Wow, can't believe it's been 10 years since I first reviewed North Sound! It still ranks as one of my fave breweries in the PNW, and I'm lucky enough to not live very far from it now. It's my top spot to visit for a beer after some yard work, a trip to the dump, or paying the bills. Lucky for me, they're still brewing up their legendary Goosetown Brown, which is rich, malty, full of flavor, and served in a full pint glass filled to the rim. Love that, over the years, they've added more outdoor seating (much of it covered) and, if you're really lucky, a sushi food truck many weekends. read more

North Sound Brewing - Goosetown Brown...my fave. - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

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Stopped in for a growler fill and the service was subpar, the lady working the taps was not very friendly and there is no organized line to order beers resulting in getting cut in line by the locals. read more

We stopped here on a return trip from Bellingham and really enjoyed both the atmosphere and the beers. They had a great selection of typical Pacific Northwest beers like IPA's and such, but also the barrel aged beers on tap that were great. These were seasonal beers in December and I'm sure they change them out in other months. The beertender was awesome; very friendly and lets you try the different beers before committing. She also let us bring in food from a local Mexican restaurant and the inside had two TVs for watching games. read more

Family friendly. Lots of outdoor seating and covered area. Reasonable price, about $3.30 for 10oz drink

Nice little place inside. You can bring your own vittles! Server was really sweet and the beer is good. Sláinte Stout is really fresh and tasty. Recommend read more

We were looking for a place to pick up a growler while we house-sit for my in laws. We asked my Father in Law for some suggestions and he confidently steered us to North Sound Brewing. I'm so glad he did. The beer was delicious and it was cold. My wife asked for some IPA options and listened to what they had to offer. We were both happy with our choice. I'm so glad that we found this place and it will be our go-to option for every time we are up north from Seattle. read more

The mathematics of bulk beer price increases. Having been a bulk beer consumer at NSB for well over two years the owner has driven me to find another favorite beer source. By bulk I mean I have a 3 tap beer fridge with room for three 2.5 gallon "corney kegs". In the past 2 years 2.5 gallons have cost between $55 and $60. Last week the price went to $70! Do the math: 2.5 gallons equals 20 pints or 320 ounces. That's $3.50 a pint. A growler costs $12 and that's 128 ounces. That's $3.00/pint. 5 growlers equal my 2.5 gallon keg. The owner would prefer to fill 5 growlers at $3.00/pint than one quick fill of my 2.5 gallon keg at $3.50 per pint. This must be the new Core Math at work. Adios Northsound Brewery! Love your beer but just cannot afford your logic. read more

The first time I went here I was very happy with the beer! The second, something was off. Pros? They'll give you a sample of every single beer and charge you for two samplers Truly enjoyed a few of their beers Neat building with indoor and outdoor seating A few items to eat (like Costco microwave hamburgers) Friendly staff Cons? There's a wide range of beers but half of them all tasted almost the same The place itself smelled like me booze, and it just made the beer in front of us less appealing One bathroom just ain't enough read more

Wow! What a hidden gem! Found this place just past Mt. Vernon on HWY 20 on our way to Deception Pass. The beer is INCREDIBLE. A fantastic selection and reasonable prices ($5 a beer and $6 for a sampler of 4). Their Brown was the best I've ever had. Great body, so smooth (my boyfriend described it as milk) and very nutty. Their porter was fantastic! Even better was the SAME porter but aged in a whiskey barrel. HOLY COW. It tasted like porter and whiskey but more like chocolate and caramel. We were fighting over that one. Also tried the Cherry Wheat which was very light but did have a bit of a tart cherry flavor. Finally, one of the coolest parts about their bar was their mixing menu. For example, we made the "Butterscotch Brownie" or 1/2 porter 1/2 brown. It really did taste like a butterscotch brownie. They had many other types of mixes. They don't serve food but most local businesses discount food deliveries to this place. What a great idea! Sunday is all day happy hour ($1 off beers) and it was open till 5:30 which was a pleasant surprise after a lovely day hiking at Deception Pass. The place was a little small but very cozy!! PROS: Beer, friendly bartender, all-day happy hour/open on sundays, so cozy, outside beer garden CONS: no food :( Fries would've been nice read more

