Stoup Brewing Reviews

Holy hell this place is pretentious. They don't accept tips which is fine buts why they don't take tips which makes me smh. There is no service plus they want you to wash your own glass. Why in the hell font I just stay home then. I go out often because I like and expect good service but apparently it's racist and sexist...their words not mine. I think I'll be happier finding a dive bar with good food and good service.

We decided to stop in for a quick drink while our daughter napped. I am not a beer person but they had a cider option (Element to boot) and I was happy. They had a burger food truck with taters and thank you I was in heaven! I also love the companies motto of no tipping. They pay their employees a more than fair wage plus healthcare. Overall a great experience - we will be back!

We visited on a weekday and the place was practically empty. There also was supposed to be a food truck, but there were none around. Since there isn't much around food was hard to come by. The beer was great and we loved the concept inside of no tipping (what you pay actually gives the staff a decent wage) and clean up after yourself. Would have given this a 5* if there was some option for food there.

Stoped in with our family that lives close by. Great variety of beers on tap, stand in line to get your beers, free samples. Long community tables, dog friendly, you can use the rotating food truck in the back or play game that are available. Fun hipster place, I'd go back!

This is a great place to have fun on a rainy or cloudy afternoon. There are over a dozen beers to choose from and a fun young atmosphere with games of corn hole. We found that the descriptions of the beers did not hold true to their taste and I am not sure if we got what we asked for or not. Beware that they do NOT sell food. You can bring in food and have a party and there were several there. They say they always have a food truck on site and the day we visited it was a nacho truck. Since I'm lactose intolerant that pretty much left me out. The truck people delivered to your table and the food was acceptable (to others in the party) but not worth the price of $10+ for a small bowl of nachos. Dogs are welcome and the ones we saw were chill with the place and slept without bothering anyone. This is a jeans and T shirt place for the millenial. A few even brought small babies although it seemed pretty loud for that.

I had a good beer, was happy to find a place to sit at the long high tables. It’s a little cold in terms of decor but good company and beer made the visit.

We went here in large part because of their unique business philosophy. They do not accept tips and pay all employees a living wage. We were not disappointed. The beer was great. It is also a dog friendly brewery which is always a plus.

We visited with a party of 18. Took over two large tables, and brought in pizzas. Everyone (ages 19-80) enjoyed their time here. The food car was fun and everyone got a kick out watching the dogs. Those who were not old enough to have beer did not feel left out- there were lots of families- we were there early in the evening. The beer selections were many, and we tried quite a few!

A different idea of brewery and service. No tipping. Clean up after yourself. Great and friendly staff. Beer is awesome. Go now!

I really wanted to like this place. It was high on our list - great reviews, good tap list - but we weren't blown away. The brewery is in a great location, and it's really large. There are a ton of tables inside - really spread out - and a fantastic outdoor area. They have an area for food trucks, as well. Again, I chose to skip the flight (I wish I hadn't). Based on the tap list's brew descriptions, I went with the One. My husband got the same. We paid and found a couple of barstools near the front of the building, looking out over the street outside. I wasn't in love with the beer. That's actually putting it very mildly. I really disliked it. I disliked it so much I couldn't finish it. My husband wasn't in love with it, either, but he finished his and then polished mine off (he didn't want to leave beer behind). At any rate, the bartender was nice and the bathrooms were clean.

I loved this place. When you walk in, it's fun and cheery - there was a long line (good sign!) but it moved really fast. We asked the server for two flights of whatever she thought the best eight beers were and she was super friendly and knowledgable - making sure we got a good selection. The beers were all high quality and the B.E. Juicy was my favorite - although their darker beers (can't remember the names, I'm sorry!) were also great. They have a really lovely business model - you can read more about it on their menu but it seems they really care about their employees and customers which is a big added bonus in my opinion. I just can't say anything bad about our visit. Must try!

I love the atmosphere here. Very clean and comfortably lit building. Music was not too loud to hear your conversation. Some people rode their bikes over, and shared a big table nearby us. Lots of friendly people here, employees and patrons alike. There were some very well-behaved dogs too. Twice I saw people with kids walking around. The bathroom was a novelty experience for me--I'm from Florida and I hadn't been to a co-ed bathroom before. But it was clean and seemed ok. (And the beers were delicious!)

