It was a plan hatched many years ago by Bellevue Brewing’s founder, John Robertson. Sadly, we lost John in 2017 and he is not here to see this day, but the new Bellevue Brewing brewpub at The Spring District is now open for business. John would be proud. It is gorgeous.
It’s actually been open for a while, but Bellevue Brewing did not make any formal announcement and kept quiet on social media as the operation came up to speed. There have been a few bumps in the road, but now it’s been announced. Apparently, it was not a well-kept secret; if you paid close enough attention, as we did, you knew something was up. When we visited, a week before today’s announcement, the afterwork and dinner crowd completely packed the place.
Bellevue Brewing is one of the anchor tenants in the new real estate development in Bellevue known as The Spring District, a mixed-use urban neighborhood that includes residential, office, and retail space. The 36-acre development is located very near what will soon be a new station on Sound Transit’s Link light rail system.
Everything at the new Bellevue Brewing location is new, including the entire brewery. For now, the beer is still brewed down the road at the original Bellevue Brewing location, but Tony Powell, the Head Brewer, is working hard to get the new system online.
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When it’s all up to speed, the brewery will feed beer to a set of overhead serving tanks. Instead of piping the beer in from kegs in a big fridge, the brewpub will serve beer from 265-gallon copper-clad serving tanks suspended over the bar. Still rare in the USA, Top Down Brewing in Sumner, Washington is already using these types of tanks, which have been used in Europe for years.
The brewpub is a restaurant and bar, so you can also get a cocktail if your heart desires, but that’d be weird. Still, some folks prefer wine or liquor to beer, so there’s that. The food menu is pretty spartan for the time being. Some shareables, some tacos, a stellar fried chicken sandwich (recommend), and a few other items. The menu will expand in time.
As mentioned, the beers currently on tap at the new brewpub are brewed at the original Bellevue Brewing location about one mile away. That location still functions as the brewery, but the restaurant/bar is now operated by Cascadia Pizza. Still pouring Bellevue Brewing’s beer lineup, still next to the working brewery, but Cascadia is running the restaurant and bar.
Here is the announcement that showed up on social media today:
“We’ve got a new location, new menu, new patio, new bar… almost new everything other than we’ve got the same great people, faces, & beers that you’ve loved for years! We’re located in Bellevue’s Spring District Community – 12190 NE District Way Bellevue, WA 98005.”
“Come by and try out our award-winning beers, along with top shelf cocktails, and premium wine. The expanded kitchen offers many old favorites, along with some new menu items. Open daily at 11:30am.”
