From Peaks & Pints – Thurston County’s beer roots run as deep as its famous artesian wells. In 1896 successful Montana brewer Leopold Schmidt opened the Capital Brewery after discovering the famous artesian water was ideal for brewing beer. Originally housed in a stackhouse in Tumwater, and eventually renamed Olympia Brewery, it was a significant player in the region’s sudsy brew movement. The brewery slogged through Prohibition during the early 20th century and ownership changes 50 years later. The brewery closed in 2003 when its parent company shuttered the Tumwater plant and moved the production operation to Irwindale, California. In 1993, Crayne and Mary Horton led a dozen Thurston County investors in opening Fish Brewing Company, South Sound’s first craft brewery. It wasn’t until 15 years or so later that Top Rung Brewery and several Thurston County craft breweries followed Fish’s lead. In celebration of the inaugural South Sound Beer & Cider week (Aug. 16-25), Peaks and Pints hosts elder Top Rung Brewing Company and younger Well 80 Brewhouse and Headless Mumby Brewing Company at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 for a night of craft beer perfect for a summer night.
PEAKS AND PINTS: SOUTH SOUND BEER AND CIDER WEEK, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Peaks and Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma, no cover
