than a red carpet walk at the Oscars. Unlike nearby Safeco Field, which offers a cornucopia of options, the quantity of independently-owned breweries included during a Seahawks home game approaches near anemic levels.

Which is why I'm happy to provide you this guide of where to find independently-owned and, like your beloved Seahawks, memorable beers.

The Beers

• Alaskan Amber Ale 5.30% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Alaskan Amber Ale 5.30% ABV, 18 IBU. "The name of this beer style comes from the German word “alt” meaning “old”. This refers to the aging that alts undergo since they ferment more slowly and at colder temperatures than most ales. Slow fermentation helps condition the flavors in Alaskan Amber, contributing to its overall balance and smoothness." from Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, AK
• Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale 4.50% ABV. (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Field 41 Pale Ale 4.50% ABV 38 IBU. "Don’t be fooled by the powerful hop aroma of Field 41 Pale Ale. Heavily dry-hopped with Simcoe® and Ahtanum™, this perfectly sessionable Pale Ale drinks easy with a smooth bitterness and is named for the hop field that is home to Bale Breaker Brewing Company. Light and refreshing, it’s the perfect beer for a day on the river or afternoon on the slopes." from Bale Breaker Brewing in Yakima, WA
• Black Raven Trickster IPA 6.90% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Black Raven Trickster IPA 6.90% ABV, 70IBU "In mythology, the raven can play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules, hence the name Trickster. This well-balanced IPA has a light fruit, citrus and piney hop aroma with a full hop flavor. With delicately balanced malt and hops and a 6.9% ABV, this beer has truly earned its name. Available year-round." from Black Raven Brewing Company in Redmond, WA
• Beardslee Beaver Bait Blonde 5.10% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Beardslee Beaver Bait Blonde 5.10% ABV, 35 IBU. "Easy Drinking Ale, perfect to quench your thirst & wake up your taste buds. This ale is perfect for people who enjoy lagers. It is low in malty flavor and low In hops/bitterness. In the logging world, “beaver bait” means loose logs and debris." from Beardslee Public House and Brewery in Bothell, WA
• Beardslee Greenleaf India Pale Ale 6.40% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Beardslee Greenleaf India Pale Ale 6.40% ABV, 60 IBU. "Hops, hops, hops. Using a technique called hop bursting, this IPA delivers a mellow bitterness with strong hop aroma & flavor. The style IPA was the original ‘pale’ ale of England, created with more hops to stabilize the beer while being exported to India (hence the name) and later adopted for domestic consumption. Based on Bothell history, Columbus s. Greenleaf was one of the first settlers in Bothell." from Beardslee Public House and Brewery in Bothell, WA
• Beardslee Knuckleboom ESB 5.50% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Beardslee Knuckleboom ESB 5.50% ABV, 40 IBU. "Malty & spicy with a hint of rye, it’s an easy drinking session ale. ESB is an English style ale that falls in the “bitter” category. There are three separate recognized styles within the world of bitters: standard or ordinary bitter, special bitter, and extra special or strong bitter, better known as ESB. “knuckle boom” is a hydraulically operated truck whose mechanical action imitates the human arm." from Beardslee Public House and Brewery in Bothell, WA
• Big Al Civ's Straight Red 6.00% ABV (limited availability)
• Big Al Civ's Straight Red 6.00% ABV. "Gorilla FC, one of the largest supporter clubs in Seattle, make a big contribution to the community at large with a strong fun raising program. Gorilla combines a passion for soccer and community in the same way that Big Al Brewing combines passion for beer brewing, and community. Civ's Straight Red is a beer inspired by that passion - see you on the terraces!" from Big Al Brewing in Seattle, WA
• Deschutes Inversion India Pale Ale 6.80% ABV. (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Deschutes Inversion India Pale Ale 6.80% ABV, 80 IBU. "Paradise is stumbling upon our whole flower hop room and inhaling. Inversion IPA is as close as you can get without knowing somebody.
  Enter, if you will, all the glorious aromatic complexity of the hop. This big, bold IPA’s intense multi-hop kick gets a subtle dose of restraint from select Munich and Caramel malts. For discriminating hop heads."from Deschutes Brewing in Bend, Oregon
• Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale 5.00% ABV. (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale 5.00%, 40 IBU. "Mirror Pond Pale Ale is the quintessential northwest pale ale. Cascade hops and more Cascade hops give this tawny colored ale delicious hop-forward aroma and flavor. Pale malt allows the hops to linger, not overpower". from Deschutes Brewing in Bend, Oregon
• Fremont Interurban IPA 6.20% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Fremont Interurban IPA 6.20% ABV, 80 IBU. "Named after Fremont’s most famous outdoor sculpture, Waiting for the Interurban, Interurban India Pale Ale offers the adventurous beer lover a warm embrace of roasted pale malt swirled with a hand-selected blend of flavor malts and filled with the rich spice of Chinook, Centennial, and Amarillo hops. Interurban India Pale is eminently drinkable throughout the year." from Fremont Brewing Company in Seattle, WA
• Fremont Summer Ale 5.20% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Fremont Summer Ale 5.20% ABV, 45 IBU. "Summer Ale tastes like tangerine flowers in a glass, endless days brewed into nectar of barley and hops. Four-hundred twenty reasons to enjoy this beer. Our answer to bigger is better, Summer Ale is as simple as craft beer gets. One grain, one hop. Simplicity...yet, so much more. "Beer has food value, but food has no beer value." – VWP" *2 month availability. from Fremont Brewing Company in Seattle, WA
• Georgetown Manny's Pale Ale 4.50% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Georgetown Manny's Pale Ale 5.40% ABV, 38 IBU. "Darn Tasty Pale Ale" or "A careful selection of Northwest hops, premium barley, and our unique yeast give this ale a rich and complex malty middle with a snappy hop finish. Crisp, clean and smooth with hints of citrus and fruit." from Georgetown Brewing Company in Seattle, WA
• Iron Horse Quilter’s Irish Death 7.80% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Iron Horse Quilter’s Irish Death 7.80% ABV. "Created by the brewery’s founder, Quilter’s Irish Death is what we call a dark, smooth, ale. Any attempt at classifying it just ends up sending beer geeks into a style guidelines diatribe. So forget style guidelines. Is your pursuit of micro beer about tasting copies of a style that fit guidelines anyways? (Neither is ours) We lovingly refer to it as beer candy. While tempting to session this beer, the name is a necessary reminder that despite the surprising approachability, this beer weighs in at a hefty 7.8% ABV." From Iron Horse Brewery in Ellensburg, WA
• Mac & Jack's African Amber 5.80% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Mac & Jack's African Amber 5.80% ABV "The Northwest’s original, unfiltered and dry hopped amber ale. African Amber’s pioneering and innovative style is proof that drink-abilty does not have to be achieved by sacrificing flavor. This beer erupts with a floral, hoppy taste, followed by a well rounded malty middle, finishing with a nicely organic hop flavor. Locally sourced two row grain and a blend of specialty malts give our amber its rich taste. Further complexity is achieved by leaving the beer unfiltered, providing exceptional flavor, as well as giving our amber its unique "cloudy" look. Lastly, we actually place a bag of fresh, locally grown, Yakima valley hops in each keg creating what has become the original, cult classic, northwest amber ale." From Mac & Jack's Brewery in Redmond, WA
• New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale 5.20% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale 5.20% ABV, 22 IBU. "Named in honor of our co-founder's bike trip through Europe, FAT TIRE AMBER ALE marks a turning point in the young electrical engineer's home brewing. Belgian beers use a far broader palette of ingredients (fruits, spices, esoteric yeast strains) than German or English styles. Together with co-founder Kim Jordan, they traveled around sampling their homebrews to the public. Fat Tire won fans with its sense of balance: toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness. Fat Tire: Pairs well with people." Note, Fat Tire is only available in Centurylink's suites. from New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado
• Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale 7.20% (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale 7.20% ABV, "Classified" IBU. "This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory—maybe something with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multimillion-dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this." from Stone Brewing Co. from Escondido, California

