Five new Pierce County breweries where you can end summer with a cold one
Breweries tend to be big, open spaces, often with outdoor seating — characteristics that have made them particularly appealing in the past year.
Pandemic aside, the South Sound welcomed several destination-worthy places to drink local booze in 2020, including Sig Brewing, Odin Brewing and Cider & Cedar. This year, we gained a few more.
As summer cools off, here’s a look at five new places to drink beer in Pierce County, all with patios and a couple with in-house eats.
HOP PHARM
3216 Judson St., Gig Harbor, 360-473-6337, hoppharm.com
Cheekily adjacent to Harbor Health and Apothecary (a.k.a. pharmacy), Hop Pharm is not a brewery but a taproom dedicated to pouring juice from local and regional producers. Tap lists always include a couple of ciders and of course IPAs, but also pilsners and hefes, altbier, sours and — alas — hard seltzer. The space feels as brand-new as it is, with white subway tiles and simple gold accents. Outside, a concrete patio features a covered area with a fireplace and a thoughtfully placed drink rail along the fence. No kids, but 7 Seas new waterfront taproom on Harborview Drive allows minors through 5 p.m.
DUNAGAN BREWING
3222 56th St., Gig Harbor, dunaganbrewing.com
Following several years on Broadway in downtown Tacoma, Dunagan Brewing has opened a bigger, full-service bar and restaurant across the Narrows. Father and son Vincent and Jesse Dunagan revamped the old Tanglewood building — with handmade tables recycled from their first set of digs — to house a veritable Irish pub. In addition to the brewery’s red ales and stouts, the food menu features lamb shepherd’s pie, beef stew, bangers, Scotch eggs and, naturally, fish and chips. If you plan to become a regular, consider joining the Mug Club for 25 percent off on-site consumption.
FERMENTATION INITIATIVE
2626 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, instagram.com/fermentationinitiative
Homebrewers will recognize this name as a haven for brewing supplies — Cambros and hoses, malt and hops and everything in between. Last summer, owner Christopher Schleif began building out a taproom in the same space. It quietly opened in March, with beer names like IPA #1 and Pale Ale. It’s self-explanatory in a refreshing way. With white walls, light wood tables and big factory windows, the breezy taproom is as straightforward as it is comfortable. Grab a seat on the covered back patio to soak up the last of the summer air. Minors permitted with supervision.
CAMP COLVOS BREWING
2104 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253-314-5704, campcolvos.com
After announcing the project in early 2020, Vashon-based Camp Colvos at last opened the doors to its downtown Tacoma taproom in July. Though not brewing on-site, the taps all feature house brews that pair perfectly with this location’s New York-style pizzas — 18 inches of foldable, pepperoni-laden goodness. The best part? You can also just pop in for a slice. Check out Incline Cider’s recently refreshed front patio on C St., also in the Brewery Blocks development, while you’re at it.
TOP DOWN BREWING
15355 Main St. E., Sumner, 253-447-8632, topdownbrewing.com
This intimate brewery and taproom opened in late August, just a few blocks east of the main drag of downtown Sumner. With a unique setup — the serving tanks are hoisted above the bar, supported by steel beams — it promises to be a community gathering place for one that loves its local businesses. Brewers Chad Cray and Greg Burd approach the classics with a hint of “intense, unique flavor profiles,” and serve full 16-ounce pours in taller-than-usual glasses. An enclosed side patio and front sidewalk seating offer a glimpse of passersby and Mount Rainier in the distance. Food trucks will park outside every Thursday and Friday.
This story was originally published September 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM.