Centrally located in the Brewery Blocks on the south end of downtown Tacoma is Incline Cider House’s Taproom. Having enjoyed a number of their ciders over the last couple of years, I was excited to head down to the southern end of Puget Sound to check out their new digs. The space is a modern take on the working roots of “the blue-collar Seattle”—a title I’ve heard proudly embraced by Tacomans. In the newly renovated warehouse, there are huge beams logged from the Pacific Northwest that contrast nicely with the grey cool floors and the concrete walls. The rugged warehouse feel is softened by the white tile backsplash of the bar and the light-hearted artwork—it’s like Joanna Gaines went camping. They also had a couple of TVs with the Ms game on, and with the PNW banner proudly displayed as soon as you walk through the door, it definitely feels like the kinda of place where locals would be glad to call home and hang out. There is also a large patio for those days when the sun is actually out, or even if it’s not, they have heaters. Just hope you don’t need to pee if you’ve had too many ciders because the bathroom is like six turns and four hallways away—I am sure they have to do a nightly check for lost cider drinkers.

The ciderhouse is a truly family affair as it was started by a father and son duo (Chris and Jordan) whose wives are deeply involved as well as Leslie manages the tap room. Both guys had previously worked in the adult beverage industry, Chris at a winery in central Washington and Jordan in a distillery. The two decided to team up to try something new and decided to open up in Tacoma which at the time was ciderless despite being a large city centrally located to so many apple growing areas in the region. They definitely have a modern craft approach as you will find a number of hopped and herbed ciders mixed with bold fruit flavors. (Their Prickly Pear and Blood Orange are excellent and two of my favorites) In the spirit of cider camaraderie they have both their own drinks on tap as well as several selections from their friends at other Washington cideries. Next time you’re on your way to Olympic National Park, consider forgoing the ferry and drive around the Sound to make a stop at this first-class cider spot.