Food & Drink

Best Beer Destinations Around Seattle

We’ve switched things up for our annual beer awards— behold, our must-visit list of the best breweries, brewpubs and other hops-driven destinations for Seattle-area beer lovers

By Kendall Jones June 19, 2019

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This article originally appeared in the July 2019 issue of Seattle Magazine.

This article appears in print in the July 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

If you frequent any beer-focused bar these days you’ve probably noticed that the selection of beers rotates constantly. That’s because many beer lovers continually look for something new, something different, something they haven’t tried yet. Like those ever-changing tap lists, our local breweries are responding to this recent shift in consumer habits, and while they may still offer some flagship beers, more and more breweries are expending a lot of energy to create new, limited-release and one-off beers.

Some breweries have a knack for producing a particular type of beer, so instead of judging individual beers that you may never be able to find again, as we’ve done in the past, this year we polled 36 local beer experts to determine the best brewery in each of seven different style categories. Whatever style of beer you crave, we’ve done all the heavy lifting so that you don’t have to.


CLEAR AS DAY: Pick up a six-pack of Georgetown Brewing Company’s Lucille IPA at your local beer retailer to enjoy this fruity, bitter beverage at home

BEST NON-HAZY IPAs
Sometimes referred to as Northwest IPA or West Coast IPA, this style of beer offers lots of hops flavor without the hazy appearance
Georgetown Brewing Company
Most beer drinkers around here are familiar with Manny’s pale ale, Georgetown’s flagship beer, but this brewery also pumps out other world-class offerings, including our panel’s favorite non-hazy IPAs. Stop by the brewery’s taproom, where you’ll often find three or four new, limited-release IPAs to tickle your palate. These are actually experimental beers, intended to help develop new recipes that may become regular offerings, like the delightfully fruity and refreshingly bitter Lucille IPA, which you’ll always find at your local grocery store in 12-ounce cans. Georgetown, 5200 Denver Ave. S; 206.766.8055; georgetownbeer.com; all ages; dog-friendly
Runner Up: Reuben’s Brews, Ballard, 5010 14th Ave. NW; 206.784.2859; reubensbrews.com; all ages; dog-friendly


MISMATCH: Arlington’s Skookum Brewery is worth the trek out of town, as much for the patchwork decor as the hazy IPAs

BEST HAZY IPAs
A very popular style currently, these beers are brewed with a touch of wheat and/or oats, which lends the beer a hazy, turbid appearance. Hoppy like an IPA, but usually with a fruitier, juicier flavor profile
Skookum Brewery
This might be the best brewery you’ve never heard of. It’s located about 45 miles north of Seattle, where the spacious taproom is decorated with a random, mismatched collection of kitchen tables and chairs. Try all of Skookum’s beers, but make sure you take one of the hazy IPAs for a spin, like the Glow Inc. IPA, a draft-only beer that you’ll often find at the brewery’s taproom and occasionally at better beer bars around the Seattle area. Arlington, 17925 59th Ave. NE; 360.403.7094; skookumbrewery.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly
Runner Up: Cloudburst Brewing, downtown, 2116 Western Ave.; cloudburstbrew.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly

BEST BREWERY TAPROOM FOR YOUR POOCH
Postdoc Brewing
Conveniently located at the east entrance to Redmond’s Marymoor Park, home to one of the region’s largest off-leash areas, this all-ages taproom welcomes your pup both inside and on the patio. Along with the beer, there is often a food truck in the parking lot for human visitors; for Bowser and Fifi, there’s always a selection of healthy doggie snacks made with the same grains the brewery uses to brew the beer. Redmond, 17625 NE 65th St., No. 100; 425.658.4963; postdocbrewing.com; all ages; dog-friendly


SCHOOL’S OUT: The old school vibe, cold pints and approachable pub grub make this classic spot near the University of Washington an evergreen favorite

BEST BREWPUB
A restaurant or pub with its own brewery on-site
Big Time Brewery and Alehouse
Seattle’s oldest and this year’s best brewpub opened in 1988 near the University of Washington, the first brewpub to open in the city since Prohibition. The ongoing cycle of matriculation and graduation at the UW continually introduces newbies to the brewery’s award-winning beers in a convivial pub atmosphere, where professors share tables with grad students and neighborhood old-timers sit elbow to elbow at the bar with scientific researchers, all slurping down pints of the beloved Scarlet Fire IPA alongside pizzas, sandwiches and other pub grub.
There is something truly nostalgic here. Wood floors, large oak library-style tables and a beautiful antique back bar complement modern, award-winning beers. About four years ago, one of the bartenders, Rick McLaughlin, became the owner and is now a pillar of the business community, advocating for the rights of small businesses that face an army of challenges as Seattle charges into the future. In a city where everything is shiny and new, Big Time Brewery and Alehouse endures. To quote Field of Dreams, “It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.” University District, 4133 University Way NE; 206.545.4509; bigtimebrewery.com; all ages before 8 p.m., 21 and older thereafter; no dogs
Readers’ Choice: 
Big Time Brewery and Alehouse, University District, 4133 University Way NE; 206.545.4509; bigtimebrewery.com; all ages before 8 p.m., 21 and older thereafter; no dogs
The Pike Pub, downtown, 1415 First Ave.; 206.622.6044; pikebrewing.com; all ages; no dogs
Redhook Brewlab, Capitol Hill, 714 E Pike St.; 206.823.3026; redhook.com; all ages; dogs welcome on the front and back patios

