Nick at the bar is a friend of mine

Published May 1, 2026 4:58am ET | Updated May 1, 2026 4:58am ET



Inland Ale Works is a great brewery in Cheney, Washington. Established in a remodeled auto shop, the whole place is decorated with photos of old Spokane, Washington, breweries and horse-drawn wagons loaded with beer barrels. There are ads for Rainier, National Bohemian, and Golden Age beers. I was there on Saturday to talk to my friend, the owner and expert brewmaster, retired Air Force Master Sgt. Nick Johnson.

I sat at the bar and ordered an Aye or Die Scottish Ale. For a small, annual “Mug Club” fee, I get a slightly larger pour.

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