Your Guide to Every Brewery in Bellingham, WA (and Whatcom County)
Find out what’s on tap in Whatcom.
Discover the perfect pint, whether you’re a casual sipper or beer enthusiast.
Bellingham is synonymous with craft beers and breweries.
That isn’t just because the city loves its beer (though we do), but because most of Whatcom and Bellingham’s community events happen at breweries whose converted industrial warehouses can host large crowds. Plus, many are accessible on foot (if they’re downtown) or via a quick drive or bike ride.
Any night of the week, you can hear live music, test your knowledge at trivia, see a drag performance, or help raise money for a local cause at one of the area’s local breweries. The best part is, these breweries don’t compete with one another, but instead team up to host city-wide events like block parties and celebrations for cyclists and relay racers.
How many breweries are in Bellingham?
There are 15 breweries within the city limits, with nearby breweries in Mount Vernon, Ferndale, and Birch Bay, plus even more taphouses and cideries across Whatcom County.
Not a drinker? Most of the breweries on this list offer non-alcoholic drinks like kombucha, hop water, seltzer, and non-alcoholic beer. Plus, they all have food options, either from in-house kitchens or local food trucks. Most taprooms allow kids of all ages, and some allow pets, so you don’t have to leave anyone behind.
Here’s everything you need to know about the breweries in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Aslan Brewing Co.
If you’ve been to a bar in Whatcom County, chances are you’ve seen Aslan beer—their Batch 15 IPA is a taproom staple. If you prefer to go straight to the source, you have several options: Aslan Brewpub, the original Aslan Brewing location in downtown Bellingham, the Aslan Depot taproom and barrel-aging facility just a block away in the Union Depot building, and further south at Aslan Seattle in the city’s Fremont neighborhood. All Aslan beers are certified organic.
Special events: Aslan Depot hosts live jazz every Tuesday and DJs from Black Noise Records on Saturday nights.
What’s on tap: Organic IPAs, lagers, and pilsners are brewed year-round, plus rotating seasonal batches and special releases, like the award-winning disco lemonade. 🪩
What to eat: Bar snacks and starters like waffle fry poutine, mains like fried chicken or tofu katsu sandwiches, and a special late-night menu (9 p.m. to close) with apps like poutine and mac and cheese bites. You can order from both Bellingham locations (if you’re at Aslan Depot, they’ll deliver food from the brewpub to your table).
Boundary Bay Brewery
Boundary Bay helped lay the foundation for Bellingham’s craft beer craze when they opened in 1995. They were one of the city’s first-ever breweries (technically the first to receive permits from the city and the third to officially open their doors to the public) and are now the oldest brewery in Bellingham. From their taproom on Railroad Street, you can peek into the microbrewery or take in views of downtown.
Special events: On Wednesdays, local college students with an ID can get $6 cheeseburgers and $5 mac and cheese all day. Annually in May, Boundary Bay hosts their Ski to Sea weekend—a fish fry and block party with live music in the beer garden—to fundraise for various causes like Hunger vs Hunger. Check out their calendar for more events throughout the week.
What’s on tap: Boundary Bay beers come in three profiles: hoppy, malty, and light and fruity. They often use local ingredients, like hops from Skagit Valley. Their Bellingham Blonde Ale was awarded a silver medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival.
What to eat: While the taproom is 21+, the bistro is all-ages. They offer a full food menu, with apps like vegan queso dip, and entrees like enchiladas, gumbo, and bangers and mash.
Beach Cat Brewing
Head north for some beachside brews at Beach Cat in Birch Bay, WA. This laid-back spot sits right on the water, with floor-to-ceiling windows and wraparound outdoor seating for prime sunset views.
Special events: Summer is Birch Bay’s liveliest season, but Beach Cat hosts events like comedy shows and live music year-round, and partners with local vendors for craft fairs and tap takeovers. See their full events calendar here.
What’s on tap: They brew a rotating selection of beers on-site in the “nanobrewery,” including nitro cream ales, drinkable blonde ales, hazy IPAs, and sours. They also have canned wines, and ciders from Bellingham Cider Company.
What to eat: Local food trucks are frequently stationed outside the bar. Authentic Filipino-style spring rolls from Lumpia Love and birria tacos from Chispita de Sabor pair well with Beach Cat brews. Follow Beach Cat’s Facebook page to see the full food truck schedule.
El Sueñito
El Sueñito is sequestered away from downtown in an industrial part of Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood. As soon as you enter the brewery you get a full view of its operations, with a few tables indoors separated by a barrier right next to the tanks, and large picnic tables outside underneath colorful banners. Owners Dennis and Osbaldo are originally from Seattle and Mexico, respectively. El Sueñito (which translates to “little dream”) is highly community-focused. They often partner with local businesses and sponsor causes related to immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.
