When you drive from Bellingham to Mt. Baker - on your way to ski, hike, snowboard, or dirt bike - you find the landscape dominated by small farms, spindly hemlocks, pick-up trucks sporting McCain/Palin bumperstickers, and the occasional post-war bungalow. This is a stretch of highway that most people forget amidst their excitement to either climb Kulshan or return to B'ham for an apres ski drink. You can imagine how ecstatic I was to discover that mid-way between these two destinations is a craft brewery! Formally named the North Fork Brewery, but locally known as The Beer Shrine, this cozy lodge is packed to the rafters with breweriana. While the hallowed beer memorabilia everywhere and flowing ales from North Fork's eight taps may induce veneration in cerevisaphiles, this place is a shrine in more ways than one...it is an actual wedding chapel. Who needs champagne when you can have fresh cream ale?
I visited The Beer Shrine with my dad and family friend from Bellingham. Our friend had gone once before, several years ago, and suggested we head there after a short hike in the area. The brewery is not large, and the taproom seats about fifty. We sat at the bar and promptly ordered schooners of their Hefe, ESB, and IPA. It seems as though North Fork uses nitro in most of their ales, as opposed to the cheaper and more common carbon dioxide. Excluding the wheat beer, all of our drinks were really really smooth (too smooth?) and displayed that trademark Guinness head. I tried all three of these beers and they were all decent. They were all drinkable and mild, which I kind of liked since we were day-drinking, but they were also pretty forgettable. We all wished we were hungry at the time too because North Fork specializes in New York style pizza. This is pretty much the only thing I saw people eating, and a couple behind us had the most intimidating (and awesome looking!) roasted garlic and capocollo pie on their table. I plan to return in summer, with a hunger and a growler.
Not actually open at 2 pm like yelp and the brewery website state. Drove out and found out they have special fall hours and don't open until 4. Would have been good to know before going all the way there.
We were so looking forward to eating there again! Â Hope to make it out again soon for pizza and beer that we talked about for weeks! So good!
We took a bike ride last week to enjoy the fall colors, and stopped at North Fork Bewery for pizza and beer. Â Great pizza, with a thin and crispy crust and fresh ingredients. Great beer brewed on site. Our server was friendly, funny, and knowlegable. We lucked out and grabbed the last bar stools available, so didn't have to wait for a table. Outdoor seating is available in the summer.
Review Source:Great brewery and one of the few options in the area. I'm so glad we stopped here after our river rafting trip. Unfortunately, it was their busiest night of the year, so we waited at least 1.5 hour before being seated. We sat in their "garden" and had a few of their beers as we waited patiently. I liked their IPA and Porter. Once we finally got food, it was pretty good. We had a salad, a few pizzas, and the lasagna. Everything tasted good and at such a great price! I'll have to remember this place if I'm ever in the area again.
Review Source:How could I not have reviewed the North Fork yet?!?
If this place was within walking distance, I'd have to buy my own bar stool and take up residence :)
This place is totally awesome (as we said back in the 80's)!
Absolutely fabulous (as we said in the 90's) for dinner to & fro outdoor activities on the 542, but also perfect for a quick growler fill-up after taking the dogs for a walk along Horseshoe Bend. The IPA and the Hefe are my favorites. Perfect PNW hoppiness in the first and thirst-quenching wheaty goodness in the latter. And you get a little foil-wrapped ball of lemon slices with your growler of hefe. How excellent!
We've gone low-carb eating recently, and the North Fork is one of my very few treat-cheats. Can't wait for the next time we head east.
Good food, lazy staff and evidence of economizing. Laziness and economizing is evident in providing a bottle of water to the table and tiny plastic cups, without ice. I wondered if I had to order ice separately? Checks are not split, which is noted on the menu. Splitting a check takes 1-2 minutes. I find it hard to believe any place can't afford the time to give a bill of $150 1-2 minutes more attention. In addition soda isn't refrigerated for some reason. So order beer if you want something cold. Understandable given the business name, but when you walk in with 10 friends, not everyone will be a beer drinker. We ordered a few different pizzas and they were quite good. Given the location, it was quite unexpected. The price seemed appropriate for what we got. If they cant figure out how to provide water with ice in an adult cup Im not stopiping here.. Also some sort of fries are needed. Salt delivery method for those coming down off the mountain.
