12 Best Breweries in Seattle
It's a rite of passage when you arrive in Seattle to take a side in the Manny's Pale Ale versus Mac & Jack African Amber debate—these beers are iconic to the city, and will whet your palate to the bold brews made here. Much like its coffee, Seattle's suds are nuanced (and often hoppy, and potent): You can go from a perfectly crisp classic pilsner to a triple IPA in one sitting. Not sure where to start? We've rounded up our 12 favorite hyper-local brewery experiences in Greater Seattle, so you can get a taste of place even if you're only in town for a few hours.
Photo by Will FosteractivityStoup Brewing
$Located in West Woodland, Stoup’s charming warehouse-style digs welcomes thirsty patrons through a roll-up door. Out back, you’ll find a colorful patio that's dog-friendly and a balcony with decent views. Inside is a Frank the Tank Triple IPA atop a drink list that leans toward the serious beer geek.
Photo by SparkflyactivityFremont Brewing
$Fremont Brewing Company is easily findable, thanks to the crowded bike racks and sprawling beer garden filled with picnic tables and plants. Grab a table near the entrance and you’ll likely have waterfront views, or venture into the industrial interior where a fireplace and communal tables make it easy to make new friends.
activityUrban Family Brewing Co.
$This family-run brewery in Magnolia has stealthily crept under the radar for several years. Now it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves with its approachable atmosphere (think board games and old school video games), food trucks that circle through, and—namely—by brewing some of the best sour beers in Seattle.
Courtesy Reuben's BrewsactivityReuben's Brews
$Reuben’s Brews has a covered wood patio that almost makes it blend in with its residential neighbors, making it a popular local spot. And it opens early (11 a.m.), so you'll see remote workers on their laptops with a beer. Seasonal IPAs tend to be favorites, like the summer IPA with orange and grapefruit notes.
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Photo by Jenna HaaractivityRooftop Brewing Company
$As the name suggests, there is a pretty epic rooftop beer garden at this North Queen Anne microbrewery. Come on a (rare) sunny Seattle day and catch views of Ballard Bridge and the canals, with a Glorious Basker blood orange wheat beer in hand. Weather more fickle? The creamy nitro oatmeal stout is always a sure bet.
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Ghostfish Brewing Company
$Ghostfish appeals to the most unlikely of beer drinkers, thanks to its gluten-free philosophy. Large factory windows flood the modern space with plenty of natural light and a chalkboard nailed above the sleek wood bar lists what’s on tap: Go for the Grapefruit IPA, Shrouded Summit Belgian White, and Kick Step IPA.
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Photo by Andrew PoguebarRedhook Brewlab
$Redhook knows how to make a brewery feel inviting. Shying away from the popular austere industrial look, this tap room is tricked out with warm lighting, art, brick walls, and cozy fire pits. Planters, Adirondack chairs, and a shuffleboard make it an ideal place to kick back.
Photo by Megan SwannactivityCloudburst Brewing
$The charm of this tiny windowless space, tucked in an old brick building a few blocks north of Pike Place Market, is the pioneering craft beer and the characters who cheers with it. Just try the Market Fresh 14, made with hibiscus and passionfruit, or The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders, a nitro double chocolate stout, and you’ll see why.
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Holy Mountain Brewing
$When two longtime friends opened Holy Mountain in Seattle’s Interbay Neighborhood in 2015, beer geeks immediately took notice. Its discreet location near the train tracks is simply a front. Some of the best beers being brewed in Seattle—foudre-aged saisons, bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts—lay within the sleek, dark warehouse.
Photo by Aimee RizzobarSchilling Cider House
$This cider house is in an unassuming spot in Seattle’s Fremont District. The warm-toned interior makes for a cozy refuge on a rainy day. Order at the counter—the chalkboard menu lists 32 rotating ciders on tap, ranked from dry to sweet—and pull up a stool at one of the communal tall tops.
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Photo by Jesse Van HoyactivityPeddler Brewing Company
$As you might expect for a bicycle brewery, most patrons are donning their finest athleisure ware. People routinely stop here for a beer pitstop on a weekend ride. Bicycle races are usually playing on a TV in the beer garden.
Courtesy Georgetown Brewing CompanyactivityGeorgetown Brewing Company
This microbrewery ferments some of Seattle’s smoothest craft suds out of an industrial space with exposed rafters and piping. While Georgetown doesn’t serve beer by the pint, they do offer free tastings with the purchase of a $5 glass, and specialize in growlers. Manny’s pale ale is the champion brew—a complex premium barley beer with hints of citrus.
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