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    Special Brews

    4.6 (131 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Special Brews Photos

    SPECIAL BREWS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Special Brews

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    Reviews With Photos

    Tom B.

    These guys have 100% hit their stride over the last decade. They started out as a clubhouse for the adventurous beer drinker, and quickly built a huge following of beer lovers. All kinds come in--people just learning about beer, people who drink only a style or two, people who've tried every style 5 times, and everyone in between. It was originally going to be a bottle shop, with occasional shoppers stopping for a pint. 8+ years later, it's a flourishing neighborhood watering hole, with big rushes at the ends of Boeing shifts and pretty much anybody else's workday. There's no happy hour to speak of, but the post-work crowds get this place jumping. They have 15 taps pouring a wide variety of beers all the time, plus a beer engine always pouring a cask ale (usually from Seattle's Machine House Brewing, one of the most underrated breweries in the western U.S.). They will happily fill a 32-oz crowler (a recyclable aluminum can) of most of the non-cask taps anytime. There are 1,000+ bottles and cans on the shelves and in the coolers, too. They get many of the hotly sought-after limited can releases, and there are always good 4-packs and 6-packs stacked up around the store, along with hundreds of bottles that range from basics to rarities. If you want to chill anything down to crack in-store, there's a whirlpool chiller near the door. They stock cider, mead, and wine as well. Sparkling wine, canned wine, some hard-to-get wine; they have a diverse selection for oenophiles too (though just a fraction of their beer offerings). They offer a bunch of different pub snacks--peanuts, starchy snacks, pepperoni, charcuterie plates, even hot dogs. They also welcome outside food and delivered food. You can expect a wide variety of events here--tap takeovers, special beer releases, competitions between breweries. They get packed for Hawks games and some other sporting events. They've been my local watering hole for years, starting with being the best beer shop in town when they opened. Now they're a bustling hangout that has a better beer selection than ever. I'm lucky to have these guys in my neighborhood.

    the outside of a restaurant
    Lambert L.

    So this store/pub sell you beer that you can't drink it in the establishment but they won't tell you this. We bought canned beer and walked straight from the cash register to the table. Wasn't told by anyone we couldn't drink the beer. Then after 10 minutes get approached from the guy that sold us the beer and watched us walk to the table that we're not allowed to open our own cans they have too. Literally scolding us like we knew better. They have no sign and do not notify after purchase. The beer also was horrible. Real racist vibes!! FIND ANY PLACE ELSE TO ENJOY YOUR BEVERAGE THIS PLACE IS TRASH.

    Open for Easter Sunday!
    Erica W.

    Great tap house & bottle shop in the north end! I've been several times, and realized I've never shared a review! Special Brews has 16 beers on tap. Today's tap list only had a few IPAs available. The rest were higher ABV beers, sours and dark beers. I had the only Hazy IPA on tap, which came from Skookum. Solid beer. There weren't a good variation of styles on tap, so I had to peruse the bottle selection. They have a great selection of beers in the cases. Many styles to choose from. I selected a few cans from Matchless, which were delicious. You can open the cans there, but I'm pretty sure they charge a fee to open them (which is typical for any bottle shop). It's nice to have the bottle option when they don't have anything on tap to appeal to your styles. I would've been done after one pint if they didn't have bottles!

    Special glasses for the anniversary chili cook-off!

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great selection of beer, friendly staff and fair prices! I pick up locally canned craft beer all the time.

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    1 year ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Local, friendly, good variety, including non-alcoholic beverages in the refrigerated cases.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great variety of brews, and a helpful, happy, spritely crew of individuals. ‍what else you need

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    We live within walking distance of this place. That's dangerous. Phenomenal selection of brews. I dare say it's a Mecca. You must visit.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    6 years ago

    ThIs place has an amazing selection of beers. On tap and on the shelf. It's awesome. Check out the Snowdrift Cider. It's amazing.

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    12 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Dog friendly, friendly staff, antiracist, chill place to have a beer and watch a game.

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    13 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Special Brews

    Does Special Brews allow dogs inside besides Buddy?

