Best Breweries In Seattle

Thomas Short — Tue, 26 May 2026 17:22:50 +0000

When you think of Seattle, you might be tempted to make some awful joke about being sleepless. I know I am, and I’ve never even seen the movie. But I’m also tempted to think about the Seattle beer scene because it is POPPING! Yes, Seattle is home to plenty of things. A football team, a baseball team, the Space Needle, some other landmarks, blah blah blah. When you’re a self-anointed beer snob like I am, you’re looking for one thing: a brewery you can sit in for hours on end, crying tears of joy into the complimentary pretzels while you finish your eighth saison. For locals, visitors, and beer snobs alike, here’s a quick spotlight on the Emerald City. 10 Best Breweries In Seattle 1. Fremont Brewing Fremont Brewing has long been my top recommendation for Seattle beer. Odds are that if you’re visiting, you might have flown Alaska Airlines in and had a chance to try some special brews by Fremont. The taproom is right across the street from Lake Washington and has my favorite brewery vibes in the city. Lush IPA and the Golden Pilsner are both safe picks, but try their barrel-aged beer or rotating taps for something new and interesting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Short Brews Beer Blog (@shortbrews) 2. Cloudburst Brewing With locations in the popular Ballard neighborhood and touristy Pike Place Market area, Cloudburst Brewing should be easy to find if you’re visiting. The head brewer came from Elysian Brewing, so their specialty is definitely IPAs. However, don’t expect something super bitter like Elysian’s Space Dust IPA. If you’re looking for a juicy hazy IPA, you should add Cloudburst to your list. 3. Holy Mountain Brewing One of the most popular breweries among locals, Holy Mountain Brewing is best known for its incredible barrel-aged beers. If you want something more traditional, their saisons and ales are worth ordering. The original Interbay location isn’t super easy to get to, but there’s another newer spot in Phinney Ridge which is much more accessible. 4. Stoup Brewing My personal favorite in Ballard, Stoup Brewing has an awesome location and great assortment of well-done beers. The IPAs are good, but I recommend going with whatever rotating lager they have on draft. If you find Mixtape Romeo, be sure to order that first! Stoup recently opened another location in Capitol Hill which I haven’t had a chance to check out, but it’s good to see more breweries entering that neighborhood. 5. Georgetown Brewing There was a time when visiting Georgetown Brewing was nearly pointless, since the taproom didn’t actually sell pints to drink on site. However, this storied Seattle staple has since opened a legitimate taproom that’s modern and thoughtfully designed. Outside of the space, Seattleites will tell you that Georgetown has long been one of the best breweries in the city. You can find Manny’s pale ale pretty much everywhere, but my favorite is Johnny Utah pale ale. 6. Seapine Brewing If you’re planning on going to a Mariners, Sounders, or Seahawks game in Seattle, make sure to stop by Seapine Brewing. Hands down the best spot in SoDo, Seapine’s taproom is unassuming but large enough to enjoy with a big group. They brew a little bit of everything, but I always get the Seapine IPA or Pilsner, both of which you can probably find on tap in bars around the city. 7. Urban Family Brewing I’ve loved Urban Family since they were in Magnolia, and their Ballard spot is bound to be a destination if you’re planning on brewery hopping in that neighborhood. Urban Family makes exceptional sours, with Guava Dawn being a long-time favorite. They make good IPAs, but I recommend getting one of their lighter beers, like a saison or lager, if you aren’t into sours. 8. Ravenna Brewing If your trip to Seattle takes you near the University of Washington, go a little bit north of U Village and check out Ravenna Brewing. Ravenna Brewing’s taproom has such a classic brewery atmosphere, with great indoor and outdoor seating. They don’t brew tons of options, but I’ve never had a beer from Ravenna Brewing that I didn’t enjoy. 9. Reuben’s Brews Another local favorite, Reuben’s Brews essentially started what is now the Ballard Brewing District and have since expanded to add a location in Downtown Seattle. Crikey! IPA and Hazalicious have been mainstays on the menu for years and are both excellent. However, if you need a break from beer, order one of Reuben’s hard seltzers. They’re the best in the city, and you can buy cans from most local grocery stores. 10. Elysian Brewing It’s impossible to pick the best breweries in Seattle without mentioning Elysian Brewing. From the Space Dust IPA to the Men’s Room Red, Elysian has served quality craft beer to the Seattle community for decades. I know that selling out ot AB InBev rubbed a lot of locals the wrong way, but Elysian’s quality hasn’t dropped off since the sale. The Capitol Hill location was the first Seattle Brewery I ever visited, so I do have good memories there and may be a little biased. But odds are that you’ve had Elysian before, so if you want to try it at the source, stop by for a pint. Where to Brewery Hop in Seattle One of my favorite parts about Seattle is how each neighborhood has its own vibe, which the local breweries match. Most neighborhoods are also very walkable, making brewery hopping really easy! Here are neighborhoods to check out. Ballard. The Ballard brewery scene is quickly becoming a tourist destination, and for good reason. You can walk to half a dozen breweries in just a few minutes, and each has its own identity and signature style. I even covered the best breweries in Ballard to help visitors find the best fit! Fremont. I’ve already mentioned Fremont Brewing, but Gasworks Brewing and El Suenito Brewing Company are nearby. If you want a change