Bar has an awesome vibe, great staff and was a really great experience with a wide variety of beers. One of the few places that I have found around the city to build your own flight. There is a beer for everyone with a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy it in.

Get your beers at the bar and choose your seat. Bus your own glassware. Minimalist approach to service. Lots of space and beautifully minimalist in its decor. We tried 6 different beers that we’re good (not great but very drinkable) including their coffee and barrel aged varieties. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. Not worth a trip across town.

Great spot in Capitol Hill for a place to grab a few drinks. Got a flight with unique beers. Family friendly spot. Clean. Food truck parked outside to get a bite to eat.

We celebrated a friend's birthday here, with folks who were driving in from various locales, so couldn't guarantee a time for a reservation in a traditional setting. You can bring your own food, and the beer selection has something for everyone. Lots of locals bring their dogs in, which is a fun perk!

Drove up from Olympia to visit Capitol Hill scene, try Frankie and Jo's ice cream. Stopped by the Optomism Brewing company. It's kind of novel inside, but the beer selection seemed odd, a bit toward citris fruity. I guess that what young drinkers like. Tried the Nova Hoppy Modern Pilsner, but it was very very bad...it appeared to be a problem with the co2 and possibly was the start of a new keg. Possibly brewing staff might have not have bled co2 off...just a guess. Anyway drank about 1/3 of the beer and gave up and left. Sorry to be so honest, but it was just a big disappointment.

It was so cool to visit a place that pays their folks well and does not accept/expect tipping. I wish more places would follow suit. Pros: Good selection, you can customize a flight. I only wanted to try three kinds and they let me do that. Lots of tables/large space. Cons: There is a play area for kids, but we were lucky to be there at a time when not a bunch of kids were being loud and running around. In my opinion, that kills a relaxing vibe.

This is a big modern brewery in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood. The beer selection is vast and the staff knowledgable. No tipping is allowed and they take only cards not cash. A great place to hang with friends and enjoy a flight ir two.

Stoup Brewing really knows how to bring people together for a laid-back and memorable day out. With an impressive variety of beers on tap, from hoppy IPAs to smooth lagers, there’s truly something for every palate. Sampling through a few of them felt like a mini adventure in itself, each pour packed with personality and craft. The vibe is super casual and welcoming tables full of friends huddled over board games, laughter carrying across the space, and that easygoing hum of conversation that just makes you want to settle in for the afternoon. The communal atmosphere is fantastic, perfect for everything from relaxed catch-ups to lively game nights. Outside, the rotating food trucks are a total win. We grabbed some bites between games, and the flavors were just what we needed to keep the good times rolling. Whether you’re craving something spicy, savory, or sweet, the variety outside keeps it fresh. If I had one small note, it’s that seating can fill up fast during peak hours, but honestly, it’s a testament to how popular and loved this place is. All in all, Stoup Brewing delivers on great beer, great bites, and a genuinely fun space to kick back with friends.

I attended a networking event. I liked the large space and the many tables. It is not crowded. There is a lot of room to spread out. Service is fast as long as the person in front knows what he/she wants. I don't recall spending more than 5 minutes at the line. I enjoyed my time.

We decided to stop here after we saw a posting for their grand opening and were planning a long loop through the Capital Hill area. I am so glad we made a stop here; we ended up ordering a flight of 6 beers and while I didn't especially like some (the others I loved), it all worked out because my daughter loved the ones I was only so-so with. The building was my favorite thing; lots of room with options for type of seating from quieter/cozier corners, large open areas perfect for birthday parties/gatherings. Loved that it is kid-, dog-friendly. Oh and the bathroom (unisex) is wonderful, comfortable, clean. Central courtyard for outdoor seating and food truck. Will definitely be back on my next trip to Seattle!

Nice spot. I can't recall what my fiance had but I ordered the "I Do". It is made with Hallertau Blanc in the Brut IPA style, which creates a very dry finish like Brut wine. Simply but - it tastes exactly like beer mixed with a brut wine. I liked it. I am not a fan of beer but I could do this one! The place offers ample seating and you can bring your dog too. The cool thing about this, I got engaged the very next day! I was meant to get the "I Do". :)

best thing about optimism brewing is the building itself - the space is really hip and cool. the bathrooms are awesome too. the beer itself is pretty good, the tasters i sampled had this strange, kind of watery aftertaste, except for the very strong and flavorful beers. so if you do go here for a beer, i'd suggest getting a beer you know will be plentiful in flavor. my personal favorite was the hazy B.E. Juicy IPA. as far as food goes, they have a food truck there at all times which appears to change daily. i didn't eat anything from there but other folks were and the food looked tasty. this place is dog and family friendly and they have games available to play while you are enjoying your brews with your group. great place in capitol hill, look forward to returning here.

