Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub

Hale's Ales Brewery & PubHale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Hale's Ales Brewery & PubHale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

4301 Leary Way NW
Seattle, Washington, 98107
United States

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
3.66
Beers:
52
Ratings:
1,586
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.76
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
49
pDev:
11.7%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.71 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Mar 04, 2020
 
Rated: 3.52 by UCLABrewN84 from California

Feb 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.9 by GaryColeman from California

Jul 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by frasergrove from California

Sep 21, 2016
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Rated by armytoothdoc from Texas

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Good range of beers. The supergoose was the best that I tried. Nothing exceptional, but nothing I would pour down the drain either.
Aug 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.44 by tjcamm from Oregon

Jun 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by Cloaked_Phantom from Washington

Jun 06, 2016
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Reviewed by flexabull from California

3.76/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.5
Recent trip to an old timer, I remember going here way back when...

Went here for lunch before hitting a couple of the newer spots (at least to me) in the area. Hasn't changed much, working brewery when you walk in and the eating/drinking area to your left. Nice enough place, but nothing really stands out.

Quality and selection were both pretty good, not great. Hales makes pretty good beers in general, I rarely have a dud or anything outstanding either.

Service was good. We were waited on by a nice, friendly and quick gentleman.

Food was pretty good, always have thought their food in general was always a bit better than most places.

Overall, not a bad place to check out. Like I said, a pretty good place to grab food at before hitting some of the beer only places in the area.
Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.51 by Aball4620 from Washington

Nov 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by abrodsky from Massachusetts

Jul 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by Fly4awhiteguy from Washington

Mar 06, 2015
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Rated by MikeyGCAP from California

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
Brewing process very accessible to view close up. Small neighborhood vibe.
Feb 09, 2015
Photo of JeffreyHadley
Rated by JeffreyHadley from Washington

5/5  rDev +33%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
It seems like everything Hales touches turns to gold. Their brewpub atmosphere is great, food is amazing, and beer is even better.
Dec 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Anaxagoris from Washington

Dec 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by gpblackgt from Pennsylvania

Sep 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by HoppySeb from Washington

Sep 18, 2014
Photo of crowellbw
Reviewed by crowellbw from Washington

4.25/5  rDev +13%
Large place, several seating options. More of a restaurant than a brewery feel. Food is good, they always have some intriguing beers, and its a cool vibe.
Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by kmahe from Washington

Apr 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by grizzbar from Montana

Apr 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by memphischas from Tennessee

Apr 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by CoolEthan from California

Mar 19, 2014
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I've been to Hale's numerous times over the years, but most recently spent the playoffs getting brunch and pre-funking here. Go Hawks!

I really like the atmosphere of the bar area; dark wood, a clean environment that is somehow also a little bit too-close and dank, and a couple of TVs but without that sports-bar vibe. Service has been quite good, with knowledgeable and friendly staff who know their beer and are up for a chat. They have at least a dozen taps with one beer on cask at all times and at least another on nitro; there's usually something I want there.

I'm not a huge fan of all of Hale's beers, but there are always a couple in there range that I enjoy and can get. The smoked porter I had with my eggs and biscuits paired really well; I'll definitely be back for this combo. Overall, I really like the place.
Feb 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by aullrich from Washington

Dec 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by trytoketchup from Colorado

Dec 07, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Needmorebeer312 from Washington

Oct 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by jaydoc from Kansas

Oct 12, 2013
Photo of Hopmodium
Reviewed by Hopmodium from Washington

3.91/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Friendly staff who knew regulars but was not distracted from doing her job, although she wanted to smoke a stogie quite badly. I have seen others leave and hope somebody covers for them, this lady waited for all bases to be covered for sure b/f leaving with a regular for a smoke, I appreciated that. Pretzel was all I had hoped for to compliment my Reuben's Brew. Regulars seemed in their own world (i.e. phones) so it felt as if I was alone watching "soccer". Respectful conversations about customers from management made me feel like they talked about others, like we all do, but not like snobs, just like normal folks. Good place to stop in for a beer or two but I would not make it a regular habit to visit solely b/c the location from my place on Alki. They hosted the Winter Beer Festival in December and that was a blast. Some neat gear in the gift shop area.
Mar 09, 2013
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.35/5  rDev +15.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Seattle, yes, I do. Saw it from afar. Our first stop setting out from the hotel, it’s a pretty massive building on the all around. Parked over back behind the around the there, and walked up. Someone yellow brick roaded up the curb approaches so you can find the front side and get in, which I did while Phil, you knoooow, gone got his smoke on. I know, shocker...