BEST BEER RETAILER
A place to savor a pint or take some bottles or growlers to go
Full Throttle Bottles
Full Throttle Bottles, opened in 2008, was one of the first dedicated beer stores in Seattle. By 2016, the Georgetown shop was getting a bit long in the tooth. That’s when a change of ownership and a change in direction infused new energy into the business. The space was cleaned up and remodeled, and the store reimagined to better serve the crowds along the now-bustling strip of restaurants and nightspots on Airport Way. Patrons are now invited to have a seat and enjoy a pint while perusing the coolers for beers to go.
Other bottle shops around Seattle may boast a larger selection, but owner Jon Olken focuses on a carefully curated collection of beers, including familiar favorites from locals such as Georgetown Brewing Company and Fremont Brewing, along with less common, ultrarare gems from breweries like De Garde Brewing of Tillamook, Oregon. The 12 taps reflect a similar diversity at this friendly little beer boutique. Georgetown, 5909 Airport Way S; 206.763.207921; fullthrottlebottles.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly
Readers’ Choice
Chuck’s Hop Shop (Greenwood), Greenwood, 656 NW 85th St.; 206.297.6212; chuckshopshop.com; all ages; dog-friendly
The Beer Junction, West Seattle, 4511 California Ave. SW; 206.938.2337; thebeerjunction.com; 21 and older; no dogs
Full Throttle Bottles, Georgetown, 5909 Airport Way S; 206.763.2079; fullthrottlebottles.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly


BARRLE THIEF: Holy Mountain Brewing Company owners Colin Lenfesty (left) and Mike Murphy stand amidst the oak barrels used to age their beers

BEST SAISON (FARMHOUSE-STYLE) BEERS
Originally brewed at farmhouses in France and Belgium, this style of beer is noted for its fruity and spicy character
Holy Mountain Brewing Company
This brewery blends the old world with the new to create saisons that are rustic (as though they were brewed in a barn) and refined (as though they were brewed using modern technology). Many of its beers are aged in wood (in oak barrels, for instance) to add layers of flavor complexity. The Seer saison—available in the fall, one of a rotating four-brew series—is a great example, presenting a cornucopia of flavors such as lemon, pine, wheat and honey. It can be found at bottle shops around Seattle in 750-milliliter bottles. Stop by the brewery’s tasting room to see what more uncommon creations it might have on tap. Interbay, 1421 Elliott Ave. W; holymountainbrewing.com; 21 and older; no dogs allowed
Runner Up: Garden Path Fermentation; Burlington, 11653 Higgins Airport Way; 360.503.8956; gardenpathwa.com; 21 and older only; dog-friendly


FRUIT FORWARD: The fruited sour beers at Urban Family Brewing Company, brewed with tropical and stone fruits, are crowd favorites

BEST SOUR BEERS (WILD-FERMENTED, MIXED CULTURE)
Less common but increasingly popular, these beers are intentionally tart and often fruity, overturning many preconceived notions of how beer is supposed to taste
Urban Family Brewing Company
Magnolia’s loss will be Ballard’s gain as Urban Family Brewing prepares to move across the Ship Canal to a new, larger home in Ballard later this year, returning to the neighborhood where it first opened as a tiny brewery and pub in 2012 before moving south in 2015. The current location will remain open until the move is completed. Local beer lovers are smitten with the fruited sour beers, puckering up for the likes of Sun Seeker, brewed with a blend of tropical and stone fruits, available on tap and in 750-milliliter bottles at the brewery’s taproom. Sour beers age at their own, unpredictable pace and cannot be rushed; always keep an eye out for Urban Family’s Reserve Series beers, which will be ready when they’re ready. Magnolia, 4441 26th Ave. W; 206.946.8533; urbanfamilybrewing.com; all ages; dog-friendly
Runner Up: Engine House No. 9; Tacoma; 611 N Pine St.; 253.272.3435; ehouse9.com; all ages; no dogs


THREE’S A CROWD: Stoup Brewing co-owners (from left) Brad Benson, Robyn Schumacher and Lara Zahaba have created a warm, welcoming space to enjoy their excellent beers in Ballard

