The interior is woody, rustic, homey and exactly what I look for in a neighborhood bar. I would think I was in some Midwest blue-collar bar if I didn't know any better. I loved the eclectic decorations and the random table sizes and chairs. The menu is very limited. You can get pizza, sandwiches, chili and baked potatoes. That's about it. And it's also expensive. A 8-inch personal pan pizza will run you about $9.00. If it were about two bucks cheaper, it'd be perfect. Because even though the pizza and chili is very good, it is still overpriced. Minus points for no dessert but pre-wrapped cookies. Astoundingly good beer for such a small operation. There were 10 to choose from, and each was impressive. I could go on and on about seven of their beers which I found to be above average, but I'll focus on the coal porter, which was offered on cask. The smooth creamyness, slightly warm beer with a deep, complex taste profile knocked my socks off. If you like beer, this is the place to be. I can't believe a place with this good of homemade beer is on a college campus. But again, it's overpriced. A sampler of 4, 4-ounce beers ran $5, which is more than a pint. I'd rather smaller samplers of each beer for less per ounce than a pint, which is the way most places run it. The bartender was on top of her game. Food orders are taken by the customer directly to the food window, which I'm fine with. The order comes out promptly. Not bad. read more

Big Time is one of my favorite local brewers, I have discovered through the mysteries of WABL. The brewmaster here looks like he just got back from a LARP or SCA event, but the man clearly has his game together. I very much appreciate his work. This place has a lot of personality, which isn't always a good thing, but it is always better to have some than none at all. read more

You know you're when the Big Time is brewing because the entire block smells like hops. At first it smells kind of like nutty butt, which I haven't smelled directly, but I can infer what a nutty butt might smell like. That was before I started drinking beer anyway. Now that I'm a bit older, I actually like the smell sometimes I'll linger on the Ave reading the Stranger just to catch the fragrant smell of hops, which I no longer refer to as the nutty butt smell. There was a period of time 2 years ago when I was on a first name basis with that bald bartender. As you can see 2 years has passed and I can't recall his name anymore. But the guy looked and dressed exactly like someone out of an old western saloon flick. Great guy, recognized faces well, so you rarely had to pull out your ID twice. On to the beers, great variety of brews. They are seasonally appropriate names for some of their brews and other off the wall names for others. I particularly enjoyed playing shuffleboard for drinks in the back. You can see how long the shuffleboard has been there because of the wear and tear on the ends. Good times though for drinking. Pretty delicious pizzas that go well with the brews. If I recall correctly they have some beer and pizza specials, but I haven't gotten any. The best thing here are their nachos which are pretty divine. Wow, I'm salivating thinking about it right now, since I live close I think I'm gonna head over there now and get some. read more

You know that brew pub? You know the one. The one they called the Rathskeller when you were in college when colleges had pubs on campus because back then you could drink at 18 so that by the time you got to 21 it was kind of boring and you didn't have to spend your time staring down the bottom of a ratty plastic beer cup? The pub with the pizza that tastes kind of frozen from the box but you still order it because it's cheap? And that long list of sandwiches with fancy names for putting together what is basically cheddar cheese, turkey or ham? Yeah, that pub. If you've been looking to recreate that experience, then Big Time is there for you with some nice beers and no attitude. I've been to this same pub in every part of the country, always staffed by DUDE guys who can't quite imagine what they'll do when the party stops, and from Missoula to Palo Alto to Seattle - there are no surprises. The pizza isn't all that good, the beer is nice and mellow, the sandwiches are hardy, and its so loud that you have to get up close to hear each other, which is why tables are always yelling. Which is all to say, if you like it, you like it. This pub, man. I like it. read more

Lots of great beers. $1.25 flights allowed me to enjoy 10 different brews. All of which were delicious. Icculus IPA is my favorite so far. Fruity and hoppy. I also bought a full glass of their wheatwine which they don't serve as a flight. They have a lot apparently, so I'll definitely be going back. Oh... extra bonus. They write down all the flights you have on a mat underneath. No asking/ guessing!!! read more

Big Time, how I love thee... For Happy Hour you're the best My professor, good friends and all the rest run to your door and quickly plea that you fill our glasses oh can't you see you're there for us when the quarter gets stale so feed us your pizza and poor us some ale! I should write little poems more often for reviews! Seriously though, this place rocks, especially when you're having a crappy quarter and just need to get drunk with some friends! read more

