Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro

Boundary Bay Brewery & BistroBoundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
Boundary Bay Brewery & BistroBoundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1107 Railroad Ave.
Bellingham, Washington, 98227
United States

(360) 647-5593 | map
bbaybrewery.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.46
Beers:
133
Ratings:
996
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.06
Reviews:
45
Ratings:
70
pDev:
9.85%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by slander:
Photo of slander
Reviewed by slander from New York

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Working our way up the coast to the forbidden zone, when Phil unexpectedly (to me, anyway) detours off the interstate for the scenic route, and then promptly stops at a random antique store (used loosely) on the side of the road. Wish I could get that harpoon back to NY with me. No, it’s a bad idea. Used a lifeline and called Carl Ronson for placement and disposition, and then came rolling into Bellingham. Spotted ‘Boundary Bay’, and thought, “Wasn’t that the name of Khan’s ship in the Star Trek episode?” Oh, wait, okay. Hey, there’s a beer festival happening across the street, stars, they be alignin’…

Early 20th century cinder blocky building standalone; with a center roll up garage door for when weather permits, and doors & panel windows on both ends. A small reception room off the far entrance with shwag sales & 22’s a cooler of 22’s gives way to the big room; just shy of 2 dozen tables across the room for the sittin’, some pushed together for parties larger, and a straight plank topped bar, slat base, & piping foot rail, with seating for 6 on green stools to the rear.

Slat wood barback units of shelving, glassware & growlers, split by a doorway to somewhere. To the center of the larger one side (the off center?), 10 taps on a stainless steel panel with vertical black slat pieces above, beer names printed there in colored markers, and a pair of handpumps off to the left. More glassware shelved below, and wines, too. Red, blue, & silver streamers lining the top side with strung baby frosty mug lights from end to end. Flats in both corners atop, and pieces in between (a ‘cask conditioned ales’ sign, a croquet set, mugs, other glassware, a pink flamingo, ceramic growlers, toy trains, a football helmet, house bombers, a mini leg lamp from ‘A Christmas Story’, oh, and a 3rd place award for a 2006 barleywine festival at Coles, a long way from home. It’s even got a little buffalo on top, cool).

Worn fat wood plank floorings, and beige walls & a high ceiling with a darker trim. Drop martini glass lamps over the bar and in rows about the rest of the room, with strung lighting from lamp to lamp. Nice vertical ‘Beers of Washington’ framed print to one side, and a corner not as small as it looks brew room to the left of the bar, with large brew room view windows; events and happy hour board above, and World Beer Cup awards displayed alongside. Piano against the inside wall with ‘Kayak ski to sea’ awards on top, black & white pics of things ski, brew, & boat (what else is there?) mounted, and a long loooong row of North American beer awards displayed. A giant sail affixed to the ceiling above the bar, and other sails mounted about the walls & ceiling lined with strung lighting. A great little boat mounted, a kayak, a beer & food 3D piece, international flaggings, & large boat art on the far wall. Old handpump set up, more croquet, & a barrel, with the kayak over the side room entrance vestibule.

And there’s a rear room long and narrowish with more seating; 2 and a ½ dozen tables pushed together in the places you need that to happen. Local prints for sale back there, and access to an outside side deck, a dozen + pic-a-nic tables there, and I think there’s an outside space I missed? It’s comfortably cool out today, I would like this weather for always, please.

So, beer; 6 house regulars (Bellingham Blonde, crisp, nice hop bite; Best Bitter, nice bitterness, a solid ESB; Amber, hoppier than maltier, good body; Inside Passage Ale, very nicely hoppy IPA; Scotch, good sweety, malty, and non-bandaidy, like too many others are; Dry Irish Stout, in lieu of the Impy Oatmeal Stout, chocolatey nose, bit of licorice, a little thin but most quaffable), 4 seasonals (Imperial IPA, a bit on the sweet side, as they generally are; Maibock, some sweet alcohol, a very nice example to style; Pilsner, nice bite, dry, crisp, good clean Pils; Highland Reserve Scotch Ale, biiiig alcohol & peaty), and both handpumps live (currently pouring the IPA & ESB). I’d say that Best Bitter, Amber, Inside Passage Ale, & Pilsner were my faves, but there were no clunkers here. None.

And food. I wanted a salad and chowder combo but Phil ordered 4 pretzels for the 2 of us (What’s your malfunction, carny?) I don’t give a shit though ‘cause I’m not leaving without having me the salmon chowder, and this one was excellent; potato, celery, carrots, onions, & big chunky salmon action.

