Tacoma’s Murray Morgan Bridge – A Bridge with its Own Beer

Even if you don’t know it, you are probably familiar with the 11th Street Bridge in Tacoma. Commonly referred to as the Murray Morgan Bridge, it has spanned the Foss Waterway for the past 100 years. You can see it from Interstate 5 as you pass the Tacoma Dome. It is unusual, featuring a high-rising middle deck. Some say it is ugly. Some say it is beautiful. Everyone agrees it has character. The 11th Street Bridge has been closed for the past six years undergoing extensive renovations. So what does that have to do with beer?

On Valentine’s Day (February 14), Tacoma celebrates the reopening of the Murray Morgan Bridge. There will be a lot of hoopla surrounding the reopening, re-dedication, and 100 year birthday celebration. Not far from the Murray Morgan Bridge, in the brewery at Harmon Brewing Company, they’ve been working on their own kind of tribute to the bridge: 11th Street IPA. During brewing, the beer saw 11 hop additions (11th Street). It clocks in at whopping 100 IBUs (100 years).

“This is a cool thing,” says Pat Nagel, co-owner of Harmon Brewing. “Our famous 11th Street Bridge (Murray Morgan Bridge) reopens after six years under repair and turns 100 years old on Valentine’s Day, so we made an IPA that has 11 different hop additions. That’s right, 11 hop additions for 11th Street. And it’s 100 IBU’s – a super tasty, NW IPA. And what’s even cooler is 15 bars and restaurants in Tacoma’s downtown area will be pouring this on Valentine’s Day! It will be a hoppy, hoppy Valentine’s Day indeed!”
Expect to find 11th Street IPA on tap at The Swiss, Maconi’s Pub, Office Bar & Grill, and other fine T-town drinking establishments.
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