By Jessica Smith – Cascadian Ryhthm
After completing the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon, I needed to replenish some of the carbs I just burned through. So which recovery drink to reach for? Hold the chocolate milk, please. I’ll take a beer.
Now, I’m sure beer isn’t some magical post-marathon elixir. However, beer is wonderful. Besides, the residents of beautiful Bellingham seem to agree.
Bellingham features dozens of craft beer haunts. I chose to visit the highest rated and most intriguing: Wander Brewing, Elizabeth Station, Aslan Brewing Company, Kulshan Brewing Company, and Boundary Bay Brewery. Here’s my take on each:
- Wander Brewing is exactly what I had hoped it would be: a modern, open space with a friendly staff and a laid-back vibe. I had the Barrel-Aged Emissary Imperial Stout and Todd ordered the Boysenberry Fruit Puncheon. Both were great. To top it all off, an excellent food truck was serving up hefty portions of Northwest grass-fed beef burgers and poutine.
- Elizabeth Station is a spacious bottle shop with a stellar tap list. We had some of Fremont’s highly coveted Spiced Kentucky Dark Star stouts. There’s also an inviting cider bar in the back.
- Hip and cozy, Aslan serves up some trendy suds such as a Disco Lemonade Berliner Weisse and a Ginger Rye Beer. The food is also good: we split a Bacon Bison Burger with poutine waffle fries. (I guess I must really like poutine. I always learn something new about myself when I travel.)
- With two locations in Bellingham to choose from, we picked the Kentucky Street location for it’s anti-children policy. Another modern warehouse-type bar, Kulshan is slick and clean. We opted for the most unique tap selection: the Shukshan Russian Imperial Stout, an oak-aged blend of the past few years’ worth of stouts. Robust in flavor, this stout is smoky and offers charred oak notes.
Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro
- Boundary Bay comes highly recommended among locals for its solid food selections. The yam enchiladas were good, but the beer wasn’t that great compared to the above options. That being said, the environment and the service are both top-notch. Plus, there’s also a giant outdoor beer garden for those beautiful Bellingham days.
Both beer-wise and otherwise, Bellingham has a lot to offer the weekend traveler. What are your favorite spots in Bellingham? Comment below and let’s discuss!
Jessica Smith is an impulsive twenty-something with a penchant for learning and a disdain for stagnancy. She is a dedicated runner and an ardent traveler.