Ginger beer at Quality Athletics
Summer has arrived and that means sipping on refreshing, fruity things on patios all season long! Seattle has a fantastic cocktail scene but did you know there are some pretty bomb non-boozy libations being poured all over town, too?! I’m going to take a time out and share something super personal with y’all now – I quit drinking almost six months ago and it’s completely changed my life. While you may see me holding a cocktail or even writing about one, it’s never more than a sip of a drink or a splash of wine for tasting. Drinking is something I’ve struggled with my entire adult life and for the past five years it’s seemed impossible to not drink when I’m constantly around amazing local spirits, wines and beer. Not to mention I happen to love so many local distillers, wine makers and brewers that I want to support; it’s something I have struggled with on many levels. It’s also something I got sick of dealing with – sick of being hungover, sick of not being as productive as my workaholic brain wants me to be, sick of not being the best version of myself. So on February 13, I had my last drink and I have not looked back. I know this is a little more personal than I sometimes get on my blog but this IS personal and it NEEDS to be written about, thought about, talked about. So with that, please allow me to share with you the most delicious things I’ve been sipping on lately in Seattle and, of course, they’re all non-alcoholic.
1. Specialty Sodas at Delicatus
We all know Delicatus has the most bomb sandwiches ever but they are also serving up some hella delicious specialty sodas this summer made with their fantastically flavored shrubs. Choose from Strawberry Jalapeño (my personal fave), Rhubarb and Pink Peppercorn or Peach Thyme. They’ll kick your sammie experience here up a notch!
2. Cold Brew at Schooner Exact
Who knew a local brewery would also be serving an amazing cold brew? I recently started drinking cold brew and this one is absolutely delicious. (I drank way too much of it when I stopped by for this photo yesterday in fact, but I have no regrets.) It’s made on site with local Seven Coffee Roasters’ Roaster Choice blend in a process that takes several days. This cold brew is flavorful with a gentleness that makes it almost too easy to drink. These guys are also serving my favorite local ginger beer, Timber City in cans as another non-alcoholic option.
3. The Purple Rain Mocktail at Goldfinch Tavern
This is everything I want in a mocktail y’all. They know me so well here by now I don’t even have to order it, it just magically appears at my table (talk about service, this place absolutely hits it out of the park when it comes to good service). Blackberry, pineapple, lemon and vanilla come together in a playfully delicious way in this drink that I could seriously sip on every day.
4. Watermelon Soda at Soi
This watermelon soda that’s made in house at Soi is insanely delicious, y’all. Sweet but not overly sweet and wonderfully refreshing, this is the thing I want to be sipping on all summer long. This soda is also used in their current cocktail special, the Melon Collins if you’d like to consumer it with booze (no judgment here). They also make a fantastic ginger beer at Soi that’s great alone or in Moscow Mules.
A little heat and a little sweet come together to make this shrub a homerun from Renee Erickson’s adorable doughnut powerhouse, General Porpoise. Who doesn’t want to sip on something spectacular while savoring some of the best damn doughnuts you’ve ever had? This is available currently at their Pioneer Square and Capitol Hill locations, but hurry – I hear they’re rolling out new flavors soon.
6. Ginger Beer at Quality Athletics
I discovered ginger beer when I quit drinking and ever since I’ve been a bit obsessed. I’ve also been very pleasantly surprised to find that there are actually a few Seattle restaurants that make their own house ginger beers and the one at Quality Athletics has stolen my heart. A touch of lavender and a ton of fresh ginger is what really sets this ginger beer off for me. I recommend sipping it with Chef Daniel’s new Pizza Mac and Cheese.
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