Story by Kendall Jones

Join Zeeks Pizza and Ferment Brewing for a release party in Seattle.

There’s no denying it, Zeeks is serious about beer as well as pizza. Over the years, Zeeks Pizza has collaborated with some of the Northwest’s best-loved breweries. Pike Brewing, Reuben’s Brews, Urban Family Brewing, Chuckanut Brewery, and Single Hill Brewing to name just a few. They’ve done it again. This time teaming up with Ferment Brewing of Hood River, Oregon. (Above – the Zeeks/Ferment collab team.)

“Zeeks Pizza in Washington and Ferment Brewing in Oregon have come together for a collaborative beer that pays homage to windsurfing in the Pacific Northwest,” said a press release introducing the project and the beer.

On Thursday, June 1, you are invited to Zeeks Pizza in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to celebrate the release of The Reach Pilsner. (more details below.) Throughout June, The Reach Pilsner will make its way to 23 of Zeeks’ locations around Washington, where it will pair perfectly with Zeeks’ world-class pizza.

The Reach is a 4.6% ABV crispy golden pilsner showcasing a blend of American and German malts, a dry finish and slightly fruity hop notes from Hallertau Blanc and Hüll Melon hops.

The beer’s name, The Reach, was inspired by the windsurfing vernacular of Tom Vial, co-founder of Zeeks. The term describes the windsurfing journey across the Columbia River, starting from Washington and reaching over to the Oregon side.

Release Party Details

The event takes place at Zeeks Capitol Hill location on Thursday, June 1st from 4:30pm – 8:00pm. They’ll offer five Ferment beers on tap and the brew crew from Ferment will join the fun. Zeeks’ special event pie, Pike’s Place Pizza, will join the menu. Zeeks Pizza in Capitol Hill is located at 1830 E Mercer St. Seattle, WA, 98112.

About Zeeks Pizza – A Seattle-born and -based chain, Zeeks has over 20 locations across the state. Zeeks has been called a killer beer joint with a serious pizza problem. At least, that’s what the Washington Beer Blog calls Zeeks. Find out more about Zeeks Pizza here.

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

Get tickets for this year’s event now.

Silver City Brewery calls it “The quintessential Seattle sports and craft beer event of the summer!” The annual event sees fans of the brewery and/or the Mariners wander the streets of Pioneer Square, going from pub to pub to enjoy Silver City beers, before enjoying a game together in the Silver City section at the ballpark. This year’s Silver City Brewery Mariners Pub Crawl takes place on Saturday, July 15th. Tickets are on sale now.

“The Silver City Brewery Mariners Pub Crawl brings together hundreds of local craft beer fans in Pioneer Square, with over 10 destination bars & restaurants, culminating in one unforgettable night at the ballpark,” said the announcement from the brewery. “Participants will check in at a to-be-announced pub at 3:30pm (roughly 3 hours before the game) and will receive their game ticket and an exclusive Pub Crawl t-shirt, along with a passport detailing all of the destination pubs.”

Participants are then free to visit however many of the destinations they like. At the game, the brewery will have its own designated block of seats within T-Mobile Park so all attendees can represent the game as a group, with room to mingle.

Admission ($40) includes Mariners Game Ticket, Commemorative Pub Crawl T-Shirt, and Pub Map. “Actual game ticket will be digitally sent** and shirt will be presented when participants check in on the game day or in our taproom located in Bremerton, WA prior.”

“The event is open to everyone who enjoys Silver City beer and/or Mariners baseball. Even if you’re not a die-hard baseball fan, there are still plenty of good times to be had with great beer and great company on a gorgeous Pacific Northwest evening.”

Silver City Brewery notes, “As a brewery, this is consistently one of our favorite events each year. We adore the camaraderie of hundreds of people coming together over local craft beer, rocking the group t-shirt in Pioneer Square. Each year we’ve previously run the event, we’ve had the privilege of making all sorts of new friends, and we hope to see YOU there with us this year!”

GAME INFO:

Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners, First Pitch 6:40pm
Get tickets for the pub crawl and game here.

***A Ticketmaster account is required to obtain digital tickets for the game. If you already have an account, please use the email associated with your Ticketmaster account when purchasing your tickets.

