So I'm finally back from my vacation up to the Pacific NW and had a chance to stop in Naked City and chat with Don for a while.
I have to say that of the entire ten day trip, the meal I had there was the best. It ranked as one of my wife's favorites as well. My friends there with me had a great time and they plan to go back.
The place looks great, the food and beer is fantastic, and the neighborhood and atmosphere is awesome. And they're not even brewing on premises yet. I can't wait to go back when they have more Naked City brews on tap.
I have have to give a big thank you to Don, for not just putting together such a great place, but for being so welcoming. I got there a few minutes later than I anticipated, while my friends had already arrived. Don found them, knowing that we were coming. After I got there Don greeted all of us and gave us the brief tour of the brewery-to-be. We chatted with him several times throughout out the evening and gave us the info on the place, beer distribution and plans for the brew system.
All of the beer was fantastic. My friend Mike and I started with the Naked City Dubbel. Right before I had explained to Mike about what a dubbel was, and when the beer showed up it was right on. A fantastic beer, well done and paired fantastic with the food (I had a Ham and Smoked Gruyere with the daily soup, with the hop shoots as an appetizer). The beer list was awesome and had so many different styles and unique beers to try. Candace started with a 21st Ammendment Watermellon Wheat. On the list was a Cantillon sour with wine grapes that I had to try, so we all shared that. Then I had to have a hop fix so I tried a local IPA, Schooner Exact 3 Grid IPA, while Mike had a Russian River IPA. Candace had a Hale's Cream Ale. To finish the night, Don really went out of his way and poured us a sample from his Flanders Red... you know the one in the
barrel in his living room? It was fantastic.
In all the place is amazing with some of the best beer and food you will ever find. I enjoyed it and wish I was closer to go back as often as I can. Again, thank you Don and I hope the place continues to have success so I can come back again.