Fremont Brewing
Seattle craft brewery known for barrel-aged beers and sustainability.
Fremont Brewing operates a production facility in Seattle’s West Woodland area, within the Ballard neighborhood, and runs a taproom and beer garden in the Fremont neighborhood. Founded in 2009 by Sara Nelson and Matt Lincecum, the brewery focuses on small-batch artisan beers and ranks among the largest production breweries in Seattle. It is Washington state’s third largest craft brewery and the state’s top producer of barrel-aged beer. Its products are distributed across Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, and California.
The tasting room, which originally had just a few tables, has grown into a large beer garden with both indoor and outdoor seating. In 2017, the brewery launched the Black Heron Project, a separate venue dedicated to farmhouse and barrel-aged beers. To keep up with demand, an expanded brewing facility opened in neighboring Ballard. An increase to 250,000 barrels per year would place it among the top-producing craft breweries in the United States.
The brewery takes its name from Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, where its urban beer garden sits on N 34th St., extending to Stone Way. Co-founder Sara Nelson was elected to the Brewers Association board in February 2020 for a three-year term.
Most hops come from Yakima Valley, and water is sourced from the Cedar River watershed in the Cascade Mountains. Popular beers include Universale Pale Ale, Interurban IPA, and Abominable Winter Ale. The Bourbon Abominable Winter Ale won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Beer Cup. In 2014, the Summer Ale and Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star Ale each earned silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival.
In 2018, Alaska Airlines began serving Fremont Brewing’s Lush IPA on flights longer than one hour. The partnership proved so successful that in 2019, Fremont created a beer exclusive to Alaska Airlines called Lounge Life IPA. The collaboration was based on a shared commitment to positive environmental impact.
Despite its size, Fremont Brewing’s beer-to-water ratio compares favorably with major brands like Sierra Nevada and New Belgium, reflecting a strong focus on sustainability. The brewery uses LED lighting, captures rainwater from roof gardens, and operates a sales fleet of hybrid vehicles.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location
- Ballard, Seattle, Washington, United States
- Owner
- Matt Lincecum
- Industry
- Beer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Fremont Brewing was founded in 2009 by Sara Nelson and Matt Lincecum in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. The brewery originally had only a few tables in the brewery, but the tasting room later expanded into a large beer garden with indoor and outdoor seating. In 2017, the brewery opened the Black Heron Project, which specializes in farmhouse and barrel-aged beers. An expanded brewing facility opened in neighboring Ballard to meet demand, and the increase to 250,000 barrels a year would put it among the top producing craft breweries in the United States. Most hops are sourced from Yakima Valley, and water comes from the Cedar River watershed in the Cascade Mountains. Popular brews include Universale Pale Ale, Interurban IPA, and Abominable Winter Ale. The Bourbon Abominable Winter Ale won a bronze at the 2012 World Beer Cup, and in 2014 the Summer Ale and Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star Ale both won silvers at the Great American Beer Festival.
Reader's Guide
Fremont Brewing's significance lies in its rapid growth from a small artisan brewery to one of the largest craft breweries in Washington state and the largest producer of barrel-aged beer in the state. Its expansion to 250,000 barrels per year places it among the top producing craft breweries in the United States. The brewery's partnerships reflect its reach and values: in 2018, Alaska Airlines chose to feature Fremont Brewing's Lush IPA on flights over one hour, and in 2019 Fremont created a beer exclusive to Alaska Airlines called Lounge Life IPA, based on a shared value of positive environmental impact. Co-founder Sara Nelson was elected as a representative on the Brewers Association beginning February 2020 for a three-year term. Despite its size, the brewery's beer-to-water ratio compares to major brands such as Sierra Nevada and New Belgium due to its sustainability efforts, which include LED lighting, roof rain gardens for water sourcing, hybrid vehicles for sales, and the HORSE system that converts food waste into renewable energy and fertilizer in 30 days.
Did You Know?
- Fremont Brewing is the largest producer of barrel-aged beer in Washington state.
- Fremont Brewing uses the HORSE system to turn food waste into renewable energy and fertilizer in 30 days.
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