SEATTLE — The 16th annual Seattle Beer Week, running May 9–17, returns as a dynamic celebration of the city’s vibrant craft beer scene, emphasizing not just what’s in the glass, but the community that surrounds it — from brewers and distributors to beer enthusiasts and neighborhood taprooms.
More than 50 events are scheduled citywide, transforming the week into a custom experience for attendees. Events range from tap takeovers and themed trivia nights to quirky competitions like axe throwing, Mario Kart tournaments, paper airplane contests, and even yoga paired with pints. Special themed activities include a Mother’s Day celebration at a beer-centric venue and $5 pints from 30 local breweries at the “This is Washington, Dammit!” showcase.
“Seattle Beer Week is a very important reminder that beer is delicious, drinking beer with others is fun, and Seattle is a mighty fine place to be a beer lover,” said Grace Robbings, co-founder of Reuben’s Brews.
This year’s official Beer Week brew is aptly named Group Project Helles Lager, a crisp, German-style lager created collaboratively by 33 local breweries. The beer will be unveiled with a ceremonial keg tapping at Urban Family Brewing on May 9, with cans already available for purchase.
Brian Stan, co-founder of Old Stove Brewing Co., praised the spirit of cooperation behind the brew. “We are stoked to participate in this year’s SBW Mega-Collab with Urban Family and the rest of our peers,” he said. “It’s important for us to help continue the long history of camaraderie and collaboration throughout the Seattle craft beer scene.”
This year’s festivities also honor the late Matt Younts, a co-founder of Seattle Beer Week, who passed away in 2024. Known for his affection for cats, Younts is memorialized on Group Project cans and T-shirts, ensuring his legacy lives on through the event he helped establish.
“Part of his legacy is SBW itself,” Robbings added, “which helps to ensure that his memory and impact on the beer industry won’t be forgotten.”
Stoup Brewing co-owner Lara Zahaba emphasized the unifying power of Beer Week within the local brewing community. “The day-to-day is very busy and we can get stuck in our neighborhoods,” Zahaba said. “Beer Week gives us all a great reason to see what is happening on the other side of town.”
Highlights of the 2025 Seattle Beer Week Include:
SBW Kickoff: Group Project Keg Tapping
- May 9 at Urban Family Brewing
- The official launch of the collaborative lager, uniting beer lovers citywide.
Seattle Cask-O-Rama
- May 9 at Beveridge Place Pub
- One of the longest-running traditions, featuring 10 gravity-poured cask ales brewed in Seattle.
Haze Fest
- May 10 at Reuben’s Brews Ballard Taproom
- Fifteen hazy IPAs on tap, accompanied by live music in the beer garden.
Around the World in Aslan Beers
- May 13 at Aslan Fremont
- A curated lineup of international beers celebrating global brewing traditions.
Industry Party
- May 14 at Stoup Brewing Ballard
- A festive evening with DJs, karaoke, tarot readings, and $5 pints — open to all.
Brewers Wing Competition
- May 15 at Queen Anne Beer Hall
- Fifteen breweries face off with original wing recipes vying for a permanent spot on the menu.
Pig & Pint Night
- May 15 at Rhein Haus Capitol Hill
- An evening of pork dishes, Icicle Brewing beers, and a stein-holding competition.
Beer Can Derby
- May 17 at The Pine Box
- A race of handcrafted beer-can cars judged on speed and creativity, co-hosted with New Belgium.
With a slate of events as diverse as the beers being poured, Seattle Beer Week 2025 aims to bring together the city’s brewing community and enthusiasts alike in a celebration of craft, creativity, and connection.
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