Great brewery to hangout at, super busy on the weekends but that's expected. A lot of dogs, so if you're allergic, I wouldn't come here. Great space and atmosphere and beer! - I don't think they serve food?

We went here after we found this place had great reviews; we were not disappointed! We sampled 9 bears and a cider and they were all good. This place also lets you bring in your own food in, families with kids are welcome and dogs too. Totally cool place to hang out.

HUGE brewery with lots of seating and open spaces. Dog-friendly and there's games too. You can bring in your own food and it seems like the perfect place for a party or gathering with a group of friends. Beer selection is large and there are many options for serving sizes. Would definitely recommend and return.

We went here with 8 people including 4 kids aged 6-14. They have awesome house brewed beers including nice flight options. They don't serve food but you can bring in anything to eat and they also schedule food trucks. There is a specific area of the brewery for smaller kids too. Friendly service.

There is so much to love about this place. First off there are more beers than you can shake a stick at, but don't worry if you're indecisive, you can choose 4 minis ($2 each) and build your own pint! Secondly, there's no tipping required because the staff get paid a living wage which is good for them and good for you! As if all that wasn't enough you can BYO food (there's a food truck out the back - check the website for details) bring your pooch and as it's such a vast space, there's room for everyone. Of course, you do have to take responsibility for your brew and clean up your trash and clear your table but that's all part of the fun, right? We can't wait to go back!

We stopped in here after it caught our eye wondering through Capitol Hill area. The service was fantastic. There's all kinds of space, a hangout area for kiddies, pet-friendly, and a daily food truck feature. We had never considered no-tipping before but could not be more impressed and more supportive of the policy. Fantastic company, fantastic beer (& cider)!

We absolutely love Optimism. It has the perfect combination great beer, pet- and kid- friendly, as well as the tastiest beer around. The vibe here is fantastic and the staff is always super friendly and welcoming.

Fun brewery with good selection, cool atmosphere, and plenty of space. I enjoyed a cider with a girlfriend while my husband had a flight.

We’ve been to Stoup multiple times on our visits to Seattle. Wonderful atmosphere and friendly service. They even have food trucks for those that want a bite to eat with their drinks. In house brewed beer, root beer and they also have a coffee bar and nice selection of non alcoholic drinks. Their n/a margarita slushie is delicious!

Very cool place and good brews! Love the interior of the building and the atmosphere. Great samples before you buy and their no tipping is unique!!

Optimism is a nice big space with plenty of table and lots of huge brew tanks in the middle of the space. They do not sell food, but there is usually a food truck parked in the back that has tasty offerings. The food trucks change each day and you can see who will be there on their site. You can bring your own food in and many folks do. We were there for a party and it was a potluck.

Really solid beer selection. I tried several and everything I tried was really quite good. There days breweries are a dime a dozen but occasionally you find one that can make a solid pilsner and good standard beers that aren't IPAs. If you like good beer, come here.

Loved the beer and the efficiency of the bar set up; however the warehouse felt a bit... cavernous. I'm used to a homier feel to my brew pubs, but I understand the concept. Was there on a Friday night and it had lots of people in it, but it still felt empty.

This is one of the largest breweries I’ve ever been to. Definite recommendation for anyone who loves a fresh pint of beer. Huge place, its noisy but gives you the vibes to have a beer at any given time of the day.

The brewery is a good spot for just drinking and some board games. It might be limited in non-drinkers though, which might be to some of the staff's chagrin.

The place is ginormous but so very comfortable. Walked in hungry and thirsty, ordered one of their stouts, it was so good. I asked about a food menu, but was told they had none but I was welcome to bring my own. Finished my beer, walked across rather street and picked up a delicious inexpensive Chipotle burro and chips. I brought the food with me to Optimism, ordered a different Stout and it too was fantastic. There is no tipping, it's included in the beer price. The only take credit or debit cards. I come here every time I visit Seattle, what a great little/big place......