Review Source:Once a week I drive from Bellingham up the Baker Highway to hike, ski, snowshoe, or just let the dogs run. On the way back, I always stop at the North Fork Beer Shrine and get a pint of stout, porter or ESB and then I get a pizza to bring home for me and my wife. I also fill my growlers with IPA or the famous Son of Frog or Scotch Ale. To give some perspective, there are some decent breweries in Bellingham, but I don't bother. The beer at the North Fork is some of the best in the world. I lived in Ireland for over a year and the North Fork's stout is on par with the best of the Guinness in the most traveled old man pubs of Dublin. I lived in other parts of Europe and the beer at the North Fork is about as good as it gets. Worth a 40 mile round trip for me once a week.
If that's not enough temptation for you, the pizzas are made from homemade ingredients and the crusts are light and taste fresh. My personal favorites are the Greek and the Mediterranean (ideally with capracola, an Italian meat).
And one more bonus: The staff here has always treated me well. They know me, know what I order, and they're always friendly.
This is a real diamond in the rough and one of my favorite places to spend time in the PNW.
This place is amazing! Â Their pizza is the best I've had on the west coast. Expect large crowds and long waits later in the afternoon from all of the skiers returning from Mt Baker. Normally I don't like waiting for 30 minutes, but the pizza more than makes up for it. Walk in, sign up (no greeter) and grab a wonderful beer. Their Scotch Ale and Winter Warmer are phenomenal.
Review Source:This place is by far the best brewery and pizza joint around. If you are going to Mount Baker, Silver Lake or any place off the Highway, it is the ONLY place to eat. Please trust me with this fact.
The staff is fun and cool and very welcoming. You can tell by the clientele. Old and young, tech-savvy and hippie, and everything in between. It seems like everyone is welcome which I just adore. And Vicki the owner is a special treat...she remembers your name and the beer you drink...Need I say more? Yes, I probably should...
The food is finger-licking yummy! From the fresh salads with green goddess dressing to the pizza of your imagination. I usually leave stuffed to the brim because stopping from filling my belly is never an option. I heard the desserts are wonderful but have never tried. I would always take another pizza pie over dessert.
And last but certainly not least, the beer. MMMMMmmmmmmm. I grew up in Southern California. I simply was not a beer drinker. And when I first moved to the Pacific Northwest, all I could find was hop heavy IPA's. Not my thing...Until I discovered the North Fork Hefeweizen. Oh, that golden glass of joy. It is by far the best hef you can buy in these parts. And on rare occasion I have strayed, the Red knocked my socks off too. If you have a chance and he is around, Eric, the brewer, is so nice and knowledgeable about what he does. It was a joy to speak to him about his craft.
What can I say? You'd be a fool not to go to this place if you have a chance.
Love stopping in this place. This last time was no exception. We tried the Monster and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to have a unique pizza eating experience. With Gorgonzola, parmesan, pepperoni, anchovies, jalapenos, and pineapple, it is everything that you would want on a pizza, but not necessarily at the same time yet it all works really well. Each bite is unique and makes it feel like you are constantly sampling a different kind of pizza. WARNING, you have to like gorgonzola to enjoy this pizza because it is a dominant flavor. I even made sure that I took a bite with anchovies and pineapple together just to check and it still worked. The anchovies made it salty, the pineapple made it sour and sweet, and the jalapenos made it spicy. It was just a blast to eat. If you are an adventurous eater, definitely give this a try!
Review Source:Do yourself a favor and eat here sometime. I don't care if you aren't a skier/snowboarder/hiker. Â You don't need another reason to be this far out on Mt.Baker highway. Â I myself am a lazy ass, and I've been here many times. The pizza is glorious. Â The beer is glorious-er. Â I'm almost certain the brewery still doesn't bottle, and doesn't produce enough for much distribution, so you kind of have to come here to try it. Â Whatever you do, be sure to add roasted garlic to your pizza. I wish Tacoma had pizza like this.
Review Source:THE BEST PIZZA!!!!! in Whatcom County. Â Whether you are coming off the mountain from a day of boarding, hiking or skiing or just making a special trip in for some brews...you will not be disappointed!
