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Hackler hits perfect chord with Twelve String Brewing Co.

Terry Hackler, proprietor of Twelve String Brewing Co. in Spokane Valley, holds a glass of his beer next to the fermentation tanks at his tiny microbrewery, which has a tap room for tasting. (Jesse Tinsley)
By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com(509) 459-5446

For those with some time to kick back this week, consider checking out the new Twelve String Brewing Co. taproom in Spokane Valley.

Owner Terry Hackler tasted his first microbrew more than 30 years ago, the original Ballard Bitter from Redhook Brewery. He liked the beer so much he looked up the owner and went to the brewery.

“He gave me a tour and told me where to go buy all this stuff to go make homebrew,” Hackler recalls. “After I left there, I went to the homebrew store, bought everything I needed, and that night I made my first batch of beer. And I was completely hooked from that moment on and I’ve been brewing pretty much constantly ever since.”

Hackler decided about a year ago that he should make those ales commercially. The result is Twelve String Brewing Co. and the new taproom, 11616 E. Montgomery Drive, Suite 26. It is open Wednesday and Thursday 3 to 10 p.m., Friday 2 p.m. to midnight and Saturday noon to midnight.

The name of the brewery and its beers were inspired by Hackler’s other hobby – guitar playing. He is brewing six styles including G String Blonde, Archtop Amber, Electric Slide IPA, Don’t Fret Porter, Drop D Stout and Double Drop D Stout. The beer is on tap at more than 15 places around town. To find it, check out the tap locator at 12stringbrewingco.com.

We’ll have the full story on Hackler and Twelve String Brewing Co. in next Wednesday’s Food section.

Health District seeking advisory board members

The Spokane Regional Health District needs community members to serve on its Food Advisory Committee.

The 13-member committee is a cooperative effort between the district’s Food Safety Program and the local food industry. Members help create educational materials and class instruction programs and give input on health district policies, procedures, regulations and fees. The committee openings are for representatives of the food service industry, grocery stores, temporary food events and medical/institutions.

Applicants must be willing to serve a two-year term and be able to meet the first Wednesday of February, June and November. Also, they must attend a special member selection meeting each January.

For more information or an application packet, please call (509) 324-1560, ext. 2, or visit www.srhd.org/services/fac.asp. The application deadline is Jan. 9.

We’re always looking for fresh food news. Write to: The Fresh Sheet, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call (509) 459-5446, fax to (509) 459-5098 or send an email to lorieh@spokesman.com.