Skep & Skein Tavern
Where:  2106 Harrison Ave. NW., Suite B14, Olympia, 360.292.4400
Hours: 2-11 p.m.Tuesday-Saturday, 3-9 p.m. Sunday-Monday
Cuisine: Available from neighboring restaurants
Scene: Older women knitting, young hipsters, solos reading
Drinkies: Beer, mead and cider only
Prices: $5.50 to $8 a pint

What do Double Jack, Old Man Winter, Bitter End, Highway to Ale, Hopportunity Knocks and Hooligan Stout have in common?

Well, for starters, they are all beers served at Skep & Skein Tavern in West Olympia.

I went on a Wednesday evening; knitting needles clacked and yarn slid over them like water, twisting through the women's fingers in a rainbow of hues: green, blue, orange and white. These women liked their hops - amber, but also bitter and very dark brown. They also like knitting, purling and following patterns while sipping on delicious brews.

For the uninitiated, I speak of the weekly knitting night at Skep & Skein - every Wednesday evening, rain or shine.

Two of my friends, Jill and Erica, joined me for Skep & Skein's knitting night, which starts at 5:30 p.m. But come early, because by 6:30 p.m. almost every seat in the house is taken. With about half the tavern filled with knitters, suddenly a pleasant hum of people talking and laughing drenched over us.

But, then again, how could it not with all that beer?

Skep & Skein opened last spring and is a great fit for the knitting gang. (There is a group of digital scrap-bookers meeting here as well.) The tavern's owners relate to knitting as well, since Christy, wife of owner Dave, knits, and was there to welcome us to the knitting gang. My table had the youngest attendees; the rest of the people in attendance were at least 45 and older. But the knitters were  welcoming and even taught us a new cast-on technique.

The knitters say they've seen it all: knitters, crocheters and one woman who brought her spinning wheel. Next time I'll bring my drop spindle. We talked books, knitting, beer, kids and life. It was great.

Johnny was initially our bartender and he is amazing. He remembers everyone's name and is very beer-knowledgeable. If you tell him your favorite beer or style of beer, he can make recommendations on what you might like of the tavern's selection. There's no Coors here - these are carefully selected craft beers. Skep & Skein staff is willing to give you a taste of anything (perhaps many tastes) in order to make sure you're satisfied with your selection.

I brought my growler along to bring hubby some beer home; Johnny whisked it back to the bar and reminded me when I was paying my tab.

The tavern changes their beer list often; you can enjoy by the 4-ounce glass, the 8.4-ounce glass, the pint (16 ounces) or the growler to go. Beers range from about $4-$8 for a pint, and $5.50 for a 4-ounce mead or 8.4-ounce hard cider. Growler fills range from $11-$23 depending on the variety. Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

Skep & Skein does not serve food but you can get it delivered free from nearby Wally's or Apollo's. I tried Wally's gyro, which is good. Wally's has a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, soups, chips and shakes.

I had a glass of the Trois Pistoles Strong Dark Ale, which is described as wild fruit with an after taste of port. Bottom line: it's hopilicious. The ale is similar to the Milk Stout I had on a previous visit. My friend, Erica, had the Oatis Oatmeal Stout and my friend Jill had the Brougham Bitter. Jill said the event is a great way to combine two of her favorite things - beer and knitting.

When I left, my recently started hat had several inches of ribbed blue wonderful - plus, I had beer in my belly, had achieved great girl time and felt a sense of camaraderie in the fiber arts.