Pike Place Market is famous for its hustle including the flying fish they show on every Seahawks broadcast, the flower stalls, and the steady stream of locals and tourists alike. But when the crowd gets a bit too thick and your energy starts to dip, there’s a perfect sanctuary to duck into: The Taproom at Pike Place.
Located on the street level of the Corner Market building, this spot has some serious brewing history baked into its walls. Longtime Seattle beer fans will recognize the space as the original location of Old Stove Brewing before they moved to their massive, view-heavy taproom on Western Avenue. The vibe here remains unpretentious, cozy, and centered entirely on great independent beer. We hadn’t been back to this spot since Old Stove moved so it was nice to check it out again.
The Spread: Comfort on a Basket
Sometimes, you don’t need a complicated gastropub menu, you just need something quick so you can move on to the next venue. For this stop, we went straight for the ultimate refueling kit: Chicken strips and tater tots.
The strips were crispy and juicy, but the tots were perfectly salted and providing that essential crunch to power through the rest of our tour of Market area beer stops. It’s the kind of “no-frills, all-thrills” food that pairs perfectly with a cold pint.
Seattle Pours: From the Mountains to the Sound
The tap list at The Taproom is consistently curated, featuring some of the best breweries in the Pacific Northwest.
- Ruud Awakening IPA (Old Schoolhouse Brewery): Bringing a taste of Winthrop to the city, this is a quintessential West Coast IPA. I enjoyed it’s piney, citrusy flavor, and the clean, snappy bitterness that cut right through the richness of fried chicken. It’s easy to see why this is a multi-award winner.
- Imperial Rye Stout (Future Primitive Brewing): Brady went dark. Future Primitive (out of White Center) knows their way around a big beer. This stout is thick and velvety, with the rye adding a spicy complexity to the notes of dark chocolate and roasted malt.
Why Wee Recommend The Taproom at Pike Place
Whether you’re a local taking a break from errands or a visitor looking for an authentic taste of Washington’s craft beer scene, The Taproom hits the mark. You get the historic soul of the Market’s brewing roots combined with a fresh, rotating selection of the region’s finest.
Next time you find yourself navigating the cobblestones, skip the long lines elsewhere and head over to The Taproom at Pike Place. The tots are hot, and the craft beer is even better.
Clark believes that the best professional relationships are built on shared experiences and a bit of fun. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Clark has been a vocal advocate of the local craft beer scene for years. He enjoys exploring the unique flavors and community-driven atmosphere of Washington’s and Oregon’s many breweries while working through the complex software architecture opportunities presented by social interaction. After a hard day of work, Clark can often be found on the karaoke stage any day of the week belting out 80’s rock and heavy metal tunes while bringing the same passion and energy to his performances as he does to his startups; valuing confidence, engagement, and the power of a good song and a bourbon barrel aged beer to bring people together.
