La Conner Brewing Company

Established 1995

The town of La Conner is an historic centerpiece to the area known as the Skagit Flats. With its stately old houses and antique shops, La Conner feels like a Western town caught sometime in the early part of the twentieth century. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, held annually in the spring, is a major tourist attraction to the area.
    The La Conner brewpub is housed in a striking, dark wood structure at the edge of town near the small marina on the Swinomish Channel. The brewpub's interior is small and upscale. The magnificent light pine columns and facades, and the open kitchen with its wood-fired oven give the brewpub a pleasant ambiance. In nice weather, there is outdoor seating on a small private patio. Or, if you've been out birdwatching in the chilly rain, you can warm up by a cozy fireplace.
    The menu focuses on pizzas and offers a variety of toppings, from feta and kalamata olives to smoked salmon, roasted chicken, and spinach. You can sit at a counter and watch the pizzas being made while enjoying a glass of house beer and playing one of the woodcrafted board games.
    The ten-barrel brewery is in the same building as the pub, but is not visible. The beers are bottled and available in many Western Washington retail locations. In the pub, they're all served in traditional European glassware, including schooners, Imperial pints and many others.
    Owner and brewer Scott Abrahmson's beers include a light, creamy Pilsner with a crisp finish, a smooth and smoky stout, a brown ale that's light-bodied and nicely balanced between sweet and dry, a refreshing wheat, and a root beer. Seasonal brews include an IPA, a spring bock, and for the winter holidays, Tannenbaum Ale, a spicy and nutty English-style old ale.

Directions: From 1-5 take Exit 221 and head west. Take the first right to Conway. Go through Conway and cross the Skagit River onto Fir Island Road. Proceed as it becomes Best Road, then turn left onto Chilberg Road. Go to the stop sign and turn left on La Conner/Whitney Road, which becomes Morris Avenue as it heads into La Conner. Follow Morris to the end of town and turn left on 1st Street. The brewpub is on the left.

Hours: 11:30a.m.-10p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11:30a.m.-11p.m. Friday and Saturday
Children: Yes
Food: Wood-fired pizzas, pub fare
Entertainment: Television at the bar
Smoking: No
Payment: Visa, MC
Beer to go: Yes, bottles