What is the Winter Beer Taste?
A great party for a good cause.
The Winter Beer Taste is Seattle’s longest running beer festival that doubles as a fundraiser for the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA), a grassroots organization focused on strengthening community across North Seattle.
The event features 30+ Northwest breweries and cideries, set inside the historic Phinney Center, a former schoolhouse built in 1904. It’s intimate, lively, and a little weird (in the best way), and has been drawing beer enthusiasts from across the city for more than 30 years. Check out our VIP tickets for an exclusive experience, including dinner!
This is a 21+ event (sorry, no babies or dogs). More information and ticket details below. (PNA Members, check your email for a discount code!)
Event Schedule
Ticket Options
Event Details
The Brews
Enjoy pours from 25+ Northwest breweries and cideries, including special brews made just for the Winter Beer Taste. Not just into beer? We regularly have craft cideries, ginger beer, and kombucha join in on the fun. See full list below.
Your ticket includes 10 generous pours, so come ready to find a new favorite.
The Party
This isn’t your typical beer festival. The Winter Beer Taste is an annual fundraiser for the PNA that takes over the historic Phinney Center Blue Building, a former schoolhouse built in 1904. It’s an intimate, lively, neighborhood party where everyone is invited. Good beer, good cause, great party.
Expect:
- 🎶 A vinyl spinning DJ from local radio station KBFG
- 🍪Snacks on snacks, including our famous cookie parade
- 🎭 Beer puns and homemade decorations for this year’s theme. Costumes encouraged!
- 🥨 Win prizes from our punch wall or silent auction
- 👯 Make friends with brewers and fellow beer lovers from across Seattle
The Theme
Every year a community committee votes on a theme for the event. Come dressed up, get into character, or just enjoy the spectacle. Participation is encouraged but absolutely not required.
To celebrate the return of the cult classic from Matt Groening, this year’s theme is Future Brewerama!
Participating Breweries
The Phinney Beer Taste Committee
The Winter Beer Taste doesn’t happen by accident. Behind the brews, cookies, costumes, and questionable dance moves is a crew of dedicated volunteers who love good beer and have made this celebration of our brewing community what it is today.
The Beer Taste Committee started almost 40 years ago, as a group of beer loving friends. They built this event from the ground up, hitting the pavement and personally inviting (bullying?) breweries to come and pour as a donation to the PNA. The vision and dedication of this group are the heart and soul of this event, they work hard every year to make the Beer Taste unlike any other local beer event – from choosing the theme and dreaming up new traditions to recruiting breweries and making sure the party actually happens.
If you’re interested in joining the committee, sign up as a set up and break down volunteer for two beer tastes. If you still like it, email the PNA volunteer coordinator for next steps.
If you see someone at the event with a funny shirt and running around, feel free to show them some gratitude for hosting such a great party.
Event Sponsors
Thank you, sponsors!
Become a Sponsor
Become an Event Sponsor
Volunteer for Beer Taste
Interested in helping out? Available volunteer opportunities for this event are displayed in this section.
Visit our Volunteer page to learn more about how you can volunteer at the PNA.