I love any of the pizzas that have the olive oil and garlic crusts. Â Pizza is for sharing and they serve their pies up with that in mind....your own lil plate and the piping hot pizza served on a pedestal for everyone to reach out and dig in. The crust is so perfect...I can't wait for another slice.
As someone who, as a rule, generally doesn't like beer, I was blown away by this place. Â My sister and brother in-law told me I was practically required to try the barley wine, and I can honestly say I've never had anything quite like it. Â It tastes like a cross between beer and mead. Â It's not as bitter as beer, but not sickeningly sweet like mead is. Â I desperately wish I knew of somewhere to buy it in my hometown!
They had delicious-smelling pizza as well, which I was not quite hungry enough to sample. Â Hopefully I'll have a chance to stop by this joint again and try some.
This was my 4th time here. WHY? I"m not anxious to go back. I too expect a lot concerning the pizza here because several people have said it was good.
NO not the best in the area. And what area are we talking about! I know good pizza and this is not it.
The guy w/ the wood fired pizza oven @ the Ferndale farmers market makes better pizza.
Crust is mediocre. Not much flavor and kind of what I like to call a cardboard taste. Just standard....NOT exceptional. Once you've had GOOD pizza crust you know. I think there are a lot of people that have not had authentic pizza. Is this better than Dominos....well yeah
Better than Papa Johns?...well yes.....better than Little Ceasars?....well I will say yes. Is THAT something to brag about....NO. Look what we have to compare it to.
I do like the ambiance and the beer as well as the location. That is about it.
Service is just okay. Prices are high for the quality which is just okay.
Fun place after the mountain or a hike but not for a great meal.
Have you ever walked into a restaurant and just gone 'ooooh this is the spot'. The North Fork is definitely that place for me. The ESB is fantastic, the pizza is just fantastic and the service is great. Don't be intimidated by the rustic kitschy decor, tourists and locals alike love this place for good reason.
Review Source:My husband and I were just married at North Fork this last weekend, and could not have been happier. Â We love going here, as it is, and always joked about getting married at the Brewery, and it worked out that we did! Â Vicki (the owner) is hilarious and amazing. Â She took care of everything and made it great. Â The staff was also so friendly and adorable. Â We had such a great time, and would highly recommend getting married here if you want to have a low-key, casual, super fun wedding. Â LOVE Vicki and the staff :)
Review Source:This place is the reason I bring a growler in the trunk everywhere I go. Being a Seattlite, I ride Mt Baker a few times a year, and on the way home, I ALWAYS stop at the North Fork. Â The service, and atmosphere have always been great. Â The Pizza and the hand crafted ales keep me hooked. Â I usually spring for a special pie with lots of veggies, and the crust refuses to sog. Â True sign of a remarkable pizza. Â I'm a pizza snob, and this place is on my top 5 on the West Coast. Â The IPA and the Scotch Ale are legit if you like a balanced, full bodied ale. Â If you get married there, kudos to you, I bet the reception will be yummy.
Review Source:North Fork Brewery is one of my favorite places. Â We bring people visiting us here for a special meal. Â It is fun with great character. Â From the old fashioned beer signs to the great beer they brew it has something for everyone. Â The pizza is fantastic and you can even get fresh roasted garlic on it. Â For a blast from the past you can get Green Goddess dressing on your salad. Â The food is great with an old fashioned feel and fun will be had by everyone.
Review Source:Make that 3.5 stars.
I loved the ambience... definitely my kind of place. Â I was expecting a lot from the pizza since a few people had recommended it. Â The pizza was good - definitely the best in the area. Â I wanted to give the place 5 stars, but I'm comparing the pizza to that of Seattle, and it didn't hold up. Â (If I were comparing it to the other restaurants of the area it'd get 5 stars.) Â The beer was really good.
I would definitely go back and recommend it to others.
This place has become a tradition after a weekend of climbing in the North Cascades. If you're looking for a good pizza, you really won't find anything comparable in miles, and the atmosphere is a perfect combination of beer shrine and rustic cabin.
I only wish they would stay open a bit later on weekends, but 9:00 (food) / 10:00 (close) is admittedly pretty darn good for a place in the middle of nowhere!
Way, way out in the woods. If you live in Seattle and you're not heading up to Baker or Bham already for some other reason, keep that in mind. You can make a really pretty winding drive of it by coming up 9, or you can cover ground quickly up 5. But either way you'll be making a bit of a road trip of it.
