SAAL Brewing Company Is A Firefighter-Themed Restaurant In Washington That Will Make You Feel Like A Kid Again
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published February 28, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
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Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
If you ask a kid what they want to be when they grow up, there’s a rolodex of classic answers: ballet dancer, police officer, astronaut, singer, and firefighter. If you secretly never grew out of your firefighter stage, you have to check out this brewery in Stanwood. Not only is SAAL Brewing Company located in an old fire station, but it’s also totally firefighter-themed!
Located in Snohomish County about an hour outside Seattle, Stanwood is the gateway to Camano Island, one of Washington's most underrated destinations. Though it may be on the mainland, Stanwood maintains its island neighbor's sleepy small-town atmosphere, making it a great getaway for families.
Tucked in a 1920s volunteer firehouse, SAAL — which stands for Standwood Artisan Ale and Lager — debuted in 2019. Unfortunately, we all know what happened next: Covid-19 almost crippled the fledgling business.
However, owners Kristine Birkenkopf and Matt Stromberg pulled through on the strength of their grit and their conviction in what this local spot could be. Today, SAAL is a community hub and an important meeting place for Stanwood residents after work and on the weekends.
With its generous portions and classic flavors, SAAL's cuisine evokes the sort of stick-to-your-ribs comfort that might be served in a real-life fire station kitchen.
Birkenkopf, who runs the kitchen, is proud of what SAAL has accomplished so far. Stanwood's long needed a family-friendly brew pub and SAAL is just the ticket.
SAAL's brews are also exceptional, demonstrating the two decades' worth of experience Stromberg accrued working as a brewer for spots like McMenamins and Scuttlebutt Brewing. Now at the helm of his own establishment, Stromberg allows his creativity to shine, creating innovative ales and lagers that delight customers, a difficult accomplishment in a brewery-saturated region like the PNW.
If you're visiting nearby Camano Island or a Stanwood resident looking for a new favorite, check out SAAL, which persevered through the pandemic— an event that took out even established restaurants— to become a local gem.
Have you nurtured your passion for firefighters or do you just love a solid ale? Check out SAAL Brewing Company. Since its 2019 debut, this joint has made a solid argument for it to be the best brewery in Stanwood.
What are your favorite local breweries? Don’t gatekeep, let us know down below!
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