Seattle's scrappiest independent brewery

Great beer. Good people. Zero pretense.

Started behind a 7-Eleven. Survived a fire. Now pouring at Ballard's Jolly Roger Taproom.

The packed patio the the Jolly Roger on a sunny afternoon
Two cans of Rooftop beer clinking
Est.2012Seattle
Jolly Roger · TodayHours today
KitchenKitchen hours
Find us1111 NW Ballard Way
On tap13 beers pouring

On tap right now.

Full tap list
IPAs

Stargazer IPA (Just Tapped!)

IPA

6.8% ABV
Seasonal

Fresh Hop - Cascade WC IPA (Fresh Hop)

Fresh Hop IPA

6.6% ABV
Seasonal

Palouse Helles Lager (Seasonal)

Lager

4.2% ABV
Light/Lagers/Pale

La Azotea Mexi Lager

Lager

4.5% ABV Also in cans
Dark/Malty

Nightwatch Dark Amber Ale (Staff pick ★)

Other

5.8% ABV Also in cans
IPAs

Slack Tide IPA

IPA

6.5% ABV Also in cans

What's happening.

All events
Mon Oct 19 · 6:30 pm

Puzzle Buzz

Speed-puzzling for teams of up to four. Tickets only through Puzzle Buzz, and you keep the puzzle.

Details ↗
Jolly Roger
Pumpkin carving, image with ghosts and pumpkins, date of October 24th 12-4pm
Sat Oct 24 · 12-4 pm

The Great Pumpkin Carving & Costume Contest

Bring your own pumpkin or carve one of ours. Games for the kiddos too. More details to come.

Jolly Roger
Cans of Jolly Roger Strong Ale
Fri Nov 6 · 5 pm to close

Jolly Roger Kickoff Party

The 2026 Jolly Roger Strong Ale is here. Vintage flights: 2011, 2019, 2025, 2025 Oaked, 2026, plus a 2026 firkin.

Jolly Roger

Regular events at the Jolly

  • Tuesdays · 6:30 pm

    Trivia Night 🧠

    King Trivia hosts. Free to play, teams up to six, gift card prizes.

  • First Sunday of the month

    The Ballard Social Club 🎶

    Live music in the taproom from our favorite house band.

  • 4th Wednesday of the month

    Puzzle Swap 🧩

    Bring a used, complete puzzle, take a different one home. Look for the puzzle table.

Our story

From the garage to the Jolly.

Five friends. One garage off Nickerson. Second shifts after the day job, and T-shirts that read "I drink beer in the alley behind the 7-Eleven". It was scene to be remembered.

Then a real brewhouse, the rooftop taproom on Nickerson, a fire, and now a new home at the Jolly Roger.

2012The garage
2015The rooftop
2024The fire
2025Jolly Roger
The whole story
The founding Rooftop crew behind the bar
The Rooftop brewers Jack and Thomas
Maritime Pacific tap handles
Maritime Pacific Brewing · 1990

A Ballard legend, still pouring.

George and Jane Hancock built one of the Northwest's original craft breweries. Three decades and counting, Old Seattle Lager, Nightwatch, the Jolly Roger and the rest of your favorites are still pouring, and as tasty as ever.

The Maritime story

Don't miss a pour.

Releases, events, and the Richmond Beach opening date. Monthly-ish.