Cloudburst Brewing, Western Avenue

Steve Luke spent his Elysian years as the experimental brewer, the one behind Space Dust and Split Shot, and in January 2016 he opened his own place in the loading dock of a 120 year old brick building on Western Avenue, a couple of blocks north of Pike Place Market. Cloudburst never got big on purpose. It brews around 2,000 barrels a year, sells almost all of it in Seattle, and has collected awards and a loyal following on hop forward beer with names that change constantly and rarely make sense.

Western Avenue is the production brewery and the original tasting room: tanks at the back, a bar up front, and beer you will not find in many other places because it mostly never leaves the city. It is 21 and over. Dogs are welcome inside, water bowls are kept full, and the dog treats are made from the brewery's own spent grain by The Brewmaster's Bakery.

In May 2026 Luke sold Cloudburst to his longtime friends at Bale Breaker Brewing in Yakima ahead of a move to New Zealand. The beer is still brewed here, the crew stayed, and he keeps a hand in the recipes. Closed Monday and Tuesday.