#2386 - Pine Lake Ale House, Sammamish, WA - 12/29/2013

Even if it were not set in a small community set alongside a lake of the same name, the "Pine Lake Ale House" would evoke images of a lodgey building amidst tall trees sloping toward a crystal clear lake, no? Well, not so much. But you do have a fair view of the Safeway across the parking lot.

Even the sign on the building looks generic here. But they do have a good selection of beers, with a menu of fairly typical contemporary pub food.

640 228th Ave NE, Sammamish, WA 98074 (425) 898-9099
Est. 2001 - Building constructed: 1986
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: pinelakealehouse.com - facebook 
Reviews: issaquahpress - chroniccravings - yelp - tripadvisor

#2385 - The Log Cabin, Lacey, WA - 12/28/2013

There's no hint of logs at the Lacey Log Cabin -- just rows of blue glowing pulltab bins like aquariums at a pet store, the standard beer corporation paraphernalia, and the occasional van coming through the wall. They do have a good mix of ages and gender, and all the suburban strip mall bar basics.

7035 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503 - (360) 438-3651
Reviews: yelp

#2384 - The All In, Onalaska, WA - 12/28/2013

The only bar in Onalaska, Washington, the All In (often spelled "All Inn") is a fairly large place with a broad range of ages. The animal heads and fishing lures tell you that you're headed toward the mountains, and the beer and food selection are classic local bar fare. We chatted with bartender Dee (who presumably is the one who makes this 'the home of the "Dee" Burger,' as announced by the sign out front).

1783 Washington 508, Onalaska, WA 98570 - (360) 978-4631
Web site: facebook 
Reviews: yelp

#2383 - Brown Shack Tavern, Salkum, WA - 12/28/2013

Salkum Washington is an unincorporated community of about 700 people just north of the Cowlitz River, between I-5 and the Mt. Rainier National Park. It is said to be named for the Cowlitz tribe's word for "boiling water," inspired by the roiling waters of Mill Creek. The business community of Salkum appears to be one grocery store and the Brown Shack Tavern, the latter greeting you with a handpainted hillbilly sort of sign and an asymmetric gabled roof extended to cover a small expansion. Inside you can see the shape of the original gambrel roof, with the later expansion clearly demarcated by unpainted particleboard.

I believe it was bartender Shannon who told me that the bar had been here since 1920, though it would not have been a licensed bar at that time. Another sign that the place may have started out as a soda fountain is the eye-catching back bar, which features a plate reading "L.A. Becker" -- an early 20th century manufacturer of soda fountain equipment. I'd love to get some solid information on when it became a licensed bar.

Nowadays, as you probably expect for the only bar in tiny town, it is a little bit of everything for everybody. Lots of old folks, but also young, pull tabs, karaoke, live music and dancing, and sometimes even a male stripper for the Salkum ladies. On the customer side, the formica bar top is worn all the way through wood simulating color. It is one of a dwindling number of true taverns (beer and wine only) and on this visit I spotted an 86 List with 5 names on it. Since then a new owner took control in the following July, so perhaps "Miss Kitty," "Donny (Sandy's husband)" and the other three folks have a chance to start afresh.

155 Salkum Heights Dr, Salkum, WA 98582 - (360) 985-2603
Web site: facebook
Reviews: roadtrippers

#2382 - Frank's Hide Away, Winlock, WA - 12/28/2013

There's not much unique in the physical place that is Frank's Hide Away, it's a typical small town dive, with Marilyn Monroe and James Dean prints, a lot of corporate beer paraphernalia, various Seahawks signs, and a small batch of mostly male, baseball cap wearing locals. The cocktails could lead one to question whether you're in bar or a candy store, with names like "Jolly Rancher" and "Gummi Bear." But one unmistakably unique feature is the snippet of conversations you occasionally overhear from some of the old folks there:

"They got robots now. You can't teach robots feelings. You go to shake their hand and they'll fucking crunch your hand."  

"There's no wind on the moon."

Stay safe from the robots, folks.

108 E Walnut St, Winlock, WA 98596 - (360) 785-0331                    
10 tc, 8 mc, 7bc, 0bbc

#2381 - The Club, Winlock, WA - 12/28/2013

Like it. Nice dive. Nice characters.

In Winlock, Washington, home of "the world's largest egg," the Club claims to have been here since 1933.

318 NE 1st St, Winlock, Washington 98596 - (360) 785-3143
Est. 1933 - Building constructed: 1924
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: facebook
Reviews: link - link - link

#2380 - Barley Mill Pub, Portland, OR - 12/28/2013

This is a McMenamins, which means if you live in the Pacific Northwest you already have a pretty good idea of the menu, beers, and general vibe. If you have not been to a McMenamins, you can count on better than average bar food and their own better than average craft beer selections, in a colorful setting crammed with art that looks like it was created for a 60s underground zine. This actually the first joint venture of the brothers McMenamin, who, at least count, now have some 65 brewpubs spreading out from Portland and across the Northwest and beyond, often rescuing beautiful old buildings. The Barley Mill also emphasizes a Grateful Dead theme.

1629 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214 - (503) 231-1492
Est. June 22, 1983 - Building constructed: year
Previous bars in this location: The Scuttlebutt (1934-1977), Fat Little Rooster (1977-?)
Web site: mcmenamins.com - facebook
Reviews: portlandmercury - yelp - tripadvisor - barfly - beeradvocate - travelportland