See Also
On This Page
- Noteworthy breweries in Seattle
- Downtown Seattle Breweries
- Capitol Hill Breweries
- Beer Makers in Ballard
- Brewers Located in Fremont
- Breweries located in Interbay, Seattle
- SoDo Brew house
- Georgetown brew house assortment
- Leschi Breweries
Best Brewery Tours & Tastings
- Former Ballard Brewery Tour – Enjoyable & intriguing tour of the best neighborhood in Seattle for local craft breweries.
- Fishermen’s Terminal Brewery Tour – The beer tasting happens in a waterfront setting.
- Pike Brewing Tour & Tasting – Exceptional tour of this Pike Place Market organization providing insight into their brewing process. (Regrettably, temporarily suspended as of October, 2023.)
- Many of Seattle’s best breweries are located outside of downtown. I’ve incorporated transit information when applicable, but most of these spots are an affordable cab/Lyft/Uber from downtown Seattle.
- Several breweries function akin to pubs and serve meals. Those lacking dining, usually permit bringing in outside nourishment (or having it delivered).
- Check taproom hours before you go. Many keep odd hours and aren’t open late.
- Many breweries and taprooms are kid- and dog-friendly. If you’ve found a great spot that is not already on the list, and you’re uncertain whether dogs or kids are welcome, it`s wise to make a phone call to check.
- The guided food tour of Pike Place Market is one of our favorite experiences in downtown Seattle.
Table of Contents
Best Breweries in Seattle
1. Fremont Brewing
2. Old Stove Brewing Co.
3. Reuben’s Brews
4. Stoup Brewing
5. Pike Brewing Company
6. Ghostfish Brewing
7. Holy Mountain Brewing
8. Machine House Brewery
9. Bad Jimmy’s Brewing Co.
10. Standard Brewing
11. Cloudburst Brewing
12. Elysian Brewing Company
Downtown Seattle Breweries
Old Stove Brewing Co.
Pike Place Market`s newest brewery makes for a perfect stop during a day spent sightseeing. They feature 16 handcrafted local beers on tap, as well as a rotating selection of cider and wine, housed within an airy, comfortable space with wonderful views and open-air access when weather permits. The long picnic-style tables are ideal for large groups or socializing. Take your favorite brew home in a 32oz “crowler.” (It`s an vintage beer can filled and sealed right before you.)
Hours • Website • Reviews • 1901 Western Ave
Cloudburst Brewing
Hidden within Pike Place Market`s northern perimeter lies Cloudburst, a brewery renowned for its bold and refreshing ales frequently imbued with unexpected citrus accents and other, more eccentric touches. The founder, Steve Luke, formerly devised experimental brews at Elysian, and sampling his latest creations with the connoisseurs congregated by the narrow, al fresco entryway provides a uniquely Seattle pleasure. Of the many delectable options, be certain to try the Market Saison, which alternates new flavor mixes dependent on the Market`s freshest ingredients (strawberry and mint, on a recent, early summer visit). The benevolent individuals at Cloudburst welcome outside nourishment and well-behaved canines, but request minors remain at home.
Hours of operation • Website • Reviews • 2116 Western Avenue
Pike Brewing Company
A fixture at Pike Place Market, and one of the larger sellers on this list, Pike Brewery has crafted quality beer since 1989. They supply seven core beers year-round (the Kilt Lifter Scotch-style ale and XXXXX Stout are particularly favored), as well as seasonal and limited choices like Harlot’s Harvest pumpkin ale and Auld Acquaintance Hoppy Holiday Ale. Their on-site tavern offers a varied menu of local and organic pub-style fare in a suitable ambiance, and with $5 and an appointment visitors can tour the brewing facility and sample the process in action. Pike Pub and Brewery welcomes families cordially – they offer a kids` menu and tours free for over 6, but dogs are not permitted.
The page contains links to the operation hours,website,reviews, and the brewery`s physical location
Capitol Hill Breweries
Elysian Brewing Company
Despite being obtained by Anheuser-Busch in 2015, Elysian remains a Seattle icon, now operating four different locations since its 1996 founding. Their home base is still in Capitol Hill, occupying a cavernous and often crowded space offering standard pub cuisine alongside staples like the beloved Immortal IPA and a rotating assortment of seasonal and limited edition options. Among the latter, keep an eye out for The Dread, a dark and rich Imperial Stout aged in oak barrels and enhanced with admirable intensity in flavor. While possession by AB may have diminished Elysian`s countercultural cachet somewhat, the welcoming atmosphere of the venue and broadly enjoyable flavors of the brews (which have maintained their freshness since the merger) make it an enjoyable, easy stop for any beer aficionado`s tour of the city. Kid-friendly until 11pm.
