Tuesday 13th of July 2010 10:37:50 PM

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There are very few of us who can claim we built a business from the ground up...and ten years later, still be in business.
Ellersick Brewing (or Big E's Ales) is a case in point.
Rick Ellersick loved beer and wanted to spend his days and night immersed in the world's #1 beverage. So, with the help of family and friends, he scoured the Eastside of Seattle (East of Lake Washington) for a place. He found it off the beaten path in a small industrial mall sandwiched in a residential section in the Lynnwood neighborhood and there, bought and brought in mash tun and fermenter kettles; built the pub, bar and bathroom; put in a couple of TV's, tuned in the sports and tapped his first keg...and has kept the beer flowing for 10 years.
He likes to keep 10 on tap at all times and recently introduced his Baby Bottle Growler; a half gallon dark container with a plastic innards so air is blocked from contaminating the brew and keeps all who suckle there extremely happy because it seems that the beer never runs out!
Cream Stout, Lawnmower Lager, Honey Wheat, Martzen and Copper Ale are all outstanding but the Scotch Ale....Oh, my! The Scotch Ale! There really are no words to describe the multi-levels in this brew with flavors that burst forth from the first to the last delicious quaff. I was reminded of an old cartoon from the 1960's. A dog who did anything for the promise of a dog biscuit, when his reward was won, took a bite, hugged himself, moaned happily, threw himself many feet into the air and settled back to earth, like a feather, gently on his back. Or, as wife Persimmon said, she would keep Rick's beers in the fridge in order to satisfy the taste of any company. "Stout? Got it. Copper? You bet! Hefe? But of course."
Few eats here; Big E's is NOT a restaurant but more a sports pub with burgers, fries and such. People who have found this place, don't talk about it much. It's like their own living room and they prefer it not to get too crowded. Still, seek it out and do stop by. Come by at Halloween in costume and win a free beer...although you'll have to go a long way to beat 2007's winner; Jim came dressed as Dawg the Bounty Hunter's wife.
Or arrive for the Christmas Party...or New Year's Eve...or anytime 'cause at Big E's, the welcome mat is most definitely out.