Seattle’s pioneering craft brewery, Pike Brewing, announced on November 19, 2025, that it will permanently close its historic Pike Pub and adjacent Pike Fish Bar locations near Pike Place Market on November 30, 2025, marking the end of an era for one of the city’s most beloved beer institutions after more than 35 years.
While the flagship pub — a two-level brewpub renowned for its extensive beer memorabilia museum and role in defining Seattle’s craft beer scene — shutters its doors, Pike Brewing emphasized that beer production and distribution will continue uninterrupted. The brand’s popular lineup, including flagship beers like Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, Space Needle IPA, and Post Alley Pils, will remain available across the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, the Pike Taproom Summit inside the Seattle Convention Center will stay open.
“The traditional pub model became increasingly difficult to sustain, and we reached a point where we had to make a tough, but necessary, decision,” said CEO Matt Lincecum. “The Pike Pub helped define what a Seattle craft brewery could be. As Pike Brewing looks ahead, we’re focusing on what we do best: brewing exceptional beer and delivering it to friends and fans across the Pacific Northwest.”
Owned by the Seattle Hospitality Group (which acquired Pike in 2021 and Fremont Brewing in 2024, and also holds interests in Kenmore Air and Ethan Stowell Restaurants), Pike shifted production to a new facility in SoDo in late 2023 — a move founder Charles Finkel described at the time as “not made lightly.” The company closed its Ballard taproom the following year. In 2024, Copperworks Distilling purchased Pike’s former brewhouse on Post Alley, with plans for a new cocktail bar nearby.
The future of the original 1415 First Avenue space, owned by Unico Properties since 2013, remains uncertain.
A Brief History of Pike Brewing Company
Founded on October 17, 1989, by craft beer pioneers Charles and Rose Ann Finkel, Pike Brewing Company (originally Pike Place Brewery) emerged as one of Seattle’s earliest microbreweries and a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest’s craft beer revolution. The Finkels, already renowned for establishing Merchant du Vin in 1978—the nation’s first specialty beer importer, introducing Americans to iconic European brands like Ayinger, Samuel Smith, and Lindemans—drew inspiration from their global travels and passion for full-flavored ales and lagers. They opened in the historic LaSalle Hotel building beneath Pike Place Market, equipping a state-of-the-art four-barrel brewhouse with a custom copper kettle from Seattle’s Alaska Copper Works.
From day one, Pike Brewing championed bold, character-driven beers that stood apart in an era dominated by mass-produced lagers. Flagship offerings like Pike Pale Ale (the brewery’s first brew), Naughty Nellie Golden Artisan Ale, Pike XXXXX Extra Stout, and later icons such as Kilt Lifter Ruby Ale and Space Needle IPA quickly earned acclaim, supplying Seattle’s restaurants, bars, and hotels while educating consumers on the joys of craft beer. The brewery’s iconic labels, designed by Charles Finkel—a celebrated graphic artist known as the “Art Director of Beer”—became instantly recognizable.
In 1996, Pike relocated to its longtime home at 1415 First Avenue, expanding to a 30-barrel gravity-flow steam brewhouse and opening The Pike Pub, a two-level destination featuring local, sustainable pub fare and the world-famous Microbrewery Museum. Curated by Charles Finkel, this one-of-a-kind collection showcases over 9,000 years of brewing history through rare artifacts, signage, and memorabilia.
After selling the company in 1997 (along with The Pike Pub and Liberty Malt Supply), the Finkels repurchased Pike Brewing in 2006, reaffirming their commitment to independent craft brewing. Over the decades, Pike earned countless awards, fostered emerging brewers, and supported community causes through collaboration beers and events like Chocofest, benefiting organizations such as the Pike Place Market Foundation, Planned Parenthood, and environmental groups.
Acquired by the Seattle Hospitality Group in 2021, Pike Brewing adapted to a changing industry by relocating production to a modern SoDo facility in late 2023—a move founder Charles Finkel described as “not made lightly.” The company expanded its footprint with the Pike Taproom Summit at the Seattle Convention Center and continued innovating with seasonal releases and partnerships.
For more than 35 years, Pike Brewing has embodied Seattle’s innovative spirit, helping define what a craft brewery could be: a gathering place for community, creativity, and exceptional beer. As the company looks to the future, it remains dedicated to brewing bold, memorable beers distributed across the Pacific Northwest, honoring the legacy of Charles and Rose Ann Finkel while embracing new chapters ahead.
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