Food fixed my head, and the beer was solid. It’s a good, comfortable house. Janet showed up with tix for the beer festival (well, that’s a day changer), and Ed dropped over, too (hey man, good to see you again). Really just super nice folks, but you already knew that, didn’t you? Well, off to the ‘Brewers by the Bay’ festival, I’m in no rush to see Vancouver anyway.
Nov 06, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.04/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
This place feels like a classic brewpub, offering up a traditional American food menu, along with quality, no BS beer. Interior is a mix of spaces, most likely expanding throughout the years to occupy adjacent interior and exterior space as demand rose. All interior spaces are more traditional Americana brew pub, with hardwood floors, and open, neutral-colored walls adorned with beer memorabilia. A back patio offerings seating under an enclosed awning, and steps down to a gravel-lot with picnic benches for completely open air beer consumption. Staff are all kind, building on the homey, small town setting. Beer selection spans an array of clean styles, that is to say, not many flavor additives, if any. Just good, sessionable beer.

No comment on food.
Jul 23, 2021
Photo of MikeN11
Reviewed by MikeN11 from Washington

3.18/5  rDev -21.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Cool spot with a good vibe at least during covid. The issue I had was with the staff asking what "we" wanted. Pretty sure "we" didn't eat together and damn sure "we" didn't pay together. Scrap we and go back to what would you like.

The food is good not great but the "we" stuff drove me crazy.
Feb 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.75 by U2Chaser from North Dakota

Oct 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Red_Zeke from Washington

Mar 17, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by GaryColeman from California

Oct 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.13 by Mikey440 from California

Jan 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Jun 24, 2016
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

3.85/5  rDev -5.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
I've actually been here many times, but never reviewed it until today, apparently. My wife, kids, mother, and I went there for lunch yesterday.

They're kid friendly, open and friendly vibe. Bistro isn't the nicest in the world, but it's not bad. I like going there.

They generally make good but not special beer. They have a decent selection of beer, maybe 8-10 taps, only their own beers. Yesterday, they had their 2014 Old Bounder on tap, and it was extremely good (I had a second glass of it and bought a bottle to take home).

Their food is good -- much better than standard pub grub. I haven't been disappointed by anything I've had there, and their menu seems to change somewhat, with a few dishes that seem to be on the menu all the time.
May 30, 2016
Photo of gandres
Reviewed by gandres from Philippines

3.86/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Visited on an afternoon Saturday, December 26, 2015
Bartender was very attentive even with a full restaurant
Limited choice coming from brewery
location and place is very good but parking is a challenge
Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by Beervana from Canada (BC)

Nov 14, 2015
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

4.01/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I visited Boundary Bay on a recent trip to Bellingham and it was my favorite of the breweries I visited. It has a very lived-in brewpub feel, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a population of regulars in addition to the autumn-weekend tourists.

There were about a dozen beers on tap during my visit, and the ones I had were decent if not mind-blowing. Everything seems well-crafted, even if the individual beers weren't all exactly to my taste. The food is good; I opted for the reuben (my go-to brewery choice) and it was quite tasty. The staff are friendly and I felt like I was treated as a regular despite it having been my first visit. I will definitely try to return here the next time I'm in town.
Oct 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Sails_Ambassador from Washington

Jul 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Noooddle from Washington

Jul 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by Rutager from Canada (BC)

May 17, 2015
Photo of Moose90
Reviewed by Moose90 from Washington

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.75
Vibe — A bustling and busy space with nice tall ceilings and a small main bar area that peers into the brewing space. Nice and warm, always packed. Nice outdoor seating in the warmer months.

Quality — Always high quality, though the beers may not be earth shattering, they are always well made and tasty.

Service — Usually quite good, sometimes not so much, a bit inconsistent, but overall it is good, quick and attentive.

Selection — Limited taps and often times there is something on Randal and something on Cask, can usually find something new, but can always find an old favorite.

Food — Pretty limited menu, but I have never had a dish I didn't like, the Turkey Dip is a go to, and the salads are always great.

Overall — A great place for an original craft beer and good food. We go multiple times a month.
Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.78 by Brandonparrent from Michigan

Dec 29, 2014
Photo of TheBungyo
Reviewed by TheBungyo from Washington

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
Boundary Bay has long been a staple in the NW craft beer community and even after all these years they're still on their game. Most of their offerings are very good, and the food is consistently good as well. Plus, there's usually a few offerings on cask. All of this coupled with great service make this a must visit when in Bellingham.
Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Anaxagoris from Washington

Dec 03, 2014
Photo of mr-jj
Rated by mr-jj from Washington

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
I like the vibe of this brewpub. Lots of energy, friendly servers, great menu and food, and a good beer selection.
Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ZachT from Canada (BC)

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Erik-P from Canada (BC)

