New Bellingham waterfront spot has brews and views. What can you get for $25?

In our On a Budget series, a Bellingham reporter visits popular spots around town to tell readers what they can get or do there on a budget of $25.

When Birch Bay-based Beach Cat Brewing decided to expand to Bellingham – the new branch opened in late May – it couldn’t have chosen a much better location. The new taproom is located right on Bellingham Bay, with a long patio overlooking the water.

To say the location is the only draw would be doing a disservice to the beer, which is good. But given that every table on the patio was taken when I stopped by the brewery on a recent Thursday, it’s safe to say the views have been an early hit with its Bellingham customers.

What is Beach Cat Brewing?

Beach Cat had been operating in Birch Bay since 2020, before deciding to expand to Bellingham. The original location, which has an average rating of 4.9 stars from 40 reviews on Yelp, also offers views of the water, albeit from a little farther away.

The Bellingham outpost, which the brewery is calling its “South Paw” branch, is located downtown, across the water from the Granary Building and Waypoint Park. Its address is 1010 C Street, Suite 107, although it’s not the easiest to find since it’s in the back corner of a fenced parking lot.

What’s on the menu at Beach Cat Bellingham?

The sun was out on Thursday and the doors were left open, giving the taproom an indoor-outdoor feel. On the front patio there were a pair of food trucks, which rotate depending on the day of the week, according to Beach Cat’s website. That day, the two options were 1 D-NA, a Thai street food truck, and Simmering Tava’s Indian-fusion truck, whose signature seems to be putting curry on foods that don’t usually have curry on them. Other days of the week feature pizza, barbecue, tacos and Filipino cuisine, according to Beach Cats website.

The taproom just serves drinks – mostly beer with a few wines, soft drinks and slushies as well. The beer selection offered plenty of variety and cat puns. There are lagers, IPAs and dark ales, along with a pair of sours, ciders and a seltzer. You can find the complete Bellingham taplist and food truck schedule on Beach Cat’s website.

What I got at Beach Cat’s waterfront Bellingham brewery

I opted for an IPA called “Smash Cat,” which the bartender recommended. At $7, the price was around what you’d expect from a craft brewery. The flavor was strong but it was refreshing for an IPA, especially once a table opened up outside and I could drink it in the sun, overlooking the bay.

For food, I would have had trouble staying under my $25 budget at 1 D-NA, so I went with Simmering Tava. Their menu lets you pick the curry of your choice over chips, fries, rice or in a tortilla. I got their butter paneer poutine, which was listed at $11.95, but ended up closer to $16 after tax and tip.

It was a little disappointing to come so close to spending my entire budget on a beer and some souped-up fries, so depending which food trucks are on the schedule, Beach Cat might not be the most budget-friendly option if you’re looking for a full meal. But if just want a beer and some snacks, it shouldn’t be too difficult to stay on budget. Or you could just write it off as a small price to pay to take in those views.

Beach Cat’s Bellingham location is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

If you were given $25 where would you go? Drop your suggestions in the form below and we’ll put it on our list of affordable Bellingham activities to try.