• Sluggers Bar & Grill
  538 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
• King Street Bar and Oven
  170 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
• Merchants Cafe
  109 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104
• Central Saloon
  207 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
• Gantry Public House
  904 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
• Flat Stick Pub – Pioneer Square
  240 2nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
• McCoy’s Firehouse Bar & Grill
  173 S Washington St, Seattle, WA 98104
• Ivar’s Acres of Clams
  1001 Alaskan Wy Ste. 102, Seattle, WA 98104
• Good Bar Seattle
  240 2nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
• Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill Irish Pub
  Smith Tower, 508 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

Single Hill Brewing opened its Yakima brewery and taproom back in 2018. Since then, a lot of things have changed in the world of beer and in the world in general. At Single Hill, the beer has never changed. It’s been great since the get-go. Along with making killer beer straight out of the gate, Single Hill Brewing also quickly earned a place in the hearts of the community it serves.

On Saturday, June 17th Single Hill Brewing celebrates its 5th anniversary with an all-day party at the brewery. Expect lots of cold beer, live music, hot food, and other fun stuff. Here’s the announcement.

“When we opened our doors back in 2018, we had a goal to serve three communities: our coworkers, our Yakima community, and the brewing industry as a whole,” said the anniversary announcement from Single Hill Brewing. “With countless pints of beer poured, dozens of local non-profits featured at our Beer Grows Community days, a surprise start to canning in 2020, and the passionate, hard work of our team, we’re looking back on the last 5 years feeling pretty good about where we’re at.”

“Let’s celebrate! Join us on June 17th for a day of fun. We’ll have live music, great food, and cold beer. (Also Face Painting & Shave Ice. After all, it is a family affair. And coffee. And live screen printing. Okay, we’ll stop adding things. Maybe.)”

Interested in volunteering at the event? ANDREW@singlehillbrewing.com

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

The USPS Shipping Equity Act makes it easier for breweries to ship beer. It increases access for consumers. It generates much-needed revenue for the USPS. It’s a win-win-win.

Literally, it’s taken years to get here, but we’re not across the finish line yet. We first reported on the USPS Shipping Equity Act in 2021 (see our previous posts). Yesterday, it was introduced in Congress. If it becomes law, the act would make it easier for breweries to ship beer direct to consumers. It opens up the shipping market to the United States Postal Service, which is currently prohibited from shipping alcohol beverages. It’s kind of a big deal, especially for breweries located in rural areas that are less likely to enjoy easy access to services from private carriers.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Equity Act impacts breweries in Washington and beyond. The bipartisan legislation allows the USPS to ship alcohol beverages in states where it is already legal to do so. Currently, private carriers like FedEx and UPS control the market in the 11 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that already allow the shipping of alcohol beverages direct to consumers.

The USPS Shipping Equity Act levels the playing field by increasing consumer and manufacturer choice while bringing in millions of dollars in much-needed revenue for the USPS. Estimates suggest the USPS could generate $180 million annually.

“This is extremely beneficial to small craft breweries and locally owned wineries, especially in rural regions like Central Washington, who struggle to gain market access,” said Representative Dan Newhouse, who represents Washington’s 4th District in the U.S. Congress and was one of co-sponsors.

The announcement was applauded by the Brewers Association (BA), the non-profit trade organization that represents the nation’s small, independent breweries.

“Small and independent breweries produce hundreds of styles of beer, but due to distributor consolidation, there are fewer opportunities to get their products to consumers,” said Bob Pease, President and CEO of the Brewers Association. “Direct-to-consumer shipping is a critical way for these businesses to make their low-volume products accessible to the people who want to buy them… The USPS Shipping Equity Act is commonsense legislation that provides those breweries with another way to access the market.”

The Washington Beer Blog will keep an eye on the USPS Shipping Equity Act as it works its way through Congress and hopefully to the Presidents desk. Stay tuned.

Story by Kendall Jones

There’s no escaping the fact that pilsners are rising stars in the world of craft beer. And why not? Light-bodied and hoppy, they speak a different dialect of the same language as IPA. It’s a challenging beer style to get right, but these days more breweries around the Pacific Northwest have the patience and skills to nail it.

