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Enjoy Fair Isle Brewing! A Travel Guide to Craft Beer in Seattle
Hello! I’m Riho, a big craft beer fan. When I arrived in Seattle, the first weekend I headed out to a local favorite farmhouse ale brewery, Fair Isle Brewing. It’s a spot that’s been on the radar of craft beer enthusiasts, and to me, it was a “must-go” destination once I came to America. Now that I’ve finally visited the taproom, I’d like to share its charm with you!
When I mentioned I liked saisons in Seattle, many people recommended Fair Isle Brewing to me.
Just recently, the importer (beer import company) AQ Bevolution announced they would bring Fair Isle Brewing to Japan!
You can now find Fair Isle beers in Japan through various bottle shops and events. Experience farmhouse ales with tangy, complex flavors, as well as elegantly hopped saisons!
Just looking at the photos made me feel like the beer brewed here must be something special.
And so, I finally got to visit this dream destination! In this blog, I’ll cover Fair Isle Brewing’s characteristics, the taproom atmosphere, and some beers you won’t want to miss.
We’ll go over everything from their brewing style and tap list to surrounding info and how to order!
We’ll also share tips on enjoying their lineup of farmhouse-style beers with tangy complexity, along with some points to note if you plan to visit. If you’re traveling to Seattle, check out Fair Isle Brewing!
Fair Isle Brewing Tap List
FAIR ISLE
LAGERS
HOUSE LAGER
German inspired lager & PNW ingredients 4.9%
$6/33cl | $8/.5l
KELLERPILS
German inspired pils 5.0%
$6/33cl | $8/.5l
DARK LAGER
Czech dark style lager | roasty, bold, malty 5.0%
$6/33cl | $8/.5l
SIGNATURE SAISONS
MADAME R. GALLIE
Our house saison 6.2%
$7/33cl | $9/.5l
ALMOTA
Grain saison 4.8%
$7/33cl | $9/.5l
HOPPY
ALICEL
Hoppy saison | Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops 5.3%
$7/33cl | $9/.5l
FRÜH
Fresh hop saison brewed with Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops 6.6%
$7/33cl | $9/.5l
EUGENE
Hoppy farmhouse IPA with Strata 6.9%
$7/33cl | $9/.5l
FORAGED & FUN
PIPER
Cherries, chardonnay grapes, rose petals 6.5%
$8/25cl | $10/.33l
REITH
Saison with beets and carrots 6.5%
$8/25cl | $10/.5l
FRUIT & BOLD
ASH
Saison with foraged white truffles, hazelnuts, and raspberry 5.6%
5-year anniversary beer (bottle contains nuts)
$10/.25l | $13/.33l
VINCE
Aged in gin casks 7.7%
$8/.25l | $10/.33l
APTOS
Saison with Grenache blanc and Syrah grapes 8%
$8/.25l | $10/.33l
CHERRY PAULEE
Dark saison with cherries 4.4%
$8/.33l | $10/.5l
SPECIAL CELLAR DRAFTS
LARIO
Saison fermented with Fernet from Highside Distilling 7.4%
$8/.25l | $10/.33l
KNITTING CIRCLE SEASON 5.1
Unblended spontaneous saison 7.7%
$8/.25l | $10/.33l
OTHER BEVERAGES
Cocktails
• Miyako Yuzu Sake and Our Saison $14
Guest Cider
• Channel Marker 16oz can | $9
• Brambleberry or Raspberry Jam
Guest Wine
(Glass/Carafe/Bottle)
• Leipold (Silvaner/Ger) $14/$28/$55
• Via Alpina (Pinot Grigio/I) $15/$30/$58
• Attila (Italian Red/I) $15/$30/$58
• Ansel Wines (Cabernet Sauvignon/WA) $16/$32/$60
NON-ALCOHOLIC
• Grapefruit Fresca $3
• Local Kombucha $5
• Ghia Mocktail Aperitif or Berry with Seltzer $8
Beer Review: What I Tried at Fair Isle Brewing
I visited the taproom of the popular Seattle brewery Fair Isle Brewing! This time, I tried the beer I’d been curious about: “APTOS.”
The first beer I had… APTOS!
