Tap Handle #213: Fish Brewing - Fish Tale Mudshark Porter

Compared to the previous tap I profiled (BlueWater), this tap looks rather plain. I still like it, though. The only difference among varieties is the label.

Fish Brewing Company was founded in 1993 in Olympia, Washington, by Crayne and Mary Horton. Fish began operations in a brewpub with a 15-barrel brew house, two 15-barrel fermenters, and one dairy tank. By 1996, Fish had outgrown the brewpub, and moved brewing operations to the Skoog building, the former site of the Olympia Knitting Mills, as well as a lumber mill machinery factory. The increase in space allowed for a bottling line, while the old brewpub became the new brewpub’s kitchen. In 2000 the company made a commitment to start using organic ingredients in some of their ales. In 2001, Fish acquired Leavenworth Biers. Founded by Scott Hansen in 1992 in Leavenworth, Washington (home of the Northwest’s famed Bavarian village) Leavenworth Biers moved its own operations to Fish's site. And in 2004, Fish aquired Spire Mountain Ciders, the nation’s oldest operating commercial craft cider maker. Spire's owners, Washington Wine and Beverage Company, agreed to the sale for a minority ownership stake in Fish, and Spire operations were moved to Fish.

All these acquisitions caused brewing a space problems. In 2006 Fish retired their 15-barrel brewing system and replaced it with a 40-barrel brewing system and a fifth 120-barrel fermenter, for a total of twelve fermenters. Space became tight, especially for stacking barrel pallets. In 2008, a major shareholder in Fish sold their shares to Washington Wine and Beverage, making them the primary shareholder. WW&B was founded in 1987 as a small cidery making Spire Mountain in Bothell, Washington, but had grown to be one of the largest winemaking companies in Washington before owning Fish. They became embroiled in controversy when they attempted to buy out the lease of the Loft. The Loft occupied part of the same building as Fish, with a large area that had hosted local bands, artists, and non-profit groups since 1949. Fish desired to stack pallets higher and needed to remove the floor of the Loft to do so. After an unsuccessful website, petition, and boycott of Fish products, the Loft was demolished, allowing Fish the expansion it desired. In the future, WW&B has plans to build a Fish brewery & distillery at its Woodinville, Washington, Wine & Culinary Village. Fish also has a new line of short-availability craft beers known as "Reel Ales".

Fish Tale Mudshark Porter is a black, medium-bodied, yet robust brew with a rich chocolate flavor and dry finish. The predominate flavor is of smooth, dark, bittersweet cocoa. This is a hearty brew of seven varieties of malt, including Pale, Carastan, Crystal, Brown, Black, Munich, and an especially generous portion of Chocolate malt. Mudshark Porter gains its bitterness from Columbus hops, and its gentle hop flavor from a late addition of Willamette hops in the kettle. It won a gold medal in 2000 & 2001 from the North American Brewers' Association. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 3.43 out of 5.

Fish Brewing Official Website