Holy Mountain Brewing Company — Restaurant in Seattle

A short disclaimer: I'm friends with Adam, one of the founders, but even if I weren't this review would be my complete opinion.

I've been a beer lover and homebrewer for nearly 15 years and for most of that time I've been hoping that a brewery like HM would open in this area. These guys are making beers that no one else in the Northwest is even trying to make, and it is amazing stuff.

Their wheelhouse is hoppy, well-fermented (dry, clean), lighter styles, including hoppy saisons, pale ales with Belgian yeasts, and classic ales. But they can bust out incredible darker beers from both sides of the water too, like the River of Ash (a dark saison with cherries) and their King's Head double brown. And they are regularly releasing barrel-aged and barrel-fermented experiments, all of which have been fantastic.

The quality is second to none in WA in my experience. There are a lot of great breweries here -- NoLi, Silver City, Elysian, Black Raven, Harmon. I don't think it's a stretch to say HM gives all of these a run for their money, and they've been around less than a year. HM has yet to put out a beer that isn't at least a solid 7/10, and many are truly world class. They are amazing brewers with a strong sense of their own style doing stuff literally no one else is doing with a consistent quality that other breweries aren't matching right now.

The taproom itself is a fantastic place to spend an evening. It's on a major bus line. It's friendly, open, bright, and no-frills: Come for the beer or not at all is the message, which lends itself to a crowd that knows the quality they are getting. They have about a dozen beers on at any time. Bike racks in the front -- inside, mind you, not outside. These guys pay attention to the details.

They offer 12oz pours for (usually) between $4 and $5, but my favorite thing to do is try as many of their beers as possible for the $2-$3 half pours (6oz), tax included. I paid the tab for a group of four friends and myself the other day -- a whole evening of drinking for 5 people for $70 after tax and and tip.You can hardly do that anywhere else in the state, let alone in an expensive city like Seattle. Even growler exchanges are a paltry $7 for a 32oz exchange.

Consistent quality, unique beer, and just...

1. The Glass of Thunder:

In the frost-kissed halls of Valhalla, where the echoes of electric guitars reverberate through the mead-soaked air, the Nordic gods of metal music gather. Their thirst, like their riffs, knows no bounds. And so, the master brewer of the divine brewery crafts a glass of beer worthy of these immortal headbangers. The obsidian-black glass, etched with runes of power, gleams mysteriously. A creamy, khaki head rests atop, like the foam of a stormy sea whipped by Odin's winds. When held to the light, crimson highlights dance within, reminiscent of the blood spilled in epic battles.

2. A Symphony of Flavors: Roasted malt and campfire smoke intertwine—a scent that lingers like the memory of a thousand guitar solos. Hints of Nordic spices—juniper berries, cloves, and a dash of Odin's wisdom—waft forth. The first sip is a lightning strike: bold, electrifying. Dark chocolate, burnt caramel, and a chorus of espresso beans sing a harmonious riff. A crescendo of licorice and oak barrels, aged in the roots of Yggdrasil, follows suit. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, like the armor of a berserker, yet velvet-smooth, as if Freyja herself weaves silk from moonbeams. Carbonation dances like Valkyries on a battlefield.

3. The Final Chord: Lingering warmth, akin to standing too close to Surtur's flames. A final chord of bitterness, like the taste of betrayal. The gods raise their horns, chanting, "Skål!" as they drain the glass, ready to rock the realms once more. And so, the glass of Mjölnir's Brew stands empty, a tribute to the gods who shred across the cosmos. May their mosh pits echo through...

Best brewery in Seattle if you ask me. Styles may be too much for non beer fans. They excel in barrel aged beers, and do a lot of sours extremely well. And the last few IPAs they’ve put out have been fantastic as well. They have no bad beers, which is quite a feat. Don’t come here looking for flights or tasters. Look at the menu, pick a beer or two and enjoy it. You can get small pours for cheap. Strike up a convo with someone and ask for recommendations if you don’t know what to get. The taproom always has knowledgeable beer enthusiasts imbibing, and most are friendly and willing (likely over-eager) to give their opinions.

Kids aren’t allowed (I think unless you are in line for a bottle release). Don’t be a jerk about it. That’s the rules. There are plenty of other places that cater to that if that’s what you want.

Also, if you happen to show up on a Saturday bottle release, it’s gonna be pretty crowded and parking can sometimes be an issue, as well as longer than normal wait for beer. However, it’s always worth it because that means there is going to be one or multiple new phenomenal beers on which all these beer nerds are lining up for bottles of. (Don’t be intimidated by all the people, many of them are going to be in a separate line for bottles, and you can get the beer on draft without standing in the sometimes really long line)

All of my friends and I have never been to the tap room and not had an amazing beer, so knowing all this, if you come here and aren’t having a great experience... it’s...