As the largest independent brewery in the state, Georgetown Brewing Company has a lot of stories to tell. It’s quite the accomplishment for only being in business for 14 years. But as the brewery says themselves, they’re not much for waxing poetic about the past. It’s a mindset they put toward their beer as well. Why worry about the trivial outside details when you can just focus on making great beer?

Georgetown Brewing was formed over a few core ideas that permeate through what they do today. Founders Manny and Roger were two friends who loved ultimate frisbee and hated working for “the man.” Oh yeah, and they also loved beer. Roger was working in insurance and Manny found himself unemployed when they finally decided to make the leap – start brewing beer and make it their livelihood. And thank goodness they did.

Georgetown Brewing has become a staple in this city. If the name “Manny” sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve probably seen their Manny’s Pale Ale on draft at most bars within the region. Same goes for their Roger’s Pilsner. Their two namesakes being their signature is true to who Georgetown Brewing Company is. If it’s not good enough to carry their own names, why even make it at all? When you grab one of their beers, you feel like you’re catching up with an old friend. Between their “full time” and “part time” beers, they’ve concocted 54 different brews, each unique and each held up to the high caliber that Manny and Roger hold themselves to. They’ve done everything from porters and stouts to Belgian style ales and ambers. They’re constantly in pursuit of the next best beer they can make with a remarkable success rate that’d make any mainstream macro brewery blush

Want to try one of Georgetown Brewing Company’s brews for yourself? Stop on in and try a pint (or two or three) of their famous Lucille IPA at Easy Monkey. In terms of what you look for in an IPA, the Lucille hits all the high marks. You get the zest of the hops with notes of floral and citrus flavors bubbling up from the beer. With a seven percent ABV, it packs a punch too. It’s a great beer to kick back with at the end of the day. Bring a friend, give a toast, and wear off the weight of the week with one of Seattle’s premiere beers. What can be better than that? Who knows what Georgetown Brewery will do next, but we’ll be eagerly awaiting to see what it is.

Far from wallowing, blues music and beer can be a fun and cathartic experience. As the Monkey books some of the best blues acts in town every weekend from an array of styles and backgrounds, we want to help people have the best time possible. You’ve got great blues music happening right in front of you – what beer are you going to drink to match the mood? We have some suggestions for the rest of our July shows.

Band: Madison Avenue Blues

When: July 21

Beer: Georgetown Brewing’s Lucille IPA

Madison Avenue Blues will be making their debut at The Monkey this week and we can’t wait to have them! When you’re already taking a leap on something new, it can help to ground it with something you’re more familiar with. Georgetown’s Lucille IPA is a Seattle classic. The fragrant, hoppy flavor is like having a little bit of home in your pint. Change is good, but a little bit of an old favorite is good too.

Band: The Wolf Tones

When: July 22

Beer: Hellbent’s Hop & Oats Pale

Local duo husband and wife duo The Wolf Tones complement each other both on and off the stage, just like hops and oats. That’s why we suggest, well, Hellbent’s Hop & Oats Pale for this show. The taste is as smooth as the band’s riffs and licks, giving you a refreshing “ahh!’ feeling that you’ll also get from the band’s music.

Band: Billy Stapleton & Don Wilhem

When: July 28

Beer: Two Beers’ Pilsner & Sodo Brown

We couldn’t pick just one beer for this pairing of great blues musicians. Billy Stapleton and Don Wilhem come with their own distinguished blues pedigree, but they’re very much cut from the same cloth when it comes to offering up continually excellent performances. We feel the same way about Two Beers Brewing company. Their Pilsner an Sodo Brown couldn’t be more different, one light and mild and the other heavy and bold. Drink one of each and you’ll get the full spectrum of the emotions these blues players are sure deliver in their performance.

Band: Brian Lee & The Blues Orbiters

When: July 29

Beer: Black Raven’s Trickster IPA

Brian Lee & The Blues Orbiters pride themselves on taking listeners through a journey of the “blues universe.” While we don’t have any interstellar themed brews on tap right now, we think Black Raven’s Trickster IPA might just do the trick. We don’t think the band members are deceivers, but the unpredictability from track to track will continually have you guessing. You might think you’re in for a set of slow-burners, but next thing you know you’re up and dancing along to some upbeat rhythms. The Trickstep IPA has a little bit of everything too – hops to tantalize your taste buds, citrus to cool ‘em off, and a pine-like aroma to catch you off guard.

These combos sounding pretty tasty right about now? Come down to any of these shows and try them out for yourself. We’ll have the taps ready and the music going.

