Ghostfish Brewing Co. has acquired the former Pike Brewery production facility in Seattle, securing a major expansion that reshapes its future capacity and distribution strategy. The purchase gives Ghostfish a 26,000-sq-ft production space in Georgetown, located about 2.5 miles south of its taproom and restaurant. The sale transfers brewery assets previously operated by Green Lake Brewing Co. LLC (doing business as Fremont Brewing Co.), which had taken over the site after Pike Brewing’s corporate reshuffling and facility closures. The acquisition does not affect the historic Pike Pub at Pike Place Market. From the press release:
“This expansion is a long time coming and a major milestone for us,” said Brian Thiel, co-founder/co-owner of GBC. “We started a process of identifying and viewing potential vacant warehouses around the greater Seattle area with the intention to build out a new state-of-the-art brewery back in early 2024. After learning about the former Pike brewery opportunity from our friends at Fremont Brewing in late 2024, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that it checked most of the boxes we were planning to create on our own. The timing of acquiring the new production brewery aligns perfectly for us to meet the growing demand for Ghostfish beer.”
What the acquisition includes
The Georgetown brewery was built out in 2023 as Pike Brewing’s production-only facility. It houses modern brewhouse and packaging systems, sits near major transportation routes and was designed for high-volume output. The site remained underutilized after Pike moved production again during a period of ownership changes and consolidation. Ghostfish now takes over the full brewing and packaging setup. The company expects the facility to increase annual production capacity by an estimated six to seven times compared to its current site.
What the new facility means for Ghostfish Brewing
Ghostfish has outgrown its original brewery in recent years. The company has run beyond capacity while demand for dedicated gluten-free beer continues to climb across North America. The new facility allows Ghostfish to scale production, stabilize inventory, and expand distribution into markets that have waited years for consistent supply. The move also frees up space at the Georgetown taproom and restaurant, creating room for future upgrades or new customer offerings. With the production load shifting to the new site, the flagship location can focus on hospitality, R&D batches and taproom-only releases.
A look back at Pike Brewing’s recent history
The former Pike Brewery production facility has its own complex backstory. Pike Brewing, one of Seattle’s most recognized brewing brands, faced major disruption over the past several years.
- In 2021, Seattle Hospitality Group acquired Pike Brewing.
- In 2023, Pike closed its Pike Place Market brewhouse and moved production to the new Georgetown facility.
- Soon after, Pike underwent further consolidation alongside Fremont Brewing and began shifting production again toward Fremont’s Ballard facility.
Background on Ghostfish Brewing
Founded in 2015, Ghostfish Brewing built its reputation as a pioneer in gluten-free craft beer. The brewery worked with maltsters specializing in millet, buckwheat and other gluten-free grains. This early adoption allowed Ghostfish to develop a wide range of styles without relying on gluten-containing malt substitutes. Ghostfish has since grown into the largest dedicated gluten-free brewery in North America. It distributes in 21 states and operates a 100% gluten-free taproom and kitchen in Seattle. The company emphasizes consistent quality, ingredient innovation and inclusive customer experiences. We’re big fans.
Ghostfish’s beer lineup
Ghostfish produces a full portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers. Its flagship lineup includes:
- Vanishing Point Pale Ale — A classic pale ale made with gluten-free grains.
- Meteor Shower Pale Lager — A crisp lager with balanced noble hop character.
- Shrouded Summit Belgian White Ale — A juniper- and citrus-forward wheat-style ale.
- Kick Step IPA — A Pacific Northwest-inspired IPA with citrus and pine notes.
- Grapefruit IPA — A bright, assertive IPA with grapefruit character.
- It Came From the Haze — A rotating hazy IPA series.
- Watchstander Stout — A stout brewed with millet, buckwheat and brown rice.
- Peak Buster Double IPA — A bold double IPA with passionfruit and pine flavors.
Ghostfish also releases limited beers such as Oktoberfest Märzen, seasonal fresh hop batches, fruit-forward sours and pastry-inspired stouts. The taproom carries gluten-free cider, seltzer and non-alcoholic options as well.
What happens next
Ghostfish will transition production into the new Georgetown facility while maintaining its existing taproom and restaurant. The acquisition gives the brewery room to scale, explore new markets, and relieve years of production strain. For independent breweries, expansion opportunities like this are rare in major urban markets. Ghostfish now controls a modern production site built for growth, positioning the company for broader distribution and stronger long-term stability. From the press release:
“Our goal, from the beginning, has been to make the highest quality dedicated gluten free beer while providing an amazing experience for our customers,” Thiel stated. “We’ve been oversold the past three to four years. The new production brewery provides us with the opportunity to achieve sales that we unfortunately haven’t been able to obtain out of our current production brewery. More importantly, we’ll be in a better position to expand our distribution footprint and finally get Ghostfish beer into the hands of more customers throughout North America who have been requesting it over the past 10 years.”