(From downtown: Take the light rail to the Capitol Hill station – Elysian is about an 8-10 minute walk away – or choose from numerous buses (11, 49, 2, 7) that serve the pike/pine corridor.)
Operating Hours • Website • Reviews • 1221 East Pike Street
Ballard Breweries
Reuben’s Brews
Ballard, a neighborhood in Seattle, has become extremely popular in recent times. With this popularity, the character of the area has experienced a significant shift toward upscale restaurants, boutique stores, and extensive residential redevelopment. However, Ballard encompasses a wide area in the city’s northwest corner. Pockets still remain of the ramshackle warehouse spaces that once helped define its personality. Reuben’s has capitalized on that lingering understated feel by placing one of Seattle’s best breweries in the midst of a low-key residential/industrial zone. The beer selection is extensive, featuring traditionally-brewed and barrel-aged favorites. They also offer a small (but potent) collection of sours – a rarity in Seattle. Reuben’s welcomes children and dogs and allows outside food: order a pie at a discount from the neighboring Zeek’s pizza (a Seattle institution), or grab a meal from one of the rotating food trucks that visits daily.
(From downtown: Your simplest route is the “rapid ride” D line from downtown; disembark right after crossing the Ballard Bridge at Leary. From there, it’s a 5-10 minute stroll to the northeast.)
Operating hours • Website • Reviews • 5010 14th Avenue Northwest
Stoup Brewing
Nearby Reuben’s Brewery in the Ballard district is Stoup Brewing, renowned for their rich stouts and nutty porters including a beloved robust porter with dark chocolate notes. Their signature Citra IPA features a refreshing bitter bite that balances the malty flavors of darker brews. While their ales can be found on tap in various local venues, the tasting room offers a worthwhile experience especially for those exploring Ballard breweries. The casual, inviting atmosphere includes materials for children to draw with while adults relax in the pleasant outdoor area suitable for socializing in groups. Dogs and outside snacks are permitted, and a food truck frequently parks nearby for convenient meals.
(From downtown: Your simplest route is the “rapid ride” D line from downtown; disembark right after crossing the Ballard Bridge at Leary. From there, it’s a 5-10 minute stroll to the northeast.)
Operating Hours • Website • Reviews • 1108 Northwest 52nd Street
Bad Jimmy’s Brewing Co.
If Seattle`s top tasting rooms often have a somewhat disorganized feel, Bad Jimmy`s, located along the industrial edge of Leary Way, is no exception. It has a back alley warehouse space resembling a converted garage, and a deliberate lack of pretension that places the focus on the beer. The brew-loving crew behind the operation have utilized the building better than most others, however: intensely red-lit and styled with a kind of punk/rockabilly esthetic, the venue regularly hosts parties in the upstairs loft space, as well as events in the indoor/outdoor area out front. Jimmy`s indulges in some enhancements and filtering which beer purists might initially dismiss as too delicate, but their subtle infusions tweak core, hop-derived flavors in ways that don`t overwhelm. Recently they featured a “Mai Tai PA” (say it aloud) that incorporated pineapple and orange accents while delivering the bitter edge that IPA lovers expect. Well-behaved dogs and outside food are welcome. Kids are welcome til 7pm.
Valencia (original source of paella; many varieties can be sampled)
Operating Hours • Website • Reviews • 4358-B Leary Way Northwest
Fremont Breweries
Fremont Brewing
This Seattle brewery and its outdoor patio area are my favorite when seeking out locally crafted beers and relaxation. Both children and canine companions are welcomed indoors as well as outside. It`s a go-to stop for cyclists using the near Burke-Gilman trail. Free pretzels and apples are provided but no full menu, so carry-out from Fremont`s wide array of eateries just blocks away is recommended. Growlers can be filled, 6-packs purchased to enjoy later, or top quality caps, shirts, and hoodies bought. And of course, the beer itself is superb.
