Cairn Brewing

R.I.P. Cairn 🍻 One of our favorite gathering places with some of the most delicious beer. I always looked forward to sampling the latest version of Hoptraverse, my wife loved Sippy Cup, and the Golden Anbessa is one of the best beers I’ve ever had. Thanks for the memories, Cairn. - J & K

I’ve enjoyed all the beer and guest ciders I’ve had here. The indoor and outdoor spaces are set up well, I especially like the bike racks, since it’s easy to access off the path. One thing that I really don’t like (-2 stars) is that they charge you a dollar to try a beer. They say it goes to charity, but didn’t have info on the charity, so who’s to say what you’re donating too.

This is our favorite brewery! Rachel and the "boys" are the best beertenders anywhere! Service is great, food trucks are outstanding. We also love the patrons. Every one is so friendly and helpful. They also share their canine friends. And did I mention the beers are world class? Too many great ones- I can't pick a favorite.

Busy brewery ..and on a Tuesday! (They were doing trivia) So beware, you may not get a table, or even a seat! Also really limited parking. It's right off the highway It's a big warehouse-y place. The beer is good, but nothing really stood out. I didn't like the Pale Ale, but the German Pilsner was OK. The HopTraverse Single origin (mosaic) hop IPA was good though. More like a grapefuity sizzly slighy bitter bite pale ale. Bummer they don't do samples. They actually do, but they charge you $1 and try to excuse it by all proceeds going to a local cause. Honestly, all I know is that I wouldn't have gotten the Pale Ale if I tasted it. Now the experience.. the local patrons were mostly friendly. And the beer tenders were ok.. they tried answering questions, but super disappointing they don't do samples. That's part of the brewery experience, which I gladly tip very well for. But c'est la vie.

Some of our favorite beer! Great location on BG with plenty of bike parking. The Adirondack chairs in the patio are a nice touch! They also have food trucks most nights - we come here several times a month.

Decent drinks and ambiance - would be a favorite for a stop on a bike ride except that to taste anything, you must donate to a charity of their choice. I wouldn’t even mind paying them for the taster to ensure I like what I’m going to order but having to give money to an organization without knowing about it or having to take the time to google and learn about a new charity to ensure your money is going somewhere appropriate, in the moment, kind of sucks. Also are they just doing this for a tax write off?

Great neighborhood brewery. Beer is great, always have good food trucks and the employees are awesome, especially Rachel, so friendly, always has a smile on her face. VERY dog friendly place. Highly recommend!

A great place to grab a beer with friends or family. They have a good selection of dark beer. Thor's Hammer is a GREAT stout, I also love Midnight Hike. Kid and dog friendly, but no food. They let you bring in outside meals and there's usually a good food truck parked outside.

R.I.P. Cairn One of our favorite gathering places with some of the most delicious beer. I always looked forward to sampling the latest version of Hoptraverse, my wife loved Sippy Cup, and the Golden Anbessa is one of the best beers I've ever had. The people were always so kind and helpful, and being located right on the Burke-Gilman made for a lively environment. Thanks for the memories, Cairn. - J & K

The building housing Cairn Brewing is now Postdoc Brewing - Kenmore (https://www.yelp.com/biz/postdoc-brewing-kenmore-kenmore). None of the beers still appearing on the Cairn Brewing web site are available, and there is a note at the top of that web site about the change of owners. The beer is still pretty good, but I believe it is the same lineup as in the main Postdoc Brewing facility in Redmond, so we've lost some local diversity. The outdoor patio is wonderful (in the warm & dry months). Parking is awful. There are maybe a half dozen spaces in the lot adjacent to the patio. Patrons are advised to park at the Park & Ride on the other side of SR522 and a bit to the east.

I love this little gem. Great service with knowledgeable people who are experts in their craft. Cute little outside space and the inside is inviting and a working brewery. Dog friendly which is always fun. Didn't notice food but I was there for the beer! Recommend stop on your journey!

I came by to grab a drink with a coworker who recommended this place. They have a large space that includes both indoor and outdoor seating. There are picnic tables and couch seats inside that face the TVs so people can watch sports games. Outside there are patio tables covered by tarps. There are very few parking spots right out front but there is street parking a block away where you can park and walk over. All their beers are brewed in-house and their ciders come from Soundbite Cider in Everett. I ordered the thor's hammer ($6.50) which was very creamy and chocolate-y. If you want you can also order flights that consist of four 4oz pours of $2-3 each. They don't have free samplers but instead it's a $1 donation to a charity. When I came here a lot of people were on their laptops because there is free wifi so it's a good place to get some work done too. They have food trucks parked on-site so you don't need to go too far for food. This is a nice place to relax and grab some drinks.