The only reason for less than five stars is the lack of food so that I could justify more beer! The small snacks available are nut or pretzel based which both work well with the beer options. Easy access from SR 536. Plenty of parking. Indoor and outdoor seating all year long is definitely a bonus. The same tender has been here for the last couple of years. She is extremely knowledgeable about the brews and can mix them like a master! They serve a large variety of their own brews on tap. The idea that one place always has enough selection on tap to satisfy any taste preference is truly phenomenal. In the summer time we have experienced a local artisan food vendor outside ready and wiling to provide tasty bites. Last year it was dogs everyday you could think and a few you might. It have imagined but wished you had tried anyway! When in the area of Mt Vernon it is worth the time and effort to seek this little brewery out. You won't regret making the journey! read more

North Sound Brewing - NSB - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

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Yes yes yes! Their beer is fantastic. Balanced and full-bodied. Had an pint of IPA and glass of Porter. Outdoor seating was fun. Afternoon sunshine and gas fireplace were both on hit. Dog friendly if you like that. Bartender was fun and attentive. Right off the highway, not a great location but it is what it is. Can not speak to food but it appeared their options were very limited. Beer and sunshine was good enough for me! read more

I really liked their outdoor seating. It's very calming, very friendly and inviting, and dog friendly. Their beers were just OK. All of them seem to have a weird aftertaste almost like a CBD. There Amber was my favorite beer from my flight, but even that had a slight aftertaste. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVVVVVE this place! Off a random country looking road. Super small and intimate but SOOOO cute! Well decorated, GREAT beers and the service was outstanding! After stating that it was our first visit, we were offered several samples to get a taste of their offerings. They were all very good, so flavorful and perfect chilled temperature! The bartender was super nice, friendly and was giving lots of info about the different kinds of beers. She helped us find ones that were perfect for our palates. The interior was quaint and intimate, there also was another closed in outdoor seating area that looked super cute. The actual outdoor seating area was super cute! It was just a little hot for us to sit outside, but had I been acclimated to the weather I would have been out there for sure! I will definitely be visiting this establishment every chance I get! read more

We swung by this place for a beer after visiting the tulips and loved it. The bartender was friendly and they are dog friendly which I love as a pup owner. They even have water bowls and biscuits. We opted for a 6 beet taster and tried all the IPA's along with a Mango Pale? A few of the IPAs are listed as cask ales but were much too cold to be your typical cask ale. We will definitely visit again next time we're in the area. read more

This is my new favorite brewery north of Seattle. It's a perfect pit stop after a grueling hike along Chuckanut Drive, or a rage-inducing drive back from across the border. The beers are all expertly brewed and, of course, delicious. We tried the amber, tangerine wheat, ESB, blonde, and raspberry-flavored brown ale in our time here. All of them were hits--I would gladly get a pint of any of them without hesitation. The bartender was very knowledgeable about the brews and was happy to let us sample anything we wanted before springing for a whole glass, which is always something I appreciate. The other fantastic feature of this brewery is their patio. It is expertly constructed with high-quality materials, yet is also cozy and comfortable. I love how they added a fireplace and couch for people who want to get extra cozy. The sliding garage door setup lets them close things up when it's cold while still allowing natural light to come through. That seems perfect for soaking up the few rays of sunshine that we get during the winters up here. Sundays bring all day happy hour with them, with $1 off each beer. There was also a food truck here this Sunday, but I'm not sure if that's a staple. read more

I would have made it to North Sound Brewing quite some time ago but Steve went here before I did and had a big sample tray of IPA's and then went on had more beer elsewhere AND prior. As a result he just had too much to drink and got sick and had a nice little hangover the next day. Despite that not being the brewery's fault he didn't want to come back. Lol! So that is what solo trips are for! You go to the places that the other doesn't want to go to or return to. The taproom at North Sound has a nice set up with a nice patio that gives you a pretty decent view. The beer was broad but playing on the said of caution I did not get an IPA sample tray and I didn't get more than one beer here since I had other breweries to visit. Lol! At this brewery I got the Mystery Wheat beer and it was very good! Much better than what I was expecting but I was only going off of Steve's bias and well...when one gets sick on something many times you aren't going to recommend it to anyone if it left a bad taste in your mouth so to speak. LOL! No, from my OWN bias I enjoyed the wheat beer greatly. The staff are nice and the customers coming make good conversations. In fact through a conversation held there I found out a new brewery called Gruff just opened in Bellingham. Squeee! I might wait for a few other new ones to open and for Menace to start putting out their beer again (due to relocating) and then....road trip! read more

