The South Sound Craft Crawl, an ongoing self-guided beer tour, debuts just in time for the US Open, showing visitors and locals alike all that our exciting craft beer community has to offer.
From Tacoma to Olympia, 15 artisanal breweries set the course for a tasty tour starting June 5. Pack your thirst and head on over is the message Travel Tacoma + Pierce County is sharing with visitors.
What exactly is the Craft Crawl? It’s a map of participating South Sound breweries that will stamp a special “Craft Crawler’s Course” passport when you visit each brewery. Collect nine stamps and redeem for a souvenir pint glass. Prizes may be picked up at the Tacoma and Olympia visitor information centers, in addition to each brewery, including:
- 3 Magnets Brewing, Olympia
- 7 Seas Brewing, Gig Harbor
- Engine House No. 9, Tacoma
- Fish Brewing Co., Olympia
- Harmon and Harmon Tap Room, Tacoma
- Lake Tapps Brewing Co. at the Riverside, Sumner
- Narrows Brewing, Tacoma
- Odd Otter Brewing Co., Tacoma
- Pacific Brewing & Malting Co., Tacoma
- Puyallup River Brewing Alehouse, Puyallup
- Tacoma Brewing Co., Tacoma
- Top Rung Brewing, Lacey
- Wet Coast Brewing Co., Gig Harbor
- Wingman Brewers, Tacoma
“We anticipate the Craft Crawl will get bigger, as it catches on, and with more breweries opening in the area,” said Ken Thoburn, an owner of Wingman Brewers. “This is not only an opportunity to raise awareness of the innovative brewers in our region, but a way to bring together community, from the craft beer enthusiast to the general beer-loving public.”
Brewers, tourism leaders and community supporters joined together to fill a need in the South Sound beer community, Thoburn said. Program sponsors include Travel Tacoma + Pierce County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater Visitor + Convention Bureau and JayRay Ads and PR.
Thoburn worked closely with JayRay on branding, content and graphic design, consulting other destinations that run successful craft beer tours including the Bend Ale Trail and Spokane’s Inland Northwest Ale Trail.
Visit a brewery to get a copy of the South Sound Craft Crawl map and passport, or download at www.southsoundcraftcrawl.com. Many hotels and local bars will also have the brochure available. Need a lift? Schedule a personal driver and create a customized brewery tour experience with Lifestyle Valet.
Keep watch for the official website to launch later this summer.
