Best Beer Buying Options In Seattle

If you're looking to buy beer in Seattle, you're in luck! The city has a thriving beer scene, with pubs, retail shops, and grocery stores offering a wide variety of options. For those looking for a casual drink, Seattle's pubs and bars boast an impressive selection of local and regional beers, with some venues offering outdoor spaces and food options as well. If you're planning to stock up, you can find beer at most grocery stores and retail shops, with some known for their extensive selections, including The Beer Junction in West Seattle, which offers over 1,300 options from around the world. Bottleworks is another renowned destination for beer enthusiasts, known for its curated selection and extensive collection of cellared beers. For a more innovative experience, Downtown Spirits offers a checkout-free shopping experience for alcoholic beverages using Amazon's Just Walk Out technology. So whether you're looking to enjoy a cold one at a local pub or stock up for a gathering, Seattle has plenty of options to satisfy your beer needs!

Beer bars and retail shops

Seattle has a thriving beer scene, with a variety of bars and retail shops offering diverse selections of beer. Here is a list of some popular destinations for beer enthusiasts in Seattle:

The Beer Junction

The Beer Junction, located in West Seattle, boasts one of the widest beer selections in the city, with over 1,300 domestic and imported options. They offer beers from more than 50 countries in both bottled and tap form, along with a few meads and ciders. The Beer Junction is a must-visit destination for beer lovers, providing a dizzying array of choices and a knowledgeable staff to guide patrons through their extensive selection.

Chuck's Hop Shop

Chuck's Hop Shop is a beloved beer bar with locations in Greenwood and the Central District. Both spots are kid- and dog-friendly, featuring patios for patrons to enjoy rotating food trucks and a massive tap list. They offer a wide range of styles and breweries, along with a comprehensive to-go selection. Chuck's Hop Shop is the perfect spot for a casual afternoon with friends and family.

The Shambles

Located in Maple Leaf, The Shambles is a unique combination of a butcher shop and restaurant. Their beer menu is meticulously arranged by style, offering draft options ranging from light to malty to sour and beyond. Local brews are a highlight, featuring selections from Holy Mountain and Stoup, along with choices sourced from other regions. The Shambles provides a delightful pairing of meat and beer for a memorable dining experience.

The Noble Fir

The Noble Fir, nestled in Ballard, is a beer lover's paradise owned by a pair of nature-loving beer enthusiasts. Their thoughtful tap list showcases offerings from PNW breweries such as Aslan, Black Raven, and Urban Family. Patrons can peruse local trail maps and guidebooks while enjoying their drinks. The Noble Fir is the ideal place to plan your next adventure over a refreshing beer.

Brouwer's Cafe

Brouwer's Cafe in Fremont excels in both food and drink, offering fantastic twists on pub fare and a range of taps and bottles. Their menu includes domestic and international choices, with a focus on Belgian beers. Whether you're dabbling in their taps or exploring their list of 400 bottles, Brouwer's Cafe provides a beer-lover's dream come true.

Bottleworks

Established in 1999, Bottleworks has curated a selection of beer, wine, saké, cider, and mead. It is renowned for having the Pacific Northwest's most extensive collection of cellared beers, attracting connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts alike. Bottleworks is a destination for those seeking a carefully curated drinking experience.

In addition to these dedicated beer bars and bottle shops, Seattle also offers a variety of grocery stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets, such as Kress IGA Supermarket and Ralph's Grocery and Deli, where you can find a selection of beer and wine along with snacks and other essentials.

Beer bars with outdoor seating

Seattle has a plethora of beer bars with outdoor seating, perfect for soaking up the sun during the spring and summer months. Here are some spots to check out:

Cloudburst Brewing

Located on Shilshole Avenue in Ballard, Cloudburst Brewing boasts a spacious and airy patio, most of which is covered, making it ideal for both sunny and rainy days. Enjoy their selection of award-winning beers and delicious food from the Plenty of Clouds food truck, which serves up dumplings, noodles, and cucumber salad.

Marination Ma Kai

This Hawaiian-Korean spot in West Seattle offers excellent views of the water and plenty of outdoor seating. It's the perfect place to lounge with kimchi fried rice, moco loco, or a cocktail. Marination Ma Kai is easily accessible, as it's located next to the water taxi terminal.

The Stonehouse Cafe

The Stonehouse Cafe is a unique roadside brunch spot housed in a historic cobblestone building that was once a gas station. It offers a covered and heated patio with sweeping views of Lake Washington. Enjoy their classic dishes, such as chicken and waffles or burgers, in a charming and cosy atmosphere.

The Flora Bakehouse

The Flora Bakehouse, located in Beacon Hill, is the perfect spot for baked goods lovers. They offer a variety of treats, including chocolate sea salt croissants, kouign-amann, cinnamon rolls, and unicorn horn meringues. Recently, they opened a new rooftop deck with both covered and open-air seating options, providing a beautiful view while you indulge in your favourite sweets.

Old Stove Brewing

Old Stove Brewing in Pike Place offers a large indoor seating space and an expansive outdoor seating area. It's an excellent spot to enjoy a variety of beers and a diverse menu, making it a popular choice for those seeking a vibrant atmosphere.

Citizen

Citizen, located in Queen Anne, has a beer garden that is one of the largest patios in town. It features astroturf carpeting, fire pits, and a separate outdoor bar. Their drink menu includes unique options like watermelon Aperol spritzes, cucumber lime coolers, and frozen rosé. They also serve delicious Korean-Mexican food, including bulgogi nachos, tacos, and burritos.

Rhein Haus

During the summer, Rhein Haus transforms its indoor German beer hall into a lively outdoor biergarten. It's the perfect place to play bocce and enjoy a variety of beers and their outdoor-only frozen rosé. Don't forget to order their giant pretzel to share!