When the sun’s out, you’re bound to be on the hunt for a little bit of fun. We’ve extolled before the many amazing things Seattle has to offer, including some delicious beers, but sometimes you want something a little bit more vibrant. Just in time for the warm weather, Easy Monkey Taphouse has begun selling spirits and cocktails! As our collection of local spirits grows, we’ll start offering some of our own spins on old classics, but there’s plenty of tried-and-true cocktail recipes that will get your summer going even better. Any of these tasty drinks will perfectly match the beautiful weather.

Margaritas

Is there a more definitive summer drink than a margarita? Whether it’s spicy or sweet, lime or strawberry, you can hardly ever go wrong with this classic drink. It’s cool and refreshing without losing that kick. Using Papa Bueno tequila, you’re sure to have a smooth and vibrant drink. Papa Bueno’s tequila is distilled in small town of Antotonilco El Alto, located in West-Central Mexico before it’s packaged and distributed here in Seattle. It has all the authenticity of true Mexican tequila with a little bit of that cool, laidback Seattle feeling.

Rum and Coke

More traditionally considered a well-drink, the rum and coke is the perfect kick-back drink. Throw in a lime wedge and you’ve just got yourself a bit of summery goodness. Easy Monkey uses Kraken Black Spiced Rum, adding a more sophisticated flavor to your drink. You don’t have to be a pirate to be a rum fiend. Just sit back with your glass, take in the breeze and you’ll feel like you’re on the seas yourself.

Tom Collins

Are you a gin fan? Like something a little sweeter? Then you’ll definitely want to go with a Tom Collins. This blend of gin, lemon juice, carbonated water, and sugar is just the bit of sweetness you’ll be craving after a day out in the sun rays. What better way to treat yourself? Local owned Scratch Distillery makes some of the finest gin you’ll find in the Northwest, foregoing any GMOs and vapor infusing their alcohol. The results? The best damn Tom Collins you’ve had in a long time.

Daiquiri

You can’t have summer without at least some citrus. That’s part of what makes daiquiri’s so great this time of year. They give you the sweetness you’ve been craving as well as that bright flavor that just feels like mid-July. Holding a daiquiri ,you’ll feel fancy, fun, and ready to keep the night going.

Ready to take full advantage of the summer season? Drop in to Easy Monkey and try some of our delicious spirits and cocktails today!

Few things have stood the test of time as well as pizza and beer. Not since maybe peanut butter and jelly have we seen a pairing that’s accomplished so much and received so much acclaim. You can enjoy either one on it’s own and it’ll be great, but when they come together you know your taste buds are about to experience total euphoria. What makes these two so good together? We have some theories.

Two Good Things Make a Right

Two wrongs don’t necessarily make a right, but two delicious things do make something even better than themselves. They key is to not skimp on the quality with either element. Sure, you can buy a 24 pack of a generic lager and get a chain-restaurant pizza delivered to your door without spending too much cash, but you’re missing out on the true potential of what pizza and beer can offer. Upgrade to a local craft beer and some artizan zaw and a whole new world will be opened to you.

A Real Crowd Pleaser

If you’re throwing a party or stopping by the bar to catch up with friends, you need the right setting to get people comfortable. Nothing says “Let’s hang out” better than an ice cold beer straight from the tap and a slice of zesty pizza. It’s become such a universal setup for bonding that you can almost never go wrong. It’s the perfect setting for a laidback atmosphere, making for the least pretentious outing you can have.

Find Your Right Pairing

With the wide spectrum of beers and types of pizza out there, everyone can cater the experience to their own taste as well. Not just that, but you can even enhance your experience by finding complementing beers and pizzas. Every Wednesday, Blasphemy Pizza comes through Easy Monkey and offers up a selection of pies for guests to buy and try. With our extensive local tap list, you have the opportunity to make some really exciting pairings. For their Maximillian (pepperoni, red sauce, mozzarella), we recommend going with Two Beers Brewing’s’ Sodo Brown to highlight the inherent spiciness of the pepperoni. For something meatier like the Vacation Hold (house made sausage, charred walla walla onions), go with something bold like Georgetown Brewing’s Lucille IPA. If you’re a cheese lover, you can go wrong with the Walter (ricotta, parmesan, romano, chive blossom) with Hellbent’s Hops & Oats Pale.

No matter what your pair it with, it’s hard to find a losing combination when it comes to pizza and beer. Feeling a craving coming on? Make sure to stop through Easy Monkey next Wednesday and get your pizza on. Bring some friends and we’ll have the brews ready.