Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub

Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl BrewpubFish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub
Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl BrewpubFish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

515 Jefferson St. SE
Olympia, Washington, 98501
United States

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
3.64
Beers:
56
Ratings:
2,638
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.9
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
45
pDev:
11.28%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by Gobzilla from California

Nov 06, 2020
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Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

3.86/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Visited the Oly brewpub with Da Boss after a day of touring Western Washington on 5-19-19.

Vibe was pretty cool being what i believe was the art district of Olympia given local building décor, the help at the brewpub, and the art here.

Quality of the beers were pretty good. The hazy ipa was solid but the imperial ipa was way too sweet for a 7.5 abv beer. Had a sip of the wife's amber and that seemed pretty solid.

Service was good as the server covered the crowded bar area and patio without too much delay. She was hustling.

Selection was maybe 15 house brews and other hard alcohol beverages with 3 guest taps. Don't trust the electronic scoreboard as they were out of both my two choices.

Food was good. i enjoyed my fish and chips and Da Boss enjoyed her chicken sandwich.

Overall this is a place worth visiting for the food alone. Beers were pretty good too.
May 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.9 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Dec 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.74 by Donkster46 from Washington

Sep 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.46 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Jul 20, 2016
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Reviewed by AWolfAtTheDoor from Washington

3.79/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.5
This was the second stop on my mini "crawl" through Olympia, and also the 9th stop on my South Sound Crawl passport, which means I earned my free pint glass!

Clientele seemed older, 30s up to god knows how old. Wasn't PACKED, but had a nice livelihood to it on a a Sunday afternoon.

Great looking tap list. Nice variety of beers, which means it was nice to see something other than IPAs offered on tap.

Our beers were decent. I had a porter, my date had some barrel aged saison, which outshone my porter by a good furlong. I was stuffed at this point and couldn't muster tasting anything else, but these two beers seemed well made.

Big thank you to the younger gentleman server. Upon presenting my 9th pass port stamt (entitling me to my free South Sound Crawl pint glass) he not only brought me a glass, but one for my date as well--without even asking! As it would happen, she accompanied me on my 8 other stops for stamps, but the fact that he did this without even asking was a really nice gesture.

Definitely worth checking out while in Olympia.
Oct 12, 2015
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Reviewed by MissYa from Washington

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Happy hour here is fricken GREAT! No hard liquor served here. So far I've had the apple cider & the pear cider. Comparing the two, the pear seems a bit less sweeter, which in this case is he favorable choice personally
Aug 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.81 by BlueSpader from Washington

Jul 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.43 by jdhansen63 from Washington

May 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.39 by Erik-P from Canada (BC)

Jan 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by GeoChase90 from California

Oct 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.96 by jannunziata from New York

Oct 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Keepnitrl from Washington

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Coopdaddy

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by dunix from Vermont

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by DrMindbender from South Carolina

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by crnhusker from Nevada

May 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by yeaprolly from Washington

May 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by chad_e_martin from Washington

Apr 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Hobbit from Oregon

Mar 14, 2014
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Reviewed by Hopmodium from Washington

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
4/19/12 - Visited the Fish Tale Brew Pub while on vacation after a long day on Hurricane Ridge.

It was a busy Thursday night and we seated ourselves next to some dude heavily engaged in his electronice device, after asking him if the seats we wanted were occupied and seeing his reaction on his face, we decided to sit elsewhere. The group of people we chose to sat next to wound up being rude and self-involved to the point where we wondered if we had stumbled into some dimension where the ego is all that exists. Luckily the patrons were the worst part of this visit.

Our patient waitress talked to us about some of her favorite brews so we decided to try Soundkeeper Organic Pale Ale. I had tried an organic beer from Deschutes the day before and was pleasantly surprised by the presence of flavor and lack of gimmick so once again I was happy with my choice to go with organic beer on recommendations. I liked it so much I went with their organic IPA to join my Wild Salmon & Chips which was tasty and fresh. Since I had to drive back to Seattle after dinner I convinced my wife to order the Hodgson's DIPA to go with her Fishbowl Salad with smoked salmon and she quite enjoyed the unusual pairing. Fair prices, quality service, above-average pub fair and diverse beers will keep me coming back here next time I am in town.
Jun 02, 2012
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Reviewed by ds21tango from Washington

