I’ve emboldened some text for those who skim and do not read. I do, however, encourage you to read. Sad it’s come to that.
Below I share the list of Washington breweries ranked from top to bottom in terms of 2018 production volume. This has nothing to do with “best” and “worst.” Last year, 404 breweries produced beer in Washington. They are all listed below, from the largest down to the smallest. To be honest, I haven’t even heard of some of the tiniest breweries.
If this stuff interests you, consider taking a gander at last year’s list for comparison sake.
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I recently published a story about the economic impact of the local brewing industry on Washington’s economy (see it here). In that story, I pointed out that Washington is home to a lot of breweries, but very few breweries of substantial size. I suppose that depends on what you consider big and what you consider small. Read below and make your own determination about big and small.
Today I am sharing information provided to me by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. All breweries in Washington are required by law to report, and pay taxes on, how much beer they produce. Below I share information based on those reports for 2018.
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One barrel = 31 gallons.
One barrel = 330 cans (12-oz).
HIGHLIGHTS
- In total, 404 breweries reported beer production to the state in 2018.
- *Some breweries are listed more than once because they have multiple brewing facilities. (Elysian and Fremont for example. Those breweries produce the vast majority of their beer at one location. The combined total of beer produced did not change the rankings.)
- Based on this information, only 11 breweries in Washington produced more than 10,000 barrels of beer in 2018.
- Only 26 produced more than 5,000 barrels.
- The majority of the breweries in the state (326) produced less than 1,000 barrels.
- Twenty-one breweries produced less than 10 barrels.
BREWERY (BARRELS PRODUCED)
- GEORGETOWN BREWING CO. (88,527)
- ELYSIAN BREWING COMPANY* (57,270) (58,787 combined)
- FREMONT BREWING COMPANY* (44,430) (52,532 combined)
- MAC & JACKS BREWERY INC. (34,444)
- BALE BREAKER BREWING COMPANY (26,495)
- IRON HORSE BREWERY (24,090)
- SILVER CITY BREWERY (21,491)
- PIKE BREWING COMPANY (14,140)
- REUBENS BREWS* (12,610) (13,462 combined)
- NO-LI BREWHOUSE* (10,669) (12,094 combined)
- BLACK RAVEN BREWING COMPANY (10,182)
BREWERIES THAT PRODUCED LESS THAN 10,000 BARRELS
12. FISH BREWING CO.
13. KULSHAN BREWING COMPANY
14. FREMONT BREWING
15. ASLAN BREWING COMPANY
16.TWO BEERS BREWING COMPANY
17. BOUNDARY BAY BREWERY AND BISTRO
18. 7 SEAS BREWING*
19. SCUTTLEBUTT BREWING CO.
20. HALES ALES
21. MATCHLESS
22. MOLLUSK
23. EVERYBODY’S BREWING
24. ICICLE BREWING COMPANY
25. ODIN BREWING COMPANY
26. BACKWOODS BREWING COMPANY
BREWERIES THAT PRODUCED LESS THAN 5,000 BARRELS
(in descending order)
STOUP BREWING
DIAMOND KNOT BREWING CO
MARITIIME PACIFIC BREWING COMPANY
JESTER & JUDGE
TRIPLEHORN BREWING CO
CHUCKANUT BREWERY
FARMSTRONG BREWING COMPANY
HELLBENT BREWING
TEN PIN BREWING
GHOSTFISH BREWING COMPANY
SKOOKUM BREWERY
RAM BREWERY
NARROWS BREWING COMPANY
CLOUDBURST BREWING
DRU BRU
LOOWIT BREWING COMPANY
WANDER BREWING
20 CORNERS BREWING
54-40 BREWING COMPANY
ICE HARBOR BREWING COMPANY
BELLEVUE BREWING COMPANY
PORT TOWNSEND BREWING CO.
ORLISON BREWING CO.- disco
SUMERIAN BREWING CO.
