As we reported last Friday, Scuttlebutt Brewing‘s brand new pub on Everett’s waterfront is open for business. The new pub is located just a few blocks from the old pub in the Port of Everett’s new Waterfront Center (1205 Craftsman Way). As if that isn’t enough, there’s more news from the Everett brewery.

The new location is spacious by comparison, offering more than double the seating capacity. The new pub offers 11 tap handles, with room for a few more. Expect to find a wide variety of Scuttlebutt beers and eventually a guest tap. Matt Stromberg (Head Brewer) told me he looks forward to revisiting some old recipes and flexing his creative muscle.

Other News

Scuttlebutt recently acquired a new filtration system that the brewery now uses to provide additional filtration for some beers. While all of the beers are (and have been) filtered, this new system adds a higher degree of filtration for beers being shipped out of state and overseas. For example, the Homeport Blonde is double filtered to help it withstand the rigors of the trip to Taiwan. Domestically, Scuttlebutt ships beer to Wisconsin and also enjoys some distribution in the southwestern and southeastern United States. Draft beers and locally shipped beers are not getting the higher degree of filtration: no change to the Scuttlebutt beers we get around here.

‘Tis the Season

The plan to create a regular seasonal rotation is coming together. Currently, Tell Tale Red is available on store shelves at your finer beer retailers. Familiar to some as Sequoia Red, the beer has been re-branded as Tell Tale Red Ale, Scuttlebutt’s second-ever seasonal release. The first-ever seasonal release from Scuttlebutt was 10 Below.

Next up, expect to see the Scuttlebutt Tripel 7 Belgian-style ale, which should hit the shelves in May. A Washington-brewed Belgian-style ale in 12 oz. bottles? Yep. This summer (mid to late July) expect the release of Scuttlebutt’s Hoptopia, a balanced and deeply flavored Imperial IPA. The label pictured below has not been approved by the feds; please accept that it is a prototype.

Unofficially, the Hoptopia label. Still pending final approval.

Pub Pictures

Scuttle Bannan and Phil Bannan Sr. (owners) with Matt Stromberg (head brewer).

Ongoing expansion plans at the Port of Everett call for the demolition of the building currently housing Scuttlebutt’s waterfront pub. To say it as dramatically as possible, the Port wants Scuttlebutt out.

The Port of Everett isn’t stupid. It recognizes that Scuttlebutt is a valuable tenant–one that fits into its plans for expansion very well. Still, they want Scuttlebutt out of the current location. The Port and Scuttlebutt have recently come to terms. The pub will move out of the current location and into a new, larger location not far away in the new Waterfront Center.

The Port of Everett and Scuttlebutt Brewing recently announced an agreement that will see the Everett-based brewery begin tenant improvement to the space—the build-out of the new restaurant and pub—in February 2011, with an anticipated opening date in early spring.

“The current location has been scheduled for demolition for ten years and we’ve been living with a bit of uncertainty,” says Matt Stromberg, Head Brewer at Scuttlebutt. “Moving now is a bit scary but allows us to build our needs into the new building, providing a much more efficient space to operate with fewer compromises.”

The move will make Scuttlebutt the single largest tenant at the Port of Everett’s new Waterfront Center. The Scuttlebutt pub will occupy 5,560 square feet in the new mixed‐use facility–12 percent of the leaseable space. Part of the Port’s larger North Marina Development Plan, the Waterfront Center will be home to marine repair and marine related businesses as well as the new Port of Everett administration offices.

Moving Into a New, Fresh Building

“We’re excited to move our operations into a new, fresh building,” said Phil Bannan Sr., Owner of Scuttlebutt Brewing Company. “Having additional space and being in a more centralized location will allow us to expand our operations and continue to grow our business.”

Scuttlebutt has been occupying the current location since 1996 and even Bannan admits that the pub is showing its age and is in need of a facelift. He also notes that the popularity of the pub has Scuttlebutt continually scrambling to increase seating capacity, which will be doubled in the new location. Business hours will likely be expanded as well. More important to beer lovers, the move allows Scuttlebutt to increase the number of taps pouring Scuttlebutt beers.

“This will help us move into a crisp new building,” Bannan told the Everett Herald in a recent report. “It’s a good location. We’ll try not to change our product and we will continue to offer casual, family friendly dining. Fish and chips will still be our mainstay.”

