SEATTLE — For a true taste of the Northwest, grab a glass of beer at Seattle's Fair Isle Brewing.
The lagers and saisons served at the Ballard-based brewery are hyper local. More than 95% of the malts, hops and fruit in the beers are grown locally. Head brewer Matt Rowe has cultivated relationships with local farmers and goes out foraging for seasonal ingredients.
"When you come down to the brewery and taproom you're drinking a beer that comes from the area around you," Rowe said.
Another thing that makes Fair Isle Brewery special is their method of brewing. They create farmhouse beers that are naturally fermented with wild yeasts and bacteria. The technique dates back hundreds of years and makes the entire process harder to control.
"We've never made the same beer twice," said Rowe. "There's always going to be slight differences and nuances to each batch."
The beers on tap change with the seasons. Right now, you'll find summer saisons like the Fay Fuller which is named after the first woman to summit Mount Rainier. Other beers take advantage of seasonal fruits like cherries. That's what you'll find in the Val which has a bright red hue.
The beers also pair well with food. A fact Fair Isle will take advantage of in August when they open their in-house kitchen. The taproom will also become family-friendly. You can keep up with all of the changes by following Fair Isle Brewing's Instagram page.
Fair Isle Brewing is open seven days a week. It's located at 936 NW 49th Street in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.
KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Email.