All that being said, Spokane’s Brick West Brewing invites you to the 2nd Annual Pilsner Picnic on Saturday, July 22nd. The event features pilsners from 11 of the region’s breweries (listed below). Last year it proved itself a very popular event so you should secure tickets now. Proceeds from the event are donated to Volunteers of America.

• Bale Breaker Brewing
• Brick West Brewing
• Fremont Brewing
• Icicle Brewing
• Laughing Dog Brewing
• Lumberbeard Brewing
• Pelican Brewing
• Perry Street Brewing
• Uprise Brewing
• Whistle Punk Brewing
• YAYA Brewing

Here’s the event announcement from Brick West Brewing:

Get Your Tickets to the 2nd Annual Pilsner Picnic!

The 2nd annual Pilsner Picnic is on for Saturday, July 22nd 12-7pm.

11 breweries from around the region bringing their tasty pilsners down to the Brick West Plaza for you to enjoy. A $20 Ticket gets you a 5 oz pour of each of the 11 pilsners and a special Pilsner Picnic pint glass.

100% of the profits will benefit the Volunteers of America so the pilsners won’t be the only thing making you feel good. The Volunteers of America are devoted to ending homelessness by uplifting people and meeting their needs

So grab your tickets today at the link below because they sell out FAST

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

As we’ve reported, Seattle’s Machine House Brewery is moving its entire operation across town to the Hillman City neighborhood. We are now getting down to the final days at the Georgetown location. You are invited and encouraged to visit the brewery for a final farewell and to help support the brewery’s relocation efforts. Last call at the old place is June 11th.

Moving is difficult for all of us, but for a brewery, it is particularly troublesome. Think about it for a second. At some point, they must stop brewing, pull the plug and break down the brewing equipment, relocate it, spend some time getting it set up again, and then eventually start making beer again. And eventually, start selling beer again. So any support you can lend as that big maneuver is about to happen is greatly appreciated. Here’s the latest announcement from Machine House Brewery regarding the last days in Georgetown and the move to Hillman City.

“We have just a couple more weeks here in Georgetown before we close up for good. Our last day open here will be Sunday, June 11. We will be spending the next few weeks with as much fun stuff as possible in our old space, including music, food trucks, and lots of pints. Hope you can come and visit for some cask ales in Georgetown before the big move!”

“During these weeks, we will have more things lined up, including a Silent Auction featuring a bunch of Machine House memorabilia, furniture, and equipment (like our traditional beer engines). Plus Georgetown Carnival on our second to last day, June 10!”

“We are working hard on the new spot in Hillman City – we have a ton of work to do and hope to be open there shortly after we close Georgetown. We are excited to get it up and running and to share it with everyone in our new neighborhood! More details coming soon.”

“Moving is going to be a huge (and expensive) effort for us, so we really appreciate everyone coming out and supporting our business through this time. Thanks for you patience, hope to see you soon.”

Story by Kendall Jones

The Yakima Valley produces about 75 percent of the nation’s hop crop each year. The region deserves the proper noun Hop Country. Farming and processing hops is a way of life that for many families spans multiple generations. They don’t just grow ’em, they love ’em, and people in the Yakima Valley are proud of their role in the craft beer industry.

In recent years, more and more breweries have opened in Hop Country. Also, more events celebrating hops and beer have popped up across the valley from Yakima to Prosser. Below I share a list of beer-related events happening this spring and summer in Hop Country. For information about the area, lodging, and more, check out the Visit Yakima website.

Note that the premier beer event in Hop Country is the annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival in October. If you are interested in that one, and you should be, get busy. It is a very popular event. See below.

BOTTLES, BREWS & BARBECUES – 6/9-10/2023

This festival features local craft beverages, live music and savory, smoky specialties from regional barbecue competitors. Barbecue teams from across the Northwest participate in this juried BBQ competition by the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association. Proceeds go to the Prosser Memorial Health Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial and volunteer support to Prosser Memorial Health. LOCATION: 100 MERLOT DR PROSSER, WA

