Ballard Brewery District Craft Beer Tasting Tour with Food

Ballard went from fishing boats to craft beer, and the three breweries on this tour are why.

A guided craft beer tasting tour in Seattle's Ballard Brewery District visits three local breweries (Maritime Pacific, Fare Isle, and Obec) with eight beer tastings and food stops at two locations. The 2.5-hour tour includes fried chicken or cauliflower bites at the start and empanadas partway through, with a live English-speaking guide. Minimum age is 21.

Step-by-step itinerary

Craft beer tasting and food stops

• Meet guide and eat fried chicken or cauliflower bites
• Visit Maritime Pacific Brewing Taproom for beer tasting
• Visit Maritime Brewery neighbors and new owners
• Taste beers at iconic local brewery
• Optional tasting of Czech style beers at Obec
• Optional tasting of sour beers at Urban Family
• Eat empanada from Ballard food spot
• Taste beers at Fare Isle brewery

The experience

You meet your guide and eat a small snack of fried chicken or cauliflower bites before the three-brewery crawl starts. This fuels the walking and tasting that follows. Maritime Pacific anchors the route. It has been brewing in Ballard since 1990, and you taste there first at the Jolly Roger's Taproom. The brewery's beers define what Seattle craft beer became in the early days, and the guide explains how Ballard transformed from a maritime industrial neighborhood into the brewing capital it is now.

From Maritime, the tour moves to Fare Isle, where you taste a flight of their beers. Fare Isle sits at the cutting edge of Seattle craft brewing, pushing what's possible in the style. Between tastings, you stop at Maria Luisa's for an empanada of your choice: another food break before the final brewery. Eight tastings total come from the three stops, and depending on what the group wants, you can add Czech-style beers from Obec (known for its Pilsner and Dark Lager) or sour beers from Urban Family. The guide walks the whole route and tells the stories of each place.

The 2.5-hour timeline means you're done by early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day open. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby if you prefer not to walk between stops. You need to be 21 or older to join, and it's best to show up ready to eat but not starving. The food stops are part of the pacing, not a meal replacement.

What’s included

• Eight beer tastings from three craft breweries (Maritime Pacific, Fare Isle, and Obec).
• fried chicken or cauliflower bites at the start.
• an empanada of your choice at Maria Luisa's.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full 2.5 hours.
• optional tastings of Czech-style or sour beers depending on group preference.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 13:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Rogue City

Is this one for you?At 2.5 hours, the tour fits into a morning or early afternoon without consuming your whole day. You taste eight beers and eat twice without it becoming a full meal outing. If you want to linger over a single brewery or spend hours at one taproom, this crawl moves too fast. If you want the story of how Ballard became a brewing neighborhood and a guided walk between three places that matter, the pace holds it all together.

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Top questions

How many breweries do I visit on this Ballard beer tasting tour?

You visit three: Maritime Pacific, Fare Isle, and Obec. Maritime Pacific has been in Ballard since 1990 and anchors the tour's first stop at the Jolly Roger's Taproom. Fare Isle and Obec follow, with optional tastings from Urban Family depending on group preference.

What food is included in the Ballard brewery tour?

Two food stops are built into the tour. You start with fried chicken or cauliflower bites, then stop at Maria Luisa's for an empanada of your choice partway through. The guide times these to fuel the walking and tastings without overwhelming your stomach.

How long does the craft beer tasting tour take?

The tour runs 2.5 hours from start to finish, including all three brewery visits, eight beer tastings, and both food stops. This leaves most of your day free for other plans in Seattle.

What is Maritime Pacific Brewing known for?

Maritime Pacific has anchored Ballard's brewing identity since 1990 and represents the origin of true Seattle craft beer. The brewery's beers define what the city's craft brewing movement became in its early days, and you taste them at the Jolly Roger's Taproom as the tour's first stop.

Do I need to be a certain age to join this tour?

Yes, you must be at least 21 years old. The tour includes eight beer tastings across three breweries, so age verification is required to participate.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer not to walk between the three brewery stops.