We thought this place was great. Our son lives on Cap Hill and we walked by several times before stopping in. The beers we tried were great. Loved the set up, you can bring your own food in, your dog, your kids- genius! Wish we lived in Seattle, we'd be regulars!

Such a fun and unique place. Beers are excellent and seasonal. The staff is nice and helpful. We had a great time here.

I came with a group of people to try the homemade wine in a local tavern. I ordered 4 small glasses of beer with different flavors. My personal favorite is "Hello, World". The other flavors are also good. The tavern is large and suitable for large crowds. Come chat and relax, and you can bring food in because they only serve drinks. We brought a bunch of food and everyone ate and drank, accompanied by the music played by the store and the chatter from other tables, making it noisy together. Hahaha, very happy! By the way, the store doesn’t accept cash! Credit card or debit card can be used.

A group of people came to experience the local home-brew beer. This store only provides beer and no food, so you can bring food to eat. Cash is not accepted, so just pay by card. Because it was my first time here, I ordered four small glasses of beer to try. I can only say that each has its own characteristics and everyone has their own preferences. Friends who come to Seattle are welcome to come here and the transportation is very convenient.

The beer was amazing and the food truck was awesome. Amazing overall vibe. support friendly and quick with service

This is just weird. Firstly the beer was great (wheat beer) and I didn't have a bad experience at all. But this is like s cross between Starbucks, Ikea and a German beer hall. It's vast with huge wooden tables and you are surrounded by brewing vessels to remind you it's a brewery. The bar area is just like a big brand coffee shop or major event sports/ entertainment establishment rather than the character of a bar. You are filed into a queue, pay your money and are presented with your beer much like fast food. It was interesting and vibrant but I'd hate for everywhere to adopt this style of service. I hope it remains a niche.

Warehouse style brew room, open with lots of windows and highlighted by brew decor througout. The selection was great as far as styles and the ones I had (Lager and Brown Ale) were fantastic, hoppy and refreshing. Service was friendly and knowledgeable.

Popped into this place while visiting Seattle for work. First thing I noticed is how big it is. It might be the largest non-restaurant brewery tasting room I have been in. The variety of beers was solid. Everything from lagers to IPAs to sours to barrel-aged beers. They use names for the beers and don’t place a variety tag on them, which is a little weird and seems unnecessary, but the guy behind the bar was helpful in finding what I wanted. I love the no tipping policy. It makes sense and I have no problem with the extra amount being built into the product. More places should do this. I also agree with other posts about the restrooms. This is the best gender-neutral setup I have seen. Other places should follow this lead. Solid WiFi also allowed me to hang out and work while I enjoyed my beers. I will definitely be back.

Setup like a German beer hall with large picnic tables in a huge space. Food trucks available in a courtyard area that was still inside. Very loud (it was completely packed on a Friday night), fun atmosphere. Unisex bathrooms.

I should start off by saying that I am not a beer fan, however this brewery, housed in what used to be a car dealership is a lot of fun, and has great beer. From what we learned about the place, it was started by a former Microsoft employee and beer fan. The place is massive with lots of space to sit and enjoy the variety of suds offered that is all brewed on the premises. One thing that makes it especially nice and quite unique is that you can bring your own food. They also have a special garbage type area, where they have a rotating array of food trucks park and offer food to patrons (they do not serve food, only beer). The beers are interesting, and what we really liked was the ability to get a variety of four ounce pours to taste and explore the different offerings. We sampled four different ones on the night we were there and all were very good and dramatically different. If you are into beer, you will love this place. If you aren't you will still enjoy it, and come away with a better understanding for why those who love beer, do.

A flight on my first visit - only one was less than excellent in my taste. Nice facility, big and open and inviting. Nova: summer lager, citrus and slightly tangy. Perfect for a hot day. Automatic: slight malt and slight bitter, just not full enough. One: fairly mild standard ale and very drinkable. Daredevil: slight malt rises not your nose, nice smooth bur not greatly complex and just a hint of bitter in the finish. Very well balanced. Bourbon Barrel-aged: Very nice!. Smokey Bourbon vanilla dominates followed by nice choco notes in the finish.