SUNNYSIDE SUMMER ALE FEST – 6/24/2023

The 7th Annual Sunnyside Summer Ale Fest will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 from 5-10 p.m. at Centennial Square in downtown Sunnyside, WA. This event celebrates Sunnyside’s fantastic summer weather and the world-class hops it produces. We look forward to showcasing the beauty and bounty of our community with incredible beer, wine, food, and live music in the heart of hop country. LOCATION: CENTENNIAL SQUARE, DOWNTOWN SUNNYSIDE, WA

ALES FOR ALS – 6/24/2023

Supports a cause near and dear to the Bale Breaker Brewing family. A community tradition in the Yakima Valley, the brewery lawn lights up for one great Saturday to enjoy great beer, food, and live music at this free and family-friendly event. From 12-9pm on June 24th at Bale Breaker’s Yakima Taproom, $1 from every pint of beer poured will be donated to ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS-TDI). The event will also coincide with the release of Bubba’s Brew, Bale Breaker’s annual Ales for ALS hop blend beer. LOCATION: BALE BREAKER BREWING, 1801 BIRCHFIELD RD, YAKIMA, WA

PROSSER BEER AND WHISKEY FESTIVAL – 8/26/2023

The Prosser Beer & Whiskey Festival is back! Award-winning breweries and distilleries will have a fantastic selection of brews and spirits for you to taste during our event. For more information, visit prosserbeerandwhiskey.com. Limited amount of VIP Tickets and General Admission on sale now. 21+ event. LOCATION: 2840 LEE RD, PROSSER, WA

HOP COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL 9/15-16/2023

Hop Country Music Festival is back in 2023 at Sozo Sports Complex in Yakima, Washington with all proceeds going toward putting more youth on the field! Typically, Sozo Sports Complex plays host to thousands of soccer, lacrosse and football players throughout the year. However, for one weekend in September, major country music stars join us at the complex for a festival filled with music, food and fun! Throw on your cowboy boots and hats and join in on a concert experience that gives back! LOCATION: SOZO SPORTS COMPLEX, 2200 S 36th Ave, Yakima, WA

YAKIMA FRESH HOP FRESH HOP ALE FESTIVAL – 10/7/2023

Get tickets early. Book your room now. This event is a big deal in Yakima and attracts visitors from across the region. Probably the world’s largest and most prestigious festival focused on fresh hop beers. Where better to celebrate fresh hops than Yakima? LOCATION: SOZO SPORTS COMPLEX, 2200 S 36th Ave, Yakima, WA

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

Summary: When Fremont Brewing introduced the beer in January it did not claim its Non-Aloholic IPA was Washington’s first non-alcoholic beer. I’ve also found no statement from the brewery claiming it was Washington-brewed. Do not blame the brewery for inaccurate reporting.

A local media outlet recently published a story introducing Fremont Brewing’s Non-Alcoholic IPA as the first Washington-brewed NA beer. That story created quite a kerfuffle on social media, where folks were quick to point out the mistruth. Some even blamed Fremont Brewing, which is what prompted me to post this story in the brewery’s defense. (They did not ask me to do this, btw.) I’ve chosen not to mention the outlet by name because it made the corrections and an apology.

It isn’t new. It wasn’t the first. Seattle’s Fremont Brewing introduced its Non-Alcoholic IPA at the end of January 2023, as we reported here. In doing so, the company made no claim suggesting that it was Washington’s first N-A beer. At least not according to the press release I received (below) or the conversations that I had with the people at the brewery back in February.

Furthermore, I received no information from Fremont Brewing suggesting the beer was actually brewed in Washington. The packaging very clearly states that it was brewed and canned for Fremont Brewing by Octopi Brewing of Waunakee, Wisconsin.

Drink Self Care was first. Three Magnets Brewing of Olympia, Washington did a spin-off project back in 2020, introducing its Drink Self Care line of non-alcoholic beers. In 2021, the company announced that the Drink Self Care beers would become a permanent part of the brewery’s lineup.

Here is Fremont Brewing’s official announcement from late January, which makes no false or misleading claims.

Fremont Brewing Announces New, Non-Alcoholic IPA, Providing a Refreshing Craft IPA for Health-Conscious Consumers

[Seattle, WA] – Fremont Brewing has a new Non-Alcoholic IPA beer that is hitting store shelves and is poised to be a game-changer for those seeking a refreshing alternative to traditional beers. The brewery’s Urban Beer Garden will also be stocking the Non-Alcoholic IPA starting January 31, 2023.

