Optimism Brewing Company | |
---|---|
Restaurant information | |
Established | 2013 |
Owner(s) |
|
Coordinates | 47°36′46″N122°19′14″W / 47.6128°N 122.3205°W |
Website | optimismbrewing |
Optimism Brewing Company was a brewery in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. It was the largest taproom in Washington in terms of square footage as well as draft beer sales, and was purchased by Stoup Brewing in 2023.
Optimism Brewing Company was a brewery with a taproom in Seattle. Fodor's described the business as a "multifunctional third place for locals" by serving as a beer bar, a gathering space for events and parties, and a play space for children and dogs. [1] The spacious venue had large windows and the interior had picnic tables. [2] Guests could bring food, and food trucks were hosted outside. [3] Optimism's Heliotropic was described as a "hoppy, tropical" India pale ale. [4] Other beer names included Afraid of the Dark. Don't Boo, Unicorn, and Vote. [3]
Spouses Troy Hakala and Gay Gilmore established Optimism Brewing Company in 2013, then spent approximately two years converting a 16,000-square-foot warehouse into a brewery. [5] [6] The building was completed in 1920 and had previously served as a showroom for Great Western Motors Co. [7] [8] Olson Kundig designed the new Optimism space. [9] [10] Eater Seattle said "the space was innovative in many ways, including its gender-neutral bathrooms and a kids play area that made it especially welcoming for families". [5] Optimism's taproom opened in December 2015. [11] [12]
Optimism did not serve food. Tipping was not required and cash was not accepted. [13] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Optimism was the first business in Seattle to acquire a street permit for seating outdoors, [14] [15] and the brewery "started renting space as a part of a co-working program that involved reserving space for claustrophobic tech workers -- and included a beer". [16] [17]
Optimism was Washington's largest taproom in terms of both square footage and draft beer sales. [18] Optimism had 21 employees. [5] Stoup Brewing purchased Optimism in 2023. [19] [20] Financial details have not been disclosed, and Hakala and Gilmore continued to own the building. [21] Stoup committed to continuing Optimism's dog- and family-friendly environment. [22]
In 2017, Aimee Rizzo of The Infatuation wrote, "Don't come here looking for a basil-beet-dragonfruit-infused sour ale—Optimism is about simple, classic stuff. Grab a long table with your crew next to the mountain range of steel beer-making tanks, have a bite from the daily-rotating food truck, and Saturday afternoon is officially excellent." [23] Jen Woo included Optimism in Time Out Seattle's 2021 list of "the 11 best Seattle breweries for a tasty pint". [3] The brewery's Passion Fruit Solarpunk was awarded silver in the American-style fruit beer category at the Washington Beer Awards in 2021. [24]
The U.S. state of Oregon is home to more than 200 breweries and brew pubs that produce a large variety of beer.
The Elysian Brewing Company is an American brewery, owned by AB InBev, that operates two pubs and a taproom in Seattle.
Hilliard's Beer was a brewery in Seattle, Washington, United States. It opened on October 7, 2011, in the city's Ballard neighborhood, in a building constructed in 1947. The company is named after its founder Ryan Hilliard, a former flight instructor.
Migration Brewing is a brewery based in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Victrola Coffee Roasters is a coffee roasting company with multiple locations in Seattle, Washington.
Steeplejack Brewing Company is a brewery with three locations in the U.S. state of Oregon. The business operates in Portland and Hillsboro, and has announced plans to expand to Manzanita.
Oddfellows Cafe and Bar is a restaurant in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, in the United States.
Taurus Ox is a Lao restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. The restaurant launched another called Ox Burger.
Dacha Diner was an Eastern European, Jewish, and Russian restaurant in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Carmelo's Tacos is a Mexican restaurant with two locations in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Life on Mars is a vegan restaurant, bar, and record shop in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar, or simply Barrio, is a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S state of Washington. The restaurant is owned by Heavy Restaurant Group, which previously operated a second Barrio location in Bellevue.
Monsoon is a Vietnamese restaurant with two locations in the Seattle metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Tamarind Tree is a Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Nacho Borracho is a bar and Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Overcast Coffee Company is a coffee shop with two locations in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Omega Ouzeri is a Greek restaurant and bar on Seattle's Capitol Hill, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Black Raven Brewing Company is a brewery based in the Eastside of King County, Washington. The Redmond, Washington brewery and 34-seat brewpub opened in 2009, and a 100-seat brewpub in Woodinville opened in 2019, along with larger production facility there to enable distribution to Hawaii and other states.
Poppy was a restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. The business earned chef Jerry Traunfeld James Beard Foundation Award nomination in the Outstanding Chef category.