When Steve and I were a part for about eight months and in the process of prepping my Colorado house to rent and Steve being stuck with a hellish landlord he naturally had to escape frequently so he would not succumb to the brimstone odor of that house he lived in for six months. Escaping to breweries was one of these activities and he went here during such a time. Since I have moved up here sometimes I drag him back to places he has already been and does not really want to go back to and sometimes he enjoys revisiting places. On this occasion he did not want to go back to Big Time because he felt like it was just average. I have heard this before and went to try for myself and have found sometimes improvements have been made since he was there. But in this case we are on the same page. I went in here the other day and got their Hopgoblin beer which was a kind of pumpkin ale. The beer was indeed pumpkiny and had a decent taste to it but not as well crafted as other pumpkin beers I have had this year. The beer was not a cask beer that I ordered yet somehow it did not seem to have much for carbonation. So all in all the beer quality was so so but the bartender was nice and helpful! read more

OH. MY. GEE.... the food is amazing. The orchard salad, Ruben, poutine with bacon, French fries and all meat pizza!! Friendly faces and bartender was nice. The beers were great. And pairs well with our lunch!! We will definitely be back to visit read more

Big Time Brewing Company - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a popular watering hole for UW grad students. I hear good things about the beer (I don't like beer myself), but I do like their 5 bucks a glass Cabernet sauvignon. It's pretty good, and the price ain't bad neither. I have had the fries, which were decent, and the nachos, which were also decent. The vibe is cool, the people who work there are cool. I have never been for HH, their HH hours are pretty limited, it sure would be nice if those could be extended, pretty please? read more

I came here with a friend to watch the election results back in November. We drank 2 pitchers + some more beer between the two of us. When we went to pay, the bartender gave us a pint to sip on while he ran the card. (Well, I sipped on it. My drunk friend was VERY suspicious of why he would be giving us free beer and refused to even touch the glass. I think he did it because he had poured the wrong pint and had it sitting there, and he had a lot of cards to run. Also because we are attractive ladies.) Shuffleboard in the back if you're into that sort of thing, other menu options besides pizza (though why would you order anything aside from their pizza) and good beer. It's a good place to hang out for a while if you've got nowhere to be. read more

Pretty much the only brewery/ale house place in the U Dist, which is a shame. That being said it isn't bad. A good selection of beers (especially if you like 'em dark). I'd recommend the Atlas Amber. The food's nothing special, but it gets the job done. One tip - go on a Sunday night and order a large daily special pizza. You'll then get a pitcher for just a buck. read more

I've only been here twice but both times have been memorable. Even though I have only had the Big Wooly Barleywine and Whiny the Complainer TIPA, they are both fantastic beers. I love the ambiance of the place and the people who worked there seemed really nice. I need to come here more often! Zipzap Zubidy Bop! read more

I am kind of astonished that I've never written a review for Big Time. Maybe I just took for granted that this is the best bar in the universe, and therefore thought no review was necessary. This bar is my home bar. From the time I turned 21 five years ago, this place has been my bar. Over the years I've gotten to know multiple bartenders, had pretty much every beer they brew, spent hours and hours with friends eating baked potatoes and playing games. I've recently moved to Olympia, but my relationship with Big Time is still going strong. Every time I'm back, I'm in and saying hi to Rick and playing dominoes at the bar and eating their new addition of Belgian Frites (complete with dipping sauce!). This place is an oasis in the midst of frat-bars, and I hope I'm still visiting twenty, thirty, forty years from now. read more

Got the 8" Sausage Italiano pizza, which was tasty but a HUGE ripoff at $12.95, unless there were gold flakes in that sausage and I just missed it. The guy behind the counter was also curt and unfriendly. Maybe if I had gone there to drink the price of the food would have seemed less outrageous, but definitely not somewhere I would go for dinner again. Update 3/1/13: Well, despite my threat never to return, a recent racquetball session left me so starving I was willing to give it another go, and am now revising my review from 2 to 3 stars. Food - pulled pork sandwich was mouthwateringly AMAZING. And I am a pulled pork fiend, so believe me. Disappointingly, it came with a very boring side of tasteless tortilla chips, without anything to dip them in. Tacky... you couldn't spring for some salsa?! The salad was meh... the balsamic vinaigrette was too sweet for my taste. The garlic bread side was also blahhh. Drinks - cider on tap, no complaints. Service - the bartender was super amiable and nice. The people working the food area were again curt and unfriendly (deja vu!). Atmosphere - lame and full of bros. Conclusion - I kind of hate this place because the atmosphere is lame, the food is overpriced and a mixed bag in terms of quality, and the service is rude (by and large). However, I really did love that pulled pork, so 3 stars it is. read more

Good drink selection with some really good PNW ciders. Reuben sandwich is really good and the service is quick. Plus several big TVs to watch games! Solid spot. read more