Gluten-free Alternatives

• Ghostfish Vanishing Point Pale Ale. (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Ghostfish Vanishing Point Pale Ale 4.90% ABV, 63 IBU. "For our take on the classic American pale ale, we decided to throw inhibition to the wind and jump in with both feet. With three types of artisan gluten-free millet malt and four varieties of Washington-grown hops, one sip will make your preconceptions about gluten-free beer Vanish into the great beyond!" From Ghostfish Brewing Company in Seattle, WA
• Seattle Cider Semi Sweet Cider 6.50% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Seattle Cider Semi Sweet Cider 6.50% ABV, 2.6 Brix. "A light, crisp cider with just a touch of sweetness. Honey in color with notes of bergamot orange, lemon and apple, this refreshing cider reveals hints of citrus and cinnamon on the palate." from Seattle Cider Company in Seattle, Washington
• Angry Orchard Crisp Apple 5.00% ABV (Seattle Seahawks 2016-2017)
• Angry Orchard Crisp Apple 5.00% ABV. "
• "Angry Orchard Crisp Apple has a bright, crisp apple flavor, just like biting into a fresh apple. It is a perfect balance of sweetness and bright acidity from culinary apples and dryness of traditional cider making apples, resulting in a complex, yet refreshing, hard cider." from Angry Orchard Cider in Walden, NY

The Food

For information associated with food visit CenturyLink Field's concession page or the Seahawks concession page, For something fun, visit the Brougham Beer Hall to enjoy Uli's Sausage paired with Men's Room Red or some wings and a Black Raven Trickster IPA. Also, the menu is subject to change, based on local availability of ingredients (e.g. local seafood, local vegetables).