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Have had their beers numerous times but have just recently decided to check out the place. The food is really good but the portions seem a little small. The prices are relativity decent. You do get your food really quick. I ordered food to go and barley had time to finish my beer. The beer selection is good and they sell full gallon and half gallon growlers, but they did recently raise there prices. They have WiFi and a comfortable sitting area. Overall a good place to hang out. Will definitely be going back.
Feb 17, 2012
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Reviewed by MilwaukeeCrusher from Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
The artwork on the building is very becoming, but the parking seems not although on this rainy day it was my luck to find such (later I found out the lot was specifically for the brewery, other areas parking was more limited). I ordered a sampler after some wait and while the beers were solid, there was nothing really exceptional at least to me. It appeared to be a popular place, which made me question my Midwestern palate versus one possessed by a local. I am unsure if they have any food, for I did not have any. They did have a many choices, but only a few deviants from standard pub fare. I would consider stopping again if I was in the area again, but I wouldn't make a special trip with so many other options in the area.
Oct 19, 2011
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Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
A: I was a regular here for years, before and after the rennovation. The sound attenuates alot here since the rennovation. Parking is available on the street or the lot to the side and its always warm and cozy inside. The bar is big and greets you when you walk in.

Q: The beer has always been good but since about 2006 I have noticed a big decline in quality on many beers, a few have improved and some how manged winning at GABF

S: Service was always decent to me, I mixed and mingled with the staff and they never forget me or my name. If you are new and you sit in a corner that is how you will be treated. This place is BIG on locals and the college crowd nearby.

S: Usually a dozen handles or more including a Cask. Growlers and bottles to go..kegs too. You won't find anything uber exciting here.

F: Has always been pretty good
Oct 10, 2011
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Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Average atmosphere inside, horrible marketing, their apparel is super expensive, not at all creative or distinctive. I usually like to roll out with something from a place while on beercations, but this place, just couldn't drop like 45-50 on a hoodie.

Decent enough beers, haven't had the stout, but wouldn't really stray far from the pale or ipa here. Nothing too exotic have I ever seen from these guys. Enjoyed my salmon there, but seemed a little pricey overall. In downtown Olympia, cooler artwork and ambiance outside as opposed to inside the place. Worth checking out, but don't go out of your way to get here. Streets can be kind of weird downtown.
Jan 14, 2011
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Reviewed by saintwarrick from South Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
One of my first stops in Olympia and a good one. A top-notch brewpub with great seating outdoor and indoor, raised table and booths inside; upstairs seating and a comfortable lounge area in the back. This brewpub has a great feel to it, littered with locals and a small-brewery feel. Big windows at the head give off a great look and ambiance. Was worried about the organic brews, but the IPA I tried several times had a very good hoppy flavor that could have been most any IPA. Also tried the Whistling Pig hefe from Leavenworth, which hit the spot on a warm day; and they also offer. Ate three separate meals, and the house favorite seemed to be the fried cod or salmon with chips, which was really solid. Also stopped in for a great breakfast as the pub also does brunch. Just a great local brewpub here that is a must visit for those in the area
Aug 16, 2010
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Reviewed by olympuszymurgus from California

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
my local brewery is a place i don't visit often, mostly because they make average beer. granted it is organic, or most of it, but that does not mean you have to make a beer that tastes merely ok. they have their fish lineup, consisting typically of about 7 beers, as well as the leavenworth line that they bought a few years back, which is another 6 beers or so. i only come here to see what they have on cask, which occasionally is awesome, like 10 squared or leviathan, but more likely it'll be the mudshark porter which is ok. they do beer to go, and growlers, but not of everything. they also have 3 ciders on tap, one of which, the dark and dry, is of incredible flavor. however, i just found out that they make their cider from concentrate, which hardly counts. it makes me a little sad. the food is pubby, and on the good side of pubby. personally, i always get the emu burger, because its the only place i know that'll serve me ground emu on a bun. cooked, too.
Mar 13, 2010
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Reviewed by GJ40 from North Carolina

4.16/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I stopped into the Fishbowl Brewpub while in Olympia on business.

