Visiting Seattle (2019 Edition)

Perfect. Thank you so much.

 

Hi, I'm looking at spending 2 nights in Seattle after a week in Portland on holiday (from the UK, flying in and out of Seattle).

I've been looking at where to stay and there doesn't seem any clear "good" area for density of breweries/bars, or am I wrong? What is public transport like there or is it just uber/lyft to most places?

I'm fairly easy going drink wise so not tied down to visiting any specific breweries, although I do want to go to Holy Mountain.

Thanks for any help!

 

You want density? Do you know about the Ballard neighborhood?

 

The area by Westlake Center (a mall) is going to be what I consider one of the big touristy points of reference. It's downtown, near a bunch of shopping and hotels and right by Pike Market. The light rail station also runs underneath Westlake, which can get you to/from the airport. You can also take the monorail from the Westlake to Seattle Center which is where the Space Needle is.

So using that as a point of reference, the 40 goes north into Fremont. Jump off at Fremont Ave N & N 34th St and you will be a short walk from Fremont Brewing that will take you right past The Masonry. Walk a bit west and you will find Brouwer's Cafe. If you get back on the 40 and keep going, it will take you right into Ballard.

Jump off at NW Leary Way & 11th Ave NW and walk to Reuben's. See my map in the last post for everything else within walking distance, but I will point out that Stoup is right next to Reuben's since it's on the "must-hit" list.

From Reuben's, walk to the 15th Ave NW & NW Leary Way bus stop. Jump on the Rapid Ride D which will take you to Elliott Ave W & W Galer St, right next to Holy Mountain.

When finished, get back on the Rapid Ride D and you can return to Westlake Center. If you want, you can even jump off a bit early (3rd Ave & Bell St) which puts you slightly closer to Cloudburst but it's not far from Westlake to begin with. That's 5/8 "must-hit" locations in basically 3 bus stops plus plenty of other beer stops along the way.

Just don't ask me the best way to pay for light rail or buses as a visitor.

 

Plus, Ballard abuts the Fremont neighborhood, so that it makes quite the beery enclave.

 

Bus fare is easy: exact change, both dollar bills and coins. You'll get a receipt, aka transfer, which is good for at least two hours and often closer to three hours. That will get you on any other bus, whether return trip, or going somewhere else.

Your transfer won't get you on the light rail, however. That's run by a different transit system, and must be paid for separately.

Google Maps is quite good about plotting bus routes including transfers.

@WA_Brian's route advice is excellent, by the way. He's got you going to Fremont, Stoup, Reuben's, Holy Mountain, and Cloudburst, all on a simple bus route. Can't beat that.

 

Absolutely superb, nice one thanks for that!

 

Unsure where to post this without starting a new thread so here goes:
If anyone has a thirst for Commons beers there's quite a stash at Stogies and Hops. I thought I bought them all out a few weeks ago but several more showed up today.

 

Bosk and Chainline are the new kings of the Eastside, IMO. Chainline’s Pilsner and pouring style is probably my favorite discovery for the area this past year. It’s a must visit.

 

And Urban Family is just across the bridge.

 

Buy an Orca card at any of the light rail stations. You can reload cards at these stations as well. With an Orca card, you can ride the bus, light rail, streetcars, and ferries. Never worry about exact change if you have one. It's very easy.

 

Second location, or leaving Magnolia?

 

bump

 

Anyone got any recs for Poulsbo? Didn't see much just searching the forums? Will be in Marysville first, but staying the night in Poulsbo.

Also is there anything new in Bellevue worth checking? I usually just go to the Pumphouse who usually has a couple of good taps and some nostalgia.

 

Just visited 5 Rights in Marysville a few days ago, worth a stop. Also, Arlington, which has both Whitewall and Skookum is just a couple minutes up the road.

 

Sound Brewing was the long time best brewery in Poulsbo, but it recently closed, alas.

Try Valholl, right near downtown Poulsbo. It's small, but I've had good beer there two or three times and would happily go back.

I visited Slippery Pig several years ago, and it was fun and quirky (Rhubarb IPA), but not in the same league as either Sound or Valholl. There are two other breweries in town that I haven't been to: Rainy Daze and Western Red.

 

Second Valholl, a great Brewer, beer judge, and friend left Sunriver Brewing for Valholl a few months ago.

 

Rainy Daze made the best IPAs when I lived up there.