GIG HARBOR, Wash. — 7 Seas Taproom is the winner of Best Destination Brewery in 2024's Best Northwest Escapes viewer’s poll.
A light January rain shower can't dampen Mike Runion's excitement about the new 7 Seas taproom overlooking the entrance to Gig Harbor.
"Gig Harbor is where we were founded and it's our home. So to be able to craft our beers here and welcome people to the waterfront is what makes this place special," he said.
Whether you're docking your boat or parking your car, you can join friends in a family-friendly atmosphere. It's all just minutes from where co-founders Travis Guterson and Mike Runion first started brewing craft beer, and yet 15 years and a world away from those early days.
"I think small business ownership and small business is incredibly hard," Runion said. "We are relentless and passionate and love what we do so there's no hurdle or challenge that we are not willing to work through."
Before they even brewed their first batch of beer, 7 Seas Brewery was devastated by fire in January of 2009. From that point every challenge was dwarfed in comparison. They were the first Washington craft brewery to package its product in aluminum cans, and moved its productions facilities to Tacoma to meet demand. In 2021, 7 Seas resurrected the original Tacoma canned beer, Heidelberg, which has become a big hit among nostalgic beer fans.
Now on the site of the old Green Turtle Restaurant, 7 Seas offers a deck, a wide array of beers, ciders and non-alcoholic beverages and more. In the parking lot Tyler Wolfe of Millville Pizza Company can cook up a hearty $15 pie in five minutes.
"The synergy between beer and pizza has always been incredibly strong and so the care and the passion that they put into their food is the same the way we treat our beer," Runion said.
There's only one thing really missing - sunshine. And there should be plenty of that when 7 Seas kicks its 15th year celebration into high gear.
"We're really excited to enjoy our first spring and summer coming up here in 2024," Runion said.
The 7 Seas Gig Harbor taproom is open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It's located at 2905 Harborview Dr. in Gig Harbor.
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