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Donkster46 from Washington

Sep 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Aug 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by soccerbrew from Washington

Jul 16, 2014
Photo of EspressoGuy
Reviewed by EspressoGuy from Canada (BC)

3.58/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 2.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
First the good: love the room, the beer garden, the whole ambiance. It's great! The service was just as great. It was busy and our server was doing a fantastic job of being personable and making sure everyone was happy. Amazing! The menu has a good selection that is sure to please a wide variety of people. Speaking of which, it's a good mix of patrons from sporty-bikesters to hipsters to everyday working people. I wish patrons were allowed to choose the 6 beers in the sampler but it covers nearly all their regular offerings ... and when I asked about the two keg beers the great server happily brought me mini tasters in addition to the 6 on my tray.
Now for the bad: I really didn't like any of their beers. They were totally disjointed, tasting like they were just thrown together without any sense of balance. The listed alcohol levels were reasonable but the lack of a balanced accentuated the alcohol which made the beers taste even worse. I didn't finish any of the eight I tried. I thought I had hit the beers on an off day but a local beside me was raving about their big and bold taste.
So I'm torn about recommending BBB to friends. How about: it's a fantastic beer destination but just don't drink the beers.
Maybe it's just me so I'll give the beers another chance another time ...
Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sound_Explorer from Washington

May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by KStark from Canada (BC)

May 13, 2014
Photo of mabermud
Reviewed by mabermud from Washington

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This local Bellingham pub epitomizes the Bellingham culture. Down to Earth, natural, somewhat artsy, and laid back. They serve a solid IPA. For me, it is especially tasty on cask. This is one of our favorite places to go in the summer for afternoon beers, plus it is very much, kid friendly. The outdoor seating/beer garden is nice, the events they have here are always fun, and it is centrally located in downtown Bellingham. Their beers are solid, the food is good, and the people are nice.
Apr 08, 2014
Photo of heyealex
Reviewed by heyealex from Washington

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
They have a great brewpub. The beer isn't the best I've had, but I've been spoiled over the years. Overall, its great quality, the Cascadian Dark is one of my favorites. The food is the best I've had at a brewpub, try the yam enchiladas, I thought it sounded crazy at first, but they are amazing. The staff is incredibly helpful and fun to be around, especially after a few pints. Very much recommended if you find yourself in Bellingham.
Mar 31, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by staceya2 from Washington

Mar 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by BillRoth from Maryland

Feb 07, 2014
Photo of jellikit
Reviewed by jellikit from Washington

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
Great Beer! Fish Tacos are a great choice to pair with their excellent IPA. The Barleywineish is a great choice. Also they were pouring a single-hop Amarillo that was out of this world. I have been enjoying this brewery for years and will continue to frequent Bb when I make it to a Bellingham. Great location.
Feb 02, 2014
Photo of Gaffattack
Reviewed by Gaffattack from Washington

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Loved it here. My first time was today. Service was great, although there wasn't as many beers to choose from than I thought. The tap house section of the brewery looked neat too with the option for the love music. I enjoyed the platter I had and I'm not much of an IPA guy but none of them weren't too bad. I was happy to see the hockey game on at the bar. I live up north, I want to watch hockey not football. Ill definitely be coming back after my deployment. I'm moving to fairhaven so ill be enjoying this place for years to come.
Jan 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by stokeliosis from Washington

Nov 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by denverick from Colorado

Nov 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by PhillipNordwall from Washington

Oct 29, 2013
Photo of vbre23
Reviewed by vbre23 from California

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Always visit Boundary Bay when we go to Bellingham. Great atmosphere but gave it an OK only because it was always too crowded when I went there. They need to expand. Otherwise I could rate it higher. The servers busted their tails to get the beer out so I say great service! My favorite beer is the Imperial IPA. Be ready for it! IBU's are up there! Great place!
Oct 06, 2013
Photo of kemoarps
Reviewed by kemoarps from New York

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.75
It definitely helps that it's a beautiful day, but walking up to the brewery with the view of the bay is stunning on a day like this.
Greeted by hop vines growing just inside a fenced off area next to the entrance, the seating is open and airy. It probably could get kind of stuffy during the winter when it's socked in, but on a bright sunny day like this it's airy and open.
Really friendly staff everytime I've come in, whether just to pick up some bottles or to eat. Even when it's super busy they are good about communicating that fact and keeping things moving.
Delicious food, handmade using local ingedients for the most part... priced about on par with standard stuff of the type.

Wholeheartedly recommend stopping in anytime you're in Bellingham, or northewest washington in general for that matter
May 08, 2013
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro in Bellingham, WA
Brewery rating: 3.46 out of 5 with 996 ratings