I stumbled across Black Raven while reading Northwest Brewing News' Feb/Mar 2011 issue. I was just looking for a random brewery to feature and having never heard of them, and they aren't local to me, they seemed as random as I could get.

I enjoyed reading the story on their website about the brewery coming up with the name from a photo discovered picturing an old time brewery sitting next to a tamed raven on some aged brewing barrels. Classic. The 3 brewers (Beaux Bowman, Andy Lapworth & Keil Anderson) have a combined 18 years experience in the industry and about half of their beers sport a medal.

Their regular lineup lists Trickster IPA, Totem Northwest Pale, Sunthief Kristallweizen, Tamerlane Brown Porter, Morrighan Stout, and Second Sight Strong Scotch Ale. They also serve 2 rotating beers: Wisdom Seeker Double IPA and Grandfather Raven - Redmond Imperial Stout. But it is their Corbeaux Series that really interests me: Pour Les Oiseaux - Farmhouse Ale, La Petite Mort - Belgian Abbey Strong Brown, and La Petite Mort - Bourbon Barrel Aged Version.

It looks like they have a cozy little taproom, seats 77, that doesn't have a kitchen on site but you can order pizza that will be delivered to your table from, I assume, across the street. They seem to have great prices on 20oz pints and growler/growler fills. I will definitely be visiting Black Raven on my next trip to the great North West.

They are located at: 14687 NE 95th St in Redmond, WA and are open 7 days a week..