After snowshoeing most of the way up to Lanham Lake, it was time for Part II of REI’s snowshoes and brews guided expedition–the beer!
We piled back into our toasty van and hit the road towards Leavenworth. In December, Leavenworth does a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on weekends that promised epic crowds, but for those going on this trek in early 2019 the crowds shouldn’t be a problem. We got dropped off with some free time to explore while our guides searched for parking and seats at the brewery, respectively. If you’ve never been to Leavenworth, it’s a charming town that is wonderful for visiting year-round, but for today I’ll just focus on Icicle Brewing.
Like all buildings in Leavenworth, the exterior is a Bavarian-style storefront, but with a patio packed with heaters and cover for a year-round seating area. There was a big line to get in managed by staff, and our REI guides gave us tokens to cash in for a beer. Hitting Icicle when visiting Leavenworth is practically a staple for me, so with the line looming behind me I decided to quickly order my favorite, their Dirtyface Amber. For sweet-tooths and stout lovers I’d recommend their Dark Persuasion–reminiscent of a German Chocolate Cake in a glass.
Icicle knows their clientele love the outdoors and with Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge ski areas nearby, the touches are everywhere. Icicle-shaped tap handles, sweatshirts that look like knit sweaters, and my favorite touch–the chair-lift seating at the bar. It might be the most unique seat at any brewery, but I’m sure glad I didn’t have to climb out after knocking back a few beers! Back at our table we had pretzels waiting for us (with gluten-free options as well) and got to talk with the other people on the trip over our beers. Talking hiking over beers after a day on the sunny snowy trail? Yes please! Our group departed to hit the pass and head home, a successful day trip completed. I’ll definitely do an REI snowshoe expedition again–in fact, I’ve already booked another!
Icicle is close to both great hikes (including Colchuck Lake and the Enchantments) and snowshoe trails, meaning it’s the perfect stop to visit year-round (but for those who hate crowds, maybe avoid during Oktoberfest and their tree-lighting ceremony).
In summary (to the best of my knowledge)…
- Full kitchen: Yes
- All-ages: Minors welcome until 10pm, then 21+
- Dog friendly: Yes
- Merch: Yes (Apparel, glassware)
- Coasters: Yes
- Outdoor seating: Large heated patio open year-round
I was not paid or asked to write this post and am not affiliated with REI in any way. I just had a really good time and think you might too!
Love this! I love icicle brewing and I’ve been wondering about the REI snowshoeing!
It really was wonderful, for not having to deal with driving/chains/parking at a crowded trailhead alone!