The Beer Junction — Restaurant in Seattle

Where do I even start? The Beer Junction is the single best beer store in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, and rapidly becoming one of the best beer bars (if not THE best) as well. The bottle selection is massive, spanning every type and sub-type of beer imaginable, and it constantly rotates. There are, of course, staples, but you can count on The Beer Junction to search out new, interesting beers to bring in regularly. The space is clean, constantly upgrading, and offers a small bar with seating where you can order in from local restaurants and enjoy some of the many, many beers they have on ever-rotating taps.

The Beer Junction also makes an effort to put on weekly brewery events, where different breweries will come showcase their wares in-store and offer tastings of their beers - often rare kegs or one-offs - at very, very reasonable prices ($4 for a flight of 5, for instance). Subscribing to The Beer Junction's expansive weekly newsletter will give you inside information to all of the beers that came in recently, all the upcoming events, and beer-related facts and figures that you may find interesting.

More important than the merchandise, however, are the people. Morgan, the owner, has been steadily plugging away at this store for the better part of a decade at this point, having started his store back around the corner from the existing location in a much, much smaller space. His passion for beer is evident in the relationships he cultivates with his customers and his distributors alike, and he's more than happy to help you find just the right beer for your taste, or track down that rare ale release, or just shoot the breeze about the new stuff that's on the horizon. That's true of everyone he hires - they're all equally willing and excited to share their passion with you, not just sell you a bottle. Morgan has also invested in the Junction (the district, that is) and built up the community around his store, partnering with other restaurants and offering joint food service from the local spots, and reaches out to local breweries each year to brew The Beer Junction's anniversary ales.

Bottom line - this place is the definition of your ideal neighborhood beer store. Go here, check out the stunning selection of beers, and then sit down and talk with whomever's there. You're bound to have...

What a waste of time.

I was trying to help a customer return 3 kegs that their supplier was not calling her back on. They were moving and had to get rid of them. I asked if there was a deposit and said I could return them for them.

At first, golden, I called The Beer Junction looking for advice, help and or a place to take them. Sully was helpful. Said they'd take them after I disclosed all I could about them. The brands, brewing companies, 2 were full, one was not. Old, pre pandemic,( is what the customer told me and I told Sully), and he said they were usually $50 deposit but he'd give me $40 each. Excellent. Seemed fine.

So I get them there, unload them, move my car because he says I need to come in and do some paperwork and I see he has $20 each on his register. I say, he said $40 each, why $20? He says because they were so old. 2020. I had told him that previously and he said since they were old he'd give me $40 each instead of $50.

I said I'll take them back. It wasn't the cash, it was the principal.

Felt like a total waste of time.

Help anyone? Advice?

I'm, of course, just going to call the customer and get the original company. Burnt up my time already. Don't want to do that again.

It's a shame because I'd heard good things about The Beer Junction. I won't be spending my $$ there.

B

Thanks Allison for the note back. I don't like leaving negative reviews. It's just too bad the employee wasted my time. I I'll delete this...

The people who work here are rude and smug beer lords. They know more about beer than you currently know. They know five times more than you will someday end up knowing about beer, and when you order a pint they will fill your glass with their judgement and superiority. Your beer will be tainted with their disapproval. If you go off tap, and buy a cheaper beer from the cooler and decide to drink it with your friends, they will not tell you that you will be charged extra for opening that beer. I'd say you got a 10% chance of talking to somebody nice, and a 60% change of paying too much for whatever you are drinking. In addition to this I find the hours are inconvenient and catered to a very specific crowd. Not my crowd. Also, the lighting is way too bright, you'll feel like you are drinking in a grocery store. Also its loud, and with a lot of TVs, you are not meant to speak to anybody in this bar. I wish this place was bought by Chuck’s, they have this formula figured out much better and they do it with a neighborly smile. If you are still reading, keep in mind that I still go here twice a week because its the best in...