Pike Taproom opens today in Ballard

Meghan Walker Ballard

The latest taproom to come to Ballard opens its doors today: Pike Taproom will serve its first pint at 3 p.m. today.

The new taproom, located in the former Bramling Cross space at 5205 Ballard Ave NW, has a full bar with wine, canned beers, and eight taps with a rotating selection of Pike brews alongside cider and beer from Ballard breweries.

The new Pike Taproom will look quite different from the Bramling Cross days. Designer Kelley Moore added a new green leather banquette along one of the exposed brick walls and modern lighting fixtures, mirrors, and large black-and-white photos that show the history of Pike Brewing, which opened in 1989 in Pike Place Market.

The taproom seats 45 at tables and eight at the bar, which has a custom-designed brushed-metal back bar. The space also has shuffleboards, dartboards, and couches made from vintage-inspired truck seats.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this vibrant community,” Drew Gillespie, president of Pike Brewing, said in a statement. “It’s exciting to open the doors and introduce our new and improved beers, new team, and fresh look to the neighborhood.”

Pike is releasing a collaboration beer with Stoup Brewing to celebrate the opening. It’s called New Kidz on THIS Block IPA, and “incorporates some fun hopping techniques for a whole lot of citrus, berry, and tropical aromas and flavors from Mosaic, Citra, and a touch of Sabro.”

The full bar will serve house cocktails including a Cran Royal with gin, cranberry shrub, allspice syrup, and champagne; Minted Cucumber Collins with vodka, lemon, cucumber, simple syrup, mint, and soda water; Market Manhattan with bourbon, infused sweet vermouth, and aromatic bitters; and Chamomile Sour with whiskey, chamomile infused rye, amaro Vecchio, lemon, brown sugar syrup, and egg whites.

Consulting chef Ethan Stowell crafted a menu with burgers and wings “with a twist.” Pike says they’ll have traditional burgers alongside a few signature burgers. The special burgers will include a fried fish option with panko-breaded rockfish; a Seatown Hawaiian with a beef patty, spam, Swiss, lettuce, teriyaki, pineapple, and red pepper relish; a Smokin’ Da Gouda Bacon with a beef patty, smoked gouda, bacon, crispy onions, sweet pickles, barbeque sauce, and mayo, among others.

Pike will also serve gluten-free chicken wings with seven different dipping sauces: Monks, House Hot, Sweet Chili, Garlic Parm, BBQ, Buffalo, and Teriyaki. Sharable sides include Loaded Tots, Ranch Fries, and the famed Pike Pretzel served with Pike Stout mustard.

Pike Taproom’s hours will be 3 p.m. to close Monday to Friday and 12 p.m. to close on weekends.

Photos: Pike Brewing