Emerald City Beer

Emerald City Beer Company (ECB) is a Seattle-based craft brewery founded in August 2010 and headquartered in the historic Old Rainier Building in Seattle, Washington. The brewery was established with a focused mission: to create and champion the Seattle Lager — a distinct beer style that reflects the culture, taste, and identity of the Pacific Northwest. ECB was founded by Rick Hewitt, a brewmaster who began developing his brewing craft during his graduate school years at the University of Washington in 2005, bringing both technical expertise and a passion for innovation to the brand.

ECB occupies a notable niche within the craft beer landscape by specializing in craft lager styles rather than the ales that dominate much of the craft segment. While the majority of craft breweries focus on bold, hop-forward ales, ECB targets consumers who want the best of both worlds: the flavorful complexity associated with craft brewing combined with the crisp, easy-drinking characteristics traditionally found in mainstream lager and pilsner styles. This positioning differentiates the brewery in a crowded market and allows it to appeal to a broader range of beer drinkers.

The brewery has demonstrated a history of innovation and trend awareness. ECB released an India Pale Lager (IPL) in 2012 and notably canned Washington State's first lager in a can, embracing the growing craft-can movement ahead of many regional competitors. Their flagship product, Dottie Seattle Lager, is positioned as a Northwest interpretation of the American Amber Lager style, combining regional character with accessible drinkability.

Located in a state where a significant portion of the nation's hop supply is grown, ECB benefits from proximity to premium ingredients and operates within one of the most dynamic craft beer markets in the United States. Washington State and Seattle in particular have seen surging demand for locally produced craft beer, providing a strong regional consumer base for the brewery's offerings.