The Fishbowl is a no-nonsense, humble establishment with a solid commitment to craft beer. Maybe it's as much the town but unlike some more flashy beer bars, it seemed to be filled with locals enjoying good, local beer.

They had at least 12 on tap with some listed as Fish Tale and others as Leavenworth. I had a Leavenworth Hodgsons IPA and a Fish Tale Winter Fish. Both struck me as great, representative west coast beers but the Winter Fish was a touch better. I didn't have time for the Fish Tale 10 Squared but I plan to get back before I leave.

I really enjoyed the Fishbowl and highly recommend it for authentic, west coast beer.
Jan 22, 2010
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Reviewed by nickfl from Florida

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This place is located right in downtown Olympia, but with plenty of parking if you are driving (as I was). I was there relatively late on a weekday night, but there was a pretty decent crowd in the bar area. Low key but not weirdly quite, just what I want in a brewpub.

The service was good as one would expect when sitting at the bar. My glass never sat empty for too long and the food came pretty quick.

They had a good selection with probably eight house beers on tap and three house ciders. I didn't try any of the cider, but its a nice option if you are into that sort of thing. The beer ranged from average to good with the highlight being an IPA on cask

I ordered a salad and a pitcher of mussels. The salad was a pretty mediocre, romaine lettuce and way too much dressing affair, but the mussels were much better. They actually did come in a pitcher and were steamed in the standard broth of beer, spices and onions. I have had better mussels, but these were good and there were a hell of a lot of them.

Overall it was a good experience and I would definitely stop by again if I was in Olympia.
Oct 09, 2009
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Reviewed by hawkseven from Washington

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Have made one visit here so far...The beers on on tap were all good, (had the Mud Shark Porter,Organic ale, and the Hefe).

Food was great, would have tried more items if my appetite would have allowed. Interesting interior, open and roomy.Came in on a Sunday around mid afternoon so not very crowded.

Service was slow, and the wait staff was aloof, don't know if it was my military style haircut or not.(maybe).

Definitly the yuppie and old 60's hangout, for the area, but that seems to be the standard in Oly. Will go back again as long as the beer is good and food is hot.
Nov 09, 2008
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Reviewed by canucklehead from Canada (BC)

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I went to the Fishbowl twice on my vacation; once on the way down to the coast and once on my way up from Portland.

This is a great funky pub that located just off the I-5 in Olympia. Lots of parking and located in a cool neighbourhood. The place is decorated with lots of fish related art and has two levels. The beers are divided into Fish and Leavenworth with the latter only on tap. There is a wide spectrum from the Leavenworth Light to the Old Grumpy barley wine. Almost all first class examples of the styles with the IPA's being a must try. The food is well made and big portions. The nachos are great with the burgers looking very tasty. Good service especially of you sit at the bar.
Jul 19, 2008
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Reviewed by jcurtis55 from Indiana

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I recently spent some time in Olympia on business and it didn't take us to long to locate this brew pub. It appears they made have changed the name to the Fish Tale Brew Pub. At least that's what it says on the door. I had dinner here 3 times and lunch once during my four weeks in town. It's a popular place and was generally pretty crowded of an evening, but we found the back area was pretty quiet if that is what you are looking for. We never tried the loft. I did not encounter the snobby attitude some reviewers encountered and the wait staff was quite friendly and willing to give out samples before you decided what to order. We did see a local bring in a small dog and actually set him on the table. Not something you see in a restaurant very often, but it didn't seem to bother anyone.

Food wise, I was especially fond of the Cod fish and chips, the seafood stew and the Summer Breeze sandwich. The reuben was decent as well. The summer breeze is a grilled sandwich with Black Forest ham, melted brie, apple slices and a horseradish sauce that all blends together into a wonderful flavored treat. I forget the name, but I had a chocolate cheesecake one evening that was completely decadent. The only downside to the food is the selection is somewhat limited.

