Named after the firehouse in which it is now located, E9 Brewing Company is the first craft brewery in Tacoma. It first opened in 1995 and now has a second location, a family-friendly restaurant and taproom.

We visited the original location, which holds a small taproom overlooking the brewing equipment and barrel-aging beers. The taproom is industrial and plain, with concrete floors and simple metal and wood tables and chairs. There’s a small bar area to order a variety of E9 beers. E9’s beers feature a wide array of styles, including their specialty, barrel-aged beers, especially sours. We were able to try several beers in a tasting flight and enjoyed each of them. Afterward, we bought a couple beers to go from the cooler next to the bar.

E9 was a fun brewery to try, and we recommend it for anyone interested in the Tacoma brewing scene.