The city of Tacoma takes beer seriously! So seriously, in fact, that we have our own brewery district just south of downtown. If you weren't in town for Brew Five Three last month, we've put together our own collection of Tacoma brewery favorites for you to explore anytime. So don your flannel or favorite brewery t-shirt, grab a beer-loving companion, and prepare for a day of brews and great food! Even more importantly, let yourself get completely immersed in the beer experience and book yourself a hotel within staggering distance—we'll wait.
7 Seas Brewing
Two friends born and raised in the Pacific Northwest loved craft beer so much, they decided to try making it themselves, and the rest is the history of 7 Seas Brewing! If you love IPAs and pilsners, this is your brewery, as these are the styles 7 Seas tends to favor. While you're there, enjoy some pinball and arcade games. Cementing 7 Seas' place in Tacoma history and lore, the premises is the site of the old Heidelberg Brewery, which made Tacoma nationally known for beer in the early 20th Century before becoming a Dale Chihuly glass-art warehouse (the shelf numbers for his work are still painted on the floor). 7 Seas brought back the original Heidelberg recipe and is currently brewing their Heidelberg Premium Lager as a tribute to the storied brand, in the same place it was brewed back in 1912.
E9 Brewing Co.
Not only is E9 Brewing Co. Tacoma’s first craft brewery (est. 1995), their building is also a piece of Tacoma history! Once the home of Tacoma’s last horse-drawn firehouse, the building was purchased in the late 1960s by two locals with a dream to open a neighborhood tavern where the local community would want to hang out. Now over 50 years later, E9 is on the National Register of Historic Places, and they're still doing exactly what they set out to do from the beginning: cultivating community while serving great beer and house-made pizza!
Narrows Brewing Company
Named after the iconic Tacoma bridge, Narrows Brewing Company features an incredible view of the bridge and Sound. They’re known for their hoppy IPAs and unique malty ales like the Peanut Butter Cookie Blonde, but with 11 taps, there's a style of beer for everyone; in fact, they'll stake their reputation on it! Narrows Brewing makes an effort to offer something that appeals to everyone, which is why they supplement with seasonally-rotating local ciders and seltzers, and comprehensive wine list.
Odd Otter Brewing Company
Odd Otter strives to not take things too seriously. They’ve shown this through their adorable logo, an otter wearing glasses, and the fun flavors of all their house-crafted beers. Here you can expect beer that won’t taste like anything else you’ll find in the city like their ODDitea Brown Ale brewed with coconut chai or their Otter Fuzz Tropical Tangerine Ale. Alongside these unique ingredients is some local flavor as well with weekly live music nights featuring local artists. Just like any form of fried potato, music pairs extremely well with beer, or so we've been told.
Parkway Tavern
There are a lot of reasons why people love the Parkway. Established in 1935 and voted Washington’s best beer bar in 2016, it has certainly passed the test of time, but there's something more to it. The tavern is old Tacoma through and through with its iconic neon sign out front, wood walls, leather booths, and a cascade of tap handles covering the ceiling above. The bartenders are friendly and locals chat with each other on lawn chairs out front. The formidable 30+ tap list carries local, national, and international options, as well as some ciders. Come see for yourself.
Peaks & Pints
Let's hear it for a triple threat! Peaks & Pints is a craft brewery, bottle shop, and restaurant serving some seriously delicious sandwiches and salads. With 28 different taps serving everything from local brews to international favorites, this is the perfect place to discover something new that you won’t find at your average tap house. In the bottle shop you can expect to find over 850 options to stock up on for your next outdoor adventure, but thankfully their knowledgeable staff is happy to help with the inevitable decision paralysis. They'll also help you pair a beer with your sandwich if you're so inclined.
The Red Hot
Hot dogs may be trending, but The Red Hot isn't playing around. Their menu of about 20 different hot dogs and brats (not to mention the classic BBQ sides) are reason enough to go, but this is a beer lover's list after all. They have 25+ taps featuring Washington, Oregon, and California breweries, so you can tour the entire West Coast with hot dog in hand. Special mention for cider, seltzer, nitro cold brew, and rootbeer also on tap, but we know you're here for the brews.
With the immense amount of breweries we’re spoiled with here, it’s possible we’ve missed a hidden gem! If we left out your favorite one, we want to know. Comment or tag us @visittacomapiercecounty and tell us where we need to go to further our research on the best breweries in Tacoma. Or, if we listed your favorite, let us know what your go-to brew is! Cheers!
