Headed to Seattle - recommendations?

There are a lot of recent threads on the topic you can check out with minimal effort.
If you're staying near the Space Needle be sure to stop in at Bambino's, just south of Seattle Center.

 

If it was me, I'd probably skip Pike (unless you'll be down @ the Market anyway) and wouldn't bother with Big Time. Instead I'd go to Fremont (definitely) and Black Raven, if you can get over to Redmond. Reuben's Brews in the Ballard neighborhood is small but good; in fact there are several new breweries mostly concentrated in Ballard. Elysian has several establishments around town; I went to Tangletown for the first time recently and thought it was good, haven't been to any of the others. Elysian also has a brewpub down near the stadiums (Elysian Fields), so you could go there before or after the game. I would also try to include Brouwer's Cafe, also in Fremont, if at all possible.

As for bottles, unless Bottleworks happens to be having an uber-limited release (as they sometimes do) I'd go to Beer Junction in West Seattle instead. I don't think Bottleworks even has the best overall beer selection; what they do have is a very deep cellar, which is full of random surprises that pop up unannounced on shelves, plus they have key connections, which gives them access to rare releases (most recently Firestone Walker PNC). Chuck's also has a wide selection of bottles plus about 40 beers on tap. (All bottle shops mentioned have a few rotating taps, but I think Chuck's has the most.) Frankly though, most decent grocery stores (Whole Foods, U Village QFC, Shoreline Central Market) have a very good selection of beer available; it all depends on what you're looking for.

 

If you have a car and you're staying in the Queen Anne neighborhood (which is where the Space Needle is located) and you have your heart set on Naked City, then you're going to take 15th Ave NW to get to the Greenwood neighborhood (which is where Naked City is located). You essentially have to drive past Chuck's Hop shop on NW 85th St on your way to Naked City, so you might as well buy your bottles there (and fill up any growlers you might have).

On your way back to your hotel from Naked City, you'll take Greenwood Ave N (which is what Naked City is located on) into the heart of the Fremont neighborhood. While in Fremont, stop at Fremont Brewing, Brouwer's Cafe, and Sixgill. Leave your car in one of the many pay lots (cuz you'll be wasted), take a taxi to your hotel, and get your car in the morning.

If you don't have a car, take the bus line #5, which you can get a short walk from the Space Needle, all the way to Naked City --- it drops you in front. Along the way (or upon your return) on the #5, there are stops that put you within easy walking distance of all places mentioned above plus 74th Street Alehouse, Park Pub, The Yard, and Uber Tavern.

 

Why would you pick up Pumking when Elysian makes the best pumpkin beers out there IMO? You'll be able to get Night Owl, The Great Pumpkin, and Dark O' The Moon very likely when you are here.

 

Good point. OP, Chuck's is literally 1/2 mile due west of Naked City. Prices tend to be a little higher than elsewhere, but they do have a lot of beer. And fun food trucks out front. Also, since you're going to Pike anyway, all reports indicate that their new barrel-aged stout Entire is very good. I haven't opened either of my two bottles to verify.

Also, I agree wholeheartedly w/ BuckeyeOne on the pumpkin beer situation. I don't even like pumpkin beers, but I look forward to Elysian's fall releases. ST Pumking isn't really that great, although I suppose if I were you I'd want to find that out for myself. Great Pumpkin and Dark O' The Moon are not to be missed though.

 

I know you said you want to visit more breweries, but visiting Fremont without going to Brouwer's too is some kind of Seattle beer tourism crime.

I like the one-two punch of having a couple of whatever's good at Fremont then walking over to Brouwer's for dinner and more beer.

 

I like this map, especially if you're not familiar with the area. Breweries are red, brewpubs are blue, etc. You can figure out where stuff is and then check out reviews to plan your itinerary.

 

There's an app for that http://www.washingtonbeer.com/ with neat gps function that will guide you to wherever you want to go.

 

I disagree with draheim, for me, Big Time and Naked City are must hits. If you're up for a beer hike, start at Fremont, hit Brouwers, then keep walking towards Ballard. Along the way there are plenty of bars along the way, and Hales and Maritime Pacific breweries. When you get to Ballard Ave, there's a nice strip of bars, my favorite being Noble Fir. Enjoy your visit.

 

Elysian has 4 pumpkin beers in the Top 50 (well, Top 35 actually): http://beeradvocate.com/lists/style/72.

But if you really want Pumking, there's plenty of it on the shelves out here. You can have my allotment. I think it's one of the foulest concoctions I've ever had.

 

Yuh, he can have mine too. In fact, he can have my share of all pumpkin beers.

 

I just saw the Elysian Pumpkin Patch box set @ Whole Foods Roosevelt last night, didn't pick one up because the price wasn't listed and I like Great Pumpkin the most anyway. If OP likes pumpkin beers he might want to grab one of those, good sampler set.

 

Chuck's should have it. You might get lucky and he'll have it on tap, and they always let people sample beers for free before they order a full glass.