Bottlehouse

Bottlehouse, one of Seattle's top wine bars, is located in a reconfigured house in Madrona. Their garden patio feels like you're trespassing in someone's backyard, creating a charming and intimate atmosphere. They offer a variety of wines and wine-based cocktail slushies, along with charcuterie and cheese pairings.

Brimmer & Heeltap

Brimmer & Heeltap, located in Ballard, offers a hidden garden seating area that feels like a secret oasis. It's open during the mornings and afternoons for coffee and wifi, but it also makes for a romantic dinner spot in the evenings, with a great wine list and expansive cocktail menu.

These are just a few of the many fantastic beer bars with outdoor seating in Seattle. Each spot offers its own unique atmosphere, drinks, and food, so you're sure to find one that suits your tastes!

Beer bars with food

Seattle's beer scene is thriving, with pubs and bars offering a wide range of local and regional beer options. Here is a list of some of the best beer bars in Seattle that also serve food:

The Beer Junction

The Beer Junction in West Seattle is a celebrated bar that claims to offer the city's largest beer selection, with over 1,300 domestic and imported options from more than 50 countries. They have a wide array of bottled and tap beers, as well as a few meads and ciders. The Beer Junction is known for its knowledgeable staff, who can guide patrons through their extensive selection. Their address is 4511 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116.

Brouwer's Cafe

Brouwer's Cafe in Fremont is known for its fantastic food and drink selections. They offer twists on pub fare, such as Penn Cove mussels in a Wittekerke-based cream sauce, and a range of domestic and international beers on tap and in bottles. Their address is 400 N 35th St, Seattle, WA 98103.

The Masonry

The Masonry is a small spot in Lower Queen Anne with a Fremont location as well. They have 14 rotating drafts and a bottle list filled with coveted sours and saisons. Their concise food menu features seasonal wood-fired pizzas, such as asparagus with cherrywood-smoked bacon and meatballs. Proof of vaccination is required for entry. Their address is 20 Roy St, Seattle, WA 98109.

Queen Anne Beerhall

The Queen Anne Beerhall brings the expansive, communal German beer hall experience to Seattle. It offers a robust list of European and local beers, along with a well-crafted food menu that includes fried baby artichokes, oyster shooters, and bratwurst. Their address is 203 W Thomas St, Seattle, WA 98119.

Chuck's Hop Shop

Chuck's Hop Shop is a beautiful union of a convenience store and a basement hangout, with a great list of beers on tap and a holy grail of beer fridges. They also have a wide variety of candies and snacks available. Their address is 656 NW 85th St, Seattle, WA 98117.

The Dray

The Dray is a cosy beer bar with around two dozen seats, made entirely of reclaimed wood, and usually with a soccer game on TV. They have a mix of familiar and unique beers on tap, as well as rogue bottles of wine and baggies of Tim's chips. They also have an espresso machine and a tiny oven for making flatbread pizzas and mini grilled cheeses. Their address is 708 NW 65th St, Seattle, WA 98117.

Beer bars with games

Seattle has a thriving pinball and vintage arcade bar scene, and there are plenty of beer bars with games to choose from.

Garage Billiards and Bowl

Garage is an airy, industrial space with exposed brick walls, comfy booths, and a diner-style restaurant. It has 20 bowling lanes, more than two dozen pool tables, and six bars. It's located at 1130 Broadway.

Flatstick Pub

Flatstick has four Washington locations, all centered on local beer, mini-golf, and other games like Duffleboard and Ball Jockey. It's perfect for groups or birthday parties. There are locations in Pioneer Square and South Lake Union.

Rhein Haus

This Bavarian-themed bar in Capitol Hill has five indoor and one outdoor bocce court. You can also enjoy schnitzel sliders, house-made brats, giant pretzels, and a variety of European and Northwest beers. It's located at 912 12th Ave.

Shorty's

Shorty's is a Coney Island-themed dive bar in Belltown that has been a local staple for over 20 years. It features flashing lights and 8-bit sound effects from dozens of arcade games and pinball tables. You can pair your beer with one of their signature hot dogs or boozy smoothies. It's located at 2222 Second Ave.

The Ice Box Arcade

The Ice Box Arcade is a destination for the pinball community, with over 30 new and vintage machines. It's dog-friendly and has an outdoor beer garden, live music, DJs, and karaoke events. In addition to pinball, they also have vintage arcade games, air hockey, and billiards. It's located at 615 NW Bright St.

Queen Anne Beerhall

This German-style beer hall offers a variety of European and local beers, as well as games like Giant Jenga and other board games. You can also enjoy German ale, giant pretzels, brats, and plates of fries. It's located at 203 W Thomas St.

Beer shops with a large selection

If you're looking for a wide selection of beer in Seattle, there are several shops that fit the bill.

Bottleworks, established in 1999, is renowned for having the Pacific Northwest's most extensive collection of cellared beers. They also offer a carefully curated selection of wine, cider, sake, and mead.

The Beer Junction in West Seattle is another great option, offering one of the widest beer selections in the city, with over 1,300 domestic and imported options from more than 50 countries. They also have a few meads and ciders.

For a checkout-free shopping experience, you can visit Downtown Spirits, which uses Amazon's Just Walk Out technology. They offer a wide range of beer, wine, and spirits.

Additionally, Chuck's Hop Shop, with locations in Greenwood and the Central District, boasts a massive tap list covering various styles and breweries, along with a comprehensive to-go selection.

Lastly, grocery stores like QFC, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and PCC are also worth considering, as they typically carry a great selection of local beers.

Frequently asked questions