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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

On Tap: Tapping into downtown

Orlison Brewery opens tavern to showcase lagers

After six years of operation in Airway Heights, Orlison is officially introducing itself to downtown Spokane.

The craft lager specialist, which has focused much of its attention on out-of-town markets, two weeks ago opened a small but stylish taproom at 1017 W. First Ave. (the former Luxe coffee shop).

Fourteen of the 16 taps are filled with Orlison products, ranging from regular to seasonal to experimental. More limited tastings were previously offered in a bare-bones space at the main brewery.

“It was hard to do that in Airway Heights, and people had to drive too far,” said production manager/brewer Mark Borland.

“Now you get to see the more playful side of what (brewmaster) Bernie (Duenwald) and Mark do,” added operations and logistics manager Kristen Silver.

Orlison’s seven standbys – Havanüther light pilsner, Clem’s Gold, Lizzie’s Red, Brünette, Pilsner 37, IPL (India pale lager) and Ünderground stout lager (on nitro) – will always be on tap.

So far, they’ve been joined by four regular seasonals: Shut Up and Ryed rye IPL, Hops’In dry-hopped pilsner, the Asian-spiced Toasted Dragon and coffee-infused Roast House stout. Other offerings have included a Belgian-accented Clem’s variation dubbed Clementine, Suspended Cascadian Dark Lager and the brewery’s first ales, a session and a standard IPA.

All are available in 10-ounce pours or full pints, as well as taster trays. A guest beer and a cider round out the lineup.

They’re served in a cozy setting done up industrial-modern style, with plenty of stained butcher block wood and shiny corrugated metal. Stools were fashioned from old beer kegs, and caged trouble lights are arranged into circular hanging fixtures.

A standing bar lines one wall of the narrow space, with bench seating on the other side along four tables, underneath a large distressed-metal Orlison logo sculpture.

The schedule will include monthly Community Pint nights to benefit local organizations. The first of those was held Tuesday in support of the SpokeFest bicycling advocacy group.

Brewery watch

• Iron Goat is about to begin renovations on its big new space downtown, the former Jones Automotive Engines at 1302 W. Second Ave., around the corner from River City.

It will include a kitchen and open for lunch as well as dinner. If all goes smoothly, it could open by the December holidays. The original brewery on East Mallon will close.

• Twelve String has started initial work at its new home on Pines Road north of Sprague, two miles from its current location. There’s no firm timetable for the project, which also will include food service.

• Ramblin’ Road’s founders have returned to Seattle and put the closed brewery up for sale. Dani Guthrie said in an email to area brewers that she and husband Brian Guthrie no longer had the time and money to run the business since the birth of their first child in April.

• Green Bluff’s Big Barn has begun bottling its beers in 22-ounce bombers, starting with Black Dog Stout. Look for it at the Fairwood Flea & Farmers Market on Tuesdays and South Perry Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, and eventually in area stores.

Freshly tapped

• Hopped Up’s Autumn Smash Sour (5 percent alcohol by volume, 28 International Bitterness Units) is a brown ale that’s lightly tart from lactobacillus, and infused with apricots.

• The Summer Harvest Ale (6.3, 18) at New Boundary in Cheney is brewed with rye, wheat and a touch of corn as well as barley, and hopped with Cascade.

• Twelve String has followed up its recent Harmonic Hefeweizen with the return of last summer’s darker Crescendo Series Dunkelweizen (6, 18), with banana and clove notes from the same Bavarian yeast.

• The latest hop-forward experiment from Trickster’s in Coeur d’Alene is a Juice Box IPA (6.7, 65) brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Chinook. The first batch likely will be gone by the time you read this, but more is on the way.

Save the date

• Steady Flow Growler House has set its grand opening for Sept. 4-6 at 328 N. Sullivan Road. Free (unfilled) growlers will be given away to the first 100 people through the door each day, and local brewers will be on hand including No-Li on Friday, Twelve String on Saturday and River City on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.

• More than 60 regional craft beers will be on tap for Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s annual Fall Fest, Sept. 5-7, along with live music and arts, crafts and food vendors. Tasting packages start at $10.

• Hopped Up’s third annual Art, Music and Beer festival, originally scheduled for last Saturday but postponed because of air quality conditions, has been rescheduled for Sept. 13.

Send beer news, comments and questions to senior correspondent Rick Bonino at boninobeer@comcast.net.