Seattle, WA (T-Mobile Park and Holy Mountain Brewing)

T-Mobile Park

Team: Seattle Mariners

Affiliate: N/A

Ballpark Basics: A ballpark that mimics its environment. 

T-Mobile Park is located in the SoDo section of Seattle (South of Downtown), a few blocks from Elliott Bay, and between the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, which offer some of the best views in baseball. Mobile Park is a microcosm of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest in general: expansive with amazing scenery and a wealth of options for local brews. 

There are a number of different ways to get to the ballpark. For those driving in, there are a number of parking options near the park. However, you are able to find some street parking if you are willing to walk. The Mariners promote a number of alternative transportation options, including the Link light rail that has a stop just two blocks away from the park as well as using one of the multiple bike paths to get to the game, complete with on-site free bike parking in the Mariners parking garage.  

Though the ballpark saw its first game played in 1999, it doesn’t show its age. It feels modern and spacious. In fact, everything in T-Mobile Parks seems to be oversized. From the wide concourse to the wide seating area to the massive retractable roof and the largest video board in MLB, all of which combine to make it so there’s really not a bad seat in the house. The sweeping panorama of downtown Seattle and the Puget Sound mimic the expansive views you can find throughout the Pacific Northwest.    

Best Spot for Beer:

This is one of the most difficult sections to choose from. The Mariners have one of the most extensive selections in all of MLB. Use the team’s Beer Finder to locate the specific beer you are looking for and where it is sold. You won’t be disappointed.  The Pen, just above the main concourse in center field, offers great views of the field as well as both team’s bullpens.  If you show up early you are able to take advantage of Happy Hour, with the park offering $5 pours up to an hour before first pitch. Happy Hour is not the only time you will be able to find a deal at T-Mobile Park. The team also offers a Value Beer program that offers a sprinkling of local brews in with the big boys. 

Seattle consistently ranks as one of the best cities in America to be a sports fan, and all in all, T-Mobile is a park worthy of their fans. Along with concerts and other special events, T-Mobile park also is home to some high school championships, and one Washington Huskies game each year so there are lots of excuses (opportunities) to visit, and we recommend you do.

 

Holy Mountain Brewing Co.

Rating: Triple

Brew Basics: A (loud) local favorite

Holy Mountain is pretty standard when it comes to breweries of a certain era.

In a warehouse or industrial district? ✔check.  Smells like a brewery? ✔check. Cinder blocks, L shaped bar, garage bay doors? Check, check and check.  A lot of other aspects are equally understated or simple – the building is painted gray, the fonts are plain, the logo minimalist. There are a few seating options, including limited bar seating, standing bar tops, long cement picnic tables, and booths. The lighting is interesting and artsy, for example, bulbs half-dipped in silver jut directly out over each booth.  High ceilings and cinder block walls keep the inside fairly loud and when the train comes by (which happens often), it’s loud.

We sidled up to the bar, and noticed there were options for trash, recycling and composting waste. We sat next to a friendly regular, who was unique in the fact that he was also an out-of-towner. Like from the other coast out-of-town. He visits the area regularly for work, and was surprised to hear this was our first stop, on our first night in Seattle. His exact reaction was more along the lines of “Howdja find this place?? It took me months!” What can we say? We don’t waste time when it comes to good beer. And like your many trash disposal options, they also have plenty of good beer on hand including eleven of their own, one cider and one ginger beer guest can. You can’t get tasters, but you can get 6oz half pours so we took that route, and had time for four across a variety of styles.

 Brew Breakdown:

Unburied (5.8% ABV) – This barrel-fermented mixed-culture saison was “fermented with a house mixed Brett culture in cedar-lined oak puncheons”, and is as busy on the palate as all that fanciness implies. Unburied pours light white grape in color, with white lacing and is very clear, and has a smell that is entirely sour. the taste was much more pleasant, it’s clean and on the drier side with a little bit of juiciness and a tarter but clean finish, and worth your time.

Spirit Crusher (8.5% ABV) A double IPA. Smell has juicy undertones and is hop forward. It seems slightly lactosed, but there wasn’t any in the mix; it’s just that murky. Yellowy orange-brown lacing sticks to the glass, but not to the beer itself. It was the juiciest we tried, and a win since it was an accidental delivery from the bartender, and ended up being our favorite of the night.

White Lodge (4.8% ABV) A Belgian white ale that smells of yeast and wheat. It’s a traditional Belgian with mostly earthy florals, but even a little sweet corn. Yellow in color and slightly opaque, the palate was light, easy and cool. We should have begun our flight here as the beer had much to offer but was muted.

Hell to Zion (7.2% ABV) Orange-yellow and slightly murky, this IPA had some fruitiness while maintaining a floral presence. Sweet front and slightly bitter and the end it smells dry, of spelt malts and hop florals. The taste is mostly dry, a little fruity in the middle and ends with a dry finish that’s hopped, but not bitter. Though this was the driest and hoppiest of our four, it was still well balanced.

Holy Mountain Brewing Company

1421 Elliott Ave W

Seattle, Washington 98119