Christy Wolyniak, Intern

Although the Northwest prides itself in its fine draft beers, Ryan Hilliard and partner Adam Merkl are hardly squeamish about their new Ballard brewery going aluminum.

Hilliard has been making beer out of his home since he was in college, but became serious about producing beer on a larger scale in the last few years. He received his first delivery of 150,000 cans Wednesday. They are in the process of filling them with amber ale and Saison pale ale.

“There is sort of a stigma about having beer in cans, because there have been a lot of bad canned beers, but if you put good beer in cans, it’s still good beer,” said Merkl.

For beer, some things are better in the dark. A can prevents air or light from getting in, making for fresher and more flavorful beer. Hilliard also chose cans for production purposes. Made by Cask Brewing Systems, his ACS 3.5 is the first automated production machine to hit the Northwest, which fills and packages cans at a rate of 75,000 per hour.

Merkl said bigger beer companies have helped develop the idea of canning in the U.S. –companies like Oscar Blues, Sierra Nevada, Montana’s Big Sky Brewery and local Two Beers Brewery to name a few.

After searching long and hard for a location, Hilliard decided to stick to his Ballard roots. Merkl agreed that the brewery would fit nicely with Ballard’s character as an ‘Ale-town’.

Their pale ale Saison is already a favorite of many. Its smooth flavor makes for an enjoyable drink even for someone lacking a deep-rooted love of beer. Merkl said people will probably be disappointed that they will no longer be putting it in kegs once they are gone.

“It’s not as bitter as some beers; it’s almost like a pilsner. What defines Saison’s style is the yeast. [On draft], this beer has an 8% ABV,” said Hilliard. In the can form it has 6% ABV.

The good news is that they will still have kegs and ¼ kegs of a Regimental Scottish Ale available, as well as an Imperial IPA soon-to-be-made that will only be available in-house. Hilliard’s kegs will rotate beer based on what he has made.

Cans are made by Ball and in the spirit of all things can-shaped, the glasses are also converted into a smooth can-look.

There will be a quaint tap room in view of the production line as well as a few cushioned bar stools in front of a bar with two taps. Gigantic wooden spools from the LFS Fishery Supply will serve as sturdy bar tables.

Hilliard’s has already begun flowing in local breweries such as Naked City, Phinney Market, and Browers. The Brave Horse Tavern, The Dray, and others will soon join them. His cans will come in four 16oz tallboys at $10 a pack in grocery stores such as the Metropolitan Market, PCC, and Whole Foods.

The grand opening is October 7, 2011 in their large warehouse. Ballardites can enjoy a beer garden, DJ, and root beer for the kids. Hours of operation are from 3:00-9:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. Check out hilliardsbeer.com for more information.