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  • 0

    I visit here most every time I go to Old Ballard. Their beer list changes regularly, and they offer a wonderful variety to please almost every palate. It's rustic, big tables that are great for groups, and they have board games available. I wouldn't do the food, but it's a great place to hit before or after dinner.

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  • 0

    Quite a few good beers here.  I am a fan of the shirts.  Overall the atmosphere was good.  Definitely want to go back.

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  • 0

    Great place to stop by during the ballard farmers market for drinks or lunch.
    And the best thing is: YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOG!

    This place actually allows you to bring in your dog while youre sitting there eating your lunch.
    You can also bring your kids here and play some board games.

    Food:
    I had The Veg sandwich which came with the tangerine side salad.
    The chipotle aioli sauce gave it a little kick which made it good, but I think the bun was too much and made it lose a little bit of its taste.

    Overall, I just liked the place since it allowed you to bring your dogs.
    Just make sure that your dog isnt a barker.  They have very little tolerance for that.

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  • 0

    I've been here a couple times now, and I really enjoyed this spot.  Some great in-house brews and a really relaxed atmosphere.  It is a smallish place, which I find highly appealing.  The beer list is not extensive, but more than satisfactory if you are just popping in for a couple drinks.  Not sure how often they rotate taps, but since they brew in house and it is a relatively small operation I assume this happens regularly.  I haven't eaten much here, so I don't profess to be an expert on the food.  We had a hummus last time that wasn't particularly appealing, but not enough to make me not want to be back.  We sat and played card games at our table and had several rounds of beer.

    The only downside is that service has been pretty slow both times.  It seems that they have been generally understaffed both times I was there.  Because it is a small space, it makes it difficult to get up to the bar and place an order, and likely equally difficult for the servers to make frequent trips to your table.  That said, if you aren't in a hurry its a great spot.

    I'm looking forward to being back.

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  • 0

    Great space and a friendly server. Shame that they only had one of their own brews to try on this visit (which was good, but not wow), but a great selection of other regional taps! A good stack of board games to play while you slowly sip the night away. They were unfortunately dead when we were there (I guess not a good spot to celebrate St. Patty's?) so I have no way to judge the usual crowd, but I hope they hang in there and do well! I'll definitely come back when they have more on tap and to try their food menu.

    Suggestion: Install porch swings as seats! It's in your logo, and they're even more awesome than rocking chairs. =)

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  • 0

    Urban Family Public House is a fun spot. I've been here a few times now and always enjoy the beer. They have some of their own beers on tap as well as many guest taps.

    I had the Dogfish Head Aprihops last night and loved it. I also tried their house brewed Red. It was pretty good but a little bitter for my taste. My friend liked it.

    I like the rustic atmosphere with all the wood paneling. Employees are friendly and they are busy! I had to stand waiting for a table for about 20 minutes on a weeknight.

    Pints run $6-7 each plus tax.

    Seating can be hard to come by but once you get a seat it's cozy.

    They have a limited food menu but what I've seen looks really good. I'd like to try the food sometime! Urban Family is a great addition to Ballard. They're now in my normal rotation when I'm thinking about where to grab a beer!

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  • 0

    Off to Ballard to cash in on a Living Social deal here...always looking to try out local craft brewpubs. Beautiful Saturday afternoon so EVERYBODY was out, and most stopped here it seemed. People stacked high and deep, but we squeezed into a space at a table where a very loud obnoxious group was overly enjoying their samples.

    Actually had table service today despite board indicating orders taken at the bar. And they were working hard doing a pretty good job with the crowd. It's a smallish, tight space, but with good character. Prolly much more comfortable when not overwhelmed.

    We didn't eat, so can't comment on the very limited menu.

    House brews numbered 3. A Belgian, a Pale Ale, and a Stout. Not really much for stouts or belgians so my opinion is biased, but did try all 3. The Pale Blue Eyes was okay, and seemed stronger than the 5.5% abv listed. It was slightly undercarbonated and didn't hold up in the growler.

    Overall it's worth the stop if you're in the area, but I've moved on in my journey.

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  • 0

    A very cool space executed with great taste in food, beer, and decor. I wish their own beers showed a little more pizzazz, but everything else about the place is awesome. If you can find parking nearby, you pretty much have to check it out.

    It's one of those classic Ballard shoebox-shaped spaces, long and narrow. There's a porch swing hanging in the window, hence the company logo. There are lots of interesting old filament-style light bulbs everywhere--clearly of modern manufacture, but old-fashioned-looking. Don't care about light bulbs? That's cool. Read on.