BEST BREWERY TAPROOM
Brewery with a taproom serving tasters and pints and isn’t a brewpub or restaurant
Stoup Brewing
What sets this brewery taproom apart from the many others in Ballard is the different types of spaces it offers. The main taproom, immediately adjacent to the stainless steel brewing equipment and beer-loaded oak barrels, is always crowded and energetic, with a garage door that opens to a small patio out front; that’s where you’ll often find a food truck at dinnertime. Outside, on the west side of the building, the beer garden offers elbow room, picnic tables and Adirondack chairs beneath suspended shade-casting sails. Upstairs, you’ll find a separate bar where beers are poured in a quieter, adults-only space overlooking the beer garden.
Among the many design elements lending ambiance to the otherwise industrial space, notice the wall-mounted light fixtures near the bathrooms: They’re bottle-cap chandeliers that Lara Zahaba, one of the owners, found in Austin, Texas. The array of lights is mesmerizing, and so are the medal-winning beers, like the robust porter, Stoup Brewing’s most highly decorated drink. Ballard, 1108 NW 52nd St.; 206.457.5524; stoupbrewing.com; all ages (except upstairs); dog-friendly
Readers’ Choice
Reuben’s Brews, Ballard, 5010 14th Ave. NW; 206.784.2859; reubensbrews.com; all ages; dog-friendly
Holy Mountain Brewing Company, Interbay, 1421 Elliott Ave. W; holymountainbrewing.com; 21 and older; no dogs
Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery, Greenwood, 8570 Greenwood Ave. N; 206.428.7709; flyingbike.coop; all ages; dog-friendly

BEST BEER-FOCUSED BAR
At least 12 beers on tap, rotating regularly; bar only, no food
Beveridge Place Pub
For over 15 years, Beveridge Place Pub has combined the coziness of a neighborhood pub with the beer list of a world-class beer bar. Owner Gary Sink and his beer-savvy crew consistently offer a rotating draft list that is 32 beers deep and chock-full of beloved local favorites, such as Crikey IPA from Reuben’s Brews, as well as eclectic offerings from Europe and beyond. Beer geeks from across the region flock to the pub’s annual special events, like the Fresh Hop Festival (October), Barleywine Bacchanal (January) and Seattle Cask-O-Rama (May).
The pub’s front room is filled with couches, large family-size tables, and a huge, beautiful antique bar. The back room is where you’ll find darts, foosball and a flat-screen television showing sports (especially European soccer). On an important game day, you might find Sink, a former UW football player, wearing his jersey and championship ring from the 1982 Rose Bowl. And while you’re enjoying the game, order some food from one of the nearby restaurants, many of which deliver to your table. West Seattle, 6413 California Ave. SW; 206.932.9906; beveridgeplacepub.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly
Readers’ Choice
Chuck’s Hop Shop (Greenwood), Greenwood, 656 NW 85th St.; 206.297.6212; chuckshopshop.com; all ages; dog-friendly
Beveridge Place Pub, West Seattle, 6413 California Ave. SW; 206.932.9906; beveridgeplacepub.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly
The Beer Junction, West Seattle, 4511 California Ave. SW; 206.938.2337; thebeerjunction.com; 21 and older only; no dogs

BEST BREWERY TAPROOM FOR A FIRST DATE
Two Beers Brewing Co., The Woods Taproom
In addition to brewing beer, this company also produces cider (Seattle Cider Company) and spiked seltzer (Sound Craft Seltzer Co.), so when you arrive here with that special someone—who isn’t a beer lover—there are options. Also, this is a grown-ups-only establishment (21 and older), so there won’t be any rambunctious children around to break the mood. Spacious, but with cozy nooks and corners for privacy, the space is furnished with heavy wood and steel tables spread out beneath suspended, custom-made barrel lamps that provide mood lighting. SoDo, 4700 Ohio Ave. S; 206.762.0490; twobeersbrewery.com; 21 and older; dog-friendly

BEST BEER-FOCUSED RESTAURANT
A restaurant or pub with a strong focus on beer
The Shambles
Named after a historic butchery district in York, England, The Shambles is a self-described butcher shop and bar, but that description is incomplete. Yes, there is a meat case with house-smoked, -cured and -butchered meats (eventually the owners hope to produce enough to sell it to go), and yes there is a rotating selection of 32 draft beers, along with wine and cocktails. But the meals cranked out by the kitchen are beyond drool-worthy. The menu changes based on what’s available, but don’t miss the meat board, piled with house-made charcuterie, for $12. When available, the 10-ounce wagyu bavette ($36) is a decadent treat.
The Shambles is located in a single-story brick building, with large windows facing the street. The interior is reminiscent of an old English pub with lots of oak decor and millwork, and sturdy oak pillars bolster arched eaves. Keep an eye on the large bookcase; try to guess which book opens the secret door to the beer fridge. Maple Leaf, 7777 15th Ave. NE; 206.659.0074; delimeatsbar.com; 21 and older; no dogs
Readers’ Choice: 
Brouwer’s Cafe, Fremont, 400 N 35th St.; 206.267.2437; brouwerscafe.com; 21 and older only; no dogs
The Shambles, Maple Leaf, 7777 15th Ave. NE; 206.659.0074; delimeatsbar.com; 21 and older; no dogs
The Pine Box, Capitol Hill, 1600 Melrose Ave.; 206.588.0375; pineboxbar.com; 21 and older; no dogs


CHEERIO: Mike Hale has built a name synonymous with simple, easy-drinking beers

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