Tuesday 16th of September 2008 07:19:44 PM

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Still on my quest to visit every brewery/pub in Washington the first stop was going to be a off the wall far off place Rocky Coulee Brewing Company in Odessa Washington was the stop. If you’re like me a gadget geek we have GPS and wow it took us a few extra minutes to find the place. But with a little help from the locals we found it. Tucked back in an industrial part of town on the other side of the tracks you will find Rocky Coulee Brewing Company. Only open one day a week Friday from 2-10pm we planned the trip out around this schedule. The Owner - Tom Schafer, who also still farms has a limited amount of time he can be open and still keep the farm in tip top shape. I found the place to be a great little beer oasis in Odessa. The beers where cold, the conversation was awesome and the locals visiting brought there humor and stories. Limited with the food just a few snacks so if you’re hungry bring the food with you. Sorry no kids allowed at this time. Now to the beers there is an assortment of beers from light pale ale to a dark Dunkel with a grand Hefe-weizen that they all love and a Fireweed Honey Blonde that is loved by all. A great time and I can see this is a special little oasis and a must stop for the beer lover looking for some great beer and great conversation about beer. Oh did I mention we arrived on one of the hottest days of the year sitting right around 100 degrees. Cold beer was needed and much appreciated. Tom is a great conversationalist and loves to talk beer, Odessa and farming.

Monday 14th of January 2008 02:08:44 PM

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Wife Persimmon & I love to explore, discover new places just for the experience. As you might guess, some of them prove to be less than enjoyable but we take away from each the excitement of the adventure and always, always find something fun and unique about each place.
That is, after all, the essence of living...experiencing that which you don't know. It is nothing less than the Soul of Man.

Then, when you find a good beer to throw in the mix, well.....

About an hour southwest of Spokane, in the middle of farmland, on a hot August afternoon, we found such a place. This happened in the middle of a 5-day, 17-brewpub adventure to Eastern Washington. We knew it was going to be a tough day because we couldn't get started until early in the afternoon. We had planned out each day and this one was going to be particularly long. You see, the Rocky Coulee Brewery in Odessa wasn't open except on Fridays at 2:00 P.M. and that day was going to include 4 (possibly 5) stops landing us in the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco, Kennewick) around 7:00, or so we thought.

As we traveled through the wheat fields (thinking, believing we had entered the Twilight Zone) rounding 90-degree curves then continuing straight for 8 years, Odessa finally came into view. And we promptly got lost. Never believe MapQuest! Eventually we found our way to the brewery, a small - no, make that tiny converted mobile home sitting in front of a warehouse on a patch of gravel next to railroad tracks.

This is the child of Tom & Lynnette Schaefer, farmers. But the Dr. has told Tom he needs to get off his tractor if he wants to keep his back healthy. So Tom had to decide what to do. This little town is very heavily German-influenced. You can imagine it didn't take him long to put two and two together and come up with...beer.

So he studied at Northern Lights Brewery in Spokane for a bit then plunged into business. He said it wasn't his fault but the only other tavern in town has since closed its doors.

It may not have been his fault but if his beer is any indication, there is a reason his is the only place in town the locals can go to hang out. There's Golden Wuss. Not Tom's favorite. In fact, he swore he'd never brew anything like a Bud or Coors. He doesn't even like saying "Bud" or "Coors" but the demand was so great...

He counters that with Fireweed Honey Blond, Creamed Copper, Red Eye and Brown Ales and a Dunkel - all crisp and clean and full of flavors that will have you smacking your lips for more. You'll notice, I did not mention IPA. "We're German and not into bitter," said Lynnette.

There's no food here, just pretzels. 4 small tables accommodate the "crowd" along with an outdoor beer "garden" that overlooks a few houses and the aforementioned tracks and raillroad - supporting businesses. No, it doesn't sound delightful and some might believe it to be rather depressing. But in this small town, it's the people you want to know not the surroundings and the people all come to Rocky Coulee Brewery.

This is one of those few places where every beer - I repeat, EVERY BEER - is delicious, inventive, distinctive and makes you glad your a beer drinker. There isn't a clunker in the group.

Yes, it may be out of the way and yes, it might be an effort but isn't the adventure worth that effort? Especially when great beer is at stake?

So on some warm, Spring or Summer Friday when you're wanting a beer and an adventure, venture out to Odessa and the Rocky Coulee Brewery (say that fast 3 times!) Chat with Tom and Lynnette or whoever and walk away knowing you've had some of the best brew you've ever tasted, and made some new friends.