One of three bicycle-themed breweries in the general Seattle area, Chainline Brewing opened in early 2015 along the Cross Kirkland Corridor rail-trail just north of the Google campus. Pretty sweet location, and the southern end of the CKC is just a few blocks from the new section of the 520 trail, so it’s a pretty easy bike ride, which will be even better when the new 520 bridge with its ped/bike trail opens. Nice interior, a great deck looking out onto the trail, room to grow, and periodic food trucks out front. Not sure if they let you ride the fat tire bike hanging on the wall, though.

Sampler break at Chainline Brewing while biking the Cross Kirkland Corridor — Kirkland, WA

Rob’s Picks
• Bar Spin Brown Porter – 4.8% – Coffee, chocolate, caramel, with sweet brown sugar edge. Crisp and bright, with a hint of citrus.
• Hardtail Pale Ale – 5.1% – Some honey sweetness, light biscuit, with a mix of earthy and floral hops. Touch of herbal, too. Light bitter zing on the end.
• Trail Gnome IPA – 6.2% – Fairly sweet with honey and some caramel maltiness. Floral, herbal, and light earthy hops that blend well with the sweetness.

The Rest
• Cyclo – 6% – Oktoberfest/Märzen. Mix of banana, light clove, caramel, toffee, toast, and bit of brown sugar.
• OTB White IPA – 4.8% – Over The Bars. Big floral hops, with some spiciness, light breadiness, bit of toast, and hint of lemon. Fairly bitter finish.
• Big Wheel Session Brown – 3.6% – Sweet with roasty and brown sugar maltiness. Light citrus edge. Light smoke, as well, when it warms.
• Recumbent Red Ale – 6.2% – Biscuit and caramel malts. Light floral and herbal hops toward the end. Decent lingering bitterness.

Gotta say, the Cross Kirkland Corridor trail just whets my appetite for the whole Eastside Rail Corridor that extends north to Woodinville and south through Bellevue and all the way down to Renton. Can’t come fast enough.