Saturday 1st of January 2011 11:35:24 PM

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I have known Chris Swedin since his days brewing and bar-tending at Grant's Pub and later at Bob's Keg & Cork. I was overjoyed when he finally found a partner in Jeff Wynn and they opened Yakima Craft Brewing. Their beer is always excellent, my favorite being any of their many IPA's or any of the Cask Conditioned versions of their beers that they provide Bob's K&C for his 2 beer engines. Just last night I enjoyed a very nice Vernal IPA (co2)and a cask conditioned 1982 at Bob's. They brewed and bottled an outstanding 12th Anniversary IPA for Bob this year and I have a few bottles of it put away as it is no longer available. It is definitely my favorite of all their recipes. The few bottles I have left will not last long!

The Good Monkey and Bad Monkey are definitely worth tasting. The Twin Stag Scottish Ale seems to be more of a Porter to me and is very tasty. The 1982 was a tribute to Bert Grant and his Scottish Ale. This was the beer we waited for ever since Grant's closed and Chris bought the old brewing equipment. Their beers can be found on tap and in bottles around Yakima and elsewhere. A few of the locations I regularly find their beer are Bob's, The Beer Shoppe, Wray's Thriftway, Tim's Tasting Room and Bert's Pub.

Wednesday 9th of September 2009 06:20:29 PM

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Most of us beer "geeks" know about Bert Grant and his settling in the Yakima valley to brew beer. He used the abundance of hops grown in the region to give his "new craft" beer taste, flavor and body. He can truly be called one of the founding fathers of the industry.

Sadly, not many in this valley remember the man nor his contribution some 25 years ago.

But Jeff Wynn and Chris Swedin do.

Chris should; he brewed with Bert back "in the day." In fact, he still uses the very same boil kettle and mash tun that Bert Grant had built for him by an old Navy pal. These two still brew like Bert did; by hand, transferring the grain so it doesn't bruise; stirring the boil kettle with a big wooden paddle; no heat elements here, the wort is steeped like tea then manually fed into Lefty, Righty, Dented (because it is!) and Fillmore, their four fermenters.

A lot of work but, as Jeff says, "there's nothing bad about the beer business."

There's nothing bad about their beer either.

Open just 15 months, they are trying to change the tastes of many Washingtonians. Change, we know, comes slow but they are making in-roads; many restaurants and taverns carry their beer, even the aptly named Bert's, the one-time location of the aforementioned Grant's brewery - although it looks nothing like it once did. They have their own tasting room as well and, although a bit small, the brewery itself is right there so all those fabulous smells come wafting over the low wall to enhance the time spent sampling the beer.

Five on tap always with some seasonals and, if you time your visit right, the double-trouble twins, Good and Bad Monkey might be ready: Belgian Dark and Golden ales tasting of bananas, cloves and cinnamon-sweet that rob you of any logic on when or why you should stop drinking them. Brewed at the same time because, says Jeff, "I have to. Customers want it that way."

The beers are never filtered nor pasteurized to retain their intense flavors and one taste confirms that. The Pale is crisp with a gentle finish; both the 1982 (in honor of Bert) and the Amber Amber re-define the style of beer with their hearty, earthy fullness; the IPA @ 6%ABV and 101.6IBU's (Whew!!) is still not overwhelmingly bitter yet spews forth a richness floral aroma, tangerine and citrus notes. As one customer put it; "This is the way IPA's should taste; not a punch in the face but a nice, pleasant ouch;" and finally, the Twin Stag Scottish Ale with its caramel, chocolate front and mossy, woodsy notes that linger just enough at the back of throat as if to say, "C'mon, just one more."

OK...just one more!

Wednesday 20th of May 2009 01:00:41 AM

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This is a brewery where they really care about beer and brewing. They make only four beers but they are clearly a labor of love and they are excellent examples of each style. We had a great visit with a taste of each beer along with commentary and a short tour of the brewery by one of the two owners. The system is only 3.5 barrels and has the mash tun and copper kettle from Bert Grant’s original brewery in Yakima.

The place is a little difficult to find - hiding in the back of an “mixed-use” industrial building. Inside is a small seating area for tasting and a big room where all the brewing equipment is located. Beer to go (growler fills, bottles, or kegs) is also for sale.

This is a worthy visit.

UPDATE mid-2011: They've added a new tasting room adjacent to the brewery. It's a small narrow room with a plywood bar with tall chairs and several tables and chairs. It's a very welcoming place, friendly, and a pub-like feeling with locals. Beer tastes (no charge)are available and pints and growler fills are for sale.

There is limited food.