Gig Harbor Brewing Opens Saturday, August 15

UPDATE – The scheduled opening has been delayed. NOT OPENING THIS SATURDAY AS REPORTED. Stay tuned.

Friday afternoon we received this message: “Due to an electrical problem, we are unable to open this Saturday as planned. We will be working hard over the weekend to fix the problem as quickly as possible. We apologize for inconvenience. Please help us spread the word, so not too many disappointed beer lovers make the trek.”

Original report below.

The first thing you need to know about Gig Harbor Brewing is that it is actually in Tacoma. After the plan was hatched, they looked for a suitable space in Gig Harbor, but they landed in Tacoma. The next thing you need to know is that the new brewery and tasting room opens this Saturday, August 15.

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The location along South Tacoma Way includes 2,500 square-feet, with a taproom that seats 25 – 30 people, and a sunny brick patio for lounging. For more info see the press release below.

Gig Harbor Brewing
3120 S Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409

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Map

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Much Anticipated Opening Of Gig Harbor Brewing Co. Set For Saturday, August 15, 2015

After almost four years of planning, designing, and constructing, Gig Harbor Brewing Co. is finally ready to open its doors. Owner John Fosberg and Head Brewer Bethany Carlsen, have been putting the finishing touches on the beer and taproom over the past few weeks and are looking forward to inviting the public over for a visit.

“Bethany and I are very excited about sharing our beers with everyone,” said Fosberg. “I think folks will be happy with the initial beers Bethany has created and how the taproom is set up.”

Gig Harbor is planning on opening with three beers on tap — a Session IPA, a Summer Saison, and Racing Rooster® Red Ale. New beers will be introduced in the taproom throughout the rest of the year.

“We decided on several of our beer styles months ago, but as the build-out and brewery progressed, we sort of changed the opening line-up based on availability of ingredients and the summer weather,” continued Fosberg. “Bethany has come up with some creative ideas for the direction we’ve taken. She and I just sampled the Session IPA the other day — delicious. Because it’s a Session, it has a bit lower alcohol content, but still has a nice hop flavor and aroma. Session IPAs are easier to drink — especially in the hotter weather.”

The Belgian-style Summer Saison (pronounced “say-zahn”) is light and fruity with a hint of spiciness from the Belgian yeast.

The Racing Rooster Red is a deep red-colored ale with a strong malt backbone, with American hops balancing out the sweetness and helping to creating a malt-forward, well-rounded beer.

The new brewery is located in 2,500 square feet of warehouse space located on 3120 S. Tacoma Way in Tacoma, with seating for about 25-30 indoors and a sunny brick patio space for outdoor lounging.

Why Tacoma and not Gig Harbor you may be wondering?

“We searched for space in Gig Harbor for almost a year. The Harbor has a lot of excellent retail space, but not a lot of warehouse space with sewer access which is what our business plan — and budget — called for,” explained Fosberg. “We were heartbroken when we made the decision to look outside of Gig Harbor, but it really has worked out for the best because we found a great building in a fabulous location — with the bonus of an extremely supportive landlord.”

Gig Harbor’s Head Brewer, Bethany Carlsen, was previously Head Brewer for the Ram-Big Horn Brewery and learned her brewing chops under the tutelage of the Big Horn brew masters.

Being a female brewer — still a rarity in this male-dominated industry — has inspired Bethany to work exceptionally hard and learn brewing from the ground up.

“My previous brewing experiences have allowed me to form a solid base of brewing knowledge and techniques,” said Ms. Carlsen. “And now at Gig Harbor Brewing, I have the opportunity to use all that know-how, AND really let loose and do some unique and very creative things in the brewery — I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next.”

The taproom at Gig Harbor will initially be open Wednesday – Sunday, 3:00PM – 7:00PM. Along with beer on tap, there will be additional non-alcoholic beverages and packaged snacks available. The taproom is also kid-friendly.

For additional information, please visit their website at http://www.gigharborbrewing.com or find them on Facebook for updates, photos, and more.

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