Ballard Beer Box's Guide to Fall at the Ballard Patio Bar
The days are getting shorter and the mornings are cooler, but that doesn't mean the patio is done for the year. As a dog-friendly Ballard patio bar with craft beer, natural wines, and pizza on the way, we've spent plenty of fall evenings out here, and we're not ready to close it up just because summer is. Consider this your neighbourly guide to enjoying the patio as the season turns.
Why we keep the patio going into fall
Summer patio is easy. The sun's out, everyone's happy, and nobody has to think about it. Fall patio is for people who actually like being outside. The light goes low and gold for a while before Seattle commits to gray, the air smells like rain that hasn't shown up yet, and the crowd thins just enough that you can grab a table without a strategy.
What a good Ballard patio bar does in fall
Somewhere dryish to sit if it starts to drizzle. Something to keep you warm, say a plate of hot pizza. Drinks that actually make sense at 52 degrees. And nobody rushing you to give up the table.
The tap list gets a little moodier this time of year. Think darker, maltier, a bit more roasty, with a couple of crisp things hanging on from summer for the holdouts.
This is also fresh hop season, one of our favorite quirks of fall. For a few short weeks, hops go straight from the fields in Yakima into the kettle within a day of being picked, no drying, no pelletizing, so you get a beer that's green and bright in a way you just can't get any other time of year. It's on tap now, and it won't be for long.
Natural wine makes a good case for itself in the cooler months too. A juicy red with a slight chill on it or an amphora-aged white, the kind left to develop texture and minerality in clay or concrete rather than steel is exactly what you want when your hands are wrapped around a glass to stay warm, savory and earthy in a way that suits the season.
And then there's the pizza. Our dough is made fresh in-house every day with organic Washington State flour, and a hot pie on a cold patio evening is hard to beat. [Check the pizza menu]
Happy hour, now with earlier sunsets
Here's a fall secret: happy hour feels different when the light is leaving. By the end of October the sun is down before six, so an after-work drink turns into an event instead of an afterthought. You leave the office, the sky is doing something pink, and you have a cold one in your hand before it's fully dark.
Bring the dog (seriously)
Dogs are honestly better patio company in fall. No hot pavement, no heavy panting. Plenty of dogs seem to love a cool evening, and a few of the regulars show up in raincoats that are cuter than anything we own.
If you're new to bringing a pup to a taproom, we've got you. [Check out this blog to know more].
A few neighborly tips for patio season
Layer up : You'll be warm at 5:30 and chilly by 7:30. A spare sweatshirt in the car is a good habit.
Go on a weeknight : A Tuesday or Wednesday patio in October is quiet in the best way.
Bring a friend, or don't : The patio works fine solo with a beer and a book, too.
What's next
This is just the start of the cozy season around here. October is coming with a few things we're excited about. We'll share more soon.
In the meantime, grab a friend (or a leash), pick a spot on the patio, and let us pour you something good. We'd love to see you. Check out our events page to see what's on tap and what's happening this month.
See you out there.
