Dreadnought Brewing seeking home-brewers for fundraiser

When Dreadnought Brewing co-owner Steve Huskey opened his doors in June, he said he was looking forward to giving back to the community. Now, as Monroe's newest craft brewery prepares to hold its first quarterly brewing contest, he's making good on his word.-á

Home brewers from across the Sky Valley region are invited to compete in the brewing challenge, which will benefit Monroe nonprofit Take the Next Step.

Contest participants need to submit three bottles or one growler of their best home brews to Dreadnought Brewing at 16726 146th St. S.E., Suite 153, which is located in the Fryelands area. The beer will be judged on Monday, Aug. 24, by members of Dreadnought and Take the Next Step staff.

Contest participants are being asked to pay a $5 entry fee, 100 percent of which will be donated to Take the Next Step. The winner of the contest will receive the opportunity to brew six kegs of their blend on Dreadnought's commercial equipment. The beer will be served on tap at Dreadnought, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Take the Next Step.

Take the Next Step is a Monroe nonprofit dedicated to serving homeless and low-income individuals. The agency features a series of targeted programs geared toward helping those in need achieve self-sufficiency. TTNS staff and volunteers work to create an all-inclusive community available to those that need them the most.-á

"I like the idea of helping people get back on their feet,GÇ¥ Huskey said.-á -á

Once the winner of the brewing contest is selected, Dreadnought brewers will evaluate the recipe to determine if any changes are needed to accommodate a larger-scale brewing operation. The winning brew will be available on tap once the recipe is confirmed and the winner is able to craft their ale.

"As long as it's good beer, that'll be about two weeks it'll be on tap,GÇ¥ Huskey said. "That's how long we keep six kegs of our beer.GÇ¥

Except for the California-style pale ale and the IPA, added Huskey, which have been very well-received and sell out much quicker.

Between Huskey and his co-owners, nearly all branches of the U.S. military are represented at Dreadnought. Huskey and his wife, Anne, served in the Army for 15 years and 10 years, respectively. Huskey's father, James, represents the U.S. Marine Corps, and co-owner Kristi Browne served in the Air Force for 10 years.

The Navy is represented by kitchen manager and co-owner Sandra Jordan, whose husband, Sean, was a chief petty officer. Sean, a professional photographer working for the Seattle Police Department, helps with marketing, photography and menu design.

Other co-owners include Clinton Langevin, Kyle McFarland and firefighter Heath Clark.

Since the grand opening in June, Dreadnought has expanded its menu offerings and extended its hours. The family-friendly establishment is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The venue features live music and photography by Seattle photographer John Lill, who served in the U.S. Navy.

Huskey plans to hold brewing contests several times a year.

"We're still looking for other charities we can team up with,GÇ¥ he said. "We want to keep it local.GÇ¥

For more information on Dreadnought, visit the Facebook page. For questions about the contest, email manager@dreadnoughtbrewing.com or call 360-863-2479.