Really. good. veggie. pizza. Most veggie pizza's I've found in these parts have been very plain, while the stuff on top was pretty ordinary (tomatoes, olives, zucchini) they also threw on spices like garlic and fresh basil. The Atlas beer is fantastic but heavy, so come with an appetite or a friend and split the special for a good deal (On Sunday we split the special pizza and got a pitcher for a buck, which is normally $12). The atmosphere is very relaxed with a mix of self-service and waiters, all very nice but if you need something you'll have to go ask. PS-Remember to get your receipt if you order a beer you'll need it at the bar! read more

I have been here a handful of times and each time I come, I think, "I really like this place!". Good beer on tap, nice bartenders. I have yet to try any of the food but everything I have seen has looked pretty yummy. This place seems to always have friendly folks hanging out and it is pretty laid back and comfortable to hang out on an afternoon watching people walk by. read more

EDIT: I love hoppy beers now. Took me long enough. Big Time gets a big time upgrade from 4 to 5, now that I realize each and every one of their brews is gold. So it's a Saturday night, and you find yourself on the Ave at a bar so crowded that it takes 5 minutes to get a drink, and when you finally get to the bartender, you have to shout at them over the blaring top 40 music just so they can hear your order. You think, 'What the fuck am I doing here? I just want to enjoy a few beers with some friends that I can actually talk to without shouting at.' Then you suddenly remember that brewpub down the street in the quaint little brick building, and you realize that all hope is not lost. On any given night, there will usually be a few tables open where one can enjoy good beer, good food, and have a good conversation with good music (Pearl Jam, Pixies, CCR, etc.) playing at a decent level in the background. I'm pretty much in love with their sandwiches. Particularly the cascade and pink cadillac. Also to be had are very tasty pizza slices, chili, and most everything else on the menu. As for the alcohol, there's only beer. Lots and lots of craft-brewed beer, which thankfully drives away the "I just wanna dance and drink vodka-redbulls" crowd. I'm not a huge fan of IPAs, (or really hoppy beers in general) which several of their brews are. However, they do have an excellent porter and a delicious brown ale. Looking for Bud Light? Mixed drinks? A dance floor? Loud pop music? Trendy and hip decor? Thankfully, you won't find any of that here. read more

I didn't even read your review. This place is Good. It's a little weird that this little gem of a brewery is located in the heart of the U District, but as soon as you walk in, you're back to where you were expecting to go. For a small craft brewery (oldest in Washington?) they produce some impressive beers. We enjoyed 4 different IPA's and all were tasty. Been several times for beer, plus taking some growlers home, and finally hit it for lunch. Wife and I both had some very tasty french dip sandwiches, which were WAY better than we were expecting. Beer Geeks - This is a solid brew pub, 5 star beers and affordable. Foodies - well...you're on your own, as usual. Cheers! read more

Beer is decent, food is OK, service is often lacking. It is clear this place deals with underage patrons often because they are pushy about ID checking, sometimes even when you are returning with an empty glass and a tab started. Also, some of the bartenders act annoyed to answer questions about the beer. Are you a brewery? Do you feature a variety of rotating options? Do you want to sell beer? Then maybe engage someone who takes interest in your product. read more

This place is not "all that." If you have a big group, head to the back room at Finn MacCools instead. For a date, or a solo study break, hit the back room at Kai's. Big Time's food is nothing special. I don't remember the beer being that outstanding. Service is nothing special (prepare to schlep your own food, utensils and condiments from the pickup window). Atmosphere is nothing special. Whenever we had a big group it always seemed very cramped. The menu is overpriced "big-time," considering the cafeteria-style service and so-so quality. Consider this place a Big-waste-of-Time. I could do this all day... read more

Big Time has been the go-to bar for my friends and me since college, and we always seem to find ourselves coming back here. It's sort of surprising, considering that it's right in the middle of the Ave, but the crowd is a lot less collegy than you might think. The people here skew a little older, which makes for a much more laid-back atmosphere. It also seems to be busy around dinner time and then clear out as the evening goes on, so it's never difficult to find a table for a large group of people. I do wish I liked the beer here more, though. As someone who generally likes lighter and/or sour beers, most of their beers are much too dark or hoppy for my tastes. When the so-called "wheat ale" tastes like an IPA, that's a bit of a problem. It's a small price to pay though, since the atmosphere is great, the food is all solid, and they always seem to be playing good music. Definitely worth visiting if you want a place to hang out in the U district that isn't crawling with popped collar frat boy types. read more

