After 10 Years, Nanobrewery NW Peaks Is Closing Its Ballard Location

Ballard’s about to say goodbye to one of its beer pioneers. Nanobrewery NW Peaks — which has been in the neighborhood for 10 years, helping to build up the craft scene — recently announced on Facebook that its closing its Ballard location by the end of the year. The two-year-old Hillman City outpost will remain open, however.

NW Peaks is known for its wide variety of brews, from its flagship Redoubt Red (with citrus flavors) to its full-bodied roasted Stuart Stout, brewed in small, one-barrel batches (hence the nanobrewery distinction). Owner Kevin Klein is a mountaineer with roots in north Seattle, but this move may have seemed at least somewhat inevitable once NW Peaks changed its base of operations from Ballard to Hillman City in 2017 with an acquisition of Spinnaker Bay.

“Over the past years, the toll of running both NW Peaks locations has caused me to abandon other hobbies that are near and dear to me,” Klein said in his announcement. “This will afford me the time and energy to rekindle those other passions, like getting (mentally) lost in the mountains.”

The Bergschrund taproom in Ballard will remain open through November, serving up the brewery’s seasonal offerings, as well as nachos. Those looking for NW Peaks afterward can head to Hillman City, where NW Peaks has 18 taps and a menu with pizza, sandwiches, and snacks.

• NW Peaks [Facebook]
• NW Peaks Brewery Completes Its Expansion to Hillman City [ESEA]
• NW Peaks Brewery Announces It Is Closings Its Ballard Taproom [Washington Beer Blog]