Dining and drinking review: Dystopian State Brewing

This is the fifth installment of Kurt Kwon's search for craft beer in our neighborhood that suits his palate. By my count, there are now nine craft breweries within walking distance of the Esplanade. To read Kurt's previous installments on his search for the perfect neighborhood beer, click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Dystopian State Brewing is located at 611 South Baker Street

Review and photos by Kurt Kwon
Well, there's another brewery helping Tacoma become a beer destination!  Dystopian State is the newest brewery within walking distance of the Esplanade. In my quest to find the perfect beer, I had to try the interesting selection Dystopian had to offer.

The location is a remodeled, former auto showroom. The space is large and open in concept. They have an industrial theme and decor matches perfectly, although there are not that many tables for the large space and they would benefit in creating more seating for customers. They have a limited food menu, but you can bring outside food in if you desire.

I tried all of their signature beers. The Helmet Breaker American Double IPA features a variety of citrus, floral and hoppy characteristics; it was pretty mellow  for a double IPA. This beer also comes in a nitro option. But if you want a little more kick, try the Entropy Triple Black IPA. This has a lot going on with seven different malt varieties, but is surprisingly approachable for a triple. If your taste is on the lighter side, the Gold Sigil Honey Wheat Ale may suit your needs. Crisp citrus and honey notes make this a very easy drinking beer. If you want something in between, the Red Queen is a Red India Pale Ale that has a rich flavor, but balanced at the same time. All of the signature beers are signature for a reason...they are consistent and very good.

The other two not in the signature list were the Dabber Dubbel and Black Circle. The Dabber is a light Belgian.  I'm not a Belgian fan, so I didn't care for this beer. The Black Circle is a classic American Stout, dark and rich. It was tasty on a nice rainy day.

All of Dystopian State's beers seem to have a slightly higher alcohol content than normal.  But they are all approachable and have a common character of being rich in flavor. I love the 7 Seas, but Dystopian may give them a run for their money. In the end we all win, because the quality of beer is improving in Tacoma. The future looks bright!