If you’re a fan of craft beer, local wine, small-batch spirits, and crisp regional ciders, you’ll love the artisan alcohol found in Pacific County. Mind-blowing flavor profiles are found in every drop from our liquid lounges. Pour yourself a glass as we visit our favorite watering holes.
North Jetty Brewing in Seaview
Exciting things are afoot in the beloved North Jetty Brewing’s taproom. This award-winning, family-owned brewery is constantly upping the ante on its artisan alcohol. They’ve been pouring heady and rich home brews from their generous 16 taps for a decade. Shiver your timbers with their flagship Boneshaker IPA, where berry and citrus notes swordfight on your tongue with a flavor worth its weight in gold. Their infamous Leadbetter Red Scottish Ale will do a malty, caramelly Highland Fling on your tastebuds. And you’ll hang five with their Beach Beer, a golden blonde lightly hopped up with Centennial and Galaxy.
In addition to its notable brews, North Jetty has expanded its offerings to include craft cocktails, Tiki drinks, and spirited flights. Enjoy a Painkiller with Pusser’s Navy rum, orange, pineapple, coconut cream, and nutmeg. Kick back a Reposado tequila Flight with Corralejo, Tapatio, and La Gritona pours. If you prefer mocktails, try their No Sheets to the Wind, where citrus juices play nice with orgeat syrup over ice.
Image Courtesy of: North Jetty Brewing
North Jetty’s expansion extended beyond the beverage menu. The brewery now features a full kitchen serving paninis, shareables, salads, and sausages. Dig into the Jetty Christo, a Texas toast tower hugging tender turkey, ham, and mustard with a side of raspberry jam. Devour a Cubano piled with mouthwatering carnitas, honey ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles. Dunk their delicious, salted pretzels in decadent, creamy brie cheese sauce.
Two patios provide both family-friendly and 21+ seating. Feel free to bring your well-behaved pooch, too. Enjoy live music or the Jetty After Dark cocktail vibing on adults-only nights.
Willapa Brewing Co. in South Bend
Along the soft, gentle bend of the Willapa River sits the logger-inspired brewery, Willapa Brewing Co. This family-owned microbrewery started brewing artisan alcohol in its home over 25 years ago. They’ve been pouring “hearty ales for the logger in all of us” to a faithful crowd ever since. As soon as you pull open the heavy doors, you’re welcomed into the warm, inviting wooden bar, where, on any given night, the space is flowing with a steady stream of neighbors and friends.
Image Courtesy of: Willapa Brewing
You’ll find the logger theme in everything from their axe-handle door pulls to a rusty saw beer menu featuring flavors like Lumberjack Imperial Blonde or Flannel Red Ale. Experience the region by sipping on the Bone River Oyster Porter. This full-bodied porter is rich with smooth roasted malt and tickled with the subtle brine of our famous Willapa Bay Goose Point oysters. Get beamed up with their Alien Crab SMASH Hazy IPA. The crisp, clean flavor of this IPA is out of this world, and you can feel good while sipping it, too, as a portion of sales goes toward the Pacific Conservation District. In addition to their brews, they offer a line of non-alcoholic beers.
The watering hole is a gathering ground for locals and visitors. They regularly host special events, including karaoke, live music nights in the summer, and the ever-popular bingo. Grab tickets to their monthly Wine and Cheese Tasting events, which showcase a rotating roster of our exceptional regional wines. And don’t skip their homemade pizza. With a nice chewy crust and fresh toppings, it perfectly pairs with their icy beer.
Adrift Distillers in Long Beach
The alchemists at Adrift Distillers know a thing or two about artisan alcohol. The small-batch distillery is poised steps from the sand of Long Beach, and the spirit of regional storytelling infuses every bottle.
Image Courtesy of: Adrift Distillery
Their adored Rhubarb Elderflower Liqueur returns just in time for summer. Tart, ruby rhubarb from Willapa Bay Heritage Farm luxuriates with fruity Elderflower, creating a perfectly married liqueur ready for mixing. If you’re feeling frisky, try their whiskey. You have five versions, each richly permeated with local grains. Take a figurative stroll through the botanical gardens of any of their gins. Go noir with their dark Columbia River Coffee Roaster coffee liqueur. Enjoy the beverages alone, or create one of their curated cocktail recipes.
Sample their spirits in the tasting room surrounded by barrel racks or enjoy the sunshine on the patio. Their friendly guides will guide you through the geographical notes as you savor each sip. Once you find your favorite flavor, grab a bottle or two to stock your bar.
WooHoo Winery in Raymond
Nestled in the farmlands of the elegant Willapa Valley sits the boutique family-owned WooHoo Winery. The gentle vineyards are home to wildflowers, families of butterflies, and some of the loveliest artisan alcohol bottled in the Pacific Northwest.
Image Courtesy of: WooHoo Winery
The warm summer breezes usher in new bottles and flavors that guests eagerly await. Rose of Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Blueberry dessert wines have recently been bottled and corked. Pear trees from the family farm have yielded crisp new ciders. And exciting upcoming wine cocktail menus promise wonderfully complex concoctions. Sip your wine overlooking the vineyards while enjoying live music on Saturdays in July, August, and September.
Ilwaco Cider Company in Ilwaco
The eagerly anticipated Ilwaco Cider Company is the newest kid on the artisan alcohol block. Locals and cider-lovers lined the streets for the grand opening. One sip of their crisp and refreshing cider, and you can see why the crowds flocked to the ribbon-cutting.
Positioned in the heart of one of the last working ports in the nation, Ilwaco Cider Company sources many of its ingredients locally. The family cider makers playfully experiment with flavor profiles to create ciders that are taste sensations. Sip on their Ancho Libre, a combination of pineapple, guava, and papaya that wrestles with serrano and ancho chilies. Tuck into the Sister Berry, a semi-sweet cider with locally harvested cranberries, Elderberry, ginger, cardamom, and locally harvested spruce tips. If you need help deciding between their flavors, enjoy a cider flight and sample them all.
The warm, welcoming cidery features live music and is pet-friendly.
Adored Artisan Alcohol
The buzz on our adored artisan alcohol is strong. Visit our regional distillery, winery, cidery, and breweries to taste the flavors of the Pacific Northwest. Grab yourself a growler or bottle, and keep visiting our blog for tasty new spots to quench your thirst.
Feature Image Courtesy of: Adrift Distillery
By: Danelle Dodds
Danelle is an international traveler, road tripper, writer, and artist. She firmly believes in testing the limits of word count, mileage, and AYCE sushi.