It seems like only yesterday that they walked into our lives. Next week, at their brewery and pub in Stevenson, Walking Man Brewing will celebrate its 9th anniversary – the week of November 15-21. For this occasion, they have been saving some special kegs and will also be introducing at least one new beer (maybe two). Here is a peek at the list of brews they will be pouring: ’08 Abbey Rode (strong Belgian red), ’08 and ’09 (release) High Road Scotch Ale, ’08 Foot Fetish Imperial Brown, ’08 My Old Kentucky Homo (one keg), and Bourbon Barrel Aged Jaywalker Imperial Stout.
We sampled some of the Bourbon Barrel Aged Jaywalker at the WABL anniversary party last weekend. Oh, Momma! It is a big beer. If you aren’t careful, it will challenge your ability to walk, much less jaywalk.
We thought it wise to share this information with you a week in advance in case you wanted to make plans to visit them during their anniversary celebration. For most of us, Stevenson is not exactly next door and making that trek requires a bit of premeditation. We love Walking Man, but do not feel guilty for having never visited the brewery given its distance from the Washington Beer Blog compound. It’s a three-day camel ride without water.
In fact, I just asked The Google how to get to Stevenson from Seattle and it suggested that I had to leave Washington to get there. Yike! That scares me a little. Drive south to Portland and turn left, drive east about 30 miles, go north across the Bridge of the Gods to return to Washington, then go east to Stevenson. (They call it Bridge of the Gods because it returns you to God’s country, I assume.) As long as they don’t make me drink any Oregon beer while I’m in their state, I suppose I’ll survive.
In a few weeks we will be pointing the Washington Beer Cruiser south and will take off on another Washington beer adventure. For the sake of intrepid journalism, we will overcome our fear of leaving the state. While we won’t make it in time for their anniversary celebration, it is very likely that we will have something to report from Walking Man in the coming weeks.
All kidding aside, we are pretty seriously stoked about finally making the trip.
Happy Birthday to Walking Man!
Walking Man Brewery & Pub
240 SW First Street
Stevenson WA 98648
509.427.5520
Closed Mon & Tue
4-9 Wed through Fri
3-9 Sat
3-8 Sun
The Bridge of the Gods is named after a local native legend that described the formation and destruction of a natural dam in the Columbia River that occurred nearly a millennium ago. The legend names the local volcanoes as: Wy’east (Mt. Hood), Pahto (Mt. Adams), and Loowit or Louwala-Clough (Mt. St. Helens). Home brewers should recognize the name origin of Wyeast Labs, giving the bridge a beer connection beyond the many nearby breweries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_the_Gods_%28geologic_event%29
Of course, maybe you knew all that and were simply trying to claim the title of “God’s Country” for the State of Washington. To which I say as a native Oregonian: you’re puttin’ that label on the wrong side of the river, buddy. 🙂 Now where’d I leave my beer?
PS – Instead of crossing the river to take I-84 up the Gorge, SR-14 on the WA side is a fine route. It’s narrower, slower, and the views aren’t as good, but if you happen to hit during rush hour you might save some time going that way.