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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hunga who?

Rick Bonino

Moscow’s budding craft beer scene got another boost with this week’s arrival of Hunga Dunga Brewing.

The taproom rather quietly opened its doors Monday downtown at 333 N. Jackson, in a renovated Quonset hut that formerly housed a feed and garden supply store. Hours are 4 to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Owners have been equally quiet when it comes to returning messages, but here’s what we can tell you so far:

– They’re not shy about their hops, based on the opening beer lineup: Summer Ale (5.8 percent alcohol by volume, 74 International Bitterness Units), Oatmeal Pale (6.1, 67) and Red Rye (6.3, 59). A black IPA is on the way, according to Facebook comments.

In a January interview, co-owner Graham Lilly told us that the focus would be on “big, but very clean and great-tasting beers.”

– The initial food menu includes two entrees – a Brewhouse Beef platter with paprika pesto and vegetables, and Smoked Red Ale Sausage with homemade sauerkraut and IPA mustard – along with a few small plates and a gourmet S’more for dessert. Selections will rotate seasonally.

– Taproom aside, the goal is to become a production brewery distributing throughout the area, with a canning line. The 15-barrel brewing system is capable of turning out 4,500 barrels per year.

– As for the name, that comes from a wacky skit in the Marx Brothers film “Animal Crackers.” As Lilly previously said: “We take our beer very seriously, but we are making beer, after all.”

Hunga Dunga joins the Rants & Raves brewery/restaurant just down the street at 308 N. Jackson, which opened in January and began brewing in April. Tiny Moscow Brewing, which got things rolling locally in 2013, closed recently and was for sale at last report.