Skagit Valley

The owners believe that there should be a close relationship between beer and agriculture, and they point out that while technology has advanced, the basic brewing process and ingredients have not changed much over thousands of years. In fact, many historians believe that man’s need for brewing grains led to the agricultural age.

As of today, there are only four Farmstrong brews on draft at the brewery’s tap room, but more will be on tap soon, and eventually all 12 taps will be flowing.

Farmhouse Ale is a snappy rustic beer with grainy malt flavors, just a faint pinch of honey-like sweetness, and lots of spicy yeast esters, including clove and pepper.

Rooster Tail Pale Ale is a dry, highly quaffable beer with a lively carbonation, a good malt-hop balance and a spicy hop bitterness.

Stackin’ Hay IPA has a fruity, inviting nose, a crisp and dry texture, a clean malt backbone, and an assertive bitterness. Hop flavors provide notes of grass, pine, grapefruit rind and spruce needles.

Cold Beer Pilsner is an insanely sessionable (just 3.5% ABV!) lager with a surprising amount of flavor (a nice breadiness).

The first batch of Farmstrong beer was a gose made with malt from Skagit Valley Malting, though it is not available yet.

Helping to brew Farmstrong’s first batch of beer: Bob Rock (Skagit Valley Malting), Bob Hyde (EDASC), Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau, Brian Henn (Skagit Valley Malting), Mike Armstrong (head brewer at Farmstrong), and Wayne Carpenter (Skagit Valley Malting).

HOW TO FIND FARMSTRONG’S TAP ROOM

The city of Mount Vernon recently revised some addresses on Stewart Road, so if you Google or Mapquest Farmstrong’s address, which is 110 Stewart Road, it may still point to the wrong location – on the wrong side of the highway. The brewery is actually on the WEST side of I-5.

Normal tasting room hours will be Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Stop in and help Skagit Valley grow.