    Service dogs are allowed. Buddy has passed away, though.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Special Brews

    I first checked this place out when I noticed they had a wide variety of mead.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Game On Bar & Grill

    3.7(11 reviews)
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    In short A little divey, tons of pool tables and TVs, pull…read moretabs, full bar, and a surprisingly interesting kitchen. If you're in the mood for a basic place where they do everything right, you can probably round up a star. In long This has been at least one other sports bar, and you might be surprised how big it is inside. There's a decent amount of parking, and a ton of reliable places to eat also surround this lot. I came in to check out Husky hoops yesterday afternoon, which nobody around here was showing since it was on a streaming platform. The place was empty when I showed up 'cause it was way between lunch and dinner, so I got to chat with the cool bartender a bit. She had already scoured their channel guides to see which local teams she'd be able to show, so we shared a cheerful grumble about how you can't just get one subscription to cable anymore and see all your teams' games. I didn't get the sense she was a sports dork like me, so she was doing this so she could do a good job at work. I like that!@ This place from the outside looks like it might seat about 25, but the reality is that it's several times that big. Dozen pool tables scattered around, plenty of room for everybody to line up shots. Couple dozen TVs. Huge horseshoe-shaped bar going from the middle of room to the back corner, lots of stools. You can see a few nice choices for spirits here and there. Full bar for sure. Beers are a little on the industrial side, probably no wines. She mixed a decent old-fashioned for me, but asked multiple questions about how I liked it. I really loved how detailed she was with everything--which games are on, which drinks they have, how to make them, how they serve their food. She didn't seem like the owner (I don't think) but she knew the whole place like the back of her hand. I had a prime rib dip, which was just the sandwich you want when you can have a little cheat. Good chewy onion rings that didn't pull apart after one bite--you get batter and onion, both, every time. Jus was good, meat was tender, bread had a nice chew to it. The chef puts his name on at least one dish, and the bartender went on about how much scratch cooking he does. I asked if she recommended something specific, and she rattled off half the menu. This is definitely a place where you can happily eat during the game. I was out the door with a meal and a drink for under $30, which is an amazing value these days.

    is great place to relax bartenders are the best, food service needs help…read more Will be there tomorrow!

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    5x5 Bar & Bistro

    5x5 Bar & Bistro

    4.5(8 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    Takes reservations
    Full bar

    We had a MARVELOUS experience!…read more My bf, his mom and myself passed by this place on a couple of walks. I've also marked it as a place to visit. It is part of the Staybridge Suite hotels here and this hotel in general, is always packed! We finally know why! The hotel inside is beautiful -- woodwork and a cozy ambience! The 5 x 5 bar & bistro is new. What it was before was an old theater. Matthew was a one-man show with two ladies helping him with carrying the done orders to the tables. It was actually quiet on a Wednesday when we had went. Only 3 tables occupied. We missed happy hour and settled on the regular menu. I had the chicken tenders (4-pc) with lemon pepper seasoning (oh my -- this was delicious!) along with sweet potato waffle fries. I also got the hummus plate -- fresh veggies and the hummus had feta cheese and olive oil too, yummy! My bf had the pepperoni pizza with cheddar cheese and topped with green onions. I had a taste of it and it was pretty good! My bf's mom had the fish burger with a side salad. Matthew was so kind and made a mental note of the orders. He even remembered my bf's mom saying 'no cheese' and he doubled checked with her after looking at the fish burger. Real nice guy and his service with the ladies was warm and delightful! They're forming an events room hall that will be done soon that used to be a pool area (so yes, no swimming pool anymore). They also have a nice patio area with long chairs and a nice mini bar/grills in the middle. I also had a limoncello cooler and my bf's mom has red wine too. We'd come back again!

    In short Great deals on great drinks, food is really solid,…read moreand the setting is nice and friendly. Only drawback is that the hours are limited. In long Lately we've been seeking out places that are literally quieter--less volume on the music, more space between the tables, and so on. I'd been wanting to check out 5x5, anyway, since it's the only spot around with an exactly perfect rating score. It looked like it'd fit the bill for a low-key place, and off we went. We came in shortly after they opened on a Saturday (4:00 PM). You're in a larger business-traveler hotel here, aimed at Boeing and Boeing-sub folks traveling for work. The building looks kinda generic from outside, but there's plenty of parking, and the lobby has a high-ceilinged atrium vibe for sure. Nice floor tiles, nice carpet, tasteful furniture. Everything's in perfect shape. You don't feel the lounge vibe right away, but there's a gigantic fireplace ahead of you, warming both sides of the room from the middle. Around that, there are lots of sturdy, shiny tables under the lofty ceilings. Off to the side, there's a little lounge area, then another one. Everything in the lounge is bar-height seating, and there are a few flatscreens, probably showing the game. Most folks are in here, sitting around the bar in the middle of the room. We posted up at a table just outside the lounge. Lindsey was behind the bar, and cheerfully answered every single question we had about food and all their cocktails. She's super friendly and makes a great drink for sure. She seems to have a bunch of regulars who aren't staying at the hotel, which is a great sign, no doubt. We checked out the warm pretzel--such a decadent treat. The waffle fries (and especially the aioli that came with them) were awesome. The pizza was a great choice; we added pickled onions to the Speedway. The crust could be a little crisper but we took home what we didn't finish and it's great here, too. Service on food and drinks was really quick. The cocktails here can be really creative, and there are lots of classics with house twists on the recipe. They even have a pisco sour they've tweaked--that's a fair bit of work for a bartender to make mid-shift. We got 5 great drinks and 3 nice plates of food for $96, and I don't think we even ordered anything from the HH menu. This is a very easy place to add to the rotation.

