Opened a couple of weeks ago, Pike Taproom extends Pike Brewing's & chef Ethan Stowell's creativity to the Ballard neighborhood.
image sourced from Pike Brewing’s Instagram
Confirmed, Friday, December 2nd, the Pike Taproom in Ballard is open to the public.
Let’s recap.
Reported on earlier, this marks the third restaurant associated with the Pike Brewing Company founded in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. Remarking on this accomplishment, Pike Brewing president, Drew Gillespie had this to share.
We’re thrilled to be a part of this vibrant community.It’s exciting to open the doors and introduce our new and improved beers, new team, and fresh look to the neighborhood.
As reported earlier, the Pike Taproom features wine, canned and draft beer, including one from a neighboring brewery in Ballard, cider, and a full bar. Plus to commemorate their arrival into the Ballard neighborhood, Pike Brewing’s head brewer Leslie Shore and Ballard brewery Stoup have collaborated to release New Kidz on THIS BLOCK IPA.
image sourced from Pike Brewing’s Instagram
Described as a beer which experiments with entertaining “hopping techniques”, New Kidz makes use of modern day hops Mosaic, Citra, and Sabro. The result is a beer that has pungent notes of tropical and orange citrus, along with berry notes. At 6.8% and 37 IBU, New Kidz is featured at the Pike Taproom along with Pike Brewing’s Space Needle West Coast IPA, Post Alley Pils, Uptown Hazy IPA, Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, Pike Place Pale Ale, and Cosmic Pulp Juicy IPA. Besides these, the first cider on draft is Tieton Dry Apple Cider.
For those who prefer something shaken, stirred, or poured over ice, the alcoholic apothecaries of the ‘Taproom are featuring the Cran Royal, Minted Cucumber Collins, Market Manhattan, and Chamomile Sour. Each their own spin on the classic cocktails, look for these drinks to include ingredients like cranberry shrub, all spice syrup, champagne, lemon, cucumber, simply syrup, mint, soda water, infused sweet vermouth, chamomile, amaro vecchio, brown sugar syrup, or egg white.
image sourced from Pike Brewing’s Instagram
On the food side, consulting chef Ethan Stowell invites you to try the following.
… Fried Fish option with panko breaded rockfish, lettuce, tomato and tartar; Seatown Hawaiian with a beef patty, spam, Swiss, shredded lettuce, teriyaki, pineapple, and red pepper relish; Smokin’ Da Gouda Bacon with a beef patty, smoked gouda, bacon, crispy onions, sweet pickles, barbeque sauce, and mayo; Pike Blue Ribbon with panko breaded chicken, ham, Swiss, shredded lettuce, and mayo; and an Ebi Burger with a panko breaded shrimp patty, American cheese, lettuce, Mama Lil’s Peppers, and togarashi tartar.
The chicken wings are brined and then dusted in potato flour making them crispy, and gluten free! Wings come by the dozen of half dozen and offer seven different sauce options for dipping: Monks, House Hot, Sweet Chili, Garlic Parm, BBQ, Buffalo, and Teriyaki. Sharable sides include Loaded Tots, Ranch Fries and the famed Pike Pretzel served with Pike Stout mustard.
Our Thoughts
During a seasonably cold Thursday, a few days after their official opening, we stopped in as guests of Pike Brewing and Chef Ethan Stowell.
Designed to be a casual opportunity to sample various menu items we enjoyed both food and drink ranging from Pike’s collaboration IPA with Stoup, New Kidz on THIS BLOCK IPA, to the Taproom’s spin on the classic American Cheeseburger.
In fact, we tried their American Cheeseburger, McPike, a Seatown Hawaiian Burger (a spin on the Hawaiian burger, but with the addition of spam), an Impossible burger, Loaded Tots with a familiar tasting salsa and seasoning, and their in-house pretzel. Overall, the burgers impressed us and paired wonderfully with the shareables. Need more explanation? Here’s a hop of the descriptions, associated with what we ate.
McPike. 1/4lb patty, american cheese, pickles, onion, ketchup, mustard
Ebi Burger. Panko breaded shrimp patty, american cheese, lettuce, mama lil’s peppers, togarashi tartar
Seatown Hawaiian. 1/4lb patty, smoked gouda, bacon, crispy onions, sweet pickles, bbq, mayo
The Pike Royale. 1/4lb patty, american cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, special sauce
Loaded Tots. tater tots, smother in american cheese, topped with chopped bacon, crispy onions
Pike Pretzel. Served with our Pike Stout mustard for dipping
On the drink side, we revisited Pike Brewing’s Seattle Freeze Cold IPA and their New Kidz on THIS BLOCK IPA, along with the Taproom’s inspired Manhattan. Overall thoughts leaned towards enjoying both of the brewery’s Cold IPA and Stoup Brewing Collaboration, along with the bartenders’ cinnamon infused Manhattan.
images sourced from Pike Brewing’s Facebook page
Let’s not forget seating and decor
Finally, for accommodations, the Pike Taproom features a 2,500 square foot space, designed by Kelley Moore departing from the familiar aesthetics of the Pike’s Pub and their Fish Bar.
With a focus on contrasts, green leather banquette will catch your attention, against the backdrop of exposed brick walls. Overlooking the entire space, one will see lighting fixtures, mirrors, prominent black and white photos, all telling the story of Pike Brewing.
Now open, Pike Taproom, at 5205 Ballard Ave NW, welcomes you from 3 pm Monday thru Friday and 12 pm on weekends. For more information, visit pikebrewingseattle.com.
About Pike Brewing
Founded in 1989 by Charles and Rose Ann Finkel, Pike Brewing is the longest running, independently operated craft brewery in Washington State. Located adjacent to Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market, Pike Brewing features a sustainably focused gravity-flow steam-powered brewhouse producing bold, diverse, and dynamic craft beers. In addition to the urban brewery, the three-level space boasts two restaurants and a Microbrewery Museum, making Pike Brewing a destination for both locals and visitors alike. Pike Brewing is renowned for a wide range of award-winning beers, top-notch hospitality, and a philanthropic commitment to the community. Look for Pike Brewing in restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores throughout Washington, as well as select grocery stores in Alaska and Idaho. To learn more, visit pikebrewingseattle.com.
Pike Brewing is located at 1415 First Avenue in Seattle, Washington.