Entranceway foyer with cushy worn leather chairs, a phantom red phone booth, and views of the brewery right there to the right, the whole deal, soup to nuts. I love the spent grain chute dump into a slat 2 yard for the forklifting away. To the left, a rounded glass corner room of pub. Inside, a lengthy varnished wood topped fishhook shaped bar, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. Bar has some inlayed striping pattern action, a raised trim lip, panel base, & brass foot rail. Seating for a dozen and a half on bar chairs end to end, save the looped backside, which holds tiered booze and separates the kitchen behind it. 2 copper box tap towers of 10 each, at opposite ends of the bar sporting house logo & guest handles, and a handpump hiding somewhere. Glass mug club mugs hang from the underside of the over hang above, and baby spots recessed overhead.

Pale greenish walls with a darker green uppers & ceiling, wood trim all around, wall, window, & cross hatched ceilinged up. Wall mounted winged lampage, seemingly local art (including a bar scene painting, and the ‘Hale 9000’), and plants in the corners. Long narrow horizontal boards over the look on kitchenings behind the bar listing specials beer & food, and happy hour. Just to the right, shirt & swag sales and a flatscreen above.

4 booths behind me, and 10 square tables solo or in pairs in the windows over Leary & 7th NW, but a few in the center, and a single round table fronting a pair of cushy chairs facing each other. 5 bar counter spur tables on the rounded front bend near the entrance, with drop martini glass lighting above. And through to the rear room, decorated with event posters, lots of ‘em. Booths on opposite walls, 7 in all, and 7 square tables in between for build to your party’s size. Just shy of a dozen more to the rear, and a 7 small round tables outside on a raised patio triangle. And a banquet room upstairs I didn’t feel the need to look in on, as you know, I was not entertaining for 50.

Currently 12 house beers up; regulars (Red Menace Big Amber, malty, light fruitiness; Kolsch, crisp, clean, easy drinking tasty Kolsch; Pale Ale, a solid well balanced Pale Ale, El Jefe Weizen Ale, banana-clovey hazy Hefe; Mongoose IPA, 6%, spicy, nice bitterness; Cream Ale, earthy, a bit grainy, easy enough; Cream HSB, Red Menace on nitro, hoppy, smooth, I do like), seasonals/small batch/brewer’s specials (Troll Porter, roasty, chocolatey, roasty, chocolatey, roasty; Nightroll Porter, seemingly the Troll Porter amped up some and on nitro, but all the good corners off; Supergoose Double IPA, 7.5%, not much bigger than the Mongoose, not overly sickly sweet), imperial/barleywine/high gravity (25 Belgian Dubbel style Anniversary Ale, light colored for a Dubbel, but nice deep fruitiness; Rudyard’s Rare Barleywine, 10%, which I wisely declined). And a taster of the cask Supergoose, which was very nice. The Red Menace Big Amber, Pale Ale, Cream HSB, Troll Porter, & 25 Belgian Dubbel were the bestest.

Oh, and 7 guest taps (Boundary Bay IPA, Double Mountain India Red Ale, Alpine Bohemian Pilsner, Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, Bridgeport IPA, Sound Reluctant IPA, Terminal Gravity IPA), 5 of which, interestingly enough, are IPAish.

And food, ‘cause I haven’t eaten since yesterday, and now it’s today. Started with a bowl of house smoked salmon chowder, which was good. And a Hale’s pub salad; greens, baby tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, in a house balsamic vinaigrette, which I took salmoned up. I’m going to salmon up everything everywhere. What? Would I like fresh ground pepper? Are you serious? Who wouldn’t? Oh, you dole out a good deal of pepper and are strong? We will test that. It was the best fuckin’ salad ever. Ev-er. Phil went with something biscuit, Canadian bacon & eggs; good standard eats. He did not finish his potatoes, though. Suspicious, yes.

Beers were solid for the most part, a few of them were excellent, and I wouldn’t say there were any full on clunkers in the lot. Really nice folks, Sarah tended; she is the goods. Comfortable enough place. What else is on for the day?
Oct 27, 2012
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Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
One of the many ballard-area breweries - stopped in for the first time the other night. The BA reviews were enough to push this way down the priority list.

the atmosphere was probably the worst ASPECT - industrial brewing facility with a pub inside. the pub resembled a TGI Fridays and had an older crowd than many other local spots.

they certainly make an effort with at least 10-12 Hale's taps including a RIS, barleywine, double IPA, harvest, etc but the consensus seems to be that none are particularly great.

the guest taps were pretty on point during my visit - pliny the elder and an extremely solid dipa from Sound Brewing.

