Attention home brew aficionados! Your new watering hole has opened in Capitol Hill and its name is Optimism Brewing Co. Located at the corner of Broadway and Union in what use to be an auto-row era building,  this impressive 16,00 square-foot brewery is the brainchild of husband and wife team Troy Halaka and Gay Gilmore. After spending years working at Microsoft and in the technology startup scene, Optimism Brewing Co is their first venture that doesn’t have anything to do with software. Instead, the huge establishment designed by Olson Kundig Architects, is where Hakala is living out his true passions for home brewing beer. In fact, there is a room on the upper level that doesn’t look unlike a science laboratory where Hakala comes up with his newest recipes. On tap at Optimism will be a majority of Hakala’s own recipes including two IPA’s and eventually barrel aged beers and sours.

The huge space at Optimism includes the upstairs laboratory, a bar, children’s play area, and plenty of open seating by the facility’s many floor-to-ceiling windows. There are also many large beer barrels capable of brewing 40 kegs of beer per run. The first official opening day of Optimism was on Saturday, December 5, 2015, which coincides with the anniversary of the end of the Prohibition.

I had the pleasure of conducting a photo shoot of Optimism Brewing Co‘s impressive interiors before they opened their doors to the public. As an interior photographer, I went wild over the incredibly large space, heavy use of wood, and the modern interior design influences that were clearly in the style of Olson Kundig.  Take a peek inside of the new brewery by viewing the interior photography gallery below, with the full set available here.

Optimism Brewing Co

Located at 1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122.

Phone number: (206) 651-5429

Hours:

Thursday 4-10p
Friday 4-10p
Saturday 11-11p
Sunday 11-11p

Kids and dogs are welcome!

Interior Photography Gallery