Route 2 pulling all the stops for anniversary

It's been one year since Monroe's Route 2 Taproom and Grazing Place opened its doors, bringing an ever-changing selection of locally-brewed craft ales to beer enthusiasts from the Sky Valley and beyond.

And since Route 2 owners Adam Miller, Greg Nygreen and Frank Espinoza didn't just want to settle for a one-day celebration, they decided to embrace Route 2's first anniversary with a weeklong series of festivities that will culminate with a birthday bash on Saturday, July 2.

The main event will feature live music 1-9 p.m., including the Battista Brothers and Leah Harris and Mike Norris, birthday cake at 3 p.m., a prize wheel and happy hour specials all day.

The party will wind down on Sunday, July 3, with a red beer bar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and cornhole tournament played on Route 2's back patio ' a fenced, lighted communal outdoor area and extension of the bar.

Route 2 is family-friendly, with an all-ages seated dining area in addition to the 21-and-over bar and patio. Additionally, Espinoza, Miller and Nygreen are in the process of installing a six-table kid and dog-friendly sidewalk dining area, to better accommodate their customers' needs.

"We've listened to what the customers wanted and we've tried to make as many accommodations as we can,GÇ¥ Espinoza said.

In addition to its collection of nearly 30 locally-brewed craft ales, hard ciders and wines, Route 2 serves up a healthy portion of technology, providing customers with live, up-to-the-minute information detailing how much brew is left in each keg, the alcohol content, price and details about the brewer. The goal of Route 2 is to showcase local, independent brewers dedicated to the art of crafting beer.-á

"We focus on Northwest craft beer, and it's typically smaller brewers,GÇ¥ Miller said. "We don't do corporate beer. We just want to support the guys that are busting their tails and still having to fund their own ventures.GÇ¥-á -á -á

The tap list is constantly changing, Espinoza and Miller said, and no tap is ever reserved. In addition to craft beer, Route 2 features wine, hard cider and root beer on tap.

"We work with a variety of distributors,GÇ¥ Miller said. "A lot of the brewers deliver the beer themselves, which we really love. There's a lot of hard work that goes into it.GÇ¥

Everybody is welcome to stop in, have a beverage and try the new menu.

Route 2's Grazing Place restaurant was initially operated by award-winning barbecue chef Jeff Dickinson, owner of Hook and Ladder BBQ. Now, the food is done by Gobble Grill, a Woodinville restaurant specializing in comfort food. Gobble Grill's customized menu features classic pub fare, including fish and chips, hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken strips, chili, salads and macaroni and cheese.

The new menu is more versatile, Espinoza said, and will appeal to a wider demographic. In addition to pub fare, Gobble's desserts include like Sherry "egg nog,GÇ¥ chocolate espresso fudge bundt cake and seasonal bread pudding. And once Seahawks season kicks off, customers can enjoy the game on the 133-inch television while munching on breakfast items that will be available during early morning games.-á

"The menu we have now is a direct reflection of the comments we've been getting over the last 10 months,GÇ¥ Miller said.

They've carefully considered other feedback as well. Initially, in order to review the live tap list, customers had to approach the bar and review the selection displayed on television screens above the taps. Now the list is fully accessible on Route 2's website and customers can have a tablet computer delivered to their table to better view the list and learn more about each beer.

Some customers have fully embraced the technological side of Route 2, accessing the tap list on smart phones or laptop computers. As they are enjoying a glass of "Beak Tweaker Citrus IPAGÇ¥ made by Black Raven Brewing out of Redmond, they can contemplate which beer they want to try next.

"If they want to know more about a particular beer, they can actually link up to the website,GÇ¥ Espinoza said.-á

Improvements have also been made on the back patio, including a new stage, two fire pits, a slide-up window with direct access to the bar and visual enhancements, including decorative trees and container gardens by Pine Creek Nursery owners Paul and Gwen Sayers.

Throughout the week leading up to Saturday's birthday bash, all of Route 2's regularly scheduled events and activities will be enhanced with anniversary offers. The celebration kicked off on Monday, June 27, with the weekly Route 2 Running Club, board game tournaments and $1 off India Pale Ales all day.

Brewer's Night takes place 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, featuring Alaskan Brewing craft beers. Taco Tuesday deals will be available all day, along with $1 off all Brewer's Night beers. Wednesday, June 29, brings $1 off ales and wing specials all day, along with Route 2's popular trivia night. Each week trivia night embraces a different theme, including Jeopardy, western/farm and the 1980s.-á -á

"It's really taken off ' it's probably our best night of the week right now. It just keeps growing,GÇ¥ Miller said. "It's a really fun, cool, interactive atmosphere.GÇ¥

"Thirsty Thursday,GÇ¥ on June 30, will include "Pints and PaintsGÇ¥ at 7 p.m., plus $1 off stouts and porters all day with lunch specials. The celebration will gain momentum on Friday, July 1, with a dinner special, limited edition keg tapping and the first-ever Route 2 Karaoke Under the Stars event on the patio.

"I've never seen it done,GÇ¥ Espinoza said. "It'll be a fun day, and the weather looks like it's going to be awesome.GÇ¥-á

Happy Hour at Route 2 takes place 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, featuring specials on food and drinks, and Saturdays are dedicated to hot rod enthusiasts or other gearhead types, who are invited to bring their vehicles down and enjoy a brew while they talk cars, weather permitting.

For more information on Route 2 Taproom or to view the live tap list, visit www.roadtriptaprooms.com.-á