Laurelhurst’s First Brewery Is an Ideal Stop for Burke-Gilman Trail Users

Seattle’s brewery scene gains a new member this weekend as Laurelhurst’s Burke-Gilman Brewing opens Saturday, July 21, at noon. The brewery takes the place of Ciao Bella (3626 NE 45th St.) and it’s named for the multi-use trail it abuts. The opening beer list is fairly diverse, including a porter, a hoppy pale, an IPA made with local ingredients, a saison, and a London brown, a historic style popular in England a century ago.

Though two of the four owners are former homebrewers, the group — Kenneth Trease, Eric Lundquist, Corey Ovendale, and Ty Ovendale — hired Phil Pesheck as full-time brewer. His resume includes Seattle classics Mac and Jack’s and Georgetown Brewing.

In a blog post on the brewery website, Pesheck ruminated on the styles of beer he might dabble with as things get going: “Expect many experimental session IPAs, Double IPAs, Strong ales, Barleywines, Kettle soured, and Barrel Aged brews from me. I’m also very interested in Belgian styles,” he said. Trease told Eater the brewery hopes to “bring on several new beers per week, long term. Hoping to have something new, whenever anyone comes back.”

The owners promise to source as many Washington State ingredients as they can, including hops and malt, which they’ve already started with the inaugural IPA. Non-beer drinkers will find a few Washington ciders on tap, plus some nonalcoholic drinks.

With the popular bike trail in its backyard, the new watering hole has plenty of bike parking, plus indoor and outdoor seating at tables or a long bar. There isn’t a kitchen, so patrons will be encouraged to bring in food from neighboring restaurants like Great State Burger, just a few doors down. The taproom is kid- and dog-friendly, and the decor is industrial-chic, with wood planks covering the back bar wall and ceiling and gray-blue walls elsewhere.

To help fund the business, Burke-Gilman Brewing relied in part on income from a Founder’s Club. Membership ran $150 per person, with perks like T-shirts, pint glasses, a Founder’s Club party, and front-of-line privileges for special beer releases.

Starting July 21, the brewery is open Monday 4 to 10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.

• Burke-Gilman Brewing Company Opening In March [Laurelhurst Blog]
• Burke-Gilman Brewing [Facebook]
• Burke-Gilman Brewing [Official]
• All Coverage of Burke-Gilman Brewing Company [ESEA]