"America's Best Beer Bars" ...
we are one of them!
Visit us and find out for yourself what makes us one of America's Best Beer Bars.
First came the nomination from travel, food and booze writers from USA Today and 10Best: we were one of America's top 20 beer bars! Then came the voting where our tiny little bar, not yet a year old, got 1st on the West Coast, 1st in the Pacific Northwest, and ... wait for it ... 2nd in the entire country!
From our owners, staff, and musical talent ... we wholeheartedly thank our customers for recognizing what a special place we've built. Our beer is brewery fresh, our decor historic, our barstools cushy-comfy, and our welcome always warm and friendly.
“Because great beer deserves a great bar”
WE are
side hustle
The craft beer on the eastside of Seattle is largely trapped in industrial areas where the rent is low and the ambiance is bare. Meanwhile, the stylish and comfortable bars in walkable downtowns serve up the usual, boring suspects: industrial beer disguised as real craft. When one does find legit craft beer, the chances that it is both fresh and the variety one prefers is small.
Side Hustle is on a mission to upend this model, bringing a full line of brewery-fresh beer directly from small producers to bustling town centers. We bring great beer to where the people are.
Our beer is sourced directly from local breweries on the day it is kegged. It never sits around, goes into storage, or enriches distributors and middlemen. Furthermore, we let the breweries take the distributor’s cut, directly impacting their bottom line. We also contract with local breweries to brew our own beer label, Side Hustle. Buying a beer at Side Hustle better supports the local brewery economy than drinking at any other bar.
At Side Hustle you can sit in comfort and enjoy the best beer the eastside has to offer. Have a favorite brewery whose beer you’d like to drink here? Introduce us! We’re always happy to add more local breweries to our co-op.
“For a quart of ale is a
dish for a King.”
— William Shakespeare (The Winter’s Tale c.1610)
A Pint Full of History
We built Side Hustle because we love beer. In that, we are not alone. Beer, that beloved elixir of fermented grain, has been around for at least 12,000 years. It is the oldest known alcoholic beverage purposely manufactured by humans. Every human civilization brewed some form of beer.
Unlike fruit that spontaneously ferments due to its high sugar content and natural surface yeast, grain must be sparged and milled. Then yeast must be added separately. Perhaps, shortly after our ancestors began to consume grain in their diets, some natural, air-born yeast managed to settle on a bit of damp bread or warm porridge and produced the very first beer. Can you imagine our ancestors’ joy at this magical discovery? We say ‘cheers’ when we raise our glass for good reason, beer makes people happy.
Evidence from Egypt, Mesopotamia and China suggests that the first beers were more akin to a thin porridge than liquid beer. This alcoholic gruel was made by bakers, alongside bread and other grain-based food, and consumed as part of celebrations and religious ceremonies. Beer, it seems, has always paired well with good times and thanksgiving.
These early beers were sometimes flavored with locally available herbs or berries. It wasn’t until the 8th or 9th century AD that today’s primary beer flavoring, hops, were used. This innovation belongs to the Europeans who discovered the natural antimicrobial properties of hops, and delighted in how their bitterness complemented the sweetness of the grains.
“Give beer to the people.
Let them drink and
forget their need and
remember their misery no
more.”
- Proverbs 31:4-8
In modern times, beer is still the most widely made and popular alcoholic drink in the world, and behind only water and tea as the most consumed beverage. At Side Hustle, our love of this ancient craft and tradition has prompted us to create taprooms that are comfortable, welcoming, and worthy of the heritage and antiquity of this most royal beverage. At Side Hustle, beer will always be the centerpiece of celebration and camaraderie.
If you are looking for
a fun environment
for a group or party,
we would love to
host you!
Our Taproom in Kirkland can hold up to 60 people.
With groups of 30+, we will have you do a full buyout of our space.
There is a $500 non-refundable deposit for the buyout, and must be paid ahead of time either in person, or by phone.
This will ensure that the space is solely yours for the duration of your stay. *No time limit!
We offer “Partial Buyouts” for the price of $250.
This is ideal for groups between 20 & 30 people.
We will close off a portion of our Taproom to hold your group, and still allow the public to come in to enjoy the rest of our space.
We offer local Beer, Wine, Cider and Seltzer, as well as a delicious selection of N/A beverages!
Check out our “BEER CIDER WINE” page for our current selections!
Our Kitchen is NOW OPEN!!! For Larger parties, we will send you a menu of shareable food items ahead of time for you to choose from!
This will need to be returned within a week of your booking so the kitchen has enough time to prepare for you group.