Columbia City isn’t. It isn’t a city, it’s a Seattle neighborhood that acts like a town, with a lively combination of interesting restaurants, bars and shops (interesting shops?). In planning your brewery trips, this would be a good pitstop for that well known beer soaker people like to call food. On a sunny day you’ll be able to sit outside getting in the way of the foot traffic that people like to call people.
This is a small taproom that has managed to spill over into the parking lot. You may have the fun of sitting where cars used to park, and imagine a day when people are more important than cars. The place can get quite busy, and the beer buying etiquette isn’t clear, reminiscent of English bars on a Friday night. Their beer selection is quite large given the tightness of the space. The beer menu is all shiny and reflective, meaning that you have to be facing it to read it properly, which may be the reason for the breakdown in beer buying decorum. They even have wine. Certainly worth a visit.
If you’re into proper cask ales, or you’ve heard of cask ales, and you’re into a slightly longer walk (20 minutes from the station, but *only* 10 minutes if you’re coming from the Flying Lion), then Machine House Brewery is the walk for you. You’ll get to explore more of Columbia City and then explore some plainly named beers that pack more than the usual flavor explosion.