Visiting Seattle (2021)

Unfortunately, Maud isn't available to-go right now. I will try to stop by whenever I'm up that way though.

 

Thank you everyone for this whole thread! Hope to be visiting Seattle at the end of summer and this will be very helpful!

 

We’re all booked flight and rental in Ballard September 15-19. I cannot wait to enjoy some fresh hop beers among many others and to take in a hike or two weather permitting.

Thanks for making this thread and to any of you that answer our questions and give advice. I’ll probably be bugging you all for suggestions come end of summer.

 

We just got home from a week in Seattle, my first time ever. What a totally beautiful city!! 3 days at the waterfront near Pikes Market then 3 days at my friends place in Puyallup. I struck out a lot in my search for a good pint. Monday, 2 IPA's at Old Stove were average. My hotel bar (Marriot) had 0 draft, I had a bottle of Deschutes IPA that tasted 9 months old. Tuesday I was out after 6pm and all the local (walkable) spots were closed except Old Stove, but I didn't want to wait 45 minutes again. I walked the entire water front from my hotel down to the ferry, there was only 1 spot that had 1 tap, Elysian hazy IPA that was awful. Wednesday we took the ferry to Bainbridge, all wineries were closed except 1, it was decent (Falcon Bay?) and I got cans of Kolsch and IPA next door at Bainbridge Beer Co. They were average. Back to hotel at 3, went for a walk to Cloudburst, only cans to go, no draft, I didn't want to carry cans all the way back to hotel. I kept walking, I went to Seattle Beer Company and had a Counterbalance IPA = average; then a Boundary Bay IPA that was below average. That waterfront area is not a good area for beer.
In Puyallup, I stocked up on cans. Rueben Brews Crikey (my dogs name) IPA was good. Silver City Tropic Chronic was excellent and the best beer of the trip. Aslan Batch 15 was ok. Fort George the Meadow Pilsner was good. Icicle Bootjack IPA was below average.

 

Cloudburst is right next to Pike (no "S") Place Market. Collins Pub is at the South end of Downtown. Next time buddy, next time we'll send ya to some spots.

 

@ChazMania Yup - let us know here next time before you return, and we’ll steer you right.

 

yes, but the VIEW!!! For the price / view quality ratio, this place is incredible ... sorta like Basllast Point in Long Beach - meh beer, but INCREDIBLE VIEW

 

I don't believe Seth has reopened Collins Pub yet...

 

Man, so sorry. Most of us coulda told ya our downtown is lousy for good beer options. Your experience is what I would have predicted had you let us know in advance what your lodging and travel options were. I work downtown and (pre-plague) spent a fair amount of time down there so know where the hidden-away beer options are. If you ever come back, give us a heads-up and we'll steer you right. Cheers.

 

Yes I walked over there but they only had cans to go, no draft, no on site drinking. It was 3:30pm and I didn't want to carry 4pks around all afternoon (they didn't have any bags for carrying).

 

Yeah, that's a thing up here. Pretty much everyone carries a totebag, backpack, messenger bag or something. We just always have them with us, so don't think about that.

 

Case in point that I made above...who would have thought that a high-end Italian grocery store near a tourist destination (i.e., Pike Place Market) would have one of the best selections of sours, saisons, etc. in the city center?

 

Time flies so I've been trying to nail down a few things for our trip mid September, figured it can't hurt to start early. We are staying in Ballard, no exact spot cause airbnb doesn't tell you till later, but the general area on airbnb map is by the ballard playground.

I've been slowly making of list of possible spots to visit: fair isle looks like a really really cool spot, reubens brews, stoup, bale breaker and cloudburst. How did I do? I'm assuming most will probably all have a fresh hop or two while I'm there. I still can't believe I get to be in seattle for that time of year (we there Sept 16-19)

I was hoping to get to a bottle shop or two as well and kind of looks like bottleworks may be the one stop shop. I'd really love to find some chuckanut bottles if they are around.

Any other recommendations, coffee, food, beer, etc. is welcome. I'm just looking forward to the trip and I know time flies so figured I'd start early.

The generosity in this thread is awesome, it has a different feel of almost "if you come here we want you to enjoy our city" it is really neat. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

I'm no Seattle native, but did spend a lot of time in Ballard during my visit. I think you're spot on for recommendations. Reuben's and Stoup were my favorite, although the latter focused very heavy on IPAs. Reuben's is open the latest every night, so good chance to visit there as a nightcap. I didn't get to visit Bale Breaker or Cloudburst this go-round. Reuben's bottle room is pretty neat for a visit too, but be aware, they're just serving out of bottles and stock may be limited (we showed up too late for a BBIS or plain Three Ryes Men.)

Fair Isle is a good spot too. I just popped in for some to-go bottles, but well worth a visit if you crave a saison.

It's in Fremont, but Brouwer's Cafe is pretty neat too. Belgian-inspired restaurant with a hearty tap and bottle list. I love places I can order a meal and a good beer, since it's eligible for an expense report at that point

Please share about your travels! I'm already missing it up there.

 

Anybody heard a date for the Bale Breaker spot opening?

You should have no trouble finding Cnut bottles, and they're now doing some cans as well.

I'd make sure to get down to the Georgetown Brewery. Lots of brewery only taps and bottles.

If you hit Bottleworks, Dicks Burgers has a location just down the street. You haven't been to Seattle unless you've put some Dicks in your mouth.

The Chucks hop shop locations are worth hitting, especially if you've got the young'uns with you, cuz ice cream.

I'm still a big fan of Big Time brewery in the U-district, as well as Seapine down past the stadiums.

Finding good beer will not be an issue. Choosing which good beer may be.

 

Thanks for the stoup intel, seems like almost all the ballard breweries are super close to one another. I'll check their taplist before I make the decision on them. I will be sure to post when I return and probably more befor then

Thanks, thats good to know about Chuckanut, I thought they may be hard to find. Also I will definitely hit Dicks now!

Bale Breaker sights said they hope to buy end of summer, fingers crossed that that is the case.

Chucks Hop Shop will probably be my other stop, buying singles will be the way to go since I may try and send some beer home to myself, I can only drink so much in four days there. No kids with us on this trip, in fact its our first time away from them, gonna be strange but also I think very enjoyable to be "free" for a few days. I have the sweet tooth of a kid though so ice cream, I'm in!

I'll keep the other places in mind as well, thanks. We may be confined to Ballard for the bulk of the time. My wife is in the wedding but then again, I guess I could hop in an uber to check out the other spots.