Wednesday 2nd of September 2009 07:00:03 PM

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"Just sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of one man alone
Who wanted to brew
Really good beers
But couldn't do it at home."

Well OK - I know I used the theme song before but c'mon, THIS is Gilligan.

Seth, actually who opened up his brewery (as of this writing, quite possibly the smallest in the world; certainly in Washington state) this year.

He had too. His wife kicked him out of their apartment.

OK, I'm stretching the truth a bit -- but not by much. Apparently Seth & spouse had just purchased a new condo. He had just brewed a batch of coffee stout & put the growlers on a shelf.

Bad idea. Shelf breaks - so do the growlers - new white rug - well, you get the picture. Seth, wise little Gilligan that he is, decided it would be best to find some other place to brew as soon as possible and his wife heartily agreed.

So he rented what's known here as an ActivSpace; a place to store furniture during a move. You've seen them; probably used them once or twice.

It's here where Gilligan and his buddy Mark welded the tanks, bought the hops & malt and created their own little island of beer.

Their situated right next to part of the 27-mile long Burke-Gilman Trail that runs from Seattle over the top of Lake Washington into Redmond...so he has a weekly but continuous supply of customers on bicycles (Very BIG in Washington!) runners & walkers who just might find themselves a bit thirsty on their Saturday jaunt. So they stop for a Pale Ale or Chamomile Ale to refresh and be on their merry way.

But Gilligan's little island is about to sink into the real estate ocean. As of September 2009, his lease runs out & he's heading across the "pond" for a vacation to Ireland. When he returns, it will be time to scout a new location, a place where he can brew "different, unique beers. I'm playing with the idea of a spruce top."

Good for you, little buddy. Sounds delicious.