APTOS is a saison made with Grenache blanc and Syrah grapes, with an ABV of 8%, a bit on the higher side. It has a fruity aroma and a wine-like tang and astringency, making it a unique brew.
Taking a sip, you get that slightly dry, complex farmhouse yeast flavor, followed by the juicy tartness and aroma from the grapes. After you swallow, there’s a faint sweet aftertaste along with astringency, leaving a surprisingly satisfying finish.
It has the spicy characteristic of a saison and a lovely wine-like fruitiness. As it warms up, the grape flavor becomes more pronounced; rolling it around in your mouth releases a gummy candy-like sweetness, yet it remains totally dry with no cloying sweetness!
The taproom has a variety of saisons, but APTOS feels like the best of both beer and wine rolled into one. Given the higher alcohol content, it’s best savored slowly.
This is a great choice even for friends who love wine. Definitely give it a try if you enjoy beers with a bit of tang or barrel notes!
I’m impressed by how elegantly they balance dryness, fruitiness, and that funky wild yeast character.
Next beer was the anniversary brew, ASH!
This beer uses local ingredients thanks to partnerships with producers in Washington State. Raspberries come from Sidhu Farms, hazelnuts from Holmquist Hazelnut Orchards, and the white Oregon truffles are foraged in southern Washington’s Cascade Mountains.
Bring the glass to your nose, and you’ll get a refined aroma in full. It has hints of strawberry jam, mixing the tang of raspberries with malty sweetness. The aroma is layered and thick, likely thanks to the white truffles—a fun thought to keep in mind. There’s a subtle earthy note, some grassy and cheesy aspects that don’t overwhelm, giving it a gentle underlying base.
The mouthfeel is surprisingly gentle. There’s no harsh carbonation or sharp fruit tannins. However, if you swish it around in your mouth a bit, you’ll notice hidden fruit acidity and funky wild yeast flavors spreading across your palate. Yet, you don’t get much of that astringency that often arises from raspberries. It’s really remarkable.
Once swallowed, it’s extremely dry, and the flavor disappears quickly, but the aroma lingers in a very pleasant way. For this style, the body feels a bit heavier, giving a “weight” when swallowing, paired with a pleasing wave of tartness. You’re left with the raspberry tang and a subtle garlic-cheese-like nuance from the truffles. If you used only raspberries, you might lose the aroma pretty fast, but maybe the truffles and hops extend the fragrance. It’s delightful.
Flavor Characteristics of Fair Isle Brewing
In many of Fair Isle’s beers, the mouthfeel is dry, yet the aroma and taste have multiple layers. They often balance seemingly contradictory elements—like hoppy bitterness, yeast-driven tartness, and a bit of spiciness—really well. The aromas can be sweet at first, but the finish is crisp, making you want to keep sipping.
They manage to create a cool balance between elegance and farmhouse ale rusticity. It’s really impressive!
The Appeal of Fair Isle Brewing
They focus on farmhouse ales, bringing creative flair to their brewing. Working closely with local farms for ingredients and investing in barrel-aging projects, they constantly explore new flavors. The quality of their saisons and mixed-fermentation beers is outstanding, and you shouldn’t miss their limited and collaboration releases!
Buying a bottle to age at home sounds fun! It’s perfect for enjoying at a leisurely pace on special days. They collaborated with Cantillon around November 2024, and I wanted to attend that event, but the tickets sold out immediately!
Fair Isle Brewing Taproom Atmosphere
Their open taproom lets you view the brewing equipment while sipping your beer. It’s spacious, and the staff are very friendly, so even first-timers feel relaxed.
They have a self-serve water station, and there’s both indoor and outdoor seating. On a nice day, enjoying your beer outside is a great option.
If you go around noon on a weekend, it’s super lively and almost fully packed!
They also have a decent food menu, so you can definitely come for a meal too.
How to Order at Fair Isle Brewing
At Fair Isle Brewing, you simply go up to the register in the taproom and order your beer of choice.
The beer names are pretty unique, so taking a photo of the tap list and pointing to what you want is a safe bet.
- Step 1: Say “Can I have a pint of APTOS?” or similar.