I can't really envision returning to this place more than once every year or two with all the other phenomenal options in the area.
Oct 16, 2011
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Reviewed by Nikokristiansson from New York

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Living in Ballard, I wanted to go here more often but in Seattle there are so many pubs with better food and cheaper prices. Blue cheese bacon burger I had was just okay and the bar tender was pretty rude. While in the middle of a conversation with a frend who I was explaining double ipa's and ipas to, he interrupted and "corrected" me. Not that it was bad information he was giving, but more his approach. They didn't have much special on tap though I did enjoy the Troll porter and Supergoose IPA. Again though, in Seattle there are so many better options. I would take a grimy place like Galway with their great tap selection and $6 chicken strips over Hale's anytime.
Mar 28, 2011
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Reviewed by aaron12 from Washington

3.15/5  rDev -16.2%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3
so, i wouldn't say this was my favorite place to hang out. it is cool to see and smell the beer being made, but besides that the atmosphere is pretty weak. their happy hour is nothing to brag about, in fact there are a handful of places i know that sell hale's beer cheaper then hales themselves. i have had some good experiences with the service and some bad ones, and i'd have to say the same about the food. However, there is nothing like having a pint of hale's straight from their taps. just something about getting their beer here makes it taste sooo much better. and because of that, i will come again, and again.
Mar 08, 2011
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Reviewed by KNORDSTROM from Washington

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
What a perfect place to enjoy a few hours of beer drinking. All I can say is AFTERMATH IPA. That is one tasty beer that had just got released afew days before we stopped by.I really like this area of town. Its a great stop in the middle of Maritime brewing (couple blocks). Brouwers Cafe (couple miles).

We were lucky to run into one of the MGR's on his day off. He just came off as a regular customer. But I got to tell ya he was pretty cool for taking us on a somewhat private tour. Great Guy. GOOD TIMES!!

FOOD is tasty to.
Great place to watch football and drink beer.

Cant wait to bring some friends.
Dec 02, 2010
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Reviewed by TheStove from Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -12.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Not bad but not great.

It's a bit tough to place Hale's in the realm of Seattle beer spots. I think that most of Hale's offerings are solid beers that are much better than most of what you may find in your average restaurant but at the same time nothing is truly outstanding. Had their Belgian Golden Tripel (according to the server, it tasted as such but who knows) and was happy with it. The Troll Porter and Red Menace are good for their respective styles but I didn't find either to be amazing or knockout awesome.

In either case, I'm one of those schmucks who has to visit to know for sure so while Hale's isn't disappointing, it definitely isn't near the top of places you could go. I happened to be nearby, was hungry and there ya go. The El Jefe Weizen was good as well but again nothing to go apeshit over. If anything a great part of visiting Hale's is being able to pick up bombers of most of their beers for $3.50 apiece. I know these aren't outstanding but given what you pay fo ryour run of the mill beer that is a steal.

Again, not the best but worth a visit if you've exhausted your other destinations and are antsy.
Sep 09, 2010
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Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
My first visit to Hale's took place during the closing ceremonies for Seattle Beer Week 2010. The beer fest took place in the Palladium out behind the brewery, but I took a few minutes to go out to the pub for a few minutes.

There's a lot of glass at the front of the bar area, which is separated from the family friendly dining area. There was a TV up in back of the bar, and the kitchen is visible from the bar as well.

A nice selection of Hales own brews were on tap, I had a 2 year old 25th Anniversary Dubble and a Pale Ale. As there was food at the brewfest I only had a quick appetizer, lime chicken skewers, that was very tasty.

The bartender that day, Karen, was very friendly and efficient, without being intrusive or harried on a busy day. The prices were in line with what you expect to pay in a major city these days.

Overall, a nice place to visit if you're in the Fremont area of Seattle.
May 24, 2010
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Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.45/5  rDev -8.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I have been here numerous times, all seasons and all hours for years. The food is always average across the board. The beer is good but not the best Seattle has to offer. Troll Porter and the Wee heavy are always good. Its a good day when Rudyards Rare is on tap. The staff is usually nice, sometimes you have to strive for conversation.When you walk in the self guided brewery tour is available. Upon walking in the bar is on the left. The prices have risen. $5.50 for a house IPA, OUCH! That is a California price for a average brew. I think Hales is stepping up the game with the SBW IIPA. They still need to lower them prices.
May 03, 2010
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Reviewed by canucklehead from Canada (BC)

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Finally got a chance to visit this place as it represents a nice part of Seattle brewing history. The place is pretty big with the brewery in full operation right next door open to the public and not behind glass. You could smell the boiling wort and the smell from the spent grain as the guys worked the bottling line next to the mash tun. The outside patio is nice when the weather is good and the selection of beers is for every palate from the novice beer drinker to the BA. I noticed a few seasonals including some bigger beers like the Double IPA, a barleywine and an imperial stout. A few beers also were on nitro as well such as the Cream Ale.

