Tuesday 8th of September 2009 07:13:26 PM

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Centralia is just that, in the center between Seattle & Portland on the I-5 corridor. It's a place that you pass through on the way to somewhere else. It's a re-fueling stop, a place to replenish the back-seat snacks, top off the coffee mug and the gas tank and get back on the road. Not a lot goes on here and that's the way Centralians like it. A small town feel surrounded by elements of the 21st century.
Too bad because it's home to one of the best little brewpubs in the state.
Dick's Brewing Company (and Northwest Sausange and Deli) sits 5 miles outside of town in a village called Ford's Prairie. The main drag is a two-lane road that rambles through...well, prairie and farmland. Dick's itself is located in a long, wooden bunkhouse across the street from homes built in the 1950's surrounded by trees, shrubs and flowers of every color and species. Beautiful!
Like Dick's beer! His Danger Ale with a warm, chocolate brown color, creamy white head and full-bodied, malty finish gives perfect evidence why this is the flagship brew. Then move on to the Irish Ale, gold colored with a tinge of red and layers of toastiness and smooth and a subtle bitter hoppiness at the finish that brings to mind a hot summer day in the beer garden. Better perhaps than a lager which, by the way, "I don't make." Nope. Dick likes his ales...and so did wife Persimmon & I, even at 10:30 in the morning when we sampled his brews. (It was the beginning of a long, 4-brewpub day & we had to start early. Poor us.)
The Lava Rock Porter was a particular stand-out with its bitter-sweet chocolate & coffee flavors and aromas but the Working Man Brown was our favorite...full of sweet nuttiness, caramel undertones and a slight bitter back that disappears so quick, you have to sip again. A dangerous beer.
Dick offers up a variety of meats, all prepared and smoked on the premises and, if you're a-mind too, he'll take your kill, dress and prepare it for you.
The menu is basically hot & cold sandwiches except on Thursday and Friday nights when the town turns out to chow down on the prime rib specials and "the joint jumps." So says daughter Julie.
Some of Dick's beers (but not all)can be found in grocery and beer stores in and around Seattle. For that, you have to go to the source...and after a night at McMenamin's Olympic Club listening to the trains rumble by in-between catnaps, Dick's was a great place to start our sampling.
Don't miss this one

Wednesday 27th of May 2009 06:19:27 PM

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Over the past year I have been waiting patiently for Dicks Brewing to finally be up and running a there new site. Finally last week I was able to se the new place and have a pint of two. The new brewery is big much bigger than the old place. I got the grand tour from both Dave and Parker the Head brewer and assistant brewer. Loved the place and the extra room to grow gives the feeling they are going to grow much, much bigger. The tap room is in the same area as the brewery and has limited hours so catch them on Fridays from 3-7pm and have some awesome brews. Dicks brewing has it going on for sure. If you long for the old place NW Sausage & Deli they have all the Dicks brews on tap and you can get the great sausage and other foods. So check them out this is a great new addition to the Pacific North West.