Where to find the beer
The next logical conclusion, after reviewing this list, is where do I find any of these beers? Most of the beers can be found in the "Craft House" and "Brougham Beer Hall". More can be found throughout the stadium in areas like: "Grab n Go", Cantina, East & West Club Bar, and at various carts, and sold near your seat by vendors.

Included is this helpful map to guide you to the sections listed below. 

Below is a breakdown of where to find draft ¹ or 16oz cans ².

Main Level

• Brougham Beer Hall - Located at in the Southwest corner of the Main Concourse near Section 128. The 'Beer Hall is an oasis from the roar of the crowd. Look for the following brewery beers available, poured side-by-side with concession items.
• Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale ¹, Black Raven Trickster IPA ¹, Fremont Interurban IPA ¹, Iron Horse Irish Death ¹
• Section 100 Cart- Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ²
• Section 104  - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Black Raven Trickster India Pale Ale ¹
• Section 105 - Mac & Jack's African Amber ¹
• Section 107 - Manny's Pale Ale ¹
• Section 109 "Craft House"- Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale ¹, Big Al Civ's Red ¹, Fremont Interurban IPA ¹, Iron Horse Irish Death ¹
• Section 111 "Grab & Go" - Alaskan Amber Ale ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale ¹, Iron Horse Quilters Irish Death ², Stone Arrogan Bastard Ale ²
• Section 112 - Alaskan Amber Ale ¹, Manny's Pale Ale ¹, Mac & Jack's African Amber ¹
• Section 113 "Cantina" - Alaskan Amber Ale ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ²
• Section 116 "Craft House"- Alaskan Amber ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 119 "Tapped & Corked" - Deschutes Inversion IPA ¹
• Section 126 - Deschutes Inversion IPA ¹
• Section 147 - Mac & Jack's African Amber ¹
• Section 149 - Manny's Pale Ale ¹
• Section 205  "Beardslee Public House" - Beardslee Beaver Knuckleboom ESB and Greenleaf Greenleaf IPA
• Section 209 - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Black Raven Trickster India Pale Ale ¹, Manny's Pale Ale ¹, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Mac & Jack's African Amber ¹, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 210 "SODO Cucina" - Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale ¹
• Section 213 "Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar" - Beardslee Beaver Blonde and Greenleaf IPA
• Section 231 "Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar" - Beardslee Beaver Blonde and Greenleaf IPA
• Section 234 "SODO Cucina" - Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale ¹
• Section 235 - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Black Raven Trickster India Pale Ale ¹, Manny's Pale Ale ¹, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Mac & Jack's African Amber ¹, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²

Field Plaza

• Section 131 Cart - Alaskan Amber ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Black Raven Trickster India Pale Ale, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 135 - Manny's Pale Ale ¹
• Section 137 - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Fremont Interurban IPA ¹
• Section 138 - Manny's Pale Ale ¹
• Section 141 Cart - Alaskan Amber ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 143 Cart - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ²

Club Level

• East Club Level Lounge - Fremont Summer Ale ¹, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• West Club Level Lounge - Fremont Summer Ale ¹, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²

Upper Level

• Section 300 "Craft House" - Alaskan Amber ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Deschutes Inversion IPA ¹, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 305 - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ²
• Section 307 - Fremont Interurban IPA ¹
• Section 309 - Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale ¹
• Section 311 - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ²
• Section 313 - Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale ¹,
• Section 315 "Grab & Go" - Alaskan Amber Ale ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Iron Horse Irish Death ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 330 "G111" - Alaskan Amber Ale ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Iron Horse Irish Death ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²
• Section 332 Cart - Alaskan Amber Ale ¹
• Section 333 - Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ²
• Section 339 - Fremont Interurban IPA ¹
• Section 344 "Craft House" - Alaskan Amber ², Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ², Deschutes Inversion IPA ¹, Ghostfish Pale Ale ², Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale ²

Verizon Lounge

• Look for Mac & Jack's African Amber ¹ and Manny Pale Ale ¹

Why only craft beer and cider?

I recognize a glaring omission has been associated with wine and non-alcoholic beverages. But given our focus on craft-made beer, we felt it would confuse our audience to list other options. Plus given the inclusion of gluten-free brewery, Ghostfish, it seems only fair to mention cideries like Seattle Cider Company and Angry Orchard, both independently-owned.

We hope that you'll enjoy your visit to Centurylink Field and ask that you take the time to seek out a few pints of craft beer, while you root for your favorite home (or visiting) team.

Cheers!

Full disclosure. Several unanswered inquiries were made to the Seattle Seahawks, Centurylink Field, First & Goal, or Delaware North, and at least one affiliated distributor, as part of developing this article. Locations listed were recovered from individual breweries or cooperating distributors.