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    5x5 Bar & Bistro
    5x5 Bar & Bistro
    5x5 Bar & Bistro

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    Peace Of Mind Brewing - Coffee and non coffee menu

    Peace Of Mind Brewing

    4.6(52 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    I decided to check out Peace of Mind Brewing after seeing some online Yelp & IG activity (2/6/26)…read more Straightforward drive up north on 99 from Shoreline and they have their own parking lot. They are also located along the Community Transit blue line. Note: this post is only for a cafe visit. Weekdays they are open 7am to 2pm. Weekends they are open 8am to 2pm. This is a great northend alternative to cramped, corporate cafes. This indie site feels vast, spacious, decent natural light, and I really like the overhead music. Great cafe location whether you are solo, small or large groups. Plenty of room with a variety of seating configurations. While I was onsite, there were three others with laptops (yes, there's WiFi) and several got their bevs to go. The brewpub has varied hours depending on the day. Screenshot I added listed brewpub as: Monday 4-9pm Tues-Thurs 2-9pm Friday 2-10pm Saturday noon to 10pm Sunday noon to 9pm Call, check their website or social media for the latest info. The brewpub has been in operation for 2.5 years, while the cafe concept started on 11/10/25, coming up on three months. The welcoming barista (one of the owners?) mentioned her extensive espresso experience. And yes, she crafted a really good 20oz mocha. I brought my mug from home and got a discount ($6.25 vs $6.50). Regardless this is a mega bargain vs close to ten bucks with tax & tip at most Seattle cafes for a smaller 16oz volume! Nice find - next time I'll bring reading or writing gear and hang out longer. PS At the entrance, door states No Cash Accepted. Just an fyi.

    In short Great space, decent beers, friendly service. Prices…read moreare fine. Free pool, tons of flatscreens. It's a mellow dad bar and probably a fun place to watch the game. Killer food truck on site daily. In long We rolled in for a late lunch and almost had the place to ourselves for a while. Big room, high ceilings, lots of hardwoods in the construction, plus bare concrete floors. It filled in with maybe 20 people after a while and you can tell it'll get loud when it's full. We checked out 3 beers, a wine, and 2 seltzers. The beers are all drinkable; the wines and seltzers are kinda average as those things go. We relaxed and listened to music and watched the Audubon channel on one of the flatscreens. Lots of regulars seemed to know each other, and the barman was always happy to see everybody. Outside there's an amazing taco truck with a huge menu. You can order from your phone and pay when you go out to get it. The website says cash only, but they're really cash preferred. They do take cards. Whew! All in all a good hangout for a fun afternoon sneaking out of the house.

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    Cactus Moon Saloon - Cheeseburger Sliders for $13.

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    3.8(144 reviews)
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    This review is only for their wings - I haven't tried any other food / deals they offer…read more I come at least once every two months on a Thursday for their $1.25 / wings! The wings are very meaty, and plump - nothing like Wingstop. It's ruined almost every wing restaurant / chain for me. They require a minimum of 8 wings per flavor, so if you come with a big group you can mix and match flavors easily. My top two flavors: hot (buffalo) and the dry rub lemon pepper. Service is alright. You seat your self (if there is a table open). On busy days, you just fight for a table. I wish they implemented some form of queue or paper on which party is next. Tables just get wiped down with a rag. But the price / quality for the wings makes me come back every time.

    Cactus Moon Saloon is my new wing place! So excited to find this place because their wings are…read moresoooo good. My wife and I came here for lunch and ordered a pound of wings (2 sauces) and a basket of fries. The fries were good and nicely battered. Wish we would've ordered a half basket though because we didn't make a dent in them. The wings were the star of the show though. The were juicy and flavorful. I ordered the lemon pepper with a side of extra hot sauce and my wife got the honey garlic wings. Both sauces were super tasty and I'm excited to come back and try the other options they have. On the inside the bar is huge! Definitely didn't expect this from the outside. I'll have to come back and check it out at night to see how it is. Seems like they have a great beer menu on draft and lots of tall boy cans available. I also hear their breakfast is good so we'll have to try this soon as well!

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    Special Brews - beer_and_wine - Updated June 2026

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