Great place for a summer beer! They have a big outdoor area that is mostly shaded in the afternoon with lots of seating and it's not over crowded with chairs. The servers were all really friendly when they were pouring the beer or walking around clearing glasses. Definitely a really friendly place to hangout and have a beer. Tuesday at 7pm is their trivia night. If you have a big group, you should come an hour early to reserve your seats but if you have a smaller group, 30 minutes early should be fine.

I've been a fan of this place for awhile! They consistently have tasty beer and great service. They make the most of their space with indoor seating as well as outdoor in better weather. Their trivia nights are really fun and get packed! Parking can be a challenge so give yourself some extra time to find a spot and potentially walk a bit.

Excellent Tuesday night trivia, great beer selection and a variety of NA and non-beer choices for folks who'd prefer something else.

I love this brew pub! Great selections of beer-I love their sour. My family likes to head here when they have a food truck we like or are interested in trying. I recommend Mexicuban and where ya at Matt's. There is plenty of seating inside and out (weather permitting. Lots of people bring their dogs in the summer. Family friendly. Great spot in Kenmore.

I've been coming here just a few times each year for the past few years and have to say that they have either gotten a lot better at brewing, or my tastes have matured. Either way, the beer here is really good. They rank the many, many beers on their menu from light to dark with both the IBU and ABV tastings for each. This is great for both the experienced and novice beer drinkers. And while I'm bummed that they don't offer free tasters, you can still sample the beers for a $1 donation to a local charity. The month I visited, the samples benefited a local senior center, which is good since I will be living in one before I know it, especially with all the beer I drink! The beertender the last time I visited was very knowledgeable and guided me to some great beers. They don't serve food but you can bring food in and they often have food trucks outside. They also allow kids and dogs. The only downside is that parking can be tight, but during the colder months they open up their beer garden for parking which helps. Another plus that I rarely see is that they serve some beers directly from the kettle. It doesn't get fresher than that!

Oh my, I like it here! The vibe is so fun and the people that work here so nice! They offer amazing beer and if you have friends with you that prefer wine or cider, they have that too! There is a large indoor area and a nice outdoor area so you can pick your place to gather with friends. I will be back soon. I had a great time.

My first time here, taking part in the Eastside Beer Week bike tour. Although I've learned the hard way that hydrating with beer when cycling doesn't work out well for me, I still had to try two 5 oz pours and was so happy that I did. The hazy pale ale and the oatmeal stout made for such a counterpoint of flavors, aromas and textures - it was really quite an experience. I will definitely stop by again!

Pleasantly surprised by Cairn! It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside, it's really spacious with plenty of seating, and there is a mini "beer garden" for when the weather is nice. The selection was pretty decent, and they even have a couple ciders on draft, if beer isn't your thing. They coordinate food trucks to park outside, so although they don't have food at Cairn, there are usually food options! Follow either the @KenmoreFoodTruckCorner on Instagram or Facebook to see when and what food trucks will be there. Usually Tuesday-Sunday ~4-7pm

Loved the beer. Loved the atmosphere. Loved the customer service. Overall, a really awesome place to have a beer and enjoy and afternoon

What a hidden gem. Great spot for a beer after 20 mi bike ride! They always have places to sit and rotating food truck at the side. Once we tried a poke food truck and other day a somen it was so good. Better than the other brewery nearby that is always crowded and loud. Very peaceful place.

The woman who greeted me was rude and toxic. The beer is amazing but if she is the owner she will bring down this business. Mean people who have control issues are really bad business owners. I will not refer recommend or support this colossal sewer of a brewery. Bad management spoils any beer! Good luck witches brew! Pathetic and I was going to spend quite a chunk on some take home brews.

Okay, here's the thing with this one. It's a cool place with patio area that is super dope. Plus they have different food trucks every day which is cool. The only issue was the crowd. To explain, there were so many parents with their kids I swear I thought I was at a daycare. We went yesterday which was Friday night and I swear there was so many kids. Before people get all Karen on me here is my point. I don't want to be drinking and chill at a brewery that has kids and babies everywhere. Parents of Kenmore, you cannot just take your kids to a brewery and put head phones on them and plop a tablet and get smashed. Take it for what it is but I'm not trying to relax and let of some steam at a daycare.

