Northern Lights: Spokane's coolest mini-mall

Stopped off in Spokane on the way east to check out Northern Lights Brewing. Situated between the Spokane River and the Gonzaga campus, these folks have made the most of their location.

The brewery and pub share space with a fly-fishing tackle shop, a Thai restaurant, a chocolatier, and a new distillery.  The website emphasizes the three signature beers here: the Born & Raised IPA, the Crystal ESB, and the Silent Treatment Pale.  They do play with other styles as well; I sampled the Chocolate Dunkel and the Bulldog Cream Ale during a short stop.  The three main beers show up on the t-shirts and other swag they sell, but the Bulldog (Gonzaga's mascot) does not.  He just growls on a window in front of some of the fermenter tanks.

A very enjoyable stop, enhanced by the ardent embrace of their community these brewers show.

(Visited 5/14/12)