Thursday 9th of September 2010 12:50:03 PM

link
With two locations you will never be with out a seat. Oh wait its Ice Harbor and they’re always packed. I had the opportunity last fall to go to both Ice Harbors in one day and what a treat. They’re located with in a few miles of each other and have two separate distinct looks and feel. The original “Pub” is an old warehouse right off the train tracks with that rustic feel. With a homebrew shop right there what else does a beer geek need? When a train passes be sure to be in the main bar area they spin the discount wheel and where it lands is what the special for beer prices are for the next 10 minutes. Spin the wheel and hope for that cheap price. They have some great beers from light ales to a heavy Barley Wine that will put you to sleep. Good pub food and live music always at the pub. As for the newest pub they call the “Marina” they also have pub food and live music. Gotta give Ice harbor credit they keep busy if not one event they might have two going on the same day. The same beers as the main pub and with the couple miles travel the beers do not lose on flavor. Ice Harbor for this beer lover is the shizzle in the Tri-Cities. Make a stop they are kid friendly with free WiFi and get there early when it comes to football watching or you maybe out of luck on finding a seat.

Wednesday 20th of May 2009 01:05:04 AM

link
The Ice Harbor Brewing brewpub is in a warehouse on the edge of the “historic” downtown Kennewick. The outdoor seating is a fence area on the loading dock. Inside has a carpeted floor and concrete walls - painted yellow up to the first floor area. The front has a double-height ceiling but the back, where the bar is, has a regular height ceiling. Kids are OK in the front section. The decorations are somewhat nautical (due to the Columbia River nearby).

Despite the slightly odd setting, the atmosphere is local and welcoming. On our visits there has always been a good crowd having a good time.

The brewery is to the left of the pub and you can see a bit from the hallway where the restrooms are.

There are quite a few different beers made here and the selection is listed on a chalkboard in the bar area.

Monday 12th of May 2008 04:51:35 PM

link
Ice Harbor Brewhouse is in Kennewick, one of the Tri-Cities of southern Washington state that includes Pasco and Richland, home of the Hanover Nuclear plant...the one that is apparently leaking radiactive waste into the groundwater?

Not a good recommendation when it comes to beer drinking? One has to wonder about the main ingredient.

Well, THIS one does!

And, after tasting some of the brews available at Ice Harbor - well, I think I should be tested.

The brewhouse is in a converted icehouse sitting by the RR tracks. They've turned the loading dock into an outdoor seating area...and I must admit, in the summer, it is a pleasant place to be; quite an old town, country feel.

And a better place to be than inside where countless big-screen TV's blare numerous sports games, people trying to talk above that din then combine the clink and clash of plates and glasses and...well, you get the picture.

The food typical; burgers, fries, pizzas and the beer is non-descript.

Wife Persimmon & I sampled their Hefe (and their Tangerine Hefe with a hint of bananas and cloves that was a 2005 Bronze medal winner @ the No. American Beer Festival), the Kolsch, Runaway Red, Pale Ale, Brown, IPA and Dry Irish Stout (something that I was looking forward to after a hot, long drive from Spokane.)

I wish I could report a winner; even a uniqueness to any of the brews but I can't. That dry Irish tasted like water (hence my concern about radiation!); the Tangerine w/its promise of bananas and cloves didn't appear; and the brown (never met one I didn't like) was advertised as caramel-like in taste but if anything would be better used in cooking.

This was a real "exBEERience" but not one I would want to repeat soon.

For my money, 30 miles east outside Waitsburg is Laht Neppur where the brew and the atmosphere is light years away from Ice House. Well worth the drive on any summer night.

Wednesday 2nd of April 2008 06:47:51 PM

link
Went to their Clover Island/"Marina" location.
The beer is nothing amazing, but the place itself is really nice, and the staff are great.
I had the red and the stout, both of which were a little weak and lacked any really outstanding flavor. I also tasted the IPA, which was especially disappointing. My girlfriend had their lighter (Kolsch) one, which wasn't bad, but I don't particularly like lighter beers. She also had a taste of the tangerine, which was just way overkill on the flavoring.
But, man, what a cool place! The food looked really good, it's on Clover Island next to the river, and you can see the river and the bridge out the window from many tables. The waitress we had was also exceptionally nice, as was the bartender. The crowd seemed fun too.
The other downside is how early place closes. We got kicked out at 10pm on a Friday, which just seemed a little much.

Friday 18th of May 2007 01:11:17 PM

link
Visited Ice Harbor for the first time recently. They have an IPA that I think may be the best I have ever tasted. They were also serving a cask Imperial IPA when I was there that was also quite good. The variety and quality of all their beer ranged from good to excellent. I had sampling which included 7 varieties. I am giving the beer selection a 5 since there are many choices.

I only ate the spicy chicken wings (which were decent) so my food rating is conservative.