    There are a few tables and chairs, brick walls, cool custom art, a big old bar, and two huge flat screens listing the beers--UF's and guest taps. The place smells awesome...the food is really good. The staff are super friendly and outgoing. Past all this, you find the brewhouse; you walk through it to use the restrooms. Past all that, there's a patio out back, with picnic tables and lovely fresh air.

    We had the "winter minestrone," which was like a chili or chowder version of minestrone, and delicious. I had the spicy meatballs, which were commendably spicy. Both of these came with great chewy bread.

    The guest taps were interesting and well-chosen. The house taps were beautifully made, but so overly polite as to be almost without any flavors or aromas. If they can muscle up the recipes on their own beers, this will be a destination spot for beer lovers (and anybody else).

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  • 0

    Went there Sunday with a Groupon for 3 beers and a growler.  The service was incredibly slow.  There was only one waitress on the floor and she simply couldn't keep up.  The management needs to spend the extra bucks and put more waitstaff on the floor.  We spent two hours there to get two rounds of drinks and our growlers filled.  Their beer was all slighly off, fruit in the IPA, something dark and motor oil-ish.  The pale was OK so we all took growlers of it.  We won't be back, there are to many good places in the area.

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  • 0

    Really disappointed. The beer was decent, but not anything more or less impressive than any homebrewed batch of beer. Certainly not worth the price and a $12 refill for a 64oz growler is way too expensive. It's half that price at Georgetown, $8 at Schooner Exact. We ordered the spicy meatballs - 1 of 4 appetizers offered and they were all out. All out of appetizers at 6pm on a Saturday!? They were out of bacon too....at 6pm on a Saturday. There's a Fred Meyer less than a mile away - buy some bacon for crying out loud. The atmosphere and board games are the reason for the two stars. There is just so much opportunity with a place like this and it's sad to see it will soon be defunct and out of business if they don't get a decent menu and beer selection going with more reasonable prices.

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  • 0

    Bought a livingsocial deal for 3 12 oz beers and a growler fill so thought we would give it a try. I guess that's the point of a livingsocial deal. We won't be back.

    Positives first: fun building, nice decor. Board games to play while you are there. Looks like a decent tap list if you stay away from urban family beers.

    Negatives: their beer is gross. I tried the lee road pale ale, the le vagabond and one other beer of theirs. Not impressed with any of them at all. Very disappointing. We didn't order food but it didn't look like anything special. They don't appear to have a kitchen as they cook the burgers and deep fry their "frites" right in the bar area. The worst part was the service. Not good. They were snooty and I got the impression we weren't good enough for them. They didn't respond when I asked for a beer suggestion. They didn't clear our empty glasses. Just not impressed.

    It's too bad because we drink a lot of beer and are always looking for a new place. Urban Family will not be it.

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  • 0

    After 2 bad experiences here, I probably won't be back.

    To start with, the good.  Good revolving tap list, nice patio out back, dog and kid friendly.  The first couple of times I went seemed promising.

    But... lately, things have really been going downhill, it seems.  Both of my main issue have had to do with the food, since they added the burgers to the menu.  The first time I tried one of their burgers, it came out *rare*, I mean really rare.  Thankfully I'd cut it in half first and saw that.  I sent it back.  The server asked me if I wanted it well done, I replied that I wanted it at least medium-well.  It came back out again... still rare.  When I sent it back the 2nd time, he took it without saying a word.  It came back out for the third time, barely medium.  At that point, I figured enough was enough and just ate it.  At no point did the server seem apologetic about the situation at all.

    Then, I stopped in last week.  We were in there for about 5 seconds before we turned around and walked out.  The air in the bar was thick with a haze of grease and smoke from the burgers they were cooking on the little grill behind the bar.  We went down the street instead and as soon as we walked in and our server came over to us, he remarked "you guys were at Urban Family?"  That's right, after being in there for mere seconds, we smelled so strongly of the grease and smoke.

    So, I know you're supposed to get 3 strikes, but I'm probably done.  Maybe I'll try again when the weather's nicer and I can sit on the patio, and I'll stick to beer and skip the food.

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  • 0

    We have the living social coupon and it allowed us to get 3 of their beers.  We tried 4 of their beers and only like their porter.  It was very smoky there. There was no ventilation around the cooking area and the smell of food was over powering. We ended up finished up our beer quickly and left. We smelled like food the rest of the night which was very unpleasant.

