Hilliard’s Beer

Hilliard was our second stop in the Ballard brew scene. It’s a huge place. I settled for their saison and it was good.
The bartender was cool, he talked to us about Ballard and Seattle. We got a good story about Ballard and all.

Large tasting room with outdoor seating in the middle of an industrial park amongst other breweries sprinkled throughout. They don’t do tasters so we didn’t divulge in much of their tap list, but what we had was different and unique.
We had the Chardonnay Aged Saison & the Suffering Bastard Saison. If you’re looking for something to wake up your palate, these beers will hit the spot. Haven’t quite tried anything else like them before.

Hilliards was the second and final stop on our impromptu brewery crawl around Ballard.
After a beer at NW Peaks, we headed down the street to Hilliard’s. We arrived at NW Peaks close to opening and it was pretty much had the entire bar to ourselves. Hilliard’s was the opposite, already bumping when we walked in a mere hour later.
The place is big and airy. The tap room is part of the brewery, so it’s spacious with high ceilings and an industrial feel. There’s also a patio out back and food trucks that frequent the place. On the day we visited, there was a heated pickleball tournament going on out back. There’s also a pool table; you can play for free as long as you check in your ID.
The tap room is a mix of a bar, smaller and larger tables. Even the furniture choices have an industrial feel. We opted to sit at the bar and worked our way through the beer list. In addition to their brews, they have a few non-​Hilliard options in bottles and cans.
Prices were reasonable and the staff was really friendly. It’s probably why we never saw a need to move on. If I had only one complaint, it’s the one real bathroom. There is a porta-​potty outside if you’re really in a pinch though.

Came here on a brewery tour! Holy crap probably my favorite brewery in Seattle. Loved that it was an old roller derby practice area! It was huge and spacey. Loved the atmosphere. The beers were awesome. There beer is only in cans and I have always sworn that beer tastes better in bottles. Hilliards changed my mind. Beer was really good, and got to try all of them. My favorite was the amber ale. Definitely worth hitting up in Seattle!

I saw their can of Murdered Out Stout in the store and knew I had to try out the brewery for myself. That’s the sexiest looking tallboy that I’ve ever seen, if I do say so myself. With that, I bookmarked Hilliard’s and we headed over there.
The brewery was located in a semi-​industrial area right next to construction company. Parking is street only and even then there isn’t too much available.
The taproom is located front and center in their brewery. You’re up close ‘n personal with their brewing equipment. The aroma is quite intoxicating.
They don’t offer samplers, so full pours is what I ended up with. They come in those cool glasses that look like cans. These might be my new favorite style of drinkware.
So how was the beer that I came all the way over here for? It’s a pretty solid stout. While it’s not as tasty as the can is beautiful, it’s a quality brew. I’ve had a ton of stouts in my day so that’s probably high praise.
The Boombox IPA was even better. It was fruity ‘n danky just like the pot shop right nearby. Perhaps they had some inspiration while developing the recipe?
It’s extremely dark inside and a bit nipply as it is a warehouse space. Not the most inviting of breweries, but just relax and have a few beers to truly appreciate what they have going on here.

I was visiting a family friend in Seattle who knows I love beer booked us a beer your and luckily this was one of the breweries on the tour. This was my favorite brewery in Seattle! It absolutely huge with a big screen to watch sports. But the most important part was the amazing beer! My favorites were chrome satan, amber ale, and the 12^th can. They sell four packs so you can take your favorites home with you. I wish they distributed their beer to the east coast because I loved it so much!

A bit mainstream but their beer is good. I like their style and all of the beers they produce. The establishment is simple and warehousey but in a perfectly fitting way. Hilliard’s is also a supporter of Backfire Moto so that’s a definite bonus.

I like Hilliards a lot. Good beer, cool atmosphere, and they let my doggy hang out there too. All pluses in my opinion!
My *only* criticism would be a lack of food options. I know it’s a brewery, not a restaurant, but a lot of the breweries in Ballard have food trucks and I only ever see the bratwurst/​hot dog cart at Hillards (don’t get me wrong, the hot dogs are amazing — I just want more selection.)

