So, You Want to go Brewery Hopping in Ballard…

Ballard is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seattle. It’s family-friendly, has a kick-ace Saturday farmer’s market, and a great brewery scene. This is why, recently, I’ve been trading wine for beer. That’s right, I, the Queen of WA wine, have been trying different local ales to see which breweries I like best.

If you’ve ever been to Ballard, you’ll know it’s broken into two sections. There’s a downtown/Main Street vibe and the east side, which houses 3-4 blocks of Brewhouses.

All have a very casual vibe and you’ll feel comfortable visiting any of them alone, meeting a few friends or large group. Last month, we had a ~~fluke~~ nice sunny day and I met up with a gf to get outside. She was running late but, luckily, I had a book with me. So, I grabbed an ale, a picnic table, and read in the sun until she got there. It was amazing.

The table next to me was a group of friends playing dungeon and dragons (in true Seattle fashion). The hightops all had couples or friends meeting with their dogs (adorable). And, like me, there were a few other people holding down the table until friends shows up.

If you are traveling alone and looking for a casual spot to chill out, and maybe soak in the true Seattle vibe, this is a great neighborhood for you.

I haven’t been to every brewery in Ballard… yet. It’s a great central area to meet with friends though. There’s loads of space and I haven’t felt overly crowded while hopping around. I think I’ll be frequenting this area a lot more once Summer decides to grace us with its presence. 👀

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So, You Want to go Brewery Hopping in Ballard…

Here are some of the breweries I’ve already checked out. Each one is unique and their brews are fairly consistent with their aesthetic/vibe. Which, I love. If I go to a place with a minimalistic rustic vibe, I hope your ale tastes exactly like that.

Alright, starting this list with my favorite (so far) and then sharing brewhouses I haven’t been to, but are on my list to check out over the incoming months.

Ballard breweries I’ve been to

Fair Isle Brewery

Described as “rustic chic” with small-batch farmhouse-style brews. I 100% agree with this statement. This is my favorite beer so far. I tried two different types and I loved both of them. They don’t have as much outdoor picnic-style seating as some of the other alehouses but it’s charming never-the-less.

Urban Family Brewing Co.

SO casual and easygoing. This is my favorite vibe so far. Terrific for people watching and meeting up with friends. I love that they have a rotating beer slushie during the summertime and a food truck right outside. This is the D&D safe zone!

Reuben’s Brew Taphouse

Another very casual but cool vibe. I love their covered picnic table set up. They also have a rotating food truck outside and it’s similar to a beer garden aesthetic where you walk up, order and chill. This place is hyper family-friendly (like, you might sit next to 3-year-olds playing with their barbies) and it’s also dog friendly! I love that you can create your own tasting here.

Great Notion Taproom

This place is straight-up portland hipster lumberjack vibes. Also very cool and a bit more crowded, as they’re limited to space. They have rotating ciders for friends who aren’t beer drinkers and a really cool bar area that always has a game on.

Ballard breweries to still go to

Stoup Brewery

Every time I think I’m going to go, it’s packed. This one is clearly a Seattle favorite and understandably. Stoup has been around a while and has partnerships with a lot of our local restaurants. Still on my to-do list though!

Obec Brewing

I keep meaning to check this one out and I swear these guys did a Just Add Yoga event at one point. I always want to go to those events but I’ve always got other plans or I’m not in town!

Lucky Envelop Brewery

This one I have actually been to but it was years ago at a Just Add Yoga event! This was the first one I’d ever been introduced to and it was a blast. I’m adding this to the breweries to still go to because it’s been at least 7-8 years and I can’t remember the beers. I’d love to go back and try this one again with a friend or on a date.

Bale Breaker | Yonder Cider

These guys have a Just Add Yoga event coming up next month! They’re also the perfect blend for those who like and don’t like beer because they have a ton of ciders they make as well. They have more than 30 taps and outdoor firepits! You know I love a campfire moment. 😉

I can’t wait to check each of these off my list. I’ll make sure to update this post as time goes on. Have you been to any of Ballard’s Breweries?

What’s your all-time favorite?