My trip to Mount Vernon was bittersweet. I missed the tulip festival, but my boyfriend and I discovered this wonderful brewery! Soooo I'm probably not the best person to write a review on beer. I have no expertise in beer. However, I do know that I like pale ales, Guinness, and Corona. With that in mind, I chose the beer that had the cutest label -- Pearl's Pale Ale, which had a picture of a Sharpei puppy sniffing a tulip. My boyfriend ordered an IPA. I forgot which one he had because the label wasn't that cute. Regardless of what he got, both were great choices! I wished we ordered a sampler to try all of the beers but that will wait until next time. Please note that this place is BYOF. About five minutes away, there's a great burger joint called The Net Drive-In. The burgers, fries, and beers create a trifecta. I also appreciate that this place is dog friendly!! Thanks for being amazing, North Sound Brewing. We'll definitely come back. read more

I have traveled most of this planet...am a racing engineer, chef and brewer....and three of my twelve favorite beers are here.......need I say more? The 101 Imperial IPA, The Bitter Rain ESB and the Slainte Stout are brilliant! read more

Great place to hang out and enjoy great beers. I particularly like the Hopsalute, though their other beers are very good. They have a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating and allow outside food to be brought in since they don't have a kitchen. It would be nice if they had some bar snacks but getting some food from the nearby Costco food court does well enough. Friendly staff and reasonable prices for beer and they fill growlers as well. read more

We made the trip to North Sound from Bellingham (again). They have a great selection of lovingly hand-crafted beers, and regularly swing out with new and interesting variants. The Hopsolute that I had today is citrusy and golden, with a balanced bitter finish. Truly a beautiful IPA! read more

North Sound Brewing - The only thing that would make this better is sun and friends! - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

Great selection of beers. The Blonde is exceptional if you like lighter beers. A few snacks on hand if you need them. The seating area inside is small, but there are also some tables outside if the weather is nice. A really great place to stop and have a beer. read more

North Sound Brewing - Beer and landjaeger. - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

Excellent beer and cozy beer garden. Must stop for a pint when you are in Mount Vernon

What a gem! Can't believe we didn't know about this place for 9 years since they were open! Great selection of beers (ipas in particular - my favorite!), open layout, ample parking space right in the middle of skagit flats! We brought some lunch in since they allow outside food. We ate in the terrace area, which was so pleasant! Although it sits right next to the freeway, you don't even notice it. We will definitely be back! read more

North Sound Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

It's a little out of the way for out of towners. I found this spot in my quest to complete my 'wobble' passport.. I went to a couple of more breweries further off I-5, but this is the only one in the area worth checking out. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience and I'm wiling to go out again. VENUE: This is right off the main highway. The first timer really needs to pay attention because it will be hard to turn around. The brewery/pub is in a warehouse type building. There is a west-facing outside patio, something to consider for a sunny day. PARKING: Off street. DECOR: A few photographs. on the walls. Not highly inundate with decor AMBIENCE: I caught this place when there were a lot of people filling up this small tasting area. For the most part, they all seemed like local folk and were friendly.. SERVICE: Very friendly. SCHWAG (MERCH): There are tote bags, shirts, hoodies, etc. FOOD: None, but you're able to haul your own food in. When I went, there was a food truck in front of the place. BEER: Solid. I tried all of their beers and they were okay to very good. There were no failures on what they served. read more

The location is in a bit of a random spot but totally worth it. The brewery is a big open garage style building with great outdoor seating! Tasty beer, our server was awesome super friendly and helpful! Only thing is they aren't super kid friendly.... read more

Love coming by for a few delicious beers after a trip to deception pass. They have cider too. Bring your dog!