The setting is really nice--winding road leading out into the foothills. Nice rustic cabin look to the place, sitting under what seems like an infinite carpet of conifers.
Inside feels like a combination between a large mountain cabin and a classic roadhouse. It's clean and well-kept, and there are tons of young families around in addition to a nice mix of beer hounds and weary travelers.
They let you know right up front that they make their own beer--besides the name, the first window you can see in as you walk up is the brew room. They actually have a decent sized system and can certainly churn out enough kegs to keep the locals and skiers happy almost indefinitely. The beer is solid. Make sure you ask ahead of time which beers are on nitro--if you dig that Guiness-like pour that settles, you'll be glad to figure out which ones have it. If not (like me) you'll be glad to steer toward others.
The pizzas are pretty killer. Thin, crackery crust with just enough chew to them. Nice cornmealy taste to the surface of the bread. Perfect crust IMO. Great toppings. They take a little while but it's worth it. Good appetizers too--dug the clams, great seasonings added to them.
There are tons of old beer ads and bottles everywhere, lots of historical artifacts from the beer business. One of the coolest things about this place is being able to walk out into the back patio, which is 21+, and eat off a tree stump for a table. Very relaxed setting with lawn chair seating.
This is one of those places that can't be designed or put together. It has to just happen over time with all the little quirky personal touches that accumulate when someone opens a business that locals and travelers alike can enjoy. I want to make a point of coming back often.
North Fork Bewery is the perfect stop on the way back from Mt. Baker after a long day of riding. Â Great pizza, great beer, great service, great people! Â They even have a wedding chapel so you can finally put that ring on your sweetheart. Â They have one of the best Hefeweizen beers that I've ever tried. Â In fact all of their beer is fantastic. Â The only reason that I can't give them 5 stars is because often they are crowded and you might have to wait awhile for a seat. Â It's definitely worth the wait.
Review Source:We ran across this place (with the help of Yelp) on our way to Vancouver taking the scenic route from Seattle.
Not only was the pizza fantastic, but the atmosphere is truly one-of-a-kind and not to be missed. Â The setting is absolutely gorgeous and peaceful. Â Inside, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of old beer bottles with the labels still intact - makes for good conversation while you're waiting for your pizza! Â My husband noticed that there was a swag of dried hops draped over the doorway in the restaurant, and wants me to decorate our house with hops now too. Â ;-) Â The husband also is a bit of a beer nerd, and he said the IPA that he tried was the kind of beer that he could just sit and drink all day long. Â
Definitely worth the drive, definitely worth the money!
Walking into this mountain lodge style country pub, you'd swear that you were transported back to the 1950's - where all the beers are on tap and the only cooking apparatus is a pizza oven.
Sipping their great micro-brews while listening to old Beatles and The Who songs gives you a chance to peruse the extensive collection of antique beer bottles and advertising on the walls while you reminisce about the outdoor adventures of the day.
While I don't eat pizza, the quality of the bread and ingredients used in their sandwiches and calzones illustrates the extra care that they put into their food.
For example, the "best chicken sandwich" contains chicken breast, freshly chopped green pepper, mushrooms, romaine lettuce, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese stuffed inside of a soft poor boy style bread. Â This concoction is then toasted inside of the pizza oven to heat the contents but keep the bread soft on the inside.
Their "east-coast style grinders" are prepared in similar fashion; be advised that my dining companion (who hails from New Jersey) said that they are nothing like what you get on the east coast - the quality of the meat in their grinders is simply too good to be authentic.
If you are especially hungry, order one of their calzones as they absolutely huge. Â You'll have to wait an extra 20 minutes of cooking time for the privilege. Â
The highlight of this place is the beer. Â They make some seriously good brews! Â The selection rotates but I am particularly fond of the Scottish Ale. Â I like to take a growler with me to go because for some reason the second and third glass taste even better than the first!
North Fork Brewery is a great choice if you are looking to participate in some liquid relaxation after a tough day skiing, snowboarding or hiking Mt. Baker.
