How to Enjoy Seattle’s Craft Beer and Brewery Scene?
Seattle has been at the forefront of the craft beer movement for years and today has over 60 breweries cranking out some of the best beer in the country. With so many options, deciding where to start your Seattle beer adventure can be overwhelming. Never fear we’ve put together the ultimate guide to exploring the best of Seattle’s craft brewing scene.
Ballard Brewery District
Any beer pilgrimage to Seattle should start in the historic Ballard neighborhood, the epicenter of the city’s craft beer boom. In a one-mile radius you’ll find over a dozen breweries and taprooms, making it easy to do a DIY walking tour. Start at Stoup Brewing, the aptly named brewery known for their award-winning German-style beers and big beer garden. From there head to Reuben’s Brews to sample their many IPAs and barrel-aged beers in a lively family-friendly taproom. For a taste of the truly local don’t miss Lucky Envelope Brewing, one of the few Asian-owned breweries in the country. Their beers incorporate ingredients like Szechuan peppercorns and Chinese black tea. Finish up your Ballard brewery hop at Fair Isle Brewing, the new kid on the block specializing in mixed-fermentation farmhouse ales.
Must-Visit Seattle Breweries
While you can practically spend a full weekend just navigating Ballard, the potential for great beer experiences doesn’t end with this Seattle neighborhood. Here are a few other essential stops:
Fremont Brewing - Located in Seattle, WA, Fremont Brewing is a go-to brewery that churns out some of the most consumed beers in the city. You should not miss their barrel-aged series as well as special releases.
Cloudburst Brewing - Having opened its doors in the 2016, Cloudburst Brewing company specializes in producing hoppy IPAs and experimental styles. They own a clean, simple taproom and are located just a block away from the famous Pike Place Market.
Holy Mountain Brewing - This brewery has amazing reviews and is not situated in deepest Bend but their beer is that good it is a worthy journey to drink them. Enjoy a Saison or wild ale at their bright and open taproom that seems to be made for casual drinking sessions.
Georgetown Brewing - While Georgetown’s beer can be found in a semi-public tasting room/bottle shop, Georgetown is a legendary brewery hailing from Seattle that has been brewing Manny’s Pale Ale since 2002, and also producing the popular Full Frontal Nelson IPA. Try to order them during your visits to some of the most recognizable bars within the region.
Navigating the Seattle Beer Scene
Another noteworthy feature of Seattle beer scene is that it is highly approachable even to the people with little to no knowledge about beer. Almost every brewery is aware of tasting flights, which allow you to try four to five beers, although they may not come in pints. Many also have friendly clerks that are willing to walk you through the beer list and recommend beers that they think that you will like.
After a day of brewery hopping, you may want to freshen up before dinner. Consider checking a local green cleaning service like https://seattlegreencleaningfairy.com to tidy up your Airbnb or hotel room using eco-friendly products. That way you can relax and keep the good vibes going.
For more information you have a couple of options and one of them is to take a scheduled brewery tour with Road Dogs or Puget Sound Express. This means that you get transportation to 3-4 breweries, get to know more about the brewing process and makes friends with like-minded people. It is also common to find brewery own tourist activities and emblematic events.
Annual Beer Festivals & Events
To experience the full scope of Seattle's beer scene, plan your visit around one of the city's signature beer events:
Washington Brewers Festival (June) – The largest festival of beer in the state of Washington with the participation of over one hundred breweries serving over five hundred kinds of beer, live music, and food trucks.
Fremont Oktoberfest (September) – A giant festival complete with beer tents, load pulling championships, and endless beer from the land of Germany.
Or Fresh Hop Ale Festival (October) - This is one of the biggest fresh hop celebration and beer tasting with more than 60 breweries from Washington State serving fresh wet-hopped beers.
Seattle is one beer mecca that boasts tremendous amounts of sudsy glory so for any fan of ale, it should certainly be on their list of places to visit. Here’s some advice: go ahead and craft your own tasting tour of the Emerald City’s exceptional breweries and taprooms. All Having a beer from Erie and beyond is quite an experience with varieties ranging from the funky sours to the hoppy IPAs and the robust stouts. The people from Seattle would tend to say, “Ya sure, ya betcha!”
