Seattle, WA has earned the nickname of "the brewing capital of the USA", so it's no wonder that this northwestern city is home to one of the most creative craft beer scenes around. Seattle's breweries are numerous and offer a wide selection of delicious, locally-made craft beers alongside the city's many taprooms and speakeasy bars. There's much to love about Seattle breweries. Whether you're new to our beer scene or seasoned, you'll find more to love in our list below.
8 Things to Love About Seattle Breweries and Craft Beer Scene
1. Beer Crawl-Friendly Walk-ability
One of our favorite features of the Seattle craft beer scene is its sheer walk-ability. Breweries in this city tend to crop up in clusters: no matter whose taproom you start your beer tasting journey in, you're likely to find another in close proximity. Impromptu beer crawls couldn't be easier. Whether you're on foot, bike, or even a rented electric scooter, if you're thirsty and curious, you can easily spend an afternoon or weekend exploring the city's many breweries.
We love spending time on a beer trek in the summer, sipping on cool favorites and trying out new brews and breweries. You never know when you might stumble upon your new favorite pint or tasting menu. If walking isn't a viable option for you, Seattle is ripe with Uber and Lyft drivers and the short distance between breweries means lower fees, less time spent in transit, and more time enjoying the many beers this city has to offer.
2. Freshly Hopped Brews
It's no secret that the Pacific Northwest is most famous for its hopped-up brews. This is largely due to the fact that this region is responsible for growing roughly 95% of the nation's hops. If you're a Seattle local, you already know the benefits of having fresh hops grown in the state. If you're a newcomer or just planning a visit to the city, we recommend planning your visit around the annual hops harvest in October.
During the annual hop harvest, you'll see fresh-hopped beers cropping up in every local taproom. Seattle's many breweries really come alive during this season, featuring fresh-hops brews that are unlike anything you can find in any other craft beer scene. It's truly one of the best things about brewing (and consuming!) beer in Seattle.
3. Food Trucks and Pop-Ups Galore
Another beautiful thing about Seattle breweries is that they tend to attract top-quality food trucks and pop-up eateries. Although it's typical for a taproom to have snacks on deck (ours includes a rotating, homemade seasoned snack mix, giant soft pretzels, and spicy cured meat sticks), it's unusual for breweries to offer extensive menus. This is where food trucks and pop-ups come into play, offering a diverse menu of food to complement the variety of available beverages.
You can find sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, smashed burgers, birria tacos, ramen and so much more from the city's many gourmet food trucks. Even Seattle's own chef Tom Douglas, a two-time winner of the James Beard award, can be found serving up gourmet treats and eats in and around the city's brewery-rich neighborhoods. At Lowercase, we even offer our own special pop-up on Saturdays for croissants and cold brew!
4. A Diverse Clientele
From dogs to babies and beyond, Seattle's breweries are known for welcoming a diverse clientele! Depending on when you stop by for a brew, you can find all types enjoying the Seattle craft beer scene. It's not unusual to see families playing board games with their kids in the afternoon; then, after 5 p.m., watch office and shift workers stop in to unwind on their way home from work. They say it takes all kinds, and that couldn't be more true for Seattle's craft breweries.
At Lowercase, we're happy to welcome dogs and kids of all ages to our brewery. At the heart of every Seattle brewery lies a sincere desire to foster community (and there's no better way to show your commitment to community than to open your doors to a wide variety of people!)
5. A Collaborative Spirit
One of our favorite parts of being involved in Seattle's craft beer scene is the collaborative spirit that runs through it. Seattle's breweries tend to foster a "we're all in this together" kind of attitude that has only been ramped up in the days of the pandemic. From sharing grain with a brewery in need to collaborating on beer festivals and creating unity around pandemic safety protocols, Seattle brewers show respect and a collegial spirit toward one another - and we dig that.
6. A Rich History
Seattle not only has a long history of appreciating beer, but this city has a long history of brewing, as well. Our craft beer scene dates back to the 19th century! In fact, both the Rainier Brewing Company and Olympia Brewing began brewing in Seattle. Each was established by a collective of local breweries who banded together to create something greater. Together, these beer brands (now owned and operated by Pabst) boast over 150 years of brewing tradition in Seattle.
While these 19th century light lagers were brewed in the traditional German style, Seattle also birthed a new trend in brewing in the 1980s. Suddenly, a more artisanal approach was beginning to emerge, with a focus on high-quality ingredients and small batches. Bert Grant and Charles Finkel are two prominent figures of the craft scene at this time who are credited for their contributions to establishing Seattle's beer scene and inventing our signature Northwest ale.
7. Taste Award-Winning Brews
Every year, the Washington Beer Awards provides an opportunity for brewers to have their beer tasted in a blind-taste format as part of a craft beer competition. In the past year, the eighth annual Washington Beer Awards evaluated over 1,000 beers from more than 100 breweries from all across Washington state. We're proud to say that many of the award recipients are homegrown Seattle breweries!
Did You Know?
We don't mean to boast, but you can find two Washington Beer Award-winning ales on our taproom menu. Come taste our Mexican Lager, which took silver in the "Other American-Style Lagers" category, or enjoy our Brown Ale, which took home silver in the "English Dark Ales" category.
8. Beer Festivals Aplenty
Seattle truly is a city of beer lovers; we love a good beer crawl, we live by the patio, and we swear by our beer festivals. Yes, our craft beer scene is all about the beer culture, and each year, you can find dozens of beer festivals to quench your thirst for craft concoctions.
Some of our favorite beer festivals (in no particular order) include:
Seattle Fresh Hop Beer Festival
Winter Beer Festival
Washington Beer Commission's Annual Belgian Fest
Seattle Scotch & Beer Fest
Washington Brewers Festival
West Seattle Beer Fest
Great Pumpkin Beer Festival
Brew at the Zoo
Northwest Oktoberfest.
Washington state itself is home to over 400 registered breweries, but we believe that Seattle's breweries are the best. With around 175 breweries to visit in the city, our craft scene is definitely one to write home about. So put on your coziest flannel, come down to Lowercase Brewing in Seattle, WA, and let us pour you a pint.
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