Small, awesome, great beer. My kind of place. 9 beers on tap! No food but come thirsty. Service is fun and laid back. Goosetown Brown is my favorite! read more

North Sound Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

Great brewery, staff is awesome, Hop Chop IPA rocks, dogs welcome, outdoor seating....what's not to love! read more

North Sound Brewing - Hop Chops - Breweries Near Me - Mount Vernon, Washington

I couldn't quite find a beer to my liking. Their darker beers seemed to flounder in terms of taste, instead opting for a general welcome to beer enthusiasts. So while the beer seemed rather standard and lacking innovation, it was a pleasant atmosphere with extremely welcoming staff and a lovely set up. I'll be returning with an open mind to give the rest of their brew a shot and see if perhaps the problem was just my taste. Regardless, definitely worth a shot read more

A little bit out of town but worth the detour to pick up some really good beer if you're heading up or down I5. Was introduced to their beers during a stop at the Empire Ale House (excellent, see separate review) and immediately made the relatively short (~2 mile) drive to pick up a growler. First thing to note is how friendly and accommodating they were. We pulled into the parking lot about 2:00pm on a Friday afternoon just ahead of another car pulling in. We entered the tap room as the woman from the car behind us quickly followed us in. Turns out she worked there and was arriving to set up as they don't open till 3:00pm on weekdays. Disappointed we had arrived before they were open we feared we'd be out of luck but she quickly said she'd be happy to help us, opened the taps, we tasted a couple of beers and purchased a growler to go. All the beers we tried were excellent with the Scottish Ale on nitro pour and the Goosetown Brown being stand outs. Great beer, nice people, we'll definitely be back on a regular basis and will look for their beers in the Seattle area and at the Pine Lake Ale House (see http://www.northsoundbrewing.com/drink-our-beer/ ). read more

This is not a very large space, however they do allow reservations of large parties and kick people out of their seats to accommodate without giving any of their customers advanced warning. Very unprofessional. There are tons of better breweries around. We will not be back to this one. read more

our favorite local brewery, great beer selection and excellent service and atmosphere

The best beer in Mount Vernon area, IMHO. Nice servers, friendly patrons every time we visit. Excellent place to stop after a hike or after work. The patio is amazing, love the fire "pit". I lean IPA, so I am happy with the varieties. The hubby leans to imperial stouts, and he is pleased with the stout that is usually on tap, or he has a cider. It would be great if NS posted on FB when a food truck is on the calendar! read more

This was a cool little out-of-the-way joint. They had a good selection of beer, and the girl behind the bar was friendly and informative. They had a killer double IPA and pretty much any other kind you might be looking for! We'd go again in a heartbeat. read more

This is some good beer. They had 8-12 different beers on tap with a few rotating seasonals. My favorites were the gin barrel pale ale (with lime) and the bourbon barrel hazelnut porter. Cool beer garden area for a hot summer day. Worth checking out! read more

We spent a lot of this past summer making the rounds of the breweries in Whatcom and Skagit County. We live in North Whatcom County, however we purposely drive to Northsound as we think it has such wonderful beer. We also love outdoor seating, (and the brewery kitten) and we have never NOT found a place to park. Unlike Bellingham, which has great breweries, but horrible parking and very few have nice outdoor seating. We always recommend Northsound to friends and family and even strangers who we meet and want to know of a good place to get a great beer. Thanks Northsound. read more

Not sure why this place averages 4.5 stars. The porter was mediocre at best; they were out of the blonde, and the indifference of the person manning the tap room bordered on surly (I will refrain from using the "b" word). Here's some unsolicited advice: If you're employed in the hospitality business, at least try to pretend you're glad to see customers. In any case, we're not coming back. read more

Was excited to relax and sample beers after checking out the tulip festival and reading awesome Yelp reviews. Upon entering, bartender glanced to acknowledge presence, but did not offer a menu. When we went to order, the bartender asked for IDs. She commented on ID to another patron at the bar, "'92... Is that even old enough yet?" She then proceeded to comment on the valid vertical Washington State drivers license, saying she could not accept it. After showing her a graduate school ID with birthdate and picture, she would not make an effort to look at it. Bartender was unapologetic and was more focused on talking to male patron then providing customer service. :( read more

Disappointed - I have driven by many times. Decided to finally stop and have a cold one. Claustrophobic little bar area, depressing sad 80's music. Drank 1/2 of an average IPA and headed for the door as fast as I could. Bartender couldn't take the time to say thanks even though there was less than half a dozen people in the place. There are so many great brewery options in the area. I won't be back to this one. read more

I loved this place. The wait staff was spectacular. The beers were tasty, the atmosphere was wonderful. Highly recommend!