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  • 0

    Slow service, and cheap, store bought burgers on cold cakey buns. Oh, and only "home made paprika ketchup". Get over yourself.

    Tap list is decent but steer clear of the food.

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  • 0

    I went here on a living social deal.  I am not really a beer girl, but the idea of bacon jam poutine was good enough to get me to purchase this deal and who doesn't like to support local businesses?

    The atmosphere was comfortable but got very noisy as more people came in. I got the porter, which was good, but my friends who are beer snobs werent impressed with the Urban Family beers on tap.  When we arrived and placed our order, the place wasnt too crowded, yet I didnt get my poutine till my friends had received and eaten their burgers.  

    I know that with a lot of new placesit takes a little while to get the kinks out, so I will definitely come back and try again when its warm enough to sit on the back porch.  

    They do get big points for being dog and kid friendly.

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  • 0

    We only tried the beers they brewed.  They were good, but nothing I'd go out of my way for.  I think their Bacon Blue burger, however, was the best burger I've ever had.  It was thick and juicy with bacon jam on it.  BACON JAM!   Oh, how I wish they'd sell their bacon jam.

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  • 0

    What a fun place! We had the Groupon and tried this place out last night after dinner. Instantly upon walking in, I knew I would like this place. They have lots of tables for easy seating and a collection of board games! We drank our 12 oz samples of beer and played some dominoes, trivia, and other games - while watching some football on their TV. It's not a sports bar...but was nice to see the game.
    They have four of their own beers they brew, and then a selection of other beers. It's not a huge selection...but I'm sure you'll find a beer you like.
    I was also surprised b/c they also serve wine, as well as a selection of food (burgers, fries, and such). I didn't try out the food - but nice that they have the option.

    We'll definitely be going back! Fun place for a small group too.

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  • 0

    I LOVED the decor.  It's super speak-easy-esque.  We tried a couple different beers and I wasn't super impressed with the beers I had.  My organic chocolate Stout had hardly any chocolate flavor and was on the bitter side.  I like that they offer some of their own beers as well as some outside beers.  Our service was A-OK.  They also serve food which looked good, but we just ate dinner so didn't get to try anything.  I would definitely return to try some food and to sample some more beers.

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  • 0

    I thought other reviews were a tad generous. Yes, their beer list is awesome and I really enjoyed my drinks. But I wasn't impressed by the Belgian Frites which was also a very small portion. Other places do it better. Service was also a little slow and the lights were a little bright, giving it that cafeteria feeling. I'd go back for an afternoon drink but not so much in the evening.

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  • 0

    Beers on beers. Adorable, quiet place when we went on a weekday for happy hour/dinner (watched the presidential debate). They don't have a lot for food, but they make up for it with their brews. The staff can easily suggest some if you're having trouble deciding. Characteristically Ballard.

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  • 0

    Urban Family is another "beer nerd" destination in Ballard. The beer list is always amazing and ever changing. You can bring a group in and have game night, or bring your date in for a stop off for beer or wine before or after heading to dinner. They also have a nice patio that's great during the "summer." Urban Family is place you should check out!

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  • 0

    Yay for dog friendly bars in Ballard! This is more of a drinking place than eating, but really enjoyed the mushroom sandwich and quinoa salad. Delicious crisp cider and smooth red wine. Saw a table playing games and wouldn't mind catching a game here either.

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  • 0

    I'd like to add some additional details to my original review. This is my favorite place to grab a beer in Seattle. Part of that might have to do with the fact I can walk here, but when you live in Ballard there's no shortage of places to walk to for beer drinking, so it's still saying a lot!

    I love the staff. Everyone who works here is super cool. I'll come here at random times just by myself and sit and the bar, watch some tv, or whatever, and they're always happy to chat, offer tips on beer, or fill you in on the details on their new food menu.

    So far I've only tried the Belgian frites, which were awesome, but it's the burgers and poutines that have me drooling. They actually have a poutine variation that uses bacon jam. BACON JAM, m*therf*cker!!! As if regular poutine wasn't decadent enough. Did I mention that their bacon jam is made in-house?

    The other great thing is that they recently got the equipment to brew their own beer, which should be ready very soon. Their beer list always has something interesting, there's plenty of room to sit, and you don't have to deal with elbow-to-elbow conditions. That's a winner in my book.

