Washington Breweries History: Redhook Ale Brewery
In May of 1981, Paul Shipman and Gordon Bowker founded the Redhook
Ale Brewery in Seattle, Washington. The Ballard area of Seattle was chosen
for the site of the brewery because it offered light industrial facilities
necessary for brewing. It was also the center of a community that still
retained strong European traditions. On August 11, 1982, the first pint of
Redhook Ale was sold in Seattle.
Redhook moved to a new location in the old Fremont (Trolley) Car
Barn which was the former home of the Seattle Electric Railway. The
26,000-square-foot building expanded brewing capacity and added a charming
brewpub named the Trolleyman, in honor of the gallant trolleymen of the
Seattle Electric Railway. This brewery was closed in 1998 after the Woodinville
brewery was built. Redhook's Trolleyman Pub which continued to offer fine
ales after brewing was discontinued, closed its own doors on
September 14, 2002. Even though the Trolley, as it was
affectionately called, no longer exists in Fremont, you can still try
Redhook's freshest hand-crafted ales in their Forecasters Pub in Woodinville
Washington where you can also tour the brewery and bottling facilities.
Redhook completed its brewery in Woodinville, Washington, 20 miles
east of Seattle in July 1994. The beautiful facility features expansive grounds and the
Forecasters Public House, where you can indulge in all of the Redhook Ales
and pub-style meals.
In 1996, Redhook commissioned a brewery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The additional capacity provided by this brewery allows Redhook to expand distribution
while continuing to maintain the high quality that is the hallmark of craft brewing.
In addition, the Cataqua Public House offers all of the Redhook Ale Brewery fine ales
and a tasty pub-style menu.
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