-It's a Store! -It's a Bar!

-No, wait--It's BOTH!

 Now that I'm somewhat settled in Seattle, with a place to call home and most of my boxes unpacked (read: pint glasses = unpacked, clothes = mostly still in boxes), it's time for me to seriously get down to the business of uncovering all of this great beer-culture that I've heard Seattle-ites have in their blood!

Now I know there are a lot of heavy hitters out there, names that are established throughout the region (and beyond) but before I can start doing my rounds of the Elysians, and the Pyramids, and the Red Hooks of the area, I need to take care of something much, much, more important... I need to find my local bottle shop.

Although I love visiting breweries "on assignment" for the B.D.T. the majority of the "market research" I do takes place right in the comfort of my humble abode with a home cooked meal, and a 22 oz bottle of whatever happened to pique my interest on my most recent visit to a local bottle shop.  A high-quality local bottle shop is simply VITAL to the success of the Brew Dork Times (and the appeasement of my palate!)

With that said, a few nights ago I laced up some comfortable shoes, grabbed a street map, a pen, and a pad of papper, and hit the streets. I knew there was a neighborhood a short stroll from my place called Wallingford, that was said to be rife with restaurants, bars, and other commerce. I decided to start there, and set out immediately feeling sublime.

It can be hit and miss when looking of a good bottle shop but my experience in Seattle (limited as it may be) suggests that the task will be very, very easy. Not a mile from my house I happened upon BottleWorks, a beer store, with a license to pour. Bottle works offeres almost a thousand different brews (950 at last count!) and it that wasn't enough, keeps a rotating tap of eight craft brews.

To add to the draw, the atmosphere is wonderful. It's a narrow store with long tables running down the middle flanked by seven-foot industrial beer refrigerators on either side. The very knowledgable Travis was tending bar at the far side of the store where you could grab a pint, have opened any bottle in house (for a minimal corkage fee 1-3 bucks at most), or even fill a custom BottleWorks growler from the tap to take away and enjoy at home! Matching the overall atmosphere the clientel was casual, relaxed, and warm.

I revisited two days later and struck up a conversation with Lowel, a fellow craft-beer-phile, and he gave me a whole new list of beer points-of-interest to add to my list!

I was tremendously satisfied with Bottleworks, and I will most certainly be back.

Oh, and if all that wasn't enough, as I was checking out, I found casually sitting on the counter a fresh stock of Pliney the Elder.... Americas #1 Beer... SOLD.

Bottleworks gets 3/3rd's full pint glass!

Prost!
-DLux



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