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    Special Brews

    4.6 (131 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Special Brews Photos

    Business Info

    SPECIAL BREWS ATMOSPHERE

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

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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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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 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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    10 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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    13 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 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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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 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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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 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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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    5 years ago

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

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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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    3.7(11 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    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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    Blu Burgers & Brew - Mushroom burger and sweet potato fries

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    4.4(323 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    To clear up the "& brew" confusion, this restaurant is under NEW OWNERSHIP! Formerly Blu Burgers &…read moreBrews - Now just Blu Burgers. They are OPEN TUESDAYS, same hours as other weekdays (until 7:30 pm). I rode my bike from Seattle to try this place out - and the service was amazing. I got the Blu Burger, and I took The Hippie Burger (vegetarian, vegan if you remove the Chipotle mayo) home for my partner. The woman at the counter was super friendly and packaged the burger very carefully so I could take it home in one piece! I ordered the Blu Burger & Butterfinger Milkshake - both were solid. Butterfinger shake was delicious, although part of me wishes I got some of their on-tap root beer instead. The burger was tasty, albeit a bit of an adjustment for me since I'm still warming up to blue cheese. The only downside was that the bacon tasted a bit too meaty (if that makes sense) and one of the pieces had a part that couldn't be chewed in it. Regardless, it's a solid burger and I'm excited to go back and try another one! They do not serve beer/alcohol here anymore and have converted the old beer tap to a root beer tap. I highly recommend trying this place out as the new owners/workers are very friendly & the food is delicious!

    New ownership, the place is now called Blu Burgers. I came here with a group and ordered a couple…read moreof things. I ordered the classic burger, I also added bacon and side of fries. Food didn't take that long to come out, however, seems like the burger was made first and was sitting out while waiting for the other items to finish. When the food came out, everything was piping hot besides the burger. Overall, quality of the food still tastes the same and I would come back again.

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    Blu Burgers & Brew - Menu (Jul 2025)

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    5x5 Bar & Bistro

    5x5 Bar & Bistro

    3.9(10 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    Takes reservations
    Full bar

    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.

    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!

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

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    4.4(23 reviews)
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    Still an AMAZING establishment!…read more I took my bf's mom here and we had an amazing time! It was her FIRST time here and she cannot wait to come back. We both had the Aperol Spritz and their special, Smoked Salmon Penne pasta! Delicious!!! It's such a cute establishment! They have live music occasionally. Looks to be every 3 days so Wednesdays and Saturdays. Good spot and good parking too! Love this hidden gem!

    This hidden gem in the heart of Mukilteo, is locally owned and operated by a passionate self taught…read moreChef who knows her food! The ambience upon entering was warm and inviting, walls adorned with musical legends. We were warmly greeted and encouraged to sit wherever we want. We started with the bruschetta and right away we could tell that Chef Tracy puts tremendous thought and care into the ingredients she uses. The bruschetta was well balanced, the flavors dancing on our tongue. We also enjoyed a fun and delicious caesar salad, lightly dressed with one of the best homemade dressings I've ever had. Our entree's, like the previous two courses, were also very good! We enjoyed a Smoked Salmon Penne (special) and a Pasta Al Pomodoro. Both were served in the fun boat like bowls and the portions were generous. Again, very thoughtfully prepared, with locally sourced ingredients that tasted amazing! For dessert we shared a to die for Affogato, made with a high quality vanilla bean ice cream and Italian Espresso. We are already planning a return trip to enjoy of Chef Tracy's famous pizzas, made with dough she prepares daily. If you are looking for tasty food, made with love and hand picked fresh ingredients, look no further! If you're lucky Miss Ann will be your server, making you feel like the neighbor they invited over for a meal.. A really good one!

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    Cactus Moon Saloon - Cheeseburger Sliders for $13.

    Cactus Moon Saloon

    3.8(147 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    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.

    I've been throwing darts at Cactus Moon for about four years, and I even have a plaque on the wall,…read moreso I've spent enough time here to qualify as part of the furniture. During dart season, I was here at least twice a week. However, after moving about half a mile away in December 2025, I started coming even more, sometimes three or four times a week, usually Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the occasional Saturday. I genuinely considered myself a regular. Unfortunately, there's one small problem: apparently I'm a regular who has achieved invisibility. Unless Jackie B is working, getting the attention of the bar staff can sometimes feel like trying to communicate with a satellite. Jackie B has always been the highlight for me, she actually sees the customers, takes care of people, and somehow manages to notice that humans are sitting down in the dart area. Every time Jackie B is working, the experience is noticeably better. The service in the dart area can otherwise be extremely hit-or-miss, particularly during the day. If you're shooting darts, you may want to bring a flare gun, smoke signal, or possibly a small flag. There seems to be a mysterious service blind spot, especially around the first few tables near the smoking area. But honestly, the biggest disappointment for me has been the removal of the Medalist dart boards. When Cactus Moon got rid of them, it didn't just mean losing a couple of dart boards. It left several of us regular dart players without a home bar with no explanation from anybody at Cactus Moon. And unfortunately, many of my Medalist dart partners simply stopped coming to Cactus Moon altogether. We had a group, a routine, and a place where we played. Suddenly, we didn't. It was honestly embarrassing to be left scrambling for somewhere else to play after years of treating Cactus Moon as our home. For a group of regular customers who had invested that much time and money into the bar, it felt like being politely evicted from your own clubhouse. And that's the frustrating part: Cactus Moon used to be my favorite bar. I even chose my apartment partly because I was so close to it. There are still plenty of things I like about the place. The food is genuinely good. The Wednesday and Thursday half-price burgers are a great deal, and the Thursday night wing specials are worth showing up for. And the Friday-night prime rib is really darn good. If you come here hungry, order something--I've had consistently good food. Then there's today, 8/30/26. I came in for breakfast and darts, fully prepared to spend some money at a place I've supported for years. After 94 minutes and two drinks, I finally gave up on breakfast and went somewhere else to eat. It was nearly 30 minutes between receiving my second drink and finally asking for my tab so I could take my business elsewhere. I understand that bars get busy, staffing can be difficult, and sometimes service falls through the cracks. Today was not one of those days. When you're coming in three or four times a week, tipping well, and spending a lot of time there, repeatedly feeling invisible gets old. At this point, I'm pretty sure I've reached a level of invisibility normally reserved for ghosts. The irony is that I'll probably still be back. It's the only dart bar around, and I'll likely show up for the Friday dart tournament in the near future. I just may be bringing my wallet along strictly for moral support. Cactus Moon, I really do want to like you again. Please find your dart players, and maybe find me while you're at it.

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    Cactus Moon Saloon - Daily Specials

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    Special Brews - beer_and_wine - Updated September 2026

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