MCMENAMINS ANDERSON SCHOOL
THREE MAGNETS BREWING COMPANY
DICKS BREWING COMPANY
SCHOONER EXACT BREWING COMPANY
IRON GOAT BREWING
BIG E ALES
OPTIMISM BREWING
HEATHEN BREWING
NO-LI BREWHOUSE
SNOQUALMIE FALLS BREWERY AND TAPROOM
PARADISE CREEK BREWERY
HARMON BREWING & TAP ROOM
YAKIMA CRAFT BREWING CO.
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND BREWING
CHAINLINE BREWING COMPANY
KULSHAN BREWERY
AIRWAYS BREWING COMPANY
URBAN FAMILY BREWING COMPANY
ELYSIAN BREWING COMPANY
RIVER CITY BREWING
ANACORTES BREWERY
WHITE BLUFFS BREWING
SINGLE HILL BREWING COMPANY
BARREL MOUNTAIN BREWING
OLD SCHOOLHOUSE BREWERY
LUCKY ENVELOPE BREWING
ROOFTOP BREWING COMPANY
RAM RESTAURANT & BREWERY
BREWERIES THAT PRODUCED LESS THAN 1,000 BARRELS
in descending order
ELLIOTT BAY BREWHOUSE & PUB
PEDDLER BREWING COMPANY
SAN JUAN BREWING COMPANY
SOUND BREWERY
BROTHERS CASCADIA BREWING
JELLYFISH BREWING COMPANY
DIAMOND KNOT BREWPUB @ MLT
ENGINE HOUSE NO 9
POSTDOC BREWING COMPANY
ELLIOTT BAY PUBLIC HOUSE & BREWERY
TRAP DOOR BREWING
NORTH JETTY BREWING
RAM RESTAURANT & BREWERY
TOP RUNG BREWING COMPANY
FORTSIDE BREWING COMPANY
WHIPSAW BREWING
VALHOLL BREWING COMPANY
GARDEN PATH FERMENTATION
REUBENS BREWS
SNOQUALMIE FALLS BREWING COMPANY- disco
BEARDSLEE PUBLIC HOUSE
WET COAST BREWING COMPANY
ALPINE BREWING COMPANY
BIG TIME BREWING COMPANY
OBEC BREWING
STANDARD BREWING
LAZY BOY BREWING CO
RAINY DAZE BREWING COMPANY
LOWERCASE BREWING
OLD STOVE BREWING COMPANY
KIMOS
GRAINS OF WRATH BREWERY
PUYALLUP RIVER BREWING COMPANY
REDHOOK ALE BREWERY
RIVERPORT BREWING
COUNTERBALANCE BREWING COMPANY
PACIFIC BREWING & MALTING CO.
WADDELLS BREW PUB & GRILLE
WINGMAN BREWERS
MCMENAMINS
AT LARGE BREWING AND TAPROOM
STONES THROW BREWERY
WALKING MAN BREWING
BODACIOUS BERRIES FRUITS AND BREWS
OLD STOVE BREWING COMPANY
TWIN SISTERS BREWING COMPANY
12 STRING BREWING CO
ELLIOTT BAY BREWERY & PUB
BOMBING RANGE BREWING COMPANY
MCMENAMINS KALAMA HARBOR LODGE BREWERY
PERRY STREET BREWING COMPANY
NORTH SOUND BREWING CO
NOBOAT BREWING COMPANY
BAD JIMMYS BREWERY
ELK HEAD BREWING
NAKED CITY BREWERY AND TAPROOM
BREWERIES THAT PRODUCED LESS THAN 500 BARRELS
in descending order
BRON YR AUR FRUIT & PRODUCE
MACHINE HOUSE BREWERY
VICTOR 23 BREWING
GORDON BIERSCH BREWERY RESTAURANT
BASTION BREWING COMPANY
FLYING LION BREWING
BADGER MOUNTAIN BREWING
SOUND TO SUMMIT BREWING- disco
CRUCIBLE BREWING CO
DOOMSDAY BREWING COMPANY
ISLAND HOPPIN BREWERY
BENNIDITOS BREW PUB
