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The New Guide to Washington Beer

What's new, what's next, and why lager doesn’t really suck.

Talking about Washington beer is a little like talking about Washington air. How do you categorize something that’s everywhere and yet almost always better than in the rest of the country?

More than 250 breweries ply their trade within our state (only California surpasses us) and still we drink beer faster than they can make it. These pages celebrate the next big names, tiny neighborhood talents, and flagship brands that never stop experimenting. 

 

5 New Beer Styles

The vast majority of beer produced and consumed here is some form of IPA. But that other-than-IPA spectrum is getting much more interesting.

The Beering of Ballard

A surfeit of industrial space near a large population that likes to drink local has created a legit brewery district.

6 Spots to Get Your Fill…in a Growler

Growlers are the craft beer equivalent to takeout. In Seattle you can fill up at virtually any brewery, plenty of bottle shops, and even the occasional drugstore.

Elysian’s Hard Sell

Seattle’s beer community freaked out when the world’s biggest brewing conglomeration bought Elysian. Will anything really change?











Allecia Vermillion
Allecia Vermillion
Allecia Vermillion has spent a decade at Seattle Met, arriving as food and drink editor, and expanding her role over the years. She served as the magazine’s editor in chief until moving into a newly created executive editor role in 2021. She spearheads Seattle Met’s food and drink coverage and oversees home design content. Allecia’s writing has earned her multiple journalism awards and two James Beard Award nominations over the years. A native of Portland, Oregon, Allecia began her writing life as a newspaper reporter in the Chicago suburbs before making a grateful return to the Pacific Northwest. She has an English degree from Washington University (no, the one in St. Louis) and a masters in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children.