Fair Isle Brewing
Brewery · Ballard
936 NW 49th St, Seattle, WA 98107
Highlights
Farmhouse ales, guest chef nights, and a unique cozy vibe
Farmhouse ales, guest chef nights, and a unique cozy vibe
"Fair Isle in Ballard is about appreciating the nuances of beer as you would a glass of wine. They specialize in farmhouse-styles, made with native yeasts and refermented with fruits and vegetables like pluots, beets, and kiwi. There are oaked ones with infusions like sencha tea or blackberries and tarragon, as well as some winemaking techniques in play." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente
"Arguably the most critically acclaimed of Ballard’s pocket of breweries, Fair Isle is a must-visit in the neighborhood. Walking into this taproom feels like entering a high-class winery, and not just because of the dark wood aesthetics — the farmhouse styles here are treated with the refinement of a vintner’s treasured bottles, which makes sense considering they’re crafted with native yeasts and refermented on real fruit. They often contain foraged ingredients too, which makes for some unique flavors. A good example is Nels Saison, a beer conditioned on foraged fir tips (which the beer-tenders say came straight from the Cascades) to add fresh notes of pine to its white wine-like New Zealand hop flavors." - Brianna Gunter
"A Ballard brewery that has become a popular host for excellent food pop-ups, pairing community-driven events with a varied tap list." - Eater Staff
"This Ballard brewery that specializes in farmhouse ales feels like someone’s refurbished barn. It’s both spacious and intimate, and easy enough to find a little area where you can settle in without distractions. Also, don’t miss the fantastic tacos. Wood stools, benches, and a couple of ergonomic chairs Ale with foraged larch tips and “The Hidden Life Of Trees.”" - gabe guarente
"Sometimes, brewery-hopping in Ballard is about knocking back as many four-ounce tasters as you can until you want a cheeseburger. Other times, you want to appreciate the nuances as you would a glass of wine. That’s where Fair Isle comes in. This brewery specializes in really good farmhouse beer, made with native yeasts and refermented with fruits and vegetables like pluots, beets, and kiwi. There are even some oak-aged styles with infusions like sencha tea or blackberries and tarragon." - aimee rizzo
