Bellingham’s ‘big city drinks scene’ recognized by Seattle magazine. Here’s what they said

Some of Bellingham’s breweries, bars and restaurants are catching the eye of a Seattle-based magazine.

Sip Magazine, a craft beverage publication, is “dedicated to celebrating craft culture with a focus on wine, beer, spirits and cider, along with zero-proof options,” according to its website.

The magazine published an article back in June promoting Bellingham as an “epicurean epicenter,” noting its arts, culture, scenery and of course, drinks.

“Smaller town joys with a big city drinks scene, that’s Bellingham,” Mark Stock, the article’s author, wrote.

“The seaside town touts world-class arts and culture, food, waterfalls, and maritime culture, all portioned out perfectly to the tune of a population of about 100,000. A big part of the food realm here is what’s put into your cup, from the work of thriving breweries and cideries to cocktails and expertly-made spirits. While visitors should have all of the above on their itinerary when visiting Bellingham, the drinks scene especially ought to be emphasized and thoroughly enjoyed,” Stock wrote.

Stock mentioned six of Bellingham’s well-known restaurants, bars and breweries: Bellingham Cider Company, Aslan Brewing Co., Estelle, Galloway’s Cocktail Bar, Honey Moon and Chuckanut Bay Distillery.

Bellingham Cider Company

“Bellingham Cider Co. is an au natural producer, turning out small-batch creations without any preservatives, sugars or sulfites. Sourcing entirely from Washington orchards, the label really flexes the mighty cider prowess of the Evergreen State,” Stock wrote.

The restaurant’s specialty pizzas and scenic views were also mentioned in the article.

Bellingham Cider Company is open from 3-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at 205 Prospect St. in Bellingham.

Aslan Brewing Co.

“The taproom is family-friendly and a true gathering place, a community-facing affair where great offerings like the Batch 15 IPA and Coastal Pils bring in locals and tourists alike. There’s nothing like drinking straight from the source and Aslan’s flagship spot, adjacent to the brewery, offers exactly that, along with tasty pub fare like the bacon smashburger and chicken katsu sando,” Stock wrote.

Aslan Brewing Co.’s flagship location and brewery, The Brewpub, is open from noon to 10 p.m. daily at 1330 N Forest St. The Aslan Depot, a 21 and up taproom, is open from 3-11 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1322 State St.

“When a customer walks into one of our locations, we hope to provide a welcoming atmosphere with great service, food, and, of course, beer. You’ll find a different vibe at each of our Bellingham locations,” Georgi Shillington, Aslan’s marketing director wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

Estelle

Estelle was mentioned for its unique dishes that are intricately paired with wine, beer and craft cocktails.

“Open with a house cocktail like the Stunt Double, featuring yogurt-washed blended Scotch, and work towards remarkable dishes like snow pea salad, salmon rillettes and duck confit. There are thoughtful wine and beer selections as well that can really make a dish sing,” Stock wrote.

Estelle is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1147 11th St.

Galloway’s Cocktail Bar

Galloway’s, Bellingham’s deco era cocktail bar nestled in historic Fairhaven, was recognized for its craft cocktails and ambiance.

“Sink into the cozy surroundings and try a sublime cocktail from the golden era of the category. Signature drinks like the Habanero Fuzz, a mix of pepper-infused vodka, Ancho Reyes, turmeric, Giffard peach and lemon, tantalize the palate. Beer, nibbles and wine are available as well and the place is known to host weekly tastings and other libation-centric events,” Stock wrote.

“Galloway’s strives to bring an elevated cocktail experience to Bellingham. All of our drinks are handcrafted, and feature house made infusions and ingredients. Everyone on our team works together to create our cocktail menu, so we are showcasing some true talent from our mixologists in every drink that we feature,” Allison Sutherland, Galloway’s general manager wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

“We aim to make every guest that comes through our door feel welcome and at home, as well as give them the opportunity to try something they have never had before. We love to make the prohibition classics, to fit our deco era vibe, but the rest of our menu is all of our original recipes that you can’t find anywhere else,” Sutherland wrote.

Galloway’s Cocktail Bar is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 1200 10th St. Suite 102.

Honey Moon Mead & Cider

“And no trip to Bellingham can be certified without a stop at Honey Moon. The bohemian outpost sacrifices more conventional liquid for ancient offerings like mead and cider while fully embracing the area’s artist community. Drop in for a drink in the company of painters and poets and leave inspired,” Stock wrote.

Honey Moon is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday at 1053 North State St.

Chuckanut Bay Distillery

Chuckanut Bay Distillery was recognized for its “grain-to-glass operation,” but also for its restaurant, Penny Farthing.

“Visitors can tour the facility and sip on award-winning concoctions like Port cask-finished bourbon, wheat vodka and even Absinthe. Book a cocktail class, enjoy a deftly made cocktail or dine at Penny Farthing, a new restaurant addition opened in 2022 where dishes like gnocchi mac and cheese, and bourbon crab bisque join an esteemed drinks list. The staff can even point you towards an ideal cocktail pairing to enhance both your dinner and your drink,” Stock wrote.

“It is really exciting to be featured in Sip magazine. Bellingham has a rich food and drink scene, and we are honored to be part of it,” Kelly Andrews, owner of Chuckanut Bay Distillery wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.

“We take a lot of pride in our award-winning distilled spirits, and we do things differently here than many other distilleries. Most of the ingredients in our spirits are sourced within 25 miles, we use traditional fermentation processes, and our whiskeys are mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged on-site. What this offers to the customer is a truly local, truly hand-crafted product,” Andrews wrote.

Penny Farthing is open from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The distillery’s tasting room is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Chuckanut Bay Distillery is at 1309 and 1311 Cornwall Ave.