Epic Ales Debuts Weekly Previews For Brewpub Expansion

SoDo nanobrewery Epic Ales is expanding its tiny tasting room into a brewpub called the GastroPod, and will host a weekly preview lunch until the expansion is complete. Starting this Saturday, Epic owner Cody Morris and chef Travis Kukull will be offering up casual dishes and beer pairings in a space above the brewery, from noon to 4 p.m.

This week Kukull is doing a fish bahn mi paired with Epic's Belgian-esque Solar Trans-Amplifier, and a mushroom bahn mi with Terra-Saurus, an earthy ale brewed with mushrooms. Seven bucks gets you a beer and a sandwich; for $10 you can get a half of each, with beer pairings.

The duo plans to continue the Saturday previews until the GastroPod expansion project is complete ? hopefully in September. Kukull, who currently works at Tilikum Place Cafe and has cooked at Elemental and Solo Bar, will change up the food each week. Morris, whose unusual beers beg to be matched up with food, will do the pairings.

As for the GastroPod itself, the menu will consist of small beer-friendly plates. The brewpub will likely be open five days a week, a big change from the limited Friday and Saturday hours at Morris's existing tasting room. Morris says he and Kukull will tailor their hours around the nearby Seahawks games this fall, so fans can fortify before heading to the stadium.

The expansion also means more of Epic's wares will likely be appearing in more stores and bars around the city. In addition to building a small kitchen and seating area for GastroPod, Morris is adding a new 3.5-barrel brewhouse on the back of Epic's existing quarters. He currently brews his creative ales, using ingredients like Szechuan peppercorns and green tea, in a one-barrel system. The tiny capacity makes it tough to find Epic Ales outside of the tasting room and a very few bottle shops. Hopefully that will change.

· Gastropod Sandwich Preview [Facebook]
· All Previous Epic Ales Coverage on Eater Seattle [-ESEA-]
Epic Ales [Photo: +Russ/Flickr]