A very unique layout for a brewery and it really works. Great social atmosphere and awesome beer selection. Perfect place for game day or work morale event or just to hang out on the weekend.

I really like this place for relaxing and having an IPA or Cider. Food Trucks not always reliable we had to get orders from Uber Eats

Always great cold beer served by friendly and knowledgeable people. Picnic table casual and dog friendly. Yummy Eats are provided by an ever-changing fleet (ha ha) of food trucks

This place has a fun vibe good beer, and also a cider tasting flights, which I reallt appreciated!

If you're looking for a great place to spend a summer night, this is it! This brewery is adorable!! Location is great because there are several breweries in walking distance. We met some friends on a patio around to corner and then walked here for a drink. There's plenty of seating with different lounge sections around the warehouse style brewery and tasting room. They have large garage doors that were open on the beautiful night we visited. Lights strung above the patio made for a nice ambiance. They don't have a ton of outdoor seating but you will be sure to get fresh air while the doors are open. The staff was very helpful, patient, and polite. We each had just one beer but everyone really liked their selection and there were plenty of others on the list I look forward to trying next time. I don't really think you could go wrong with this place. Go check it out for yourself!

Years after discovering Carin, they only get better. They were awesome before Covid, and remain awesome. Converting their parking lot to distanced outdoor seating provided such an awesome outlet to be with friends during the pandemic. The beer is always awesome. Love the hop-traverses, getting to learn the flavor of different hops. And the food trucks are always a welcome addition. Some better than others, but almost always makes for a great bite to eat to go with a beer!

Great service and very friendly people. They do have chips and nuts to buy on site. There's a good amount of beer to choose from. I chose the blood orange cider, which was very good. Ambience is very dark wood colored and homey. Would definitely be back and there's parking!

Nice brewery with a great selection of beers. My wife and I now go here weekly because of the large selection they have on tap and the rotating food trucks. The only reason it's 4 stars instead of 5 is the parking (there is nowhere near enough) and the interior could use a refresh. Even with 4 stars, it's still a regular "go to" place for me.

I've been here a few times since this opened. I like the close proximity to both biking on the Burke-Gilman and water activities at Squire's landing park. We like to reward physical exertion with beer afterwards. This brewery is conveniently located next to two others which adds to the greatness of the spot. Parking can be a bit tough on a busy day due to this. The brewery itself is large with lots of places to sit, including an outdoor patio area and a few coach areas. Snacks are available for sale regularly and local delivery options are posted on the wall. If you are lucky you will come on a food truck night and get to try something nice. I have been trying to come on an Alaskan Dumpling night for weeks now. Like most breweries these days this one allows dogs and children. There is a family bathroom which has a smaller sink for children to wash up in. On a recent visit many children did not seem to be very well supervised and in fact I was concerned they may knock over my beer and this would have upset me. I did appreciate that the bathroom recommended the use of the blowers vs the paper towels. It can be quite loud in here.

Love LOVE Carin Brewing! Not only does Cairn have great beer, but it truly feels like the neighborhood watering hole. I see the same smiling happy faces each time I go. People come with their dogs, kids, friends, parents, neighbors to enjoy a cold yummy beer, local food truck, root for their favorite team, or relax on their patio after a long bike ride. Their beer is really good and they have something for everyone, light, hoppy, dark, and even a few rotating ciders. They are right next to the Kenmore Food Truck Corner, so more often than not, there is food nearby. They have a good mix of indoor and outdoor seating. They have a small parking lot and there is street parking. Better yet, ride your bike! They have plenty of bike parking. Cairn does a great job of communicating their weekly happenings, including events and food trucks, on Facebook and Instagram every Monday, give them a follow to know what's going on!

Delicious! My husband and I visited Cairn for some refreshing beer during lunch hours on Mothers day last sunday. I was surprised to see how spacious this place is inside! Plenty seatings for larger groups inside or also patio seating for those who want to soak in some sun this upcoming summer! The workers were super friendly and even guided me which bathroom had the changing station for my son when she noticed my husband caring in a stroller. We ordered the seaplane ipa and my husband got the sippy cup hazy ipa. We both enjoyed them and wish we could have stuck around longer to try plenty of other beer options available. About 15 beers to choose from and 1 cider when I went. Something for everyone! We will definitely be back!! Cheers to you Cairn!

I have been in the area for 2 months, and this brewery is the only one I return to outside the city. Carlo was very friendly when I first walked in and gave me a lot of info on the beer. I am an IPA guy, but they've had at least 10 non-IPA beers on tap every time I've been here. The prices are reasonable, and the staff and atmosphere are very nice. I noticed a BS review so I had to set the record straight!