MCMENAMINS
GIG HARBOR BREWING COMPANY
BELLTOWN BREWING/THE BREWHOUSE
COWICHE CREEK BREWING COMPANY
HALF LION BREWING COMPANY
FLYERS RESTAURANT AND BREWERY
BURWOOD BREWING COMPANY
WEST SEATTLE BREWING CO
ROSLYN BREWING COMPANY
REPUBLIC BREWING COMPANY
STRUCTURES BREWING
FLOATING BRIDGE BREWING
FLYING BIKE COOPERATIVE BREWERY
CASH BREWING COMPANY
BLEWETT BREWING COMPANY
MENACE BREWING
HOP NATION BREWING COMPANY
WELL 80 ARTESIAN BREWING COMPANY
POWERHOUSE RESTAURANT AND BREWERY
WHITEWALL BREWING
HOLY MOUNTAIN BREWING COMPANY
HOOD CANAL BREWERY
NW PEAKS BREWERY
SNIPES MOUNTAIN BREWING/ SNIPES MT RESTAURANT
WENATCHEE VALLEY BREWING CO
ELYSIAN BREWING COMPANY
STEAM PLANT GRILL
CAIRN BREWING
LA CONNER BREWING COMPANY
MCMENAMINS
ODD OTTER BREWING COMPANY
NORTH FORK
POPULUXE BREWING
RESONATE BREWERY + PIZZERIA
BIG BLOCK BREWING
NORTHWEST BREWING COMPANY
VARIETAL BEER COMPANY
BACKWOODS BREWING COMPANY
BIRDSVIEW BREWING CO
NORTHERN ALES
DIRTY BUCKET BREWERY
VALLEY BREWING COMPANY
FOUR GENERALS BREWING
GALLAGHERS WHERE U-BREW
DYSTOPIAN STATE BREWING CO.
DREADNOUGHT BREWING
GEAUX BREWING
TRICERATOPS BREWING COMPANY
CRUCIBLE BREWING CO.
PERIHELION BREWERY
COMMUNITEA KOMBUCHA
HOPWORKS URBAN BREWERY
LANTERN BREWING
MILLWOOD BREWING COMPANY
OUTLANDER BREWING
BIG HORN BREWING CO./RAM FAMILY RESTAURANT &
GRUFF BREWING COMPANY
192 BREWING COMPANY
SLIPPERY PIG BREWERY
RIVER MILE 38 BREWING COMPANY LLC- disco
BARHOP BREWING
METIER BREWING COMPANY
THE SALISH SEA BREWING COMPANY
WESTERN RED BREWING
DOWNPOUR BREWING
LAKE STEVENS BREWING COMPANY
PYRAMID BREWING CO
DWINELL COUNTRY ALE
BLACK LABEL BREWING COMPANY
DOUBLE BLUFF BREWING
VALLEY HOUSE BREWING COMPANY
BLACKBEARDS BREWING COMPANY
SLAUGHTER COUNTY BREWING COMPANY
HAYWIRE BREWING CO
LUMBER HOUSE BREWERY
BENT BINE BREW CO
MILL CITY BREW WERKS
WHISTLE PUNK BREWING
LOGSDON FARMHOUSE ALES
NINE YARDS BREWING CORPORATION
ASHTOWN BREWING COMPANY
MELVIN BREWING
BADASS BACKYARD BREWING
MIDDLETON BREWING
BLACK FLEET BREWING
TACOMA BREWING COMPANY
FIRED UP BREWING
FIGUREHEAD BREWING COMPANY
LAGUNITAS TAP ROOM AND BEER SANCTUARY
RAVENNA BREWING COMPANY
BURKE-GILMAN BREWING COMPANY
COLE STREET BREWERY
DUNAGAN BREWING CO.
WANDERING HOP
ATOMIC ALE BREWPUB & EATERY
PAPAS CASINO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE-TEN PIN BRE
SHRUB STEPPE SMOKEHOUSE BREWERY- disco
BELLWETHER BREWING COMPANY
CHIEF SPRINGS FIRE & IRONS BREW PUB
THE HEAVY METAL BREWING CO
NORTH 47 BREWING CO.
