Peak's BrewPub

Awesome local brew, nice bartender who may remember your name and your beer if she thinks you are cute. Good, local, (almost) dive bar with fresh brews! Pool, cards, and board games. You won't be bored. Was open on Easter! $4.50/home  beer. Don't go if you are feeling guilty about drinking instead of working out... The gym is next door.

There famous chili, is extremly too spicy hot, i could barely eat it.
The owner is rude. They close at 12pm

On the corner of Lincoln and 2nd sits Peak's Brew Pub, a small, unassuming structure in downtown Port Angeles that belies the magic within--quite possibly the finest porter I've ever had.

While driving through town searching for a place to grab a beer and a quick bite to eat, the four of us settled on Peak's, which we found listed in Moons "Olympic Peninsula Handbook." Pulling up, I wasn't sure we were at the right place as I'm more used to the large, more pronounced  brew pubs of Portland. This place, in comparison, had the look and feel of your typical local dive bar. Some neat decorations (e.g., an assortment of bottle openers lining the bar, a nude photo of Bettie Page, etc.). a pool table, and a TV playing a college basketball game were the first things I noticed. The second was that the place was nearly empty on a Saturday evening.

I honestly wasn't expecting all that much walking in, especially after looking at their food menu. I was actually about to suggest going somewhere else because one of our group was vegetarian and there wasn't a big selection of vegetarian options. But before I could, someone ordered a beer, then another, and by then it was too late. I sampled something that was a bit too hoppy for me, and finally ordered a 10oz glass of their Mt. Pleasant Porter as I wasn't really in the mood for beer. While waiting, I noticed the Old Rasputin in their cooler as I was pacing the bar admiring their eclectic decor and lamented not ordering one of those instead. But a handsome sip of their porter later, I was in love, downing the first glass and immediately ordering a second before I knew what happened.

I don't know what it is about that porter -- whether it's the ingredients, brewing process, or the fact that it's on nitro, or possibly all the above -- but I find it simply enthralling--its malty sweetness, almost imperceptible hoppy bitterness, and smooth, creamy finish all combining in perfect harmony (at least according to my unenlightened palate). It's simply wonderful; and I dare say it's replaced Black Butte as my favourite porter. (The food, on the other hand, was so-so. The nachos, while generous, were typical of any local hole-in-wall where the focus is obviously not the food.)

Peak's isn't just your typical local dive bar; it's a 14yr old labour of love born from the passion of Ed and Wanda Smith -- the husband and wife team behind Peak's -- to produce a selection of quality micro brews in the heart of the Olympic peninsula without the least bit of pretension. From the brief conversation I had with Wanda the next day (which I enjoyed with at least two more pints of porter and a cup of some pretty decent chili), it seems they've had a rough few years financially; but things are looking a bit more promising this year with the increasingly positive feedback they've been getting and the grand opening of Twin Peaks Brewing & Malting Co., where they'll be able to produce 40 kegs in a single batch. And I have to say, I'm rooting for them.

If you happen to find yourself passing though Port Angeles (or if you live there and haven't dropped in yet), stop by and try a pint or two. I can't promise you'll love it as much as I did; but you may be pleasantly surprised.