Best Breweries in Washington State: A Region-by-Region Guide
Washington state ranks among the top five in the nation for craft breweries — over 450 of them at last count, spread from the Olympic Peninsula to the Palouse. And here’s the thing: Washington’s beer scene isn’t just impressive on its own. It’s deeply tied to the landscape.
The Yakima Valley grows roughly 75% of the entire country’s hops. Glacial meltwater feeds Cascade streams that go straight into taproom taps. Breweries sit at the base of trailheads, next to rivers, inside old Bavarian villages, and on working hop farms.
In other words: it’s the perfect state to combine a love of outdoor adventure with a love of good beer.
Here’s your region-by-region guide to the best breweries in Washington state.
Table of Contents
Seattle & Puget Sound
Seattle is the engine of Washington’s craft beer scene, and it hits hard. The city and its surrounding area have well over 60 breweries covering every style imaginable — from classic West Coast IPAs to barrel-aged wild ales to Japanese-inspired taprooms. A few you shouldn’t miss:
Georgetown Brewing Company is one of the state’s most beloved — low-key, unpretentious, and producing some of the most consistently excellent lagers and ales in the PNW. Their Georgetown Bodhizafa IPA has a cult following for good reason. The taproom is cash-only, no food, and absolutely packed on weekends. Pure Seattle.
Fremont Brewing in Ballard has a gorgeous outdoor beer garden that’s one of the best places in the city to spend a sunny afternoon. Their Lush IPA is a flagship for a reason, and their seasonal barrel-aged releases (especially the B-Bomb winter ale) are among the most anticipated in the state.
Reuben’s Brews, also in Ballard, is one of the most decorated breweries in Washington — multiple Great American Beer Festival medals, over 250 unique beers brewed annually, and a reputation for getting both classics and experiments right. The Crikey IPA and their rotating pilsners are standouts.
Holy Mountain Brewing is for the serious beer nerd — barrel-aged and mixed fermentation beers that compete with the best in the country. Small batches, occasional can releases, and a reputation that punches well above Seattle’s weight nationally.
Elysian Brewing has multiple locations across Seattle and is the crowd-pleasing pick for anyone who wants solid, approachable craft beer in a great atmosphere. Space Dust IPA is their calling card and genuinely one of the most drinkable IPAs in the Northwest.
Best hike pairing: Any of Seattle’s Cascade day hikes — Twin Falls, Franklin Falls, or Rattlesnake Ledge — then head back into the city for a well-earned pint at Fremont or Reuben’s.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
Bellingham & the Northwest Corner
Bellingham is Washington’s most underrated beer city, full stop. It sits at the base of the North Cascades, is surrounded by mountains on one side and Puget Sound on the other, and has built a craft beer scene that’s wildly impressive for a city its size.
The official Bellingham Tap Trail connects nearly 40 breweries, cideries, and taphouses — and Bellingham Beer Week every April is one of the best regional beer events in the state.
Boundary Bay Brewery is the anchor — one of the longest-running craft breweries in Washington, with a beloved downtown pub, a big dog-friendly outdoor patio, and a rotating lineup of dependable, well-made ales and lagers. A Bellingham institution.
Kulshan Brewing has three locations in the Bellingham area and produces some of the most consistently excellent Northwest-style IPAs and hazy pales around. Their taprooms are relaxed, the staff are great, and the beer is always fresh.
Garden Path Fermentation is for the adventurous drinker — open-air fermented beers, meads, wines, and ciders using wild cultures and local ingredients. Genuinely unique and not what you’d expect to find in a small northwest city.
North Fork Brewing in nearby Deming is a bit further out — right on Highway 542 toward Mount Baker — and is a classic post-hike stop for small-batch British ales and Belgian-style beers with excellent pizza.
Best hike pairing: Chain Lakes Loop or any of the North Cascades hikes near the Mount Baker corridor, then roll back down to Bellingham for a Kulshan IPA on the patio.
Leavenworth & the Cascades
Leavenworth is Washington’s famous Bavarian village in the Cascades, and the beer scene here is exactly what you’d expect — German-influenced, mountain-town vibes, and perfectly suited for après-hike recovery.
Icicle Brewing Company is the standout — locally sourced water from Icicle Creek, hops from the Yakima Valley, and a relaxed taproom with a patio looking out toward the mountains. Their Dark Persuasion German Chocolate Cake Ale is a crowd-pleaser, and Bootjack IPA is a solid Northwest-style sipper. After any of the hikes around Leavenworth, this is your spot.