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  • 0

    I decided to get a bunch of friends together and go to Urban Family to celebrate my husband's birthday a few weeks ago and I must say, it was a great choice. We showed up at 8:30 and easily combined a couple large tables to seat about 15 people. We loved the decor and ambience of the place and the beer selection was excellent. Plus, with a smaller group, the board games they had available seemed like they would make for a fun time.

    Great place and we will definitely be back.

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  • 0

    Sour beer is my thing, and it seems to be their thing too.  I love their enthusiasm, and I love their beer menu.   I haven't eaten food here, but I look forward to it.

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  • 0

    This is a great place to stop after the farmer's market, especially if you have your dog with you. They are pet friendly, and the server brought our dog some water even before we asked.

    We didn't get to eat, because they happened to be all out of food!  That didn't stop us from trying some beer though, and I'm glad we did.  They have a wide variety of unique beers.  I just hope next time they have food too.

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  • 0

    Probably one of the best draft lists in Ballard.  I love the all brick interior of these buildings on this street.  Makes for a great place to chill and absorb some history.  Two TVs to watch a little sports but definitely not a sports bar.

    Only two negatives about this place.
    1.  Food is very limited and needs a revamping.  Only 4 sandwiches on the menu and I wouldn't eat here again.  Yuck.
    2. They don't allow minors.  While I understand not wanting screaming kids ruining a good atmosphere I'd rather them post a sign, 'We reserve the right to throw you out if you can't control your kid'

    Anyhow I don't deduct a star for the kid thing as us dads have to fend for ourselves.  

    Other than that the service was good and bartender was cool.  Could use a shuffle board or chess tables to liven it up a bit.  Seemed a bit dead in there.  Perhaps a gal swinging on a trapeze from the ceiling would do the trick.  Give it that old saloon feel.

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  • 0

    this place has 25 beers on tap...what more do you need??  I really love that all the beer is craft beer.  They have an amazing variety that changes frequently.  Follow them on twitter to get updates of what's new!  

    The reason to go here is for the craft beer.  Don't plan on eating.  Awesome place to spend the evening with friends.  I've gone here many times with friends, enjoyed several beers, and played a game from their collection.  Trivial Pursuit is much more fun while drinking a local brew!  

    Check this place out!

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  • 0

    How these guys find the beers that they have on tap is beyond me. They have a really interesting selection of brews & lots of beers that I have never seen before.

    As an Aussie- I drink a lot of beer (it's almost a national duty). I like to try a lot of different beers whenever given the chance. After a while you start to see the same names and the same beers around town at the many watering holes... Not here though. Of the 25 beers these guys had on tap last Saturday- I recognized only 2 or 3. They have some very obscure beers on tap.

    The thing I like most is that UFPH have a focus on Belgiums and high proof beers (8-11% ABV)- one of which was a whopping 16.83% alcohol! Unfortunately they were out of "The Beast" as it was appropriately named but there were lots of other options that peaked my interest. I tried a Dogfish Head beer with blueberry and blackberry juices- and another Belgium style double from the East Coast. Both were great.

    They have limited food on the menu- just 3 or 4 sandwiches. Like some of the beers- they were out of some of the food options.

    Service was attentive without being overbearing. The vibe is pretty chill and they have large tables and board games- if that's your thing. It wasn't busy at 11pm on Saturday night- so there's lots of room if you have a larger party.

    The patio out back looks great and as soon as the weather gets better I'll be there.

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  • 0

    Walked right on past this place Saturday night and then we saw the sign out front that said they had 25 beers on tap, well don't mind if we do.  Walked right in to an open table.  Loved the low lighting and ambiance of this place.  The boys knew what they wanted before I could even blink at the menu.  Us girls took our time reading through the menu before settling on our orders.

    I was lucky enough to taste about 6 beers during our stay and all of which were delicious, although I would have to say my favorite was the one I started with-- the Femme Fatale which had a raspberry tint.  This place has been open for about 4 months, and they intend to start brewing this summer if I remember the conversation correctly.

    They have a small food menu, only 4 sandwiches but ordered the spicy chicken and the prosciutto and halved them with my boyfriend so we could try both, and I regretted the fact that I hadn't ordered 10 more because they were so delicious!

    They have a small outdoor patio which I will likely utilize a lot when the weather is nice.  So glad to have this little gem just blocks from home.

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  • 0

    Great beer and atmosphere, very comfortable to sit and enjoy the place. A must go at least once!