Best. Brewery. Ever. I mean I could leave it at that but let me say just a bit more, The space is amazing. The staff are so friendly and wonderful. Oh and the beer...in a word: superb (name that movie anyone?) But seriously, superb. The sunshine Saison is sunshine in a glass, the Thor's Hammer stout is the best stout I've ever had, the Sippy Cup Hazy is something to seek out and I could go on and on but I don't want to sound like too much of a fan girl....okay but seriously don't pass up the chance to try to spruce tips or the Christmas ale that I'm blanking on the name of but in summation you won't be disappointed by anything you try at this place! OH! And they're not only dog friendly, I'd argue they're dog enthusiasts! Soo yeah. This place has it all.

My wife and I met our friends here for a couple beers. Free parking can be found in the parking lot. Discover is an accepted form of payment. Cairn has transformed a warehouse into a clean and spacious brewery. Outside seating is available. Several leather seats and couches are scattered throughout providing ample seating. TV's are mounted for entertainment. Free Wi-Fi is offered. Cairn offers snacks in the way of food. Food trucks are scheduled Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday. Menus to local restaurants are also available to place a delivery order. Cairn is kid and dog friendly. Wait service is not offered at Cairn. Orders are placed at the counter. On the day of our visit, Jen was serving us. Jen was friendly, very knowledgeable and helpful about the current beers on draft. My wife and I each shared Don't Call Me Irish and Big Buck Bunny Brown for $5.45 each. Each of our beers were served in the appropriate stemware and were quite tasty. Overall, Cairn ended up being one of our favorite breweries after a day of brewery hopping. Keep up the good work Cairn.

Great beer, different food truck each day so makes for good variety of food. Family and dog friendly.

On the Burke-Gilman Trail, it's getting to the point where stopping for a beer at each brewery will leave you pretty damn sloshed. Three of them are close together here in Kenmore, and I'd have to give Cairn the nod for best beer out of those three. They've taken over a decent-sized light-industrial space with a little bit of parking for vehicles, and plenty of parking for bikes, rollerblades, running shoes...you get the idea. There's a patio with light house-made rails setting it off from vehicle parking, then big roll-up doors, then picnic tables, then the brewhouse. It all flows together. In back, there's a tidy clean bar, and off to the side is some overstuffed furniture that looked pretty comfortable. The staff are nice, prices are good. They're firing on all cylinders here, though they do not appear to have a kitchen. (They might allow outside food, not sure). The beers aren't bad, no apparent flaws, but a little bit out of balance for my taste (a little sweet here, a little dry there, a little chewy on this one, etc--just subjective preferences). These guys have taken their time a bit, and built up exactly what they want in the way of a brewhouse, at least from what I can see. I am pretty sure that when you order a beer, there's a good chance a brewer pours it for you--maybe the only brewer. I love seeing the relentless rise of neighborhood brewing in this area. Can't wait to see more of them, and to watch these guys grow.

Great atmosphere, large family-style tables inside for groups and also some smaller tables outside. They've got heaters by the outdoor tables so it is tolerable to be out there in the cooler weather. They have food trucks regularly, there was a Pizza truck when we went that was delicious. Pizza and beer.. what better combo?

Great spot for a patio beer after a long ride on the Gilman Trail. Food trucks are on point as well.

I want to be nicer than this, but honestly, outside the imperial milk stout thing (which is excellent and the only reason this is getting an extra star) there are seriously not good beers here. The SMASH beers taste like they are just a dumping ground for last year's hops. Ugh. Vegetal and acrid. Really nice people in here, and a generally good vibe. Sad beer. Hope it gets better.

Stopped here during a ride on the trail. The beer selection was more than adequate, on par with other microbreweries. A little too dog friendly; dog hair on our table and even a patron had their small dog on the table. Gross! Would love to see wine options and some guidelines for clueless dog owners.

Excellent brewery! Beers here were good. I had a saison that was delicious and I also sampled the German Pilsner. The IPA that had the highest IBUs was surprisingly not hoppy and very drinkable (coming from a non IPA drinker). I liked the space, it was open and in a warehouse, my favorite type of brewery. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. It is dog and kid friendly and they had a food truck out front. Good stop!

Cairn is my favorite brewery in the immediate area. Good variety of beers including IPAs, Belgium styles, among the standards. Lots of seating so you will likely be able to find a seat.