This was our third stop on our DIY Ballard brewery tour so we stuck with only one beer a piece and since we were visiting, had to try the 12^th Can (not that as a Coloradan, still bitter about the Super Bowl or anything). Place is open with lots of seating options and even as the fun was going down, was surprised not to see a lot of people taking advantage of their outdoor area. But then come to think of it, it was a Wednesday night so maybe thats why not too many people were out? Beer was delightful, area was cool and dog friendly with a community library stand right outside so you can leave or take a book with you for later. I dig this brewery!

There are lots of really great breweries in Ballard-it’s known for that. People will even foot pedal themselves drunk in a Cycle Saloon in traffic to reach these numerous breweries, Hilliard’s included (Pro tip: When you hear the Cycle Saloon screaming about a block away, it’s your cue to escape).
And in this ever-​growing cluster of Ballard beer slingers, Hilliard’s remains at the top. They put their already impeccable saison in rotating casks that once held tequila, gin, recently Jameson, port (my favorite ever!), etc. This makes for a really terrific beer and an exciting and ever-​changing list. The rest of the line is full-​flavored and overall great (ya you can tell my fave is the saison).
What makes the five stars is the people watching and actual vibe of the friendly staff, events and relaxed space to add to your beer sipping experience. I’ve been here when a cover band wore spandex and jumped out of a refurbished amblulance and played on the roof. I’ve been here when there was an artsy fartsy funraising event, a cologne-​soaked Latin night with peruvian sandwiches grilling, even death metal band playing during a motorcycle event. I even got to have leftovers from a baby shower event where the moms brought their own Crock-​pots in and wore bright maxi dresses with cardigans. All of this paired well with Hilliard’s beer.
It’s never a bad time at Hillards.

I just got done walking around Discovery Park for a few hours…
Have you ever seen girls sunbathing in their thongs on the beach at Discovery Park?
I have.
Where was I? Oh, yeah. Soooo… after walking around, I was pretty thirsty and my first thought was: BEER!
After getting into a word fight with a girl, she was like «Get out of here and go drink a beer, you mean jerk!»
After thanking God for blessing me, I decided to go find a nearby brewery. Unfortunately, the fucking Ballard bridge was a traffic nightmare, so I drove through Fremont looking for a random brewery to quench my thirst.
Nothing really piqued my interest until I wound up in Ballard, right next to some place called Hilliard’s.
I walked in and immediately thought, «What the shit?» This place is actually just a small brewery with some tables and chairs and a tiny bar area.
A few people were mingling around the bar, so I grabbed a chair at the end and soon after a very nice girl asked to see my driver’s license. Since I am rarely «carded» these days, I told her that I appreciated the gesture.
After handing me a list of their beers, I told her that this was my first visit. She went through the typical what-​do-​you-​like questions and then poured me a sample of their Chrome Satan.
«Damn good stuff. I’ll take some of that.» I told her.
While finishing my Satan, she also poured me a sample of their whiskey sour-​whatever beer. I’m not a fan of sours, but it was decent.
I guess if you’re a beer snob like Michael K., then you might want to stay away, but for the rest of us who just want to find a place to drink beer and hang out, Hilliard’s is the perfect spot.
Great service, great beer, cool atmosphere and plenty of seating. Definitely stop by.

Thank God they were open on a Monday pretty late (compared to other breweries). They weren’t even on my radar to check out, but by default we ended up here. Loved the beers I had. Both the stout and IPA as well as the other tastings were great. Staff was cool, they had Kill Bill in the background, free play on the arcade. Good outdoor space, good table selection inside. Price includes tax (strange annoyance of mine when they don’t).
Well done Hilliard.

Wasn’t sure where we were headed on this first trip to a few Ballard breweries. Seemed a little sketch but then Hilliard’s appeared! Thank goodness… nice place and good beers on tap (all $ 5).

What more can be said that hasn’t already? Hilliard’s is not only making some of the best tasting beer in WA state, they’re making the best looking cans too! As funny as that sounds, a good looking label goes a long way.
That same aesthetic is carried through to their distillery. It’s pretty clean and simple but small details make all the difference. You can buy can-​shaped glass etched pint glasses, there are Miir growlers to be purchased, and of course there’s beer to drink!
The brewery also makes for a spectacular event space. I was recently here for a coffee event and then again for a wedding reception/​party and had a great time at both events.
You can buy and drink beer onsite (just $ 4) or you can take it home. They sell 4-​packs for $ 8 – 10 depending on the beer, cases of beer, growlers, and they even rent kegs! This is a one-​stop shop for all your beer needs in all sizes.