I tried the Pear cider, which was really good. I'm taking a bottle of that home for my wife to try. Beers tried included the Fish Tale Organic Amber Ale, 50 Fathoms ESB, Old Woody ale, and the Leavenworth Whistling Pig Hef. All were very good, but I have to give the 50 Fathoms ESB the nod as my favorite.
Mar 21, 2008
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Reviewed by dnichols from Washington

2.98/5  rDev -23.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I visited the pub with my son and his friend. I was excited to try and carry out a quantity of Monkfish Ale which is only produced during in limited batches. I arrived after checking to make sure the Ale was "in season" only to be told that they did not have any at the pub for sale (none for carry out, none in bottles for sale at the pub and none on tap)! The wait staff seemed hurried and not very knowledgeable about the brewery products that were available so I ordered dinner and a pint. The food was good but not great and the service was fair but not good. I doubt I will ever try the pub again.
Sep 12, 2007
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Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
I went to Olympia with a friend who was under 21 recently and visited Fish Brewing. Unfortunately he was not allowed in since it was a Sunday and only the bar area was open. I noticed the fish nets and Keg decorations with fish as I walked in. The beer menu was prominently displayed on a chalk board with descriptions. The place has a cafeteria type feel with wooden tables and bar. I took a stroll around a picked up some shwag at first, then settled down to order us some food to go.

I was impressed with the menu - Gyros, Ostrich burgers, falafels, salmon, bratwursts and oyster sandwiches. I got to sample 4 different ales including a cask barlewine and belgian triple before choosing a Mudshark Porter. I ordered an Ostrich burger with mushrooms and blue cheese which was delicious even though the add-ons cost extra. the fries were delicious and the number of Organic ale choices was out of the ordinary. the Leavenworth beers: Pilsener, Ipa, Weizen etc. were a nice alternative.

The place is spacious with beautiful art and signage on the exterior and they offer three types of hard cider also. I found the visit to be enjoyable albeit brief. I picked up a growler of Hodgson's IPA to go and I hope to return since the service was prompt and friendly. The selection will leave you satisfied with the many styles and even a cask and guest tap choice.
Jun 19, 2007
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Reviewed by Ruddiger from Washington

2.9/5  rDev -25.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5
This place was very very loud, hard to have a conversation with the other people at your table as sound seemed to echo off of the walls on the top level we were sitting at. The server was also rude and seemed snooty.
The beers were good though, and the prices reasonable. The barleywine on cask was very delicious. I probably would stop in again, but I didn't really enjoy my visit, and the other people in my party didn't either. I would maybe go back, but I'm probably not enough of a yuppie to fit in here on a regular basis.
Jun 08, 2007
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Reviewed by wingedeel from Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Had a really nice time at the Fishbowl Brewpub.

The place is bright and open, newly remodled I am told. The crowd was modest on a Sunday afternoon. The atmosphere was pretty laid back and casual.

The food menu was interesting, and the food was very good, and reasonably priced. My wife had the oyster burger, and I had the ostrich burger. The seafood stew was also good.

I was driving, so I only could try two beers, a dubbel, and an oak aged Barlywine. Both were quite good. My wife had a Hefe, and while it was odd for the style, it was actually very good in its own right.

We sat at a table, and our server, a young man, was quite friendly and helpful,and was well versed on the beers I asked about. Service was just fine.

Cant wait to return to the Fishbowl, next time with a designated driver, or a motel room/cab as they had many more beers I was eager to sample.
Feb 26, 2007
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Reviewed by udubdawg from Kansas

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
After renovation this place is much improved. A little better service, especially in regards to educating their servers about their beers, and they'd be great.

Fish Tale makes many quality beers, and a few truly great ones. Three of their beers (and some items on the menu too) are even certified organic. Unfortunately they don't bottle everything, so some of my favorites like the Mudshark Porter can only be enjoyed on draft. Note that the beers on tap are even better than bottled, but I'd still like to have them more widely available.
Unfortunately they no longer barrel-age their Poseidon Imperial Stout. (They used to have a red-wine barrel aged 10% beer bottled, and a lighter 8% unaged beer on tap...now they just bottle the 8%)
A highlight is that they've always got one of their beers available on cask. Delicious!

Quesadillas are good, and the fish and chips (especially the salmon) grilled oysters, and smoked salmon sandwich even better.

