Brewgrass: A Majestic Evening in Anacortes

We just got back from a night spent in Anacortes for the Brewgrass! festival. Here's the scoop.

Brewgrass!

It’s a frozen Friday night in November. We’re in Anacortes for Brewgrass, an annual music-and-beer festival that has been going strong for 14 years. Three venues are involved -- H20, Rockfish Grill, and Brown Lantern Ale House — all of which are within a block of each other on the west side of Commercial Avenue. We begin at the brewery (Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewing) for dinner and drinks to the tune of bluegrass, played by the Rain City Ramblers.

The bar is packed, but we don’t have to wait long for a table. This is a sip your beer, enjoy the music kind of festival — not a knock-down, drag-out boozefest. A couple dances in the aisle. It’s laid back, but festive. The Rain City Ramblers play bluegrass standards and a few originals (including one about the virtues of van life) as we enjoy our fish ‘n’ chips and fish tacos, respectively.

Of course, we also consume a couple Anacortes Brewing beers — a not-quite-hazy but still juicy and delicious Sunrise IPA and something dark and mysterious, served in a schooner…

After dinner, it’s so darn cold that we head right across the street to The Majestic to rest up for our ferry in the morning. Yeah, we're getting old.

​What's The Majestic, you ask?

The Majestic Inn & Spa lives up to its name. Sitting squarely in the center of downtown Anacortes — in plain view of the town’s finest eating and drinking establishments — it rises high enough to offer Salish Sea sunset views from its upper floors.

Originally erected in 1890, the historic Majestic building has seen many shifts over the years. It was once moved several blocks across town by a team of horses. It survived a 2001 fire which caused over $1 million in damages. Today, it stands more majestic than ever after an extensive renovation and the addition of a second “contemporary” building.
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Upon check-in (inside the historic building), the front desk receptionist asks if we like coffee. Why yes, we do. While explaining that we can enjoy freshly roasted coffee in our room, she turns around, grinds up some local Moka Joe beans, and hands them over with an assortment of creamers. Best of all? There’s a french press in the room. Consider us impressed.

We’re fortunate enough to find ourselves in an island-view room on the fourth floor of the contemporary building. But even if you’re on a low floor, island views can be yours (seasonally, May - September) on the outdoor rooftop lounge. It’s closed during our stay, but we’ve sat up there before. You don’t have to be a guest to enjoy brews and views atop The Majestic.

In the morning we check out and leave for the San Juan Island ferry dock. We're excited to visit the islands, but wish we had more time to spend here in Anacortes. It's truly a lovely little town, full of great hikes and beer.

Fortunately, the story continues. We had an excellent time visiting the San Juans as well!

Island time.

A post shared by Beers at the Bottom (@beersatb) on Nov 5, 2017 at 12:38pm PST

Additional Reading

Check out the following stories that we've published since our trip to Anacortes!

• 5 Small-Town Brew Fests - Northwest Travel & Life Magazine
• Anacortes is also featured in our book, Beer Hiking Pacific Northwest