7 Seas Brewing: First One Up on the Board
When Mike Runion and Travis Guterson decided to open 7 Seas Brewing in Gig Harbor, Washington, they had no idea they were paddling out ahead of a wave that would eventually become a full-blown tsunami. When they started putting the brewery together in 2008, Washington had maybe 75 or 80 breweries. Within a decade, that number swelled past 400. Nationally, about 1,500 breweries existed in 2008. Today, it’s around 9,500. It might be a stretch to say 7 Seas inspired them all — but they were definitely among the first surfers to get up on the board.
Trend setters? You could say that. In 2010, the young brewery did something no other Washington craft brewer had ever done. Something unspeakable. Something that, in certain circles, was considered an outright abomination. 7 Seas became the first Washington craft brewery to put its beer in aluminum cans. There was backlash, but there was also vindication — craft beer in cans is now so ubiquitous it’s hard to imagine a world without it. And yet, here we are.
The cans are just one chapter in the 7 Seas story, though one I find particularly satisfying. The full arc goes something like this: a fire delayed the brewery’s launch before it ever got started. Then came a move across town. Then a bigger move — across the bridge to Tacoma — where 7 Seas took over a building that once housed an iconic Northwest legacy brewery: Heidelberg. They even brought back a beer bearing the Heidelberg name, which, if you are an oldster who remembers the original Heidelberg, hits different. And then, a homecoming of sorts: a second location, a harborside taproom back in Gig Harbor that is, speaking plainly, absolutely glorious. If you haven’t been, fix that.
Cheers to 7 Seas Brewing! Congrats on the anniversary, and here’s to everything you’ve built and everything rebirthed. One eye on the future, the other on the proud past. Keep up the good work!
The Anniversary Beer
On to the news at hand. To commemorate its 17th anniversary, the brewery is doing what breweries do: introducing a beer. From the brewery, “Brewed in recognition of our 17th Anniversary, the Star Summer Pale Ale shines bright with a crisp balance of toasty malt flavor and electrifying hop character of citrus zest, passion fruit, and ripe summer berries.”
“Pale golden in color, refreshingly hoppy, with a supportively smooth and subtle honey-like sweetness while finishing off-dry with a kiss of pleasant bitterness.”
“We’ll also be celebrating with fun tees for sale, as well as commemorative glassware, at both taprooms. Buy a pint, keep the glass! (While supplies last, limit one per customer.)”
The Star Summer Pale Ale is available only on draft, for a limited time.
-Style: West Coast Pale Ale
-5.4% ABV, ~40 IBU
-Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Strata
-Malts: 2-Row, Golden Promise, Munich, Dextra-Pils
To learn about other recent beer releases, visit our New Beer Releases page. To let us know about your brewery’s new releases, here’s how to reach out to us.