Special events: Once a month, El Sueñito hosts a popular drag brunch with local performers like Queen Andrew Scott and Issa Man. They also have an inclusive running club that meets at the brewery on Wednesday evenings. Participants can opt for a 3- or 5-mile run or stroll, and enjoy food and drinks with new friends.
What’s on tap: Craft beers and Mexican lager. Their flagship Alebrijes beer, made with Saaz hops, is available year-round.
What to eat: Authentic Mexican food: esquites, tacos, and tamales.
FrinGe Brewing
Great craft breweries in Whatcom aren’t limited to Bellingham; the trend has also spilled into the neighboring town of Ferndale, WA. Housed in Ferndale’s historic former post office (then library, then police station), FrinGe brews a number of craft beer styles.
Special events: FrinGe Brewing co-presents an annual summer block party with the Ferndale Arts Commission. The free, all-ages event has live entertainment, food trucks, local cider, and of course, craft beer.
What’s on tap: West Coast IPAs, barrel-aged ales, unique stouts, and barley wine. They even have a non-alcoholic brew, cleverly dubbed the Hairless Dog.
What to eat: Local food trucks provide hearty bites like WTF (Where’s the Food) and the Mobile Mouth Hole throughout the week. You can see the full calendar on their website.
Gruff Brewing
Gruff’s vibe can be described as “elevated camp.” The brand is playful but sophisticated, with nods to ‘90s nostalgia (their gift cards look like Blockbuster membership cards) and pint glasses featuring their logo in a green slime font. Gruff serves pub grub with a vegan twist, like nori fries and tofu gyoza, but they also have options like calamari and fried chicken, which you can enjoy indoors or around the firepits.
Special events: Follow them on Instagram to find out about events throughout the year. In December, they hosted A Very Corndog Christmas with live music, karaoke, and (you guessed it) corndogs.
What’s on tap: Gruff releases small batches of craft beer with illustrated can designs and unique hops. They recently collaborated with the Cascade Carnivore Project on the release of What Lynx Us Together, a hazy IPA.
What to eat: They have a full menu (small and big bites) like the chicken katsu sando topped with the house curry sauce.
Kulshan Brewing Company
Since opening their first brewery in Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood in 2012, Kulshan has had a significant impact on Whatcom’s craft beer scene. They quickly upped production due to demand and opened two additional locations: K2, in the Roosevelt neighborhood on Kentucky Street, and the Trackside Beer Garden in Bellingham’s waterfront container village. You can enjoy their brews outside at each location, or cozy up to the bar.
Special events: Kulshan is very community-focused and hosts events throughout the week, including live music every Sunday at the Sunnydale location, and trivia every Wednesday at K2. See their calendar for more.
What’s on tap: Award-winning beers like the Heliotrope IPA and the Premium Lager, plus special releases with fun flavor combinations.
What to eat: Get Mexican bites from Ah! Chihuahua Taco Truck (open daily at K2 and seasonally at Trackside); gyros and fries from Greektown (Thursday through Sunday at Sunnyland); bulgogi burgers and other Asian-fusion eats from Outpost Eats (Tuesday and Wednesday at Sunnyland); and burgers named after various rappers from El Pollo Feo (Tuesday through Sunday at K2).
Larrabee Lager Co.
Larrabee Lager is a new addition to the Bellingham beer scene, but co-owner Sam Milne has been at it for some time. He attended a brewery academy in Munich and previously worked as the head brewer for Kulshan. The German-inspired brewery focuses on lagers and fittingly serves Bavarian pretzels (among other food options) in a communal beer hall and garden.
Special events: Larrabee holds a yoga class in the beer hall every Sunday morning. You can hear live music throughout the week, or come for Mariners Mondays (any Monday the Mariners are playing) to watch the game and enjoy hot dogs and $5 German Helles lagers.
What’s on tap: Italian-style pilsners, German-style ales, and more.
What to eat: Larrabee serves a variety of pizzas, with optional gluten-free crust and vegan cheese.
Menace Brewing
Menace Brewing on Meridian Street in Bellingham’s Fountain District calls itself “your friendly neighborhood brewery.” They drive the point home by being kid- and pet-friendly, and hosting Irish pub-style “pub sings” and bingo nights.
Special events: Check the calendar for live blues, Irish music jam sessions, themed trivia nights, and live-streamed FC soccer matches.
What’s on tap: Pub ales, cream ales, honey blondes, and more.
What to eat: Menace has rotating food trucks daily, including Stella Sopra Italian, Danielle’s Back East BBQ, Big Bites, and Lumpia Love. You can also get Zeek’s pizza delivered to the brewery daily, or Banh Mi Monday through Saturday.
North Fork Brewery and The Barrelhouse
North Fork Brewery, the second-oldest brewery on this list (they opened in 1997) is just outside of Bellingham on Mt. Baker Highway in Deming, WA—an ideal stop for beer on the way to or returning from a hiking trail. The rustic casual spot is also a pizzeria, serving oven-fired pies, grinders, and other hearty bites. In 2022, they opened The Barrelhouse in Bellingham (in the same building as Bellingham Cider Company). Inside you’ll find their “beer shrine”—vintage beer bottles and memorabilia from all over the West Coast.