Blewett Brewing Company is another solid Leavenworth option with a cozy taproom and a good range of styles beyond just German beer. Worth a stop if you’re spending more than a day in town.
Best hike pairing: The Colchuck Lake Trail or Lake Valhalla — then a beer at Icicle on the way back through town.
Yakima Valley — Hop Country
If you’re serious about beer, the Yakima Valley deserves a dedicated visit. This is where most of America’s hops come from — the rolling, sun-baked hills east of the Cascades produce an ingredient that ends up in craft beers across the entire country. Drinking a fresh-hop beer here in September and October, made with hops picked that same day, is a genuinely different experience from anything you’ll find in a city taproom.
Bale Breaker Brewing Company is the must-visit — their taproom sits right on a working hop farm in Moxee, surrounded by bines as far as you can see. The setting is exceptional, the beer is excellent, and during fresh-hop season (mid-August through October) it becomes one of the best brewery experiences in the entire state. Top Cutter IPA is their flagship and it’s very good.
Cowiche Creek Brewing Company is another farm-based brewery just outside Yakima, with a relaxed rural setting and a strong lineup of hop-forward beers. Great place to slow down and appreciate where your IPA’s ingredients actually come from.
Single Hill Brewing in Yakima is a newer addition with serious buzz — creative beers, great taproom energy, and a strong local following. Worth seeking out if you want something beyond the hop farm experience.
Best hike pairing: Cowiche Canyon Trail right outside Yakima is a perfect warm-up before a Bale Breaker afternoon.
Spokane & Eastern Washington
Spokane has over 25 brewpubs in the metro area and has quietly become one of the best beer cities in the inland Northwest. It’s unpretentious, easy to navigate, and the craft beer scene reflects the outdoorsy, down-to-earth character of Eastern Washington.
Iron Goat Brewing is the downtown anchor — excellent pizza, solid burritos, and a range of well-made craft beers in a buzzy, fun atmosphere. One of Spokane’s most popular spots and worth the visit.
No-Li Brewhouse has a great location right on the Spokane River next to Gonzaga and a solid Northwest-style lineup. Their Born & Raised IPA is a local staple. The river patio in summer is excellent.
Whistle Punk Brewing is the Spokane pick for the more adventurous beer nerd — creative, rotating taps and a loyal local following that argues it’s the best in the city. Make your own call.
Best hike pairing: Riverside State Park is right in Spokane and has great trails along the river — then head to No-Li for a pint on the water.
🏨 Need a place to crash nearby?
From rustic cabins to boutique inns—check prices and availability in just a click.
The Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is more about wilderness than beer culture, but there are a few spots worth knowing for post-adventure recovery after a day in Olympic National Park.
Finnriver Farm & Cidery near Chimacum is technically a cidery but deserves mention — farm-to-glass hard ciders made from estate apples with genuinely spectacular flavor. If you’re driving through the Port Townsend area, this is a must-stop.
Port Townsend Brewing Company in Port Townsend is a solid waterfront taproom with good Northwest ales and a relaxed vibe that fits the town perfectly. After hiking Fort Worden or kayaking the bay, this is your decompression spot.
Best hike pairing: Any Olympic National Park hike followed by a stop in Port Townsend on the way back.
Washington Beer — A Few Things Worth Knowing
Fresh hop season is a big deal. Mid-August through October, Yakima Valley breweries (and many Seattle taprooms) release fresh-hop beers made with hops picked the same day. The flavor difference is real and worth chasing. Yakima’s Fresh Hop Ale Festival in October is one of the best beer events in the state.
Washington Brewers Festival runs in Seattle every June — over 100 Washington breweries, 500+ beers, all in one place. If you’re a beer nerd visiting in summer, it’s worth building a trip around.
The hop connection is everywhere. Washington-brewed IPAs and pale ales have an inherent freshness advantage — the hops often travel hours instead of weeks from farm to kettle. You’ll taste the difference.
More Washington Adventures
Washington’s outdoor scene and beer scene are better together. For more on exploring the state, check out our guides to the best things to do in Washington State, the best hikes in Washington, and our Washington weekend trips from Seattle to plan your next adventure.
Cheers, friend!
