It may be hard to believe with the way the spunky brewery has been taking over town, but on Saturday, Oct. 6, Ballard-based Hilliard’s Beer had its one-year anniversary.

Balloons decorated the Hilliard warehouse on Saturday and people from young twenty-something-year-olds to folks with disappearing gray hairs made their way out to help celebrate.

In just one year, the brewery has accomplished a lot, expanding to restaurants and stores all over Washington, including just about every bar found in Ballard as well as Trader Joe’s, PCCC, Whole Foods, QFC and more. It can be trusted by many as the one can of beer which doesn’t taste like water.

With what appears to be millions of stacked cans rising all the way up to the ceiling, the brewery is still going strong. Owner Ryan Hilliard said that they had four more brewing tanks -- in addition to the two they already have -- to help them expand, and that they were chugging along with their barrel-aged beer program. At the party, they let loose just one keg of barrel-aged Saison as a hint of what is to come.

In addition to their now-famous tallboy cans of Amber, Blonde and Saison, the brewery also has a draft line-up which includes Chrome Satan, E.xtra S.pecial B.elgian, Nautical Reference Pale Ale and the re-release of their Cast Iron Stout.

Ballard News-Tribune’s reporter had the honor of tasting the Murdered Out Stout, which did not disappoint. While it was dark, it wasn’t filling and didn’t feel like drinking a loaf of bread.

When asked how the last year has gone, Hilliard simply said, “It’s been awesome!” He said that year two had a lot more in store for them.

Happy Birthday Hilliard’s, and here’s to another year!