Their third taproom, Reuben's Brews, invites you to drink among the barrels at The Barrel House.
For centuries, prior to the mass production of beer in stainless steel fermenters, publicans poured beer from barrels. Over the centuries that practice of using wooden barrels has been lessened, often reserved for cask-conditioned ales and lagers. While other breweries use barrels in everything from barrel-aged beers made from previous-use wine or distillery barrels, to barrels aged in fresh wood and with spontaneous or wild fermentation yeast. For those who are newly anointed newcomers to barrel-aged beers, an inspired romanticism can take hold.
image courtesy Reuben’s Brews
Regionally, there are countless breweries who focus on everything from fruit-fermented ales, aged in previous use wine or distillery barrels, to breweries who source yeast from the very air itself, using cool ships or other methods. Some breweries who have enjoyed a wealth of reputation include Portland’s Cascade Brewing Company, Seattle’s Fremont Brewing Company and Urban Family Brewing Company, and only a few years ago Reuben’s Brews.
image courtesy Reuben’s Brews
Announced this past week, via social media, Seattle’s Reuben’s Brews has announced their latest taproom. Located just around the corner from the main taproom, The Barrel House is at 1133 NW 51st Street in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood.
Given the (current, but this may change) atmosphere where more people are wanting to visit breweries on premise again we are seeing increased demand at our Taproom, and thus increased wait times for guests as we have a limited number of seats on our Patio. To help with this demand we are opening a new tasting room just up the street, which offers a unique experience for guests. We’re pouring beer (or, if you choose to, directly from) the can, as well as a small selection of vintage/cellared sour and wild beers and barrel-aged dark beers.
With a focus on barrel-aged ales and lagers, the brewery invites you to reserve a time and table. Should you reserve a spot, you’ll be rewarded with current and vintage releases of Reuben’s Brews beers, while surrounded by barrels, which are aging the brewery’s future, barrel-aged, releases. It’s also worth mentioning that those seeking something not barrel-aged will have options to choose from as well. Plus, the brewery is operating both walk up or online reservations for table seating outside or inside their warehouse.
Now in their 9th year, the brewery’s expedition into barrel-aged beers had been confined to aging in previous-use wine or distillery barrels. But several years ago, the brewery started aging their beers fermented with wild yeast strains like lactobacillus, brettanomyces, or microflora captured with their cool ship.
The result of this multi-year project has been beers like Aeir, Brettania, or Farm & Oak. Brewed using different techniques from exposing hot wort to the outside air in a coolship, or with the addition of fruit like guava or raspberries and fermented with brettanomyces. Beers that are delicate, inspiring, and are a brilliant substitute for wine drinkers.
image courtesy Reuben’s Brews
All that’s required of you is to make the trek to Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood for a day (or night) at Reuben’s Brews’ Barrel House.
Reuben’s Brews’ Barrel House is located at 1133 NW 51st Street. For more information about this, their other taprooms, or other information visit www.reubensbrews.com.
About Reuben’s Brews
Adam and Grace Robbings opened Reuben’s Brews in 2012, after an award-winning homebrewing career, naming the brewery after their first child, Reuben. At their family brewery they brew from the glass backwards: designing each beer with intention, unbound by constraints. They know that making that extra effort is worth it. From their everyday favorite beers to innovative new releases, they help you grow your love of beer. Reuben’s Brews. Beer Unbound.
The Reuben’s Taproom (5010 14th Ave NW in Ballard) is currently open daily 12pm-9pm. The space has been updated for the times and features an expanded outdoor seating area and a new To-Go Store. They strictly adhere to all current state and local health precautions to keep both their customers and their team safe. Please visit www.reubensbrews.com for full details, and follow @reubensbrews on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.
Customers are also invited to order online for contactless pickup at www.reubensbrews.com/shop or stop by for walk-up purchase.
The Brewtap (800 NW 46th St. in Ballard) is closed until further notice.
