The Growl Store Quietly Opens in Capitol Hill

After a lukewarm Indiegogo campaign raising just $2,896 of the $100,000 target, healthcare worker turned local beer peddler, Loren Klabunde, finally opened up shop at 1222 E Madison on Dec 5. What was once dubbed Growl64 for the ambitious 64 taps Klabunde originally had planned, is now simply known as The Growl Store. It still hosts an impressive 44 taps, all of which are local brews from Washington sourced from within 100 miles of the city (except for, yes, a couple of ciders from the corners of Washington state).

The modest 970 square-foot space encourages standing, sipping, and growler filling. No chairs in sight, Klabunde would rather be accessible to you from behind the Catan-like hexagonal bar, dispensing tastes of rare craft beer from the copper-lined backbar. Klabunde says there will be about ten to twelve recurring beers while the other 30 or so rotating taps will be seasonal, small batch ales ranging from over a dozen IPAs to a few requisite ciders and ginger beers. The 3 Skulls Blood Orange witbier from Northwest Brewing is probably the rarest, muses Klabunde.

Growlers are $7 to $9 and $2 off when you fill it with some craft beer from The Growl Store. Currently hours are 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

—Rosin Saez