Appreciating Scuttlebutt

The Port of Everett is undergoing a $400 million dollar redevelopment, much of which has been slowed by the economic realities of the day. Like countless other projects across the region and the nation, the banking crisis stopped the Port’s development efforts midstream. Many of the old structures have been torn down and plans have already been drawn for new retail and housing developments. While many of the Port of Everett’s redevelopment plans are on hold, the development of the new Waterfront Center has moved  forward.

“In this tough economic climate, we are fortunate to have an established restaurant anchor the new Waterfront Center,” said Steve Hager, Director of Properties for the Port.

According to the Port’s press release, Scuttlebutt is a valuable component in the Port of Everett’s plans. The agreement with Scuttlebutt marks an important step in the Port’s development plans for two reasons:

First, the relocation of Scuttlebutt accelerates the Port’s ability to access the property currently occupied by the pub. Vacating the building will allow the Port to remove the existing structure, and respond to development interests of benefit to both the community and the Port.

Second, Scuttlebutt is a perfect fit for the new Waterfront Center. According to Hager, “The restaurant will not only attract new tenants and increase revenue for the Port, but it will also provide a much‐needed amenity in our North Marina area for the community and visitors to enjoy.”

Did You Know?

Here are a couple of facts you may not know.

Phil Bannan Sr., owner of Scuttlebutt Brewing, was a Port of Everett Commissioner for 12 years.

The Port of Everett Marina is said to be the largest public marina on the west coast. What is even harder to believe, the Port of Everett proclaims that it is the largest public marina in North America. Whatever the case, it is a very large public marina.

More Info

Click here to read about Scuttlebutt’s move in the Everett Herald.

Click here to read the Port of Everett’s press release.

Scuttlebutt Brewing is having a Name That Beer contest. They are renaming their Sequioa Red Ale and want to hear your ideas. The winner gets a keg. Legally, Scuttlebutt will own the name but you will own the bragging rights and the keg. Stylistically, the beer is somewhere between an ESB and a Pale Ale. It does not need to have “red” in the name.

Matt Stromberg, Head Brewer at Scuttlebutt, says: “As many of you know, this is the beer that I brew just for myself. It’s developed quite a following amongst our regulars at the pub, especially the nitro version. It has a robust hop presence but remains very balanced and is very session oriented at 5% abv.”

For more info, and to enter, visit the Scuttlebutt Web site.

Matt Stromberg, Head Brewer at Scuttlebutt Brewing, sent a message out to all WABL members. I’m going to share the information here, but you really should join WABL so you get information like this straight from the source – just one of the perks of becoming a WABL. There are a lot of great reasons to join. Most importantly, by joining WABL (WA Beer Lovers) you are pledging your support for our vibrant, hard working brewing industry. Read about WABL here.

From Matt Stromberg:

I woke up Monday to the realization that February 1st marked my 10 year anniversary as Head Brewer of Scuttlebutt Brewing Company. There have been many ups and downs over that time but during those ten years Scuttlebutt Brewing Company has grown to become the tenth largest brewery in Washington.

In honor of that milestone Phil, Scuttle, and Phil Jr. indulged my wild side and let me make a beer called Mateo Loco. I’m not ready to give any details just yet but I will say it was created with the Northwest Hop Heads in mind. It’s scheduled to be released March 15th.

Not wanting to wait another six weeks to celebrate 10 years of working together, this morning we decided to do a few special things in celebration for the weekend.

First there will be some cake available Friday afternoon. I don’t know what kind of cake, but Scuttle’s choices in the past have always been well executed and they’ve consistently been good with beer.

For those who want more then cake, I’m going to tap a special 10 Below cask at 3:00 pm. It’s the last cask 10 Below keg and the only one aged on oak. After trying it this morning, I can tell you we’ll be doing many more like this one next Winter when it’s brewed again.

Of course, cask beer isn’t for everyone, and with the Superbowl beaconing, this Friday and Saturday we’ll be selling IPA and Amber 12 packs for $10.00 at the pub. That’s a great value in any economy but especially good in this one.

Please come on by and celebrate a decade of hard work with us. Don’t forget to bring your passport and have it stamped too.

Cheers,

Matt Stromberg
WABL Committee Member
Head Brewer
Scuttlebutt Brewing Company
1524 West Marine View Drive
Everett, WA. 98201
Scuttlebuttbrewing. com