- Step 2: At the register, they might ask “Tab, Open? Close?” indicating whether you’ll keep a running tab (Open) or pay per order (Close).
- Step 3: Provide ID (passport or driver’s license) if age verification is needed.
- Step 4: Pay with cash, Apple Pay, credit card, etc.
- Step 5: Select your tip amount on the tablet and sign.
- Step 6: Pick up your beer at the counter.
When I first arrived in Seattle, I wasn’t used to the tipping system, but now I’m comfortable with it!
Nowadays, you choose the tip amount on a tablet. It’s very simple.
If you’re offered a sample, tipping is a nice way to show your appreciation.
I always like to tip well when the staff is friendly!
Tasting Samples
Depending on how busy it is, you can often ask the staff at Fair Isle Brewing for a quick taste (sample) of a beer.
Try asking, “I’d like to try a farmhouse ale. Any recommendations?” The staff will happily explain both seasonal and core offerings. You can sometimes sample a bit if you’re unsure, so don’t hesitate to ask.
You can also say, “May I try a few beers?” to be direct yet polite.
Sample a little, then order a pint of your favorite. Tipping well, especially after tasting, can make the experience more fun.
I was torn between a beer made with multiple grape varieties or one aged in gin barrels, and they let me sample both!
Beer left in the tap’s spout is exposed to air, so it really should be discarded. Many bars serve that initial beer without discarding it, but Fair Isle always discards it first—even for a sample! It’s so meticulous! I tipped the maximum possible.
Fair Isle Brewing Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Fair Isle Brewing |
| Location | 936 NW 49th St, Seattle, WA 98107 |
| Official Website | Fair Isle Brewing Official Site |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Main Beer Lineup | Ada, Claude, Eleanor, Vera, Mathilde |
| Brewing Focus | Utilizing local farm products and wild yeast for farmhouse-style beers |
| Awards | North American Brewers Awards 2022 – Gold (Eleanor) |
Map / Location
About the Ballard Area Near Fair Isle
Ballard, where Fair Isle Brewing is located, is a Seattle neighborhood steeped in both craft beer culture and maritime history. There are many breweries in the area, making it popular for brewery-hopping. It’s a charming district that blends the calm feel of a port town with new cultural trends.
Recommended Places to Eat Nearby
Ray’s Boathouse (about 5 minutes by car)
A popular seafood restaurant with a waterfront view. Enjoy fresh seafood and a great view.
Official site: www.rays.com
Walrus and the Carpenter (about 10 minutes on foot)
Known for refined oysters and seafood dishes.
Official site: www.thewalrusbar.com
Lucky Santo (about 7 minutes on foot)
A cafe/restaurant with a focus on gluten-free and healthy ingredients.
Official site: www.luckysanto.com
Ballard Farmer’s Market (about 15 minutes on foot)
Held every Sunday, featuring local produce and various food stands.
Official site: ballardfarmersmarket.org
Food Trucks (in the brewery district)
A variety of food trucks gather here, offering pizza, Asian cuisine, BBQ, and more.
Official info: wafoodtrucks.org
Fair Isle doesn’t allow outside food, but they do serve food in the brewery!
Fair Isle Brewing Awards
| Category | Competition | Year | Beer Name | Placement | Number of Entries | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed-Culture Brett Beer | World Beer Cup | 2023 | Knitting Circle Season 3 batch c (S3.c) | Gold | 10,213 (total entries) | Official Site |
| Mixed-Culture Brett Beer | World Beer Cup | 2023 | Tove | Bronze | 10,213 (total entries) | Official Site |
| Field Beer | Great American Beer Festival | 2022 | Rachelle | Bronze | 80 (entries in that category) | Official Site |
More Seattle Craft Beer Info!
Fair Isle Brewing Summary
Fair Isle Brewing’s taproom greets you with a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. You can try a range of distinct beers, from farmhouse and wild ales (for fans of funky and tart brews) to IPAs. The Ballard area around the brewery has plenty of other craft breweries, making it a perfect hub for a brewery crawl!
They offer everything from light saisons to rich barrel-aged brews, perfect even in hot weather. With so many nearby breweries, it’s a great place to explore. Definitely visit on your next Seattle beer trip!
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