About 10 different beers to choose from. You can bring your own food to this one which is always great. They had a Mexican food truck outside the day we went

The best part of Optimism is the set up for getting beers. There's no traditional bar to sit at and no servers. You always walk up to the taps to order your drinks. Even if there's a line it moves very quick because they have a lot of people serving drinks. There is no tipping. Tons of room to sit with small or large groups. Tables for couples, small groups or big parties. The beer is great, I like the Zest. Definitely worth a stop if you are around Pike and Pine.

If you're around I would encourage you to stop by but I wouldn't go out of my way. I'm a fan of NE style IPA's and they have an exceptional one, B.E. Juicy. I didn't try anything else but they have a decent selection. I went around 4 so parking was easy to find but I would suggest uber or the bus to avoid the ridiculous Seattle parking fees.

I went to Optimism for a holiday event and discovered a place with a fun vibe, and a beer for almost everyone. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I thought that their "before the dawn" was excellent. It is a full flavored, dark imperial stout. They have great tasting notes on their beers, which I reccomend reading. Included in the notes are stories behind many of the beers. Although I was hesitant, the notes said if you like whiskey and chocolate you may like before the dawn, and it was a winner. To set expectations this is not a good place for conversation due to a high noise level.

Really hope all breweries follow their standards, example.. no cash. No tipping. Excellent Beer. Congrats guys..keep up the good work.

My husband and I enjoyed a quiet beer and brought our own bag of Trader Joe's chips to go with it. There was a shower taking place and the party had brought their own food and we saw many other people bring in sandwiches and peanuts to snack on. Super relaxed atmosphere and good beer. We did hear that food trucks are there often and are highly rated.

We stopped by here on a Friday night and it seemed like half of Seattle was there! This is a huge space that can accommodate tons of people, so it's a good bet on a busy night if you don't want to wait in lineups. They do not serve food, so you can bring your dog. It is very loud and busy, but lineups for beer were quick and there was a food truck on site. Great place for a meet up with a large group of friends.

Who would think a brewery would provide such a perfect venue to host a toddler birthday party. When they open the door at noon, there were several families waiting to take over “their reserved area”. Long wooden tables and a small fenced off toddler play area make this a very family friendly place. You can bring in your own food. We used chipulte which was right across the stree but several families had pizza. You can run a tab for the brews on tap. Parking in area was easy. You have to bus your own tables. I wish we had a big open place like this in Houston!

I moved to Seattle only a month ago, and am confident that I have already found my favorite spot for a beer. Optimism has a great location in Cap Hill, but away from the crowds of Pike and Pine streets. The open space makes it great to mingle with friends and coworkers, no matter how many people are in your party. It is simple to walk up and order, eliminating the need to fight for a spot at the bar to get a beer. Speaking of beer, it is absolutely excellent! I'm a lover of wheat-beers and of IPAs, so definitely try the Partly Sunny and Big Juicy (Wheat and IPA respectively). Kegs are also fairly cheap; I'm definitely planning on one for a party soon. Best of all, this company focuses on equality in ways not many places would consider. They pay all of their staff well over minimum wage and provide healthcare, eliminating the need for tipping and tax. What you see on the board is what you pay, making it slightly cheaper than any other place in Capitol Hill. This also makes the order line go faster, which means more beer for you! The outdoor/indoor space towards the back brings in food trucks every night of the week and is a great spot to hang out and eat if you haven't brought your own food. I have seen work being done on the roof, so hopefully, that will open up next spring! Excellent beer, thriving atmosphere, and a progressive culture. I'm definitely feeling the Optimism.

Everything about Optimism is enormous (except the prices). Steel brewing tanks dominate this huge block-long space. You can drop in with 10 or 20 of your friends and not be crowded. Another great feature is their no tipping policy. Prices are modest - credit cards only - no cash; and you have a fifteen or so freshly brewed beers and cider on tap. I've sampled several of their brews and found them all tasty. Optimism is family friendly with a play area for the little ones. Definitely recommended

This is a huge brewery with lots of seating and areas to hang out in. It super busy when we went. We enjoyed the little outside beer garden (with food trucks!). I didn’t love many of their beers but the place in general was good!

Love this place! Great selection of beers and TONS of space for friends. I also love that they allow you to bring food from outside places which makes this ideal for small gatherings for birthdays or promotions, etc.