I graduated from UC Berkeley a few years ago. Next to Berkeley is a solid Brewery named Triple Rock. Triple Rock and Big Time happen to be owned by the same people. Although certainly not a replica or Triple Rock, Big Time is similar enough to emulate the wow factor. The beer here is great. I tried a couple of their IPAs, and their Porter, as well as one of their stronger drinks served in a little 5oz nub-glass. For a smaller Brewery, their beer is fairly large in selection. I got the nachos and a bit of chili to munch on. Not bad for around 10 bucks. their fries are slamming too. Although the brewery is unlikely to win any awards with regard to their food, their food is extremely affordable in an otherwise baller college town. It is a brewery, and the beer does a good job in standing on its own. I'm good with just calling the food an add-on. The atmosphere is great, and there's lots of space. Pretty swag decorations reminding you of an old school pub, with lots of wood and lots of tables. The brewery is also pretty large in size, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a seat. Big time (like its sister in Berkeley) is original, affordable, and delicious. read more

I barely got here in time to get some food because of a delayed Southwest flight and Payless Rental Car giving away my car. I ordered a pizza which was delicious and made my way to the bar. The only aspect of this brewery that is a little abnormal, is that you order and pay for your food separately and there is no table service. They did deliver the pizza to me at the bar. At the bar, I tasted Fat Katt Kolsch, Atlas Amber, Naked Time Saison, Coal Creek Porter, Prime Time Pale, Azacca ISA, Citra Dryhopped Pale (cask). Of those, my favorites were the Atlas Amber, Coal Creek Porter, Azacca ISA (India Session Ale), and Citra Dryhopped Pale (cask). I drank a pint of the Coal Creek Porter and it was great. They have about 20 GABF awards from a variety of beers, so they have some serious credibility. The bartender, Katherine, was awesome and answered all of my beer questions and she and Rick were kind enough to recommend some other local breweries for me to try on my drinkend. Did I just make up a word? It was a great place to hang out on a late Friday night. read more

See all

Lunch for under $5 bucks in the Udistrict? Totally can be done. At Big Time Brewery I can get Pizza and Iced Tea and come back with a bill and change out of a fiver. The wifi works, unlike some other places on the ave, and this is my choice for places to hang out with a beer after work. Love them! read more

So here's something funny you probably don't know about me... i love Beer culture, hell I love it so much I work at a brewery (not this one) but I cannot freaking stand beer! lol! yeah seriously what the hell is wrong with me? Regardless this place still gets the big five star rating from me... the people behind the bar are awesome always sweet but just rough enough around the edges that you want to hear more about them. The pizza is pretty yummy too... and the atmosphere is that of a place you could just chill with your friends for hours in (believe me i've done it)... yup, I'm all about Big Time : ) read more

I would normally give this place only two stars, but they brew their own beer so an extra star right there. The bar over all seemed like your usally college town bar (nothing special), and the service matched. I didn't eat here but they do have a large selection. My main goal that afternoon was the beer. Unfortunately none of the beers were anything that great. I almost couldn't even finish my beer sampler. But I couldn't leave a man behind so I went in for one last try... I am happy to say I was able to walk away with my sampler glasses empty. read more

I like the beer here, especially the porter. You can't get it bottled, so it's a unique place. It's also good for bigger groups-I used to come here with my UW cohort and they are cool with putting the tables together. What I don' t dig is why they won't let my underage friends in-it's a restaurant and a bar. Not only that, they are super agressive about asking people for ID. I get that they are trying to not get in trouble with the law, but when it impacts customer service, it goes a little too far. The food is not bad or good, just plain. I eat sandwiches when I go there because if you order something else, it usually takes forever. Also, it's SUPER annoying to have to pay twice-once for beer and once for food, making two charges on my credit card. They need a better system. read more

Nestled in the heart of U-District, this is the go to bar before, during or after any UW games! It tends to get crowded, but it's worth the wait as the beer here is yummy! Laid back and casual atmosphere makes this a perfect place to meet friends for a local brew and good times! I've yet to try the food but it always looks yum! I also love the fact that they have growlers to take home some of the home brew! read more