NORTHWEST BREWERY WORKS
LOST CANOE BREWING COMPANY
DECIBEL BREWING CO
QUIRK BREWING
HORSE HEAVEN HILLS BREWERY
BARHOP BREWING
DETAR BREWING
7 SEAS BREWING
RAILSIDE BREWING
DIAMOND KNOT BREWING CO.
TRUSTY BREWING COMPANY
STEAM DONKEY BREWING COMPANY
VASHON BREWING LLC
TIMBER MONSTER BREWING COMPANY
LOST WOODS BREWERY
THREE BULL BREWING CO
MULE AND ELK BREWING COMPANY
BROTHER ASS BREWING
DIRTY COUCH
SQUARE WHEEL BREWING
DOGHAUS BREWERY
LAHT NEPPUR BREWING AND LAHT NEPPUR CELLARS
MILL CREEK BREWPUB- disco
MAELSTROM BREWING COMPANY
THE STATION U-BREW
ADAMS NORTHWEST BISTRO AND BREWERY
PROPOLIS BREWING
HOQUIAM BREWING COMPANY
QUARTZITE BREWING COMPANY
RIVER TIME BREWING
RAM RESTAURANT AND BREWERY
HIDEAWAY BREWING COMPANY
BAD BULLDOGS BREWERY
CAMP COLVOS BREWING
ILLUMINATI BREWING COMPANY
PASTIME BREWERY BAR & GRILL
ISSAQUAH BREWPUB
MCMENAMINS
ATWOOD ALES
LAKE CHELAN BREWERY
WILLAPA BREWING CO
TOP FROG BREWERY
TTS OLD IRON BREWERY
HEADLESS MUMBY BREWING
GLOBAL BEER COMPANY
MIRAGE BEER
ENGLISH SETTER BREWING
SHOUG BREWING COMPANY
DISCOVERY BAY BREWING
GHOST RUNNERS BREWERY
FLOODLAND BREWING COMPANY
FOB BREWING COMPANY
FOGGY NOGGIN BREWING
LOPEZ ISLAND BREWING COMPANY
BIG HOUSE BREW PUB
MOUNT OLYMPUS BREWING
NISQUALLY VALLEY BREWING COMPANY
COLUMBIA VALLEY BREWING AND RIVERSIDE PUB AT
DOG DAYS BREWING
HOPPED UP BREWING COMPANY
TIN DOG BREWING
LOVECRAFT BREWING
FUTURE PRIMITIVE BREWING
MOUNTAIN LAKES BREWING COMPANY
M. T. HEAD BREWING CO
HOOKUM BREWING CO.
TANEUM CREEK BREWING
LITTLE SPOKANE BREWING COMPANY
CRANES CASTLE BREWING
YOUNG BUCK BREWING
OFF-CAMBER BREWING
NORTHWOOD PUBLIC HOUSE AND BREWERY
SCAMP BREWING COMPANY
CASCADIA HOMEBREW
PAPER STREET BREWING COMPANY
DOGHAUS BREWERY- disco
5 RIGHTS BREWING
FLYCASTER BREWING COMPANY
BAILEYS CORNER
V TWIN BREWING COMPANY
M.T. HEAD BREWING CO- disco
OUTER PLANET CRAFT BREWING
HAAS INNOVATIONS BREWING
SCRAPPY PUNK BREWING
FIVE DONS BREWING
REDIFER BREWING COMPANY
LAGUNITAS TAP ROOM AND BEER SANCTUARY- disco
MILEPOST 111 BREWING COMPANY
JONES CREEK BREWING
RAIL HOPIN BREWING CO.
THE GRAIN SHED
OLD IVY BREWERY AND TAPROOM
E2W BREWING
MONKA BREWING COMPANY
WICKED TEUTON BREWING COMPANY
101 BREWERY
FOX ISLAND BREWING
THE 238 BREWING CO
HEADWORKS BREWING
ENSO BREWING COMPANY
SOUND TO SUMMIT BREWING
NU HOME BREW & BOTTLES
SINGING HOPS BREWING COMPANY
WATER BUFFALO BREWERY
CIRCLE 7 BREW WORKS
HOH RIVER BREWERY
ALE SPIKE
NORTHISH BEER COMPANY
WATTS BREWING CO.