Food was good and fresh with even the Hummus, Baba Ganoush and Tapenade tasting like it was made in house. The best way to order beers is in schooners giving you the chance to try a nice array. I mixed the Double Mongoose IPA with the Troll Porter to create a kind of Dark IPA with great results.

The waiter was casual and well informed and the service was efficient. Prices were reasonable and there is lots of parking close by.
Apr 16, 2010
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Reviewed by bigkingken from North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +15.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
Hale's Ales has all the look and feel of an upscale chain microbrewery, but with none of the pretentiousness. The space is huge. The tables are plenty. The televisions are limited, but you can find one if you really want to. Nothing is overdone. It's comfy and contemporary at the same time. I like it a lot.

On a second visit I made sure to have plenty of room to try the food, and boy am I glad I did! It's hard to find good barbecue in the Pacific Northwest, but Hale's has barbecue done right. I ordered the beef brisket, which came in large chunks that I pulled apart with my knife and fork, and was accompanied by baked beans and coleslaw. The sides were fine, but the brisket really stood out. Absolutely fantastic.

My friend and I had already put down several beers at Maritime Pacific down the street before ordering a sampler of everything on Hale's menu. We didn't realize there were 14 different beers, but we got through them, and even ordered a pint of our favorite.

But with all the beer, my memory is a bit fuzzy. Everything was good but nothing really stood out. If I had to choose a few, I would go with the Troll Porter, the Imperial Stout (which was definitely IMPERIAL! Great for the style!) or the pint we ordered. I forget the name, but apparently each of the brewers in Seattle threw something in the mix and this is what came out. It was spicy like harvest ale.
Jan 27, 2010
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Reviewed by IceEyes from Oregon

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Hales is a comfortable, low-key place for beer and food though it's not the best choice in the greater Fremont area. I'd rate the overall experience as "OK" but that's about all. I had a great burger here, but the fries were pretty lame. Most beers seem to taste better on tap at the bar than I've known them to be in bottles.

The brewery is fairly large and sits out in the hallway. You can watch them brew while you drink the beer and the fermentation tanks have mirrors over them so you can watch them ferment. I visited Hales on a Saturday afternoon when they weren't too busy and got very good service. Plus, the great thing about Hales is that you can pub crawl to Browers or Maritime or just go for a walk along the bike trail near the canal. I'd recommend a visit to Hales though I wouldn't give it my top priority.
Jul 20, 2009
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Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

3.64/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Our second stop on our Saturday afternoon beer journey. After lunch at Brouwer's Cafe, we headed up the street to Hale's Pub. Nice layout inside. The tanks and brewery equipment are on the right, open for viewing. The pub is on the left, and the large windows that separate this area still give off the feeling of being right in a brewpub since you can still see the tanks. Lots of leather seats and couches for patrons. Pulled up seats at the bar, and chatted with a nice bartender. I ordered the seasonal Tripel, and my wife had the Porter. Both very good. A decent brewpub, worth a visit if in the area.
Dec 24, 2008
Photo of RoryGilmore
Reviewed by RoryGilmore from Washington

2.23/5  rDev -40.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
Hales is an OK place, but it you go during the busy times be prepared to have plenty of topics of conversation to use with your fellow patrons. It seems to be run with by a significantly large percentage of people who are incompetent. The hostess completely bypassed my name on the list to make us wait another 20 minutes beyond when we should have been seated. Then, once seated, it took another 25 minutes before menus were brought to the table or even an acknowledgment from the sever. Then the sever stopped by about every half hour of so to see if we needed anything. Overall, it took over two and a half hours to get a grand total of three beers and one grilled cheese to a party of two people. Pathetic. I wasn't the only one suffering through a ridiculously long ordeal, everyone around me was having a similar experience. This last visit might have been the worst service I've ever had in any restaurant.

Hale's brews are usually just OK, they fit within the style intended, aren't terrible, but aren't good either. They're just OK. At $5 bucks a pint (not including tax), it seems a bit pricey considering there are much higher quality brews from just about every other brewpub in town, and those breweries charge less. Also, they only have one guest tap. A little more variety would be nice.

Food is decent, above average pub food that is just a touch overpriced. Portions are small, which would be fine if the prices were about $2-4 less per item.

The vibe is OK with plenty of wood in the pub and lots of exposed brew kettles and the such right in the entrance. In my opinion, that's the best part of the place. Too bad they don't produce a better product or service.
Jun 22, 2008
Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub in Seattle, WA
Brewery rating: 3.66 out of 5 with 1586 ratings