There are a few days on the calendar that feel like mandatory holidays for the craft beer obsessed, and National Beer Day is at the top of the list. When April 7th rolls around each year and it happens to coincide with one of those crisp, shimmering Redmond spring afternoons, the kind where sun beams are breaking through the cloud covered sky, you don’t stay inside. You head to the Eastside’s laboratory of liquid excellence: Postdoc Brewing.
Tucked right next to Marymoor Park, Postdoc has always felt like a home base for those who appreciate the science behind the pour. Walking into the taproom on National Beer Day, there was a friendly, post-work conversational buzz, fueled by a mix of Microsofties heading home and locals looking to toast the occasion.
The Pour: Postdoc Brewing Alpha Factor IPA
While the seasonal rotations at Postdoc are always tempting, National Beer Day called for a classic. I went straight for a pint of Alpha Factor, their flagship IPA.
This isn’t just another hop-bomb; it’s an example of how to brew a Northwest IPA with balance. It’s a gorgeous, clear copper-gold beer that looked absolutely luminous in the afternoon light and smelled like a forest after a light rain. At 6.8% ABV and a healthy 64 IBU, it delivers the punchy bitterness of Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops, but with a solid malt backbone that prevents it from being abrasive. Alpha Factor is a clean, refreshing, and dangerously drinkable IPA.
Spring Vibes in Redmond on National Beer Day
Grabbing a corner table next to the windows looking out at Marymoor Park was the highlight of the day. There’s something about the transition from winter stouts to spring IPAs that just resets the internal clock. Sitting there, watching the sunlight catch the condensation on the glass, you’re reminded why the Redmond beer scene is so special.
Postdoc continues to prove that you don’t need gimmicks when you have technical precision. Whether you’re celebrating the “holiday” or just the fact that spring is finally here, Alpha Factor is the perfect companion for a sunny day in western Washington State.
Cheers to National Beer Day!
Clark believes that the best professional relationships are built on shared experiences and a bit of fun. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Clark has been a vocal advocate of the local craft beer scene for years. He enjoys exploring the unique flavors and community-driven atmosphere of Washington’s and Oregon’s many breweries while working through the complex software architecture opportunities presented by social interaction. After a hard day of work, Clark can often be found on the karaoke stage any day of the week belting out 80’s rock and heavy metal tunes while bringing the same passion and energy to his performances as he does to his startups; valuing confidence, engagement, and the power of a good song and a bourbon barrel aged beer to bring people together.