MANFISH BREWING
HUMBLE ABODE BREWING
BREW BAKERS
HI FI BREWING- disco
FARM SHED BREW
BUSHNELL CRAFT
CARDINAL CRAFT BREWING
SADDLE ROCK PUB
FRIDAY HARBOR BREWING COMPANY
FOUR EYED GUYS BREWING
ST. BRIGIDS BREWERY
CAPTAINS BREWING COMPANY
NORTHWEST PASSAGE CRAFT BREWERY
UNDERGROUND BREWING
SCATTER CREEK BREWING
BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO.
LOST BEAR BREWS
KEYHOLE VALLEY BREWING
HEMLOCK STATE BREWING COMPANY
FATHOM & LEAGUE HOP YARD BREWERY
DER BLOKKEN BREWERY
TRIPLE R BREWERY
DUNGENESS BREWING COMPANY
GREAT WESTERN MALTING
BLUEBIRD BREWING
SMITTYS BREWING
BEERDED BROTHERS BREWING
ONE BREWING
BREWGENIX BREWING COMPANY
STONE CITY BREWING
HILLBILLY BREWING COMPANY
BEHESHT KOMBUCHA- disco
NOSDUNK BREWING COMPANY
BARBARIAN BEVERAGE- disco
NEW BOUNDARY BREWING- disco
VESSEL ALES
DOG AND PONY BREWING COMPANY
SWINNERTON BREWERY
NO DROUGHT BREWING COMPANY
BROUWERIJ LES DEPLORABLES
YAKIMA HOPS & BREW SUPPLY
SNAPSHOT BREWING
JC BREWHOUSE
HOPS EXTRACT CORPORATION OF AMERICA
GEORGE WASHINGTON BREWING COMPANY
FISH BREWING PUB & EATERY
DIRTY BUCKET BREWERY
SKAGIT VALLEY MALTING
What does the “disco” mean?
Discontinued. In some cases, that means all the way out of business. In others it might mean a change in licensing, like a new location.
In this case, it doesn’t mean they’re out of business. Could be location, license, etc., but they’re producing.
Like Hi-Fi Brewing (closed) versus Sound to Summit Brewing (change). Both say disco but different situations entirely.
It would be very interesting (but a lot more work for you) to see this list with those that only serve on sight, no can or bottle production. That would change the wow factory both ways for some of these. Thanks for creating this list!
Is Mollusk really #22? Seems unlikely they sold more than the next four down the list to me…
If this list has nothing to with “best” or “worst,” why use a word like “top” when “biggest” is more accurate?
Biggest is a function of physical size, not production volume. I suppose I could have said “Top Producing.” Otherwise, I said “Top” because unless it sounds like it’s an opinion about “Best” then nobody even notices that the story is there. Case in point…. uh… um…. well, anyway. But if people do actually notice that the article exists, even though it isn’t a top 10 list, they may find it interesting. I am sorry if you did not. And I’m sorry if you feel duped.
Reuben’s is listed twice, less than 1000 and top 10.
Fremont is too so I’m assuming this is because they each have two brewing facilities.
Addressed below in another comment, not that you’re paying attention anymore..
Yes, No-Li also mentioned twice. Raises questions about the accuracy of the list, to the degree anyone really cares. Good beer is where you find it, regardless of size.
Most breweries that have two or more facilities produce the majority of their beer at one. For tax purposes, the state considers a brewery to be a physical thing: a building/equipment where beer is made. Thems the rules.
The fact that some breweries produce beer at more than one location did not impact the ranking of the top 11 producers. Give me a little credit.
At all three of the locations combined, Elysian brewed 58,787. Not enough to move up the list.
At both of its locations combined, Fremont brewed 52,532. Not enough to move up the list.
Thank you for the article. It’s fun to read through the list to see how many I’ve actually been to. Most of them the smaller ones.