Rooftop joins Maritime Pacific!

Rooftop Brewing Company Announces that they will be assuming the operations at Maritime Pacific Brewing upon the retirement of Seattle craft beer pioneers George and Jane Hancock.

After a search for a new home stemming from a 2024 fire, Rooftop will reopen early April and continue operations at Maritime Pacific’s existing brewhouse at 1111 Ballard Ave, producing established favorites from both brands, including Maritime Pacific’s Old Seattle Lager and Jolly Roger Christmas Ale, as well as Rooftop’s Gateway Hazy Pale Ale, Tropical Staycation IPA, and La Azotea Mexi Lager.

The beloved Jolly Roger Taproom, a Ballard institution since 1990, known by regulars as “the Jolly,” will continue operations, offering both Maritime and Rooftop beers as well as favorite eats such as their Famous Jolly Sliders and Smokers. 

With Seattle craft brewing pioneers George and Jane Hancock looking forward to a well-earned retirement, and Rooftop Brewing searching for a new home after a building fire in August 2024, both breweries found themselves at pivotal moments. What could have marked the end for two beloved Seattle institutions instead became an opportunity for something new. Rooftop will carry on Maritime’s legacy while bringing its own spirit to Ballard—ensuring both breweries' communities have a home for years to come.

“Last year’s fire was a devastating blow to Rooftop,” says Rooftop’s co-founder and general manager Craig Christian. “The prospect of rebuilding and reopening was daunting, to say the least. But when the opportunity to both reopen in an established brewery location and help carry Maritime’s legacy into the future—it just felt right.”

George and Jane Hancock opened Maritime Pacific Brewing in 1990, making it the longest running brewery in Ballard, and have been an essential part of Seattle craft brewing community for a generation. After 20 years in their original Ballard brewery, Maritime Pacific relocated to their existing location at 1111 Ballard Avenue in 2010. Maritime’s beers have been staples of tap lists in Seattle-area bars and restaurants for decades. 

“After 35 years, stepping away isn’t easy—but knowing it’s in good hands is a real comfort. It’s always been about community, and our best memories are filled with the people who made it all possible.” says George, the self-described curmudgeon of beer. “Jane and I raise a pint to this next chapter." 

Founded in 2012, Rooftop built a devoted following and community of beer lovers just across the Lake Washington Ship Canal from Maritime Pacific. The relative proximity of the breweries—and the compatibility of spirt were important to Rooftop’s team in making this transition.

“Community has been a central part of who we are,” says Christian. “We’ve been eager to reopen for our community of beer lovers, and we are excited to bring that ethos to the already wonderful community at Maritime and the Jolly Roger.”

Christian adds, “It is an honor to continue George and Jane’s legacy. That day when regulars of Rooftop are sitting next to the regulars at the Jolly, choosing from a tap list of the best of Rooftop and Maritime’s beers… that will be a special day.”

After a closure of almost eight months, it will take time for Rooftop’s brewing operation to ramp up and for Rooftop beers to land back on Seattle taps, including at the Jolly Roger Taproom. Rooftop plans to continue operations at the Jolly without major changes, while looking for opportunities to expand community spaces such as the outdoor patio in front—much like the former Rooftop space on Nickerson St. 

Plans for upcoming celebrations and other news regarding the transition will be shared on both Rooftop and Maritime’s websites and social media channels. 

Contact Information

Craig Christian

Co-Founder and General Manager

Rooftop Brewing Company

206-276-4091

craig@rooftopbrewco.com 

rooftopbrewco.com 

@rooftopbrewco

George Hancock

President/Owner

Maritime Pacific Brewing

cell 206-679-8114

georgeh@maritimebrewing.com

maritimebrewing.com

Rooftop…indoors.

We are jazzed to re-open our newly expanded indoor taproom! Come drink your favorite Rooftop beers in our cozy warm space and enjoy the beauty of:

• Expanded table and bar seating for all ages, including 4-legged friends

• A big screen TV for your favorite sporting events or otherwise

• A full “to-go” fridge including all available Rooftop canned beer

• An expanded private event space available for rent

• An indoor extension of the community space you already love

Rooftop has also teamed with Smash That Burger food truck for a more consistent and top notch food experience.  Smash That Burger Co. is new to the Seattle scene, but has already been getting rave reviews as one of the best burgers in town.  And, yes, they have veggie options!

To celebrate our new space and new partnership, Rooftop has brought back some daily specials and events at the tasting room -  including:

• Tuesday Trivia with King Trivia

• Board Game Night

• Daily Happy Hours and Specials

Come see us!

Block Party is back!

We are thrilled to celebrate 10 years as part of the Seattle brewing community and invite you to party with us at our (mostly) annual block party!

We’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary at our tasting room at 1220 W. Nickerson St., on Saturday, August 13 from noon to midnight. We will be expanding the tasting room into the parking lot next door (thanks to our friends at Greenhome Solutions), with food from some of your favorite food trucks including Cascadia Pizza, Theo’s Gyros and Peco’s Pit BBQ. There will be live music all day, including bands from School of Rock and Kate Dinsmore. We are also partnering with DogGone Seattle who will be bringing dogs available for adoption around 2-5PM. Make sure you buy a raffle ticket for not one but two big raffles - one for the dog lovers as well as a Ballard brewery themed raffle with tours, tastings and swag. This will be an all ages event with activities for kids - we are also bringing back the dunk tank!

In addition, we are releasing a new beer to commemorate our anniversary - Lager X! Available on tap or in 16oz cans, this hoppy lager blends the aromatics of an American IPA with the crisp finish of a classic lager. We’ll have limited amounts, so come early to get yours (along with free limited swag for the first 25 case purchases).

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Rooftop + Pride

Pride month is near, which only means one thing - our annual Pride beer is here!

This year we are celebrating Pride in the tasting room with our ever sparkly I Glitterally Can’t Even. Because glitter doesn’t travel well, you can find Passion for Fruits at some of your favorite bars and restaurants around town. It’s the same beer, just with a glammed up glitter version special only to the tasting room - and for a limited time!

This celebratory brew is a Bavarian style wheat beer, infused with POG (passionfruit, blood orange and guava). It’s the perfect beer to accompany all of your Pride celebrations.

Rooftop designates a Pride beer each June and donates a portion of its proceeds to an organization that supports the LGBTQ community.

This year we are donating to Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington. Planned Parenthood’s mission today is to build a world in which every person — regardless of their race, income, insurance, gender identity, sexual orientation, abilities, or immigration status — can access expert, compassionate sexual and reproductive health care, information, and education without shame or judgement.

Come celebrate and donate to a good cause! Find us at the tasting room, around town and look for us at Elysian’s Pride Beer Garden on June 25th!

Supporting Ukraine

Rooftop stands with the people of Ukraine and against the horrific invasion and attack on their country.

We are donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of our Tank Ride Russian Imperial Stout to World Central Kitchen. World Central Kitchen (WCK) is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises and is currently working to feed Ukrainian refugees.

Our Tank Ride Russian Imperial Stout is one of our favorite seasonal beers. It’s also among our favorite beer names and labels–an homage to our Founder Craig’s time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Vladivostok… and a wild ride on a tank (!) with a Russian general. Given the current invasion of Ukraine, we feel the beer and label afforded an opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause. 

We’ll save the tank ride story for another day. For now, we look forward to raising money for WCK–and hope that aid finds its way to the Ukrainian people and all those impacted by this war.