Craft beer is a booming industry nationwide, and that’s come as no surprise to the Pacific Northwest, where craft beer has long been popular. Not only does the region grow the vast majority of the nation’s hops, but it’s home lots of quirky, independent breweries that are worth a visit. Here some great Seattle craft breweries to check out.
Cloudburst Brewing (2116 Western Ave., Seattle)
Cloudburst has just a year under its belt, but it’s already gotten heaps of praise. BeerAdvocate named Cloudburst as one of 2016’s best national brewery debuts, and we agree. The brewery’s founder formerly ran the experimental wing of Seattle stalwarts Elysian Brewing, which is now owned by Budweiser’s parent company.
Cloudburst is located just a few blocks from Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle, one of the city’s main attractions (and also home to Pike Brewing Company). Unlike other breweries out on the fringes of the city in industrial parks, location is no excuse not to visit Cloudburst.
We also can’t help but love the names of some of Cloudburst’s beers. How can a beer named “Fun Fun Party Wow” not be worth ordering?
Holy Mountain Brewing (421 Elliott Ave. West, Seattle)
Holy Mountain is located in the Inner Bay neighborhood, alongside train tracks near the cruise ship terminal. Stark white walls paint a contrast to the warm vibe you’ll find inside Holy Mountain, where there are usually a number of oak-aged offerings on at any given time. If you’re a fan of IPA or sours, Holy Mountain is your place to visit.
You can’t help but notice a metaphysical theme at Holy Mountain, where beers have names like “Astral Projection.” Is drinking this beer an out-of-body experience? Go try it and get back to us.
Urban Family Brewing Company (4441 26th Ave. West, Seattle)
It’s tough to find a beer at Urban Family that isn’t pushing one envelope or another, and that’s what we love about them. There’s a porter with a ton of plums, a saison with rosehips, a wild ale with squash, hay and spices and a tripel with galangal (a plant in the ginger family). Most of these ingredients are local products from the Pacific Northwest.
Urban Family is located in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood, in an industrial area between the railroad tracks and Salmon Bay.
Rooftop Brew Company (1220 W. Nickerson St., Seattle)
This dog-friendly, socially conscious brewery has been making beer in Seattle since 2012. If you’re out beer touring, take note: Rooftop is just a short Uber/Lyft ride from Urban Family, so it’s an easy chance to check two breweries off your list on the same day.
Rooftop tends to stick to more traditional styles, with a good array of Belgians, stouts, wheat beers and hoppy offerings on tap. One big plus: unlike many other breweries, you’ll find a food truck at Rooftop every single day of the week. If you’re on a budget, there’s also free popcorn to munch on.
We hope you love the Queen City as much as we do!
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