I’ll preface this edition of What’s on Tap by divulging the fact that I am the proud owner of a growler and a few pint pot mugs stamped with the Diamond Knot logo. For those of you that are not well versed on the beer scene, a growler is a 1/2 gallon glass jug that offers easy transport of beer from your favorite brewery to your home, or any other number of offsite locations. Their Industrial IPA ranks among my favorites therefore I am entirely biased, but I'll try to offer a fair assessment of DK without interjecting too much of my inner passion for their work.
The Diamond Knot Brewery and Alehouse is located in Mukliteo, Washington directly across the street from the Mukilteo/Kingston ferry. In an ongoing quest for delicious beers I’ve quickly learned that excellent pints can be discovered and enjoyed near ferry terminals. Unique establishments capitalize on the waterfront views, relaxing sea breeze, and the traffic of ferry patrons.
The outside of Diamond Knot is rustic and somewhat uninviting. On the inside it’s a former ice cream parlor that has been transformed into bar with character. From the peanut shells on the floor to an Anheuser Busch keg cut into a urinal in the bathroom there’s little not to like. If you’re feeling adventurous grab one of the red leather swiveling stools that line the bar, order a beer, and prepare to cook your meal on a 750 degree stone.
On the beer front I highly recommend the Diamond Knot IPA. As their flagship beer it offers a bold 6.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) with a rich burst of hops accompanied by a subtle hint of grapefruit and cedar. It's aggressive but gentle, intense but comforting, and slightly bitter yet welcoming to the palate. Again, what's not to like? If you're a fan of strong beers the Industrial IPA is a beast. It has the same flavor as the standard IPA with an extra helping of hops and grains which boost the ABV to 8.1%. Basically, it’s the regular IPA on steroids. If IPA's aren't your thing, they also offer a diverse selection of other delicious brews ranging from the Lighthouse Ale to the Icebreaker Barley Wine. I'd be surprised if you couldn’t find something that you like.
The food menu is built around dishes that you cook yourself on a stone grill. I had yet to try one of the stone grill selections so for the sake of research I ordered the “Jamaican Me Hungry” pork sandwich. It arrived sizzling on the 750 degree stone but still very raw. The server handed me a taster glass of the IPA to sauté the Caribbean jerk seasoning covered pork, onions, bell peppers, and pineapples with. I cooked up the meat to my liking (before and after pics below) and constructed the sandwich, topping it with the spicy Golden Ale Buffalo Sauce that accompanies the meal. Overall, the dish was pretty good. Looking back on it I think there are a few other options on the menu that I would have enjoyed more, but there’s always next time… If you’re not down with whole the cooking your own food thing the nachos are solid.
Aside from beer drinking, DK is equipped with NTN interactive trivia which allows you to play head-to-head against other customers on television screens throughout the bar and across the country. As we were getting ready to play, a couple walked in and one was wearing a Stanford shirt and the other a Rice shirt. “Oh boy, we’re f*****” I think were my exact words. But Team Jenny held our own and our fellow competitors learned fairly quickly that between the two of us we have a wide variety of useless knowledge. As the game progresses you have a pretty good idea of who the other teams are and the competition gets intense. It's a good time.
All and all Diamond Knot is a great place to grab a beer and a bite to eat. The atmosphere is genuine, the service is friendly and helpful, and the food is unique. Between the IPA’s, peanuts, trivia, and juke box (which was somehow commandeered by a Seal fanatic who proceeded to play the entire Seal II album. Pretty awesome…) DK is a must.
BABY!
[DK] I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray.
Ooooh,The more I get of you,
The stranger it feels, yeahhhh…
Here’s my final assessment:
Atmosphere = 4.5 hops
Food = 3.5 hops
Beer = 4.5 hops
Service = 4.0 hops
Final Tally= 4.5 hops(Scale of 1-5 hops, 5 being the highest mark)
Diamond Knot Brewery and Alehouse
621 Front Street
Mukilteo, WA 98275
http://www.diamondknot.com/DKhome.html
So I have the post prepared for the first edition of Let Me See Your Grill (cedar planked pepper-lime salmon) but there are more pressing issues at this time. Yesterday I encountered something quite strange and I'm not really sure what to think about it. I mean, people are nuts and there is plenty to scratch your head about on a daily basis but this was extremely peculiar.
