We're a bit late on this one, at least relatively speaking, but it doesn't look like our overdue visit made much of a difference to Perry Street Brewing's bottomline. The place literally has lines out the door.
It makes sense, too. Playing the «favorite card» this early on is, of course, something only a gambling man would do, but we'll take our chances. That Perry Street Brewing is set to be a Spokane favorite seems very plausible. With the quality of the beer, and the typical South Perry neighborhood support, it's hard to imagine either the spot or its beer failing.
For now, it's a brewpub in its truest definition: You can get pizza from South Perry delivered to the table, or you can purchase something from whatever food truck may or may not be there at your time of visit. Small plates from their own kitchen is, apparently, in the works.
Yet, it's all about the beer, and anything we tried (which I suppose was all of it) was at the very least good. A lot of it downright excellent.
For the benefit of those of you who haven't checked Perry Street Brewing out yet -- there must be at least one or two of you -- we give you a few short impressions of what we imbibed…
The IPA: Unfiltered, with a very clean, refreshing flavor. The hops are clearly present, without punching you in the face. We're fans.
The Milk Stout: Milk stouts usually suck (for the lack of a better word), but we enjoyed this one a lot. It's smooth; just sweet enough without being overpowering; and very drinkable. Possibly my personal favorite.
Biere de Garde: Untappd has it listed as «Pierre de Garde» which, if its actual name, is pretty genius. The hops and malts seem well balanced, and it is -- like the IPA -- incredibly refreshing.
Single Hop Pale Ale: Flavor-wise, it's kind of an untraditional pale, but that's OK. The hops hits the back of the throat nicely, and it is, again, a very drinkable ale at a sessionable 5.4% ABV. We tried a small sample of the pale that will replace it, and it, too, was quite enjoyable.
Czech Pilsener: Probably my least favorite beer, though the world seems to disagree with me. Thing is, I know what I like as far as pilsners go, and while this certainly wasn't bad, it didn't hit my personal preference point: the maltiness just seemed a bit off. Take my opinion for what it's worth on that, though.
Spring Thaw: It is, allegedly, spring, but that's not to say a winter warmer in March is bad. This one is sweet, but not overpowering. A bit nutty. Very drinkable, probably more so had there been snow outside.
Note the recurring theme of drinkability. Many of these beers can be enjoyed by everyone, even if they're not beerhounds. Plus, you also can get wine, if you're one of those people. To top it off, it is an all-age location.
So, yes. I might not be a huge fan of the pils, but would drink all the others again. And I will. It's a great place to hang out, Perry Street Brewing. The vibe is good; the interiors subtle and relaxing. Service is excellent.
It remains to be seen if this will be Spokane's favorite new brewery, but the fact we're talking about it is a good thing. Go there, if you haven't already: awesomeness will rain down on you when you do.