It would be wrong to say that no visit to Gig Harbor is complete without a stop at the Tides. I mean, it isn’t an absolute must. But if you go to Gig Harbor looking for beer, you’ve gotta go to the Tides. For those of us from this neck of the woods, seeing the sign out front is like coming home:
Seeing that inauspicious front door means that good times are just a few steps away.
The Tides used to be little more than a waterfront dive but has morphed into a faux low-brow oasis for the Harbor’s upscale residents. The food is better than it was in the early days, the service is usually pretty good and the beer selection is great for a normal tavern. I'd expect more out of an ale house, but the Tides is just a tavern, not a craft beer specialist. Locals complain that the venerable old Tides has become unnecessarily expensive, but hey, this is 2011, it's right on the friggin' water, and there’s no better tavern in the Harbor. Too yuppie for you? Go on up the hill to the Hu-Lu-Hee-Hee and see how you like it.
Tides doesn’t brew its own, but someone—the Engine House, I think—brews for them.
To a Pacific Northwester, an Oly sign is almost like a family picture on the wall. The Tides goes a step further with this beautiful stained-glass piece. Very nice.
Sixteen taps, mostly craft ales.
In addition to the Tides ales (a Porter, an ESB and a Pale), I was happy to see Quilters Irish Death, Union Jack IPA, Big Al’s Irish Red and something from Anderson Valley and Gig Harbor’s own 7 Seas. They also have Guinness, Mac and Jack's Amber, Manny’s Pale, Alaskan Amber, Widmer Hefe. They've got Stella and Coors Light for those who don't like beer.
Got bikers coming in for the weekend? Take them to the Hy-Lu-Hee-Hee or out to the Flotation Device in Purdy. Got polite out-of-towners? Take 'em to the Tides.
2925 Harborview Drive (east end of Harborview)
Gig Harbor, WA
