Best of Hands Barrelhouse introduces Easy Street Records’ house beer

People who are passionate about beer recognize the value of independent breweries. People who are passionate about music recognize the value of independent record stores. This is the story of the two coming together in the form of a new beer.

Easy Street Records is an institution. Folks in West Seattle simply referred to it as “the record store,” but it’s more than a place to buy and sell music. It’s also a cafe and a live music venue. Now, along with all its other coolness, Easy Street Records is a bar with its very own beer thanks to Best of Hands Barrelhouse. The Bar is Open IPA is the first-ever beer brewed exclusively for Easy Street Records.

The beer is described as an IPA featuring Motueka and Azacca hops, with aromas of lemon and lime and a savory hint of basil. A medium-but-refreshing body offers flavors of lime, melon, and tangerine. Impressions of coconut and pineapple enter before a citrus pith and mildly piney finish.

Mikey Adams of Easy Street Records joined the brew crew at Best of Hands to help craft The Bar is Open IPA, which is only available at Easy Street Records and the Best of Hands taproom.

Why You Should Care About Easy Street

Rolling Stone named Easy Street Records one of the best record stores in America. Time included Easy Street in its list of the 10 greatest record shops in the country.

As far as in-store performances go, the list includes local legends like Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Head & the Heart, The Sonics, Mudhoney, and many others. On top of that, the likes of Lou Reed, Elvis Costello, Band of Horses, Orville Peck, Dierks Bentley, Kings of Leon, Patti Smith, Wanda Jackson, and… damn. The list goes on.

If you are any kind of music fan, come to West Seattle and visit Easy Street Records at the corner of Alaska Street and California Avenue. It is an institution. Now it is an institution with its own beer: The Bar is Open IPA by Best of Hands Barrelhouse.