Special events: Every Thursday, The Barrelhouse in Bellingham hosts music bingo, with rotating themes.
What’s on tap: About 17 rotating ales including sours and lagers are available at the brewery, with 10 more at The Barrelhouse. They also offer bottles of their barleywine and sours.
What to eat: Their pizza crusts are made with beer, specialty flour, and olive oil. They also have a gluten-free crust option from Avellino.
Otherlands Beer
Otherlands brews carefully crafted beer in Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood. They specialize in modern and traditional techniques to make truly unique farmhouse ales, lagers, and IPAs. The family-owned establishment is set in a guesthouse-style tavern, with garage doors that open to a plant-filled patio in the summer.
Special events: Otherlands likes to celebrate the seasons, with solstice-themed events and summer garden parties. They’re often part of Bellingham-wide brewery festivals. Follow them on Instagram for updates.
What’s on tap: Drinkable, low-ABV brews, like unfiltered lagers, floral-forward IPAs, and fresh farmhouse ales.
What to eat: A seasonal menu for lunch and weekend brunch, with European-inspired street food, vegan options like a beet Reuben, shakshuka, and sweet and savory dishes.
Stemma Brewing Company
Stemma’s massive, sun-filled taproom on Moore Street is family-owned and open to all ages.
Special events: Stemma frequently hosts comedy nights and trivia. They also put on a spring market featuring local vendors and creators.
What’s on tap: In addition to hoppy IPAs and flavorful lagers, they also have hard seltzer, cider, and, wine on draft.
What to eat: You can order grilled cheese (on Avenue bread) from the Burnt Side Down food trailer parked outside. They also have rotating food trucks and allow outside food to be brought in or delivered.
Stones Throw Brewery
Stones Throw in Fairhaven is a welcoming brewery geared toward adventurers. They are bike-friendly, kid-friendly, and pet-friendly, and have seating available at the bar, beer garden, and around the firepits. If you’re in from out of town, you can book a stay at their adjacent guesthouse on Airbnb.
Special events: In addition to live music on Wednesdays and trivia on Thursdays, they host community-focused events, like a Bike to Work Day after-party for eco-conscious commuters.
What’s on tap: The rotating tap list has a selection of IPAs, pale ales, and lagers. The Happy Valley is a hazy IPA that changes from batch to batch as the brewers experiment with different hops and recipes.
What to eat: They welcome outside food and also have rotating food trucks stationed outside, like Galley 2 Go Fish n Chips.
Structures Brewing
Structures pours handcrafted beers in two locations in Bellingham: State Street, the original taproom (21+), and Old Town, the family-friendly location on Holly Street, with garage doors that open to the outdoor patio overlooking the water.
Special events: Karaoke on Tuesdays, and live music throughout the week featuring local PNW bands.
What’s on tap: Small-batch hoppy brews and lagers on draft or in beautifully designed cans, like their flagship Amarillo Fuzz IPA.
What to eat: The Holly Street location serves drive-in-style burgers and housemade potato chips. Structures also partners with vendors to serve specialties like New Zealand-style fruit ice cream (weekends in spring and summer) and Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches with Funky’s Hot Sauce (Mondays until they run out).
Twin Sisters Brewing Company
Twin Sisters lets you choose your own adventure. Grab a large group and head to the sprawling restaurant, mingle in the beer garden around firepits and picnic tables, or relax in Adirondack chairs. Their award-winning craft beers range from crisp and light to dark and malty.
Special events: They host trivia on Tuesdays and host holiday parties and community-wide events throughout the year. You can also book the taproom for private events.
What’s on tap: The From Now On pilsner and the Mexican Lager both received medals from the 2022 Washington Beer Awards and are part of their core beer selection, available year-round.
What to eat: The restaurant is full service, with snacks like beer pretzel bites and wings, and big plates like street tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and fish and chips.
Wander Brewing
Wander has been brewing craft beer for the last decade. Their charming industrial brew hall is housed in a historic warehouse in Bellingham and offers indoor and outdoor seating on the covered patio. They cater to commuters of all kinds, with free parking and a large bike rack outside. The third Tuesday of every month is Community Tuesday at Wander, where $1 from every pint sold is donated to a nonprofit. You can also enjoy their beers on tap at Roam, a coffee shop on Washington Street in Bellingham.
Special events: Wander hosts events throughout the year, like trivia with tacos from Jalapeños, a monthly book club, and drag brunch.
What’s on tap: Thoughtfully brewed IPAs, farmhouse ales, sours, stouts, and more. They also have rotating local cider and wine on draft.
What to eat: You can order smash burgers and sides like barrio fries and elote from the Luchadora food truck, available daily. Additional food trucks are parked outside on a rotating basis.
Any spots we missed? Let us know your favorite place to grab a beer in Whatcom County.