There is always a lot happening in the great northwest, especially when it comes to beer. With so many breweries, bars, bottle shops and brewpubs in the area, it becomes tough to actually hit all of them. But this weekend we did our best as we hit up two openings and an anniversary. Intrigued yet? Well, you should be.

Friday
Friday night, we hit up Ballard’s newest brewhouse: Peddler Brewing Company. We’ve told you about them before, but this time we were meeting with them on the night of all nights: their opening. We showed up about 5 minutes before the doors opened and waited with a few others, snapped a couple of pictures, and enjoyed the amazing late winter sunshine only Seattle can provide.

When they flipped that sign over and unlocked the doors, people appeared from nowhere – and within 10 minutes, the line was out the door. It didn’t take long to find out why: the beer. “But that sounds pretty obvious,” you might say, but nay! The beer was fantastic. While there were the ones that may need a little growth, their Kolsch was one of the best we have ever tasted. Seriously. It was fantastic.

Oh, and did we mention that they are a Kickstarter success story? If you appreciate great beer, an amazing ambiance, supporting small businesses, and are a part of the cycling culture, than get on your Schwinn and peddle your way over to the Ballard Bridge.

Saturday
Machine House Brewery opened its doors on Saturday in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood to clear skies and warm weather in Seattle’s most notoriously gray month. Beer enthusiasts, kids, and dogs alike wandered in and out of the brewery’s open doors to enjoy the live music and sunshine while the brewery’s owners poured their English-style cask ales out of traditional hand pumps.

In addition to serving the brewery’s three house specialties (a bitter, a mild, and a golden ale), Machine House also offered their “Beer Ginger,” a refreshing and pleasantly subtle ginger session ale, as well as a darker bitter, the “U Name It Ale,” for which they asked attendees to suggest a permanent name. To enhance the enjoyment of Machine’s House’s exceptionally drinkable beer, the Grand Opening event also featured happy hour prices all day, as well as a barrel race, an art showcase, a DJ, and performances by local bands.

If you missed the grand opening but would like to sample Machine House’s lineup of session ales, the tasting room is open on from 3-7 pm on Fridays and 12-6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Check out their website for upcoming events and additional information.

Saturday Night, Redux
Also on Saturday we flew over to Airways Brewing Company in Kent to check out their third anniversary party. Airways has become a friend, for two reasons: the people are flipping amazing, and the beer is even better. When we showed up, the taproom was packed, lines were around the corner, and the beer was flowing. The team was all dressed up like their namesakes: flight attendants and captains roamed the floor, taking orders and filling glasses. Unable to find a spot to “unclaustrophobe,” we headed back to the brewing area and saw our old friends. Not only those from Airways, but also Joel (Founder and Head Brewer) from Two Beers Brewing, and Gary the owner of Beveridge Place Pub. It was fantastic to catch up with all of them. Oh, and they had a hidden keg of Final Departure on tap — that in itself made the trip worth it.

Look, if you have yet to visit Alex and Dione in Kent, you need to. They are great people who serve great beer. It was a great weekend of beer, and we had an amazing time. Thanks to all three for hosting us, and we look forward to grabbing a pint (or 4) at each of these fine establishments again.