(From downtown: the 28 bus stops 2 blocks west of the brewery.)
Hours • Website • Reviews • 1050 N 34th Street
Interbay Breweries
Holy Mountain Brewing
Located in an industrial, plain section of town – as many of booming Seattle’s premier breweries are – Holy Mountain is mentioned by several in an almost devoted manner. Part of that aura of uniqueness is elucidated by their fleeting approach; unlike numerous even the smallest, spunkiest breweries, Holy Mountain has no reoccurring “standard” beers. The whole menu turns over with seasonality and, often, secondary fermentation that keeps any single beer from remaining consistently accessible. A visit in June yields hoppy saisons and Czech-style Pilsners; in December, the featured ale could be an Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. The tasting area itself is aggressively sparse and modern/warehouse stylish without striving too hard, complete with hardwood booths and a sliding door on the back wall that opens out into a field of train tracks. It’s a place of worship for beer aficionados and Northwest hipsters alike. Bring in your outside food, but leave the kids and dogs at home.
(From the city center: The trusty D subway line will get you there in just a few stops.)
Timetable • Website • Evaluations • 1421 Elliott Avenue West
SoDo Breweries
Ghostfish Brewing
The sole focused gluten-free craft distillery in the state, Ghostfish produces top-notch brews that even those impacted by gluten will enjoy. By forgoing the use of barley instead opting for malted gluten-free grains like millet and buckwheat, the brewers at Ghostfish maximize the hops they use, giving rise to massive (and delicious) beers like the “Peak Buster” double IPA and its 130 IBU. They also excel at Belgian-style ales; the Shrouded Summit Witbier is opaque and citrusy, with a pleasing, bracing hint of juniper in the conclusion. Both ales are on the “signature” list, and accessible year round. Besides being gluten-free, Ghostfish sets itself apart by fashioning a proper restaurant/pub experience out of their tasting room: They offer a full menu (gluten-free, of course, with many vegetarian and vegan alternatives) and flat screens showing Mariners, Seahawks, or Sounders games (all three teams play only a mile away from here in the Stadium district). Family-friendly until 7pm, pet-friendly always.
(When traveling from downtown: The 21 bus will drop you within a block. However, be aware of any events at the stadiums that could impact traffic as you pass through to reach your destination.)
Hours of Operation • Website • Reviews • 2942 1st Avenue South
Georgetown Breweries
Machine House Brewery
Set within the developing industrial locale of Georgetown, Machine House Brewing centers on ales derived from English hops. This leads to some debate among local beer drinkers, since unlike many Pacific Northwest craft brewers, the beverages they concoct are relatively mild. Those seeking intricate bitterness and through-the-roof IBU counts may feel somewhat disappointed, yet if you desire an easy-drinking, reasonably low alcohol drink, this is a fantastic choice. Positioned just off Georgetown`s main thoroughfare along Airport Way, the space occupies the old Rainier Brewing location: a massive—yet welcoming—brick warehouse, with indoor/outdoor areas accommodating live music events, art openings, and other happenings. Food is not served, but Machine house welcomes outside cuisine, and permits dogs/families – they even have a corner play area with toys and games for the youngest patrons.
(Travelling downtown would commonly involve using services like bus route 124 or 106; by vehicle, it takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. It is worth noting any events that could be happening at nearby sporting complexes, as connected traffic may extend travel times.)
Hours of Operation • Company Website • User Reviews • 5840 Airport Way South
Leschi Breweries
Standard Brewing
Beer enthusiasts will find a heaven of choices at Standard, where small-batch production yields potent brews. The tasting room is a narrow section, with a fairly spacious outside area – a constant attraction for nearby residents and devotees who come from all over the city. While IPAs are commonly available here, Standard founder Justin Gerardy keeps alcohol content (ABV) reasonable, and his brews highly drinkable on both wet days and sunny afternoons alike. No meals offered, but staff don`t mind if you bring in nearby grub; the Atlantic across the street provides a great selection of local cheese and hearty salads among other dishes. Well-behaved dogs and children are welcome.
(To get here from downtown: The 8, 14, and 27 bus routes all provide nearby transportation, yet a taxi or Uber ride may be preferable; from central downtown the fare is likely under $10.)
Operational Hours • Website Homepage • Consumer Feedback • 2504 South Jackson Street, Suite C
