BY MATT STEVENS for WEEKLY VOLCANO 5/25/26
As summer is almost upon us, it’s time to start trying out some beers at some of my favorite patio spots.
The Ram down on Ruston Way is one of my favorite places to enjoy a gorgeous afternoon. It’s right on the water with a great view of Commencement Bay. We were down there late on a gorgeous Saturday evening, so it had gone dark, and the lights from the Port of Tacoma shimmered on the placid water.
One of the reasons I love the Ram is that it’s kid-friendly and the tables are spaced out enough that my kids aren’t spilling into someone else’s lap.
I ordered the Old Dan’s Old Ale. Old Ale is a rare style; usually it’s an amber color and has a higher alcohol content than your average amber ale, and sometimes it’s slightly oxidized due to the aging process.
Appearance-wise, it comes out a gorgeous dark brown and rather clear. The beer is very pretty and spot-on for its beer style.
As for the nose, it’s very subtle. There are hints of crystal malt, think slightly cooked sugar. No hop notes in the nose at all. Very slight hints of honey and maybe raisins.
Taste-wise, this beer really carries. It is very complex. The crystal malt hits first, then notes of raisin, with small hints of pine. It’s a very subtle, relaxed beer. But it’s great.
This beer is 7.5% alcohol, which is why I can taste the hints of alcohol in the flavors. It has nutty characteristics as well as the sweetness of malt, but it is dry.
Mouthfeel-wise, this beer is a little odd. It has a slightly oaked/oxidized flavor profile like it has been aged; it’s an enjoyable complexity.
This is a strong amber beer and was absolutely great to drink as the sun set next to the water and the heat of the day leaked away.
Overall, this is a very solid beer. And there are few better places to enjoy sunset in Tacoma than at the Ram on Commencement Bay.
The Ram is at 3001 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA.