Hilliard’s is one of the first Ballard breweries I’ve been to, and although I’ve only been a few times now, it’s been great every time. The first time was for a birthday party over the summer, so it was WAY too hot (no air conditioning). Not really the fault of Hilliard’s, but it was rather uncomfortable.
That said, we just came here over the weekend with some friends from out of town, and we had a great time. I tried the blonde, which I enjoyed, and I love that both kids & dogs are allowed — we had both with us. I also noticed that in addition to the food truck (the pig truck was there this time), there’s a little coffee stand inside. I didn’t order anything from it, but it’s good to know for next time!
We sat outside & rocked out to the oldies that were playing before moving on to more breweries. It was pretty cheap, too, with each beer only $ 4-​$ 5!

Is this even beer? I guess flat tasting beer is a thing? I’m an avid beer drinker who has tried dozens if not hundreds of different breweries before. I have no idea how this place is still open. They take safe bets on each beer they create and the result is, in all of them, a bland mixture of nothingness. The IPA tasted like a Pale which is treason living in the NW. Please, rename that one. It’s not an IPA.
You can tell the people who go here and «enjoy» beer have absolutely no palate and couldn’t tell the difference between 2 pales or stouts if pressured. I’ll stick to Bad Jimmys, Black Raven or Elysian for creative and unique beers.
On a side note, I highly recommend this brewery if you have a love for bland, watered-​down, tasteless and overall pathetic beers.

Great beer great customer service I’m in here often on the weekends to grab a brew after brunch, or to watch a game
The warehouse style of the places is awesome the seats are comfy and they seem to always have the best food trucks showing up oh yeah and try the MMHMM coffee is a a great pour over coffee bar
Can’t say enough good things about this place
Try the Pilsner and IPA

Ah! Yet another brewery that we hit during the Ballard brewery crawl experience from the other day!
At Hilliard’s Steve and I shared a glass of the OMG Cookies ale. It is a Winter Warmer beer and was perfect on that somewhat nippy day we when we were exploring the neighborhood.
The beer had a Molasses and Ginger elements to it which made for a very unique tasting beer!
The experience was very enjoyable!
Outside there is a food truck that sells Mexican food near the patio. Much of their menu consists of food items with (gasp) my beloved green chile! The food was tasty but I would not call it a «nailed» it experience on the green chile.
I know I am straying from the main point here, the brewery. It was a solid beer, the OMG Cookies and worthy a try for the experimental beer drinker!

Another great spot in Ballard! I like the space, it’s kind of industrial and very Seattle. They have a good variety of beer with good flavor. Also, they often have a food truck, can’t beat that! If you’re in the area, check it out!

1400!
Hilliard’s is one of the well known names in the Ballard Brewery District. On the retail side, it distinguishes itself from other breweries through its use of a can instead of bottle for its beers. Perhaps the most notable can offering is the 12^th Can Pale Ale which celebrates the fans of the Seattle Seahawks.
The brewery itself is located just off 15^th Ave. It is located close to the entrance onto the Ballard Bridge as you head towards downtown Seattle. Brewery is in a giant warehouse space. There is a mix of seating options. Some inside the building as well as some outside if you are looking for some sun. I noticed there was even an arcade game.
Hilliard’s is not a brewpub so only beers are offered. If you want food, they do host a number of food trucks that park right outside the building. In addition to their canned beer offerings, they have a selection on draft. There is a printed menu of their draft beers that you can look through. Most of them are year-​round offerings, though they did have one seasonal beer when I visited. I did notice they didn’t really have any samplers. I would have liked to have tried more than one brew without having to order a full glass.
Beers here are reasonably priced at $ 4 each. I have tried their canned Saison before which is a fruity refreshing concoction perfect for summer. Having enjoyed the Saison, I decided to try the Extra Special Belgian draft beer. You will notice that the ESB has a dark brown color. While it may seem by the color like it would be a very hard brew to drink, I thought it tasted as smooth and refreshing as the Saison.
If you like the canned offerings that Hilliard’s offers, you should check out the brewery itself to try the ones available here on draft. The atmosphere is casual and low key. A fun place to bring your friends or adult out-​of-​towners to.