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  • 0

    Urban Family has a simple, uncluttered interior.  It's welcoming with plenty of seating both at the bar and at tables.  There is also a delightful outdoor seating area which is perfect for a sunny afternoon beer.

    The service is very friendly and exceptionally helpful.  Each time I come in I ask for recommendations, describe what kind of beer I like and they direct me to something fantastic.

    The biggest draw, of course, is their remarkable beer selection.  With 25 taps of the most interesting, hard to find craft beers in the world, there is truly something for everyone.  I'm constantly surprised by the beers I find at Urban Family.

    The friendly people, comfortable atmosphere and absolutely wonderful beer selection makes the UFPH my new favorite place on Ballard Ave.  If you're a beer lover or just curious about new beers you need to pay them a visit.

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  • 0

    Spectacular rotating beer selection. There is something for everyone that appreciates a delicious beer.

    I'm really looking forward to visiting the Urban Family Public House once they start housing their own brew and tasting section.

    Until then, I am more than happy to drench my gullet in their 25 different tap selections!

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  • 0

    This is a new addition to Ballard, my favorite Seattle neighborhood. I've been here few times, and I've liked the vibe here.  Whether, it was the chill persona of the clientele, the dog laying afoot of a patron, the dark and woody feel of the drinking area, or the extensive list of ales on the chalkboard.  All of this is a recipe for a place I'll find myself whenever I'm walking the streets of Ballard.

    The list of beers are locally oriented, but they also have some international options as well.  The staff here are friendly, and can also offer some input if you are in need of direction.

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  • 0

    Fantastic spot, amazing beer selection! Very unpretentious  (which is hard to find). Met the owner Tim, really really cool guy and I am rooting for him. Seriously, do yourself a favor and check this place out ASAP.

    Cheers!

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  • 0

    Recommended for anyone in the neighborhood who's interested in trying some new brews with friends or friendly bartenders. This place is worth a a stop for these reasons:

    1) There is a huge selection of beers that are off the beaten beer path including numerous styles (albeit nearly all American I think).
    2) They've included tasting notes for all the beers, which adds a lot to the experience and shows how serious they are about their menu.
    3) They have a panini press to fire up awesome sandwiches.

    Prices are just OK; you would probably pay the same down at The Noble Fir for an imperial pint pour that you will for a 16oz US pint here, which Wikipedia tells me is a difference of 98mL.

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  • 0

    I almost want to keep this new bar a secret... but I will give you the lowdown because I am a nice person:)
    1) Great beer selection- 25+ and they plan to start brewing their own soon (March?)
    2) Friendly service-  the servers even gave us samples of a few beers
    3) Board games!!!!- Played Clue here for the first time since I was in middle school!
    4) Great location in Ballard.

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  • 0

    This new beer bar is an awesome addition to the Ballard Ave drinking scene. It's friendly without being meat market-y (King's) and the ambiance is casual without being divey (not that there's anything wrong with that).

    The best part though is the awesome tap list. As a native Seattlite I'm a little weary of menus full of nothing but the same IPAs and this place has a diverse selection of delicious beers. I've been in a few times now and they've always had multiple sours on tap when normally it's difficult to find even one in Seattle!

    The main drawback of this spot for me is that it's a little on the pricey side with many beers around $8, but I guess that's the cost of being a beer snob. And they have a good pale ale from Ommegang right now that's only something like $6!

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  • 0

    Cheapest pour was $5.50 for something from Two Beers, which I wouldn't drink for free.  Chuckanut Smoked Porter was $6, which is pretty pricey, especially if you aren't serving anything other than beer.  In general the tap list was pretty solid, albeit a lot of the selections are some of the least interesting beers from their respective breweries.  Still probably one of the best tap lists in town.

    The vibe here is weird, there was obviously a lot of effort put into it but unfortunately it comes across as 2nd rate generic Ballard rustic.  The brick wall is fantastic, but the fake brick bar back is tacky and the 16-year-old hippy girl pastel blue wall is disconcertingly incongruous.  The Noble Fir across the street is highly preferable.  In theory a lot about this place seems great, but in practice it has a Johnny-come-lately feel that isn't very authentic.

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  • 0

    Cool new place in Ballard. Awesome beer selection. Had four sour beers which is almost unheard of around here. I fell in love with the Bruin brown sour. They probably need some more tables and chairs in here (only had seating for about 33 people), but it's off to a good start. Thanks for the free chocolate chip scones!

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