(Note that if you're looking for more upscale food and don't mind it a bit more pricey, I highly recommend Sorrentos, which is the corner of the the same building. Trule awesome Italian cuisine! )
Feb 25, 2007
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Reviewed by idResponse from North Carolina

2.48/5  rDev -36.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 1 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
The Fishbowl Brewpub is the place to pick up anything Fishtale Ale related. They always have something on tap you can't find in bottles, and you can always buy a growler there. I really enjoy many of the Fishtale Ale products, however, I have been put off by the pub.

The place is a haunt for the local yuppie crowds and the place fills up rather quickly at night, especially on the weekends. The people there are rather snobbish and don't seem to enjoy new faces showing up in their territory. The staff there tend to be about the same way and really don't understand the products they are serving or care to talk much about them.

Once during an early day when there wasn't a crowd there, a friend and I went for lunch. We had a plate of nachos and a couple pints. We stepped outside for a quick (horrible!) cigarette and upon opening the door to finish half a pint and some more nachos, the bar had already been cleared.

Thanks for throwing away some perfectly good beer and losing a future customer, Fishbowl.
May 03, 2006
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Reviewed by carln26 from Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
The Fishbowl is the favorite brewpub of a good friend of mine who lives in the Seattle area. I’ve been fortunate to visit this place 3 -4 times when in town to see my friend. They’ve recently remodeled and vastly expanded the pub, so I thought I would take the opportunity to write a review.

The Fishbowl is located in a light industrial area on the southwest side of downtown Olympia. The pub itself is across the street from Fish Tail’s brewing operation. Inside the newly restored pub is open, airy and bright. The bar is now a U shape, and is rather small, but there is decent seating for 30-40 people at tables surrounding the bar. There is now an upstairs area for dining, but this was closed for a private party on this visit.

The staff is very friendly and helpful. We couldn’t find a place to sit, and the waiter quickly spotted that a table was opening and ushered us over to get a seat before anyone else grabbed the chairs. They know their beers, and are quick to help out.

The beers I’ve had on site are great. I’ve had Poseidon, Leviathan, Winterfish, Organic IPA, and a couple of the beers brewed under the Leavenworth brand. All are quite good. In fact, the beers fresh from the tap are unbelievably good, much better than the same beers from the bottle. Specifically the IPA and Winterfish. It’s almost 2 different beers. The bottled versions of both are good. The tap versions are mind blowing.

The food is simple and focused on local ingredients. Smoked and fresh salmon, locally raised mushrooms, and even Ostrich can be found on the menu. Prepared simply, delivered hot, I’m always satisfied with my meals.

My friend local to the area is concerned that the new expanded pub has lost some of it’s charm, and is drawing a more upscale crowd. If it helps this brewery to succeed and grow, I’m all for it.
Mar 14, 2006
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Reviewed by lostbearbrew from Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
As we were arriving at night, it was hard to scope just what neighborhood the brewery and pub were in - seemed blue-collar to me. Street parking no problem. Brewery is on one side - pub on the other.

At the bar area are maybe 8-9 tables and although there was more seating outside, it was raining so no one was out there. The lighting was not anything to write home about and there was an industrial twinge about it - but I like that side of life, and although the atmosphere wasn't what many would call "great" I thought they pulled off the idea of being an "industrial pub" really well.

We sat at the bar. They had about 10-12 beers on "normal" tap, two ciders and a cask had pull. Bartender was a really nice guy, although he was not real knowledgable about the brews, or maybe he was shy to offer opinions...who knows?. Had whole place to himself with one other helper.

Between my wife and I, we sampled the Mudshark Porter, Hodgson's IPA, Cask Organic IPA, Winterfish and the Dantes Infernal. We started off with the hummus - quite tasty, and the pita was warm upon arrival in front of us - bonus points! Also, I had the seafood chowder and the oyster sandwich, which were both awesome. Lisa had the falafel wrap which was good as well.

Had some great talks with those around us, all of whom called this place their local - love seeing people who stop in to have growler's filled and stay for a pint or two in the meantime. Learned a lot about the upcoming two days in Olympic Natl Park, and got some valuable advice as well. Always a good thing.

Was the perfect lil stopover on the way from SEATAC to Aberdeen. Would go back tomorrow if this were my local - really enjoyed the beers, the atmosphere, the patrons and the food.

Cheers!
Oct 24, 2005
Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub in Olympia, WA
Brewery rating: 3.64 out of 5 with 2638 ratings