Olympia Beer Microbox

Beer Series

Olympia Beer

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 11/11/03, Replaced (06/01/04), Replaced/Relocated (09/03/05)
Nearest Town: Tumwater, WA
County: Thurston
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 50 yards RT)
Status: alive (03/16/08)

SPECIAL THANKS TO DVN2R CKR FOR REPLACING THIS BOX!

The Tumwater brewery is probably best known nationally for the brand of beer long produced beside waterfalls on the Deschutes River -- Olympia beer, whose "It's the water" slogan was famous in the beer world. The original Tumwater brewery was started in 1896 by Leopold Schmidt who, attracted by the artesian wells in the area, sold his brewery in Butte, Montana and started a company (initially named Capital Brewing Co.) that would eventually have five breweries. After the end of Prohibition, Olympia Brewing Company built a new brewery nearby. Olympia brewing added a new brewhouse in 1960, bought Hamm's brewery in 1975, and merged with Lone Star in 1976. Pabst bought Olympia in 1983 and the Tumwater brewery seemed to get a new lease on life in 1999 when Stroh sold Rainier and other brands to Pabst Brewing Co. Pabst then sold the Tumwater brewery to Miller, who then closed the 106 year old Tumwater brewery in 2003. With the closing of Rainier in Seattle, Blitz-Weinhard in Portland and now Miller in Tumwater, the Pacific Northwest has lost all its old regional breweries. Ironically, Olympia Beer is now brewed by Pabst Brewing Company in San Antonio Texas. You can view the famous brewery and waterfall at the Tumwater Historical Park, the home of this microbox.

Directions:

From Seattle, go south on I-5 to Exit 103, 2nd Avenue/Tumwater. Go straight at the stop sign then turn left at the light (Custer Way) and go over the bridge. Go to Capital Blvd. where you'll see South Pacific (restaurant) and the old brewery on the right. Turn right and continue to "E" Street and turn right at Western Meats. Drive to Deschutes Way and turn right. Continue until you see a sign for Tumwater Historic Park on the right and turn into it on Simmons Road. Park in the far right parking lot.

Clues:

Start on the brick path next to the Blue Star Memorial sign. At the "T", go right toward the river about 20 steps until you are in front of a sign by a railing. Read all about Historic Tumwater and the Olympia Brewery as you admire it and the falls across the river. While facing the brewery, look right and spy tall slender triplets in the distance and notice twin cedars between you and the triplets. Head to the rightmost twin and inspect one of its SE branches for a tethered letterbox, about 3' up and 2' deep into its boughs. Please be discreet and re-cover well.

NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

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Last updated on 06/23/2008

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