Snoqualmie Pass is both an odd place and a smart place for a brewery. The population that lives there year-round is pretty small, but the pass sees a lot of traffic from the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area in winter and popular hiking trails the rest of the year (not too mention the literal traffic from I-90). So I was intrigued when I heard a new townhome development with a restaurant and a brewery was being built there. Dru Bru opened during the nonexistent 2014/2015 ski season, which was a little worrying, but they managed to stick around. After a spring camping trip in eastern Washington with some friends, we all stopped in before the last stretch of driving back home. You can order food from the restaurant next door, and they’ll walk it over to the taproom for you, conveniently enough.

Post-camping taster flight at Dru Bru — Snoqualmie Pass, WA

Rob’s Picks
• Hop Session – 4.7% – Earthy, citrus hops. Light body but not too light. Hint of honey.
• Alt – 4.9% – Caramel, nutty malts. Light herbal hops.
• Schwarzbier – 4.8% – Roasty and light chocolate/coffee malts. Light body. Dark chocolate bitterness on the finish.
• Pacific Crest Ale – 6% – Citrus, earthy hops. Good caramel malt backbone.

The Rest
• Wit – 4.3% – Light. Some bubblegum, light banana and clove.
• Kolsch – 4.8% – Light. Some honey, some caramel. Subtle egginess.
• IPA – 6.4% – Earthy, floral, and touch of herbal hops with light malts. Okay, but not too interesting.
• Pass Life Pale – 6.6% – Earthy hops with pretty big malts, mainly caramel. Bit of herbal and floral hops at end.

There’s a fun loop bike ride I did a few years ago that can incorporate a stop here. Start at the John Wayne Pioneer Trail / Iron Horse State Park parking lot at Exit 38, hop on the rail-trail and bike to Hyak (assuming the tunnel is open (don’t forget your lights)). Make a left and do another uphill to get to the pass. Stop at Dru Bru (or the restaurant or Red Mountain Coffee). Then pass under the freeway and do the fun, twisty downhill towards Denny Creek campground. From there take a dirt road that parallels I-90 for about five miles until you have to get on the freeway, but it’s only 2-3 miles to the next exit, which takes you back to the starting point. Yeah, I’m going to have to do this ride again one of these days.