What's not to love about The Big Time? Good beer, good food and a normally chill crowd make this my absolute must-visit place on the Ave. I say a "normally chill crowd" because a few times I've been here during a particularly busy time of year (last day before mid-winter break at U-Dub for example) and the place gets SLAMMED, but never so much that I can't get served. That's a rarity, most of the time the volume and crowds are even enough that you can actually have a conversation without shouting to be heard. Many beer snobs don't really give this place the props it deserves but the seasonal beers at Big Time are really some of the best in town, and the stapes are always consistent so from where I stand that keeps them on the beer map for me. The Christmas Ale and the Barleywine were particularly good in 2011 for example. The food is pub food, but a good version of pub food so I never feel tempted to jump over to a Thai joint on the Ave, but with so much good food in this neighborhood it's hard to say that The Big Time is a destination restaurant. The big news is they now have a fryer, and are serving Pommes Frites that come in a clever paper cone held in place by a metal funnel (classic Belgian style) and they're pretty awesome. Some of the several dipping sauces are not so great (speaking of "Thai" Aioli here) so order carefully. The Big Time is always a good time! read more

This is my local micro brewery that every one loves. After softball games we congregate here for pizza and pints. Nothing like good food and good company in a warm fuzzy place. Atlas Amber is one fine beer. The Bhagwans best is an award winning IPA. Its always a good crowd with people from all over. During UW games its packed with Husky Faithful. The first festival of the summer. Its a great place to people watch. Outside seating while you are enjoying pints in the sun. This neighborhood bar is a fan favorite. When your in the area stop by for a pint and a smile. read more

I've been coming here since they opened. The beer is always great, they'll even give you a free yeast starter if you're brewing your own. The food is only average though; and dated at that. I once found a worn in my salad and the punk behind the counter just gave me a "so pick it off man" kind of look. 2010 update: They now allow kids until about 9pm!!! This is great news for us thirsty parents, and it's about time. read more

Their beer is hit and miss for me. I enjoy their creativity and managed to get a chile beer there once. Surprisingly good. A decently large food selection ranging from sandwiches, to pizza, to soups and chili. Food quality matches the price, not gourmet but decent. They have several vegetarian options, and could probably even assemble a vegan sandwich or chili with no cheese. Their large front windows can make up for the lack of out door seating during summer and the cozy wood interior still makes you feel sheltered from the winter rains. I'm pretty sure they don't have TVs and can be a welcome break from sports coverage. They've got slightly smaller backroom that makes a good spot to take over for large groups. There's even a shuffle board game to drunkenly loose at! read more

4th bar of the pub run! I guess they're a brewery, and not a tavern, but no hard a! Disappointed. Fine beer though, if that's youre thing (not really mine). AWESOME hot dogs! read more

The Beer: Excellent The Food: Yuck The ambiance: Way too effing loud. that said, I love Big Time. Just don't go if you want to have a conversation with anyone, or eat something good. If you are looking for a tasty beer on the Ave, this is the place. read more

I love this place. Every time I'm back in Seattle, I do my damnedest to get here. The beer is always good (and there's no other place to get it) and the games are fun. Service is prompt and it never seems too busy to get your order taken care of. The only complaint is the food - it's not bad, but nothing special. The pizzas are good food to go with the beer - as in the beer is the star, and the pizza is to insure you don't get too drunk before you can enjoy more beer. I've had a turkey and avocado sandwich there before - it wasn't too bad, better than the pizza. Go for the beer - excellent stuff. read more

I love, love, love coming to the Big Time for a few pints. It is one of the hidden treasures along the Ave. It easily has the best tasting beer (dare I say in all of Seattle?) and it is rarely if ever crowded. The food menu, while a little on the flat side, is satisfying enough when accompanied by a few beers. The pizzas are the best choice if you are splitting a pitcher amongst friends. The beer is the thing that keeps me coming back. The bulletin board behind the board is sure to have whatever you are craving for at that moment. I would highly recommend the Coal Creek Porter and the Atlas Amber. If you like good beer, a pub-style atmosphere and finding parking along the Ave, then check out the Big Time. NOW! read more

I had the breakfast burrito and the salsa had an odd taste. Unfortunately I was so hungry. I know have a stomach ache and diarrhea. Slow service, the cook had a bad attitude kept coming out and glaring and shaking his head. Never go here again. read more

Still a good all-around brew pub close to UW, with "close to UW" being the caveat. If I were judging on overall Seattle standards I'd probably give it 3 stars, but this is the U District. In the U District you accept a bit lower quality in exchange for convenience to UW and lower prices. I've had their nachos and other bar food, all of which are pretty good. Given the explosion of amazing beer coming out of Seattle these days, I would judge theirs as mediocre. read more

Super food, well prepared with care and yummy. I had the turkey, havarti, bacon and avacodo sandwich on grilled sourdough bread and it was to die for! My companions had large salads, the Caesar and the Cobb, both were wonderful. The beer was great too, lots of choices but super heavy on the IPA's, if you love IPA's, this is your spot!! Sadly, no burgers on the menus (yet), hopefully too come.... read more