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Best Breweries in Ballard, Seattle

Thomas Short — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:23:55 +0000

Seattle has a reputation for craft beer, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more craft-beer-dense neighborhood than Ballard. I should know; I lived in Ballard for years and watched breweries come, go, expand, and grow. There are many great breweries in Seattle, but let’s focus on breweries that you can find (and enjoy) in Ballard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Short Brews Beer Blog (@shortbrews) Best Breweries in Ballard Ballard is spoiled with great beer and fantastic spots, and it’s tough to find a bad spot to get a beer. Here are my top spots to enjoy some craft beer in Ballard. 1. Stoup Brewing One of several great spots on NW 52nd St, Stoup is a great place to grab an IPA or lager and enjoy the outdoors. They have a large outdoor patio with a cool fire pit, and they often host pop-ups where you can buy odds and ends. My favorite part of Stoup is the upstairs area, which has a separate bar and a nice balcony. They have a meat vending machine, too! 2. Reuben’s Brews Sitting on 14th, Reuben’s is a mainstay in Ballard. Honestly, I don’t think the Ballard beer scene would be anything like it is today without Reuben’s. This spot has great IPAs and a fantastic line of seltzers. Just down the road is their barrel house, a smaller spot where you can try some more unconventional brews. 3. Fair Isle Brewing If you like Jester King and farmhouse beers, Fair Isle is the spot to go. Their saisons, sours, and similar styles are all fantastic. While their taproom isn’t my favorite, it’s definitely worth dropping by to pick up a bottle or two. 4. Bale Breaker/Yonder Cider Bale Breaker broke into the Ballard beer scene by moving into a huge location with a great indoor and outdoor area. Together with Yonder Cider, Bale Breaker took this awesome space and made it yet another go-to spot for great beer in the neighborhood. 5. Urban Family Brewing Urban Family has cemented itself as one of the top breweries in Seattle, not just in Ballard. They have a cozy outdoor space, and while they have a cool upstairs, I often find that it’s way too crowded. But the beer is really good here, and its location right across the street from Stoup makes it easy to hit two of Seattle’s best breweries in one quick visit. 6. Lucky Envelope Brewing Located on 50th, Lucky Envelope takes traditional beers and puts a little spin on them, whether that’s a seasonal beer to celebrate Lunar New Year or their year-round Raspberry Sour. My favorite beer I ever had here was an IPA made with Buddha’s hand, to give you an idea of the types of flavors they experiment with. Fun fact: my friend once told me the bartenders would mix him a Raspberry Sour and a Peanut Butter Stout they had on tap. I didn’t believe him. He asked the bartender if they would mix the two beers. The bartender said no. 7. Cloudburst Brewing Seattleites might be quick to say, “Cloudburst isn’t a Ballard brewery.” Yes, their main location is in Belltown, but their Ballard location fits in perfectly. Located on Shilshole, there really aren’t any other breweries super close by, making this an easy stop to pick if you’re out and about on Leary. The spot is surprisingly cozy, and the beer is always good. 8. Wheelie Pop Brewing A newer brewery to the Ballard neighborhood, Wheelie Pop draws its inspiration from racing. They specialize in lighter beers (think lagers, pilsners, etc) and do an excellent job. The space is a little industrial and not the most charming, but it’s worth stopping by to try their beers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Short Brews Beer Blog (@shortbrews) 9. Obec Brewing Obec aims to tackle classic Czech and German styles. Their spot is cool and their pilsner is incredible, but a lot of their other beers leave something to be desired. If you like a good pilsner, it’s worth dropping in. Beers to Try in Ballard There are so many great beers brewed in Ballard, but here are some of my favorites worth highlighting: Stoup Mosaic IPA: This is my favorite year-round beer at my favorite Ballard brewery, so I had to mention it. But if it’s on tap, get the Mixtap Romeo lager. Obec Pilsner: If you’re stopping by Obec, this is the beer to get. Bale Breaker Bottom Cutter IPA: Bale Breaker is best known for their IPAs, and this is their best IPA (in my opinion). Fair Isle Bobbi Saison: You could honestly go with any saison at Fair Isle, but the Bobbi has been available every time I’ve stopped in. Reuben’s Crushable Hazy Pale Ale: It’s a great pale ale. I’d also recommend trying whatever seltzer they have on tap.

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Best Breweries In Seattle

Best Breweries in Ballard, Seattle