I was very impressed with my experience at Cairn. They are serious about making good beer, and have a wide variety to choose from. As I arrived, a food truck was parking next to the entrance. Since they had so many choices and it was my first time, I had to get a flight, which is four 5-ounce pours. Everything I tried was high quality, I just wish I could have tried more in my flight! The hazy ipa ended up being my favorite of the bunch, I'd compare it to the best-in-class Aslan Brewing batch 15 beer. I hope I get another chance to come and try more of their offerings soon!

Cairn Brewing was the first brewery that I went to on my beer excursion last Friday up north. This is a brand new brewery that just opened in May and I was excited to give it a try! This time I did a sample tray of five of their beers rather getting one or two pints. My sample tray consisted of the Scotch beer, the Big Buck Bunny Brown, American Pale Ale, the English IPA and the Seaplane IPA. All of the beers were enjoyable but probably the one that I liked most was the Big Buck Bunny Brown which had a nice body and smooth flavor to it. The taproom is quite large and has plenty of seating available and from the main taproom it goes into a hallway near the entrance where there is additional seating as well as board game to play while you relax.

Dog friendly and excellent beer options! Dan was super helpful with narrowing down what beers to try. Thanks Dan!

Went here for an event hosted by a boxer rescue! I loved the stout that I got. And Nacho Mamas the food truck was there, which had phenomenal nachos. We brought the dogs and they had a great time!

I bookmarked this place before it had opened and I still lived in Bothell. Of course, it didn't open until after we moved. BUT I still had to make it a point to come check it out! We decided to have a double date here; and met a few friends. Another BEER loving couple! We had to try everything out, so we started with a sampler tray. They had a great selection of beers on tap; hitting almost every beer style! It is always great when a Brewery offers so many styles on tap (unlike the terrible brewery right down the road that avoids one style in particular because they "don't like it"...) Cairn appeals to the masses! Good business model! Cairn offers some snacks in house, but no real food. We ordered some Pagliachi's Pizza and had it delivered. There is a decent selection of places that will deliver to Cairn. I really liked Cairn's beers! Nothing disappointed! They have solid flavors, and a great variety! The people working there were super friendly and helpful! I am a fan!

I went to Cairn Brewing for the first time in February. The short story is that one of their nearby competitors failed to acknowledge my existence in their establishment for 20 minutes so I left - and wandered over to Cairn. I was greeted, had a beer in my hand in a minute or less, and was sitting at one of the large wooden tables, hanging out watching the game. I ordered another beer - both were on point (I used to work for a local craft brewery). Kudos to Cairn for treating customers right! You got my business next time I'm in Kenmore for sure. Cheers!

Over the last several years Kenmore has sprouted up quite the little brewery community. Of the three big ones Cairn is definitely my favorite. The beer is very good, easily my favorite of the three Kenmore breweries, and the atmosphere is lots of fun. I like the big long tables in the main room and the comfy chairs in the entry room. It is a great place to meet up with a group, big or small. They don't have their own kitchen, but they always have a food truck on the weekends. You can find the schedule on their website.

This is the best brewery in Kenmore. If that is not a great distinction from your POV, then I recommend you come try it. The IPA and Hazy is on point and quite yummy. This is a dog and kid friendly place with good beer and right off the Berk Gilman Trail. What more can you ask for?? Throw in a few guest taps for Elemental cider and you have something for everyone. Highly recommend and fun place to hang out.

Excellent beer, great atmosphere. The Pilsner is light, crisp, refreshing, and hints of honeydew - perfect for a summer day. Their traverse IPA is a light, golden, delicious citra with floral hints. well done Cairn!

Blown away! First time in, nice place. Great feeling for a brewery. I love beer, I'm an amateur home brewer so I like my beer. Chose to try Sippy Cup, which ended up being AMAZING!!!!. Took some home. Good job people at Cairn Brewing. Keep up the good work.

One of my favorite spots to ride my bike for a beer. I think the should ditch the parking lot for an expanded beer garden IMO. The Seaplane is a top-notch IPA that I recommend.

Nice brewery in a convenient location in Kenmore. Nice that Cairn is good size and off a major street, not a drive down a gravel road in the sticks! There are 3-4 sitting areas to eat/drink with a small patio area. Beer was good quality and servers very friendly and informative. Cairn is VERY dog/kid friendly, which is good if you drink beer with you dog or kids. For those without dogs or kids with them, it can get a bit noisy and chaotic. There are two other breweries within 100 yards, so walk around and find something you like! The food situation is a nice schedule of food trucks. Mega Burger was excellent, but that's another review.