We have been to the North Fork many times, and it is absolutely one of my favorite places in the world! The atmosphere, the staff, the music, and of course the food and beer are all aces. It's my favorite beer in the area. Last visit I had an excellent stout. In the Summer I'm a fan of their hefeweizen. Usually we share salad and pizza (both are exceptional). Once we also ordered the steamer clams, and we will definitely order them again. They were fresh and served in an excellent broth. If you go (and you should), keep in mind that they get very busy on the weekends... especially during ski season. Also, I don't think they open until 2pm on weekdays. If we had only known about this place when we were searching for a wedding venue...
Review Source:This is the best pizza in the county by far. The outside is bubbly and the middle is thin, the slices are big and they are tasty. My favorite place to go after a long hike in the Mt Baker National Forest. Get a pie, a hefeweizen and you are one happy hiker. I drive out for this pizza during the winter, and you can get refills on your jug of beer to take home for $8. The price is a little bit high for pizza but SOOOOooo worth it. Veggie friendly too, there's a reason there is a line out the door at sundown in the summertime!
Review Source:Excellent Service, Great Pizza. This is my kind of pizza place. You know it's going to be quality when each table has those elevated pizza serving platters. The crust was excellent! So thin, and crispy with a nice dough ring around the edge and bubbles! We had the white garlic/olive oil pizza with red onion, gorgonzola, & mushrooms. This place tops Fiamma for taste and affordability , but it is out of the way. Best pizza I've had since moving to Washington.
Review Source:Holla at ch'boy! Â This place has good eats! Â You get pizza, you get beer, you're in good hands! Â This place has got what you need! Â If you're ever in the Deming/Everson area, it's a great place to go to get good food and good drinks. Â The wait staff is courteous and they have scrumptious food! Â Plus I hear they have wedding services, should yall be so inclined!
Review Source:On the way up to Mt. Baker, my friends pointed this place out. Â It would be our reward for backpacking in the rain - great pizza for lunch Sunday. Â All weekend I anticipated pizza, and worried that maybe it would not be open. Â Also, what if it couldn't live up to my heightened expectations?
There was nothing to worry about. Â Not only was it open, the pizza was everything I was hoping for...large, covered with delicious things, a thin crispy crust that did not get soggy (not even the piece I brought home), and just wonderful. Â We shared a big old salad while we waited, and it was perfect...fresh and bountiful. Â Best of all was the beer...I had a wheat wine that was just splendid, and just the thing after getting out of the woods exhausted and sore. Â Alas, while you can bring many of their house brewed beers home, the high-alcohol grain wines are not for purchase to go.
I really loved the atmosphere of this place, too. Â Beautiful stained glass, collections of antique beer bottles, and fun old ads are everywhere. Â They had the Seahawks game on the TV, but much to my joy, the sound was off and instead we got to listen to a delightful assortment of old time country hits.
If this place was in my neighborhood, I would go here all the time. Â But instead, now I just have a reason to do more hikes around Mt. Baker.
Dinner was the garden salad and slices of their combination and another style. (I forget the name of the second style. I was pleased to find whole cloves of garlic on it, though!) To drink, I had a glass of the Hefeweizen and their home-brewed root beer.
All aspects were tasty and pleasing, but none were over-the-top. Particularly, their pizza didn't age well, with the third slice suffering from a damp and sloppy crust. On the other hand, I'm happy to support any place that serves its own root beer!
i absolutely adore this place. Â and it has nothing to do with the fact that the owners -- vicki and sandy savage -- have been friends of mine since 1980, when we all still lived in ca. Â sandy was raised here in wa, and in 1995 he had an opportunity to move back here and open a restaurant/wedding chapel/beer shrine. Â he is a master brewer, and trained in several locations. Â
vicki is not only a caterer, but is also a minister. Â in fact, she married my husband and i almost 8 years ago. Â we got married in the smaller room in the restaurant. Â next door to us were the brewing tanks.
there is a wide variety of beers to choose from -- all hand brewed. Â the menu is quite eclectic and changes frequently. Â while their specialty is pizza, there are also many wonderful other dishes that they prepare.
if you are a skier -- this is an excellent place to stop at after a day of sking on mt. baker.
Best microbrewery I know of that's also a wedding chapel! Â The North Fork is known for their pizza and calzones, and that's what you should get here. Â Growing up here, I thoroughly enjoyed a microbrewery that didn't ignore root beer, and now their homemade rootbeer is still my favorite.
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