This IPA, crafted with the finest barley and hops, provides a delicious and non-alcoholic option for those who are health-conscious and looking for an alternative to traditional beer. With its crisp, clean flavor and light body, it is also a great option for those with an active lifestyle.

“We set out to brew a killer beer that we could enjoy during the day and
not be slowed down. When we finally rang that bell, we put it in a can. Basically, it’s just good beer,” said Matt Lincecum, Fremont’s Founder.

Fremont Brewing’s Non-Alcoholic IPA is made with the same passion and attention to detail as our traditional beers, making it a truly premium product. Fremont’s Non-Alcoholic IPA, joins Hoppy Spritz, a hop-infused sparkling water with a proprietary production process, in the craft brewer’s growing non-alcoholic offerings. So, whether you’re a beer connoisseur or just looking for a delicious and non-alcoholic alternative, Fremont Brewing’s Non-Alcoholic IPA is a must-try.

Fremont’s Non-Alcoholic IPA is on store shelves alongside other Fremont Brewing craft beer along the West Coast and the Mountain West, and at the brewery’s Urban Beer Garden located at 1050 N. 34 th St, Seattle, WA 98103.
Fremont Brewing is dedicated to producing the finest craft beer experience, with the finest ingredients, and an eye for relaxing with friends whenever possible.

Story by Kendall Jones

At last weekend’s 12th Annual Gig Harbor Beer Festival, event organizers introduced a new trophy to memorialize Steve and Mina Shulz. The couple owned E2W Brewing (East 2 West Brewing). In August of 2022, they were found murdered in their home in Olalla, Washington. Read our previous stories about the incident.

The Gig Harbor Beer Festival awarded the Steve and Mina Shulz Memorial Trophy to Ridgeline Brewing of Bremerton, Washington. The brewery’s Island Time Pale Ale received the most votes in the people’s choice voting. Here is the complete follow-up report from the Gig Harbor Beer Festival regarding this award, other awards, and the event in general.

Congratulations to Ridgeline Brewing for winning this year’s Gig Harbor Beer Festival’s, Steve & Mina Shulz Memorial Trophy. Ridgeline’s Island Time Pale Ale received the most votes from attendees this past Saturday at the Fest, with Wet Coast’s Mixtape For 1 Hazy IPA in second, and Acorn’s Haze Me Bro’ NEIPA and Rainy Daze’s Balloon Animals Double IPA tied for third. Congrats to all!

The 12th Annual Gig Harbor Beer Festival – a fund-raising event for Gig Harbor Kiwanis — was yet another completed sell-out.

Over 1,350 event goers, brewers, and volunteers enjoyed 45+ beers on tap, cider from Locust Cider and Discovery Cider, hard seltzer from Fizz Head Seltzer, and an incredible variety custom cocktails from Heritage Distilling Co.

LIVE! Music performances throughout the day included, Kristen Marlo and Jeff Ross, Jack Parker & The Remedy, and head-lining this year was Gig Harbor’s own My Guilty Pleasure.

The Gig Harbor Beer Festival Favorite Beer Award was renamed this year to honor our lost craft brewery compatriots Steve and Mina Shulz from East 2 West Brewing.

Thanks to all who came out to the Fest. We hope you had as much fun as we did.

Story by Kendall Jones

Appalachian Mountain Brewery is once again an independent craft brewery owned by its founders. It is no longer owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI). It was independent, then it wasn’t, and now it is back in the hands of its founders.

The brewery’s original founders, Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber (above), just bought the brewery back from Anheuser-Busch InBev. So why am I, the author of the Washington Beer Blog, talking about a brewery in North Carolina? Because it gives me an opportunity to share some national news with my readers and there is a local hook. Sort of.

Someone bought a brewery from Anheuser-Busch InBev and not the other way around. This is uncommon news in a world where craft beer fans have grown accustomed to seeing independent breweries gobbled up by ABI. Industry observers, however, may not find it so surprising: ABI’s High End Division has stumbled a bit lately.

You know the old idiom about the dog that caught the car? Maybe this story is about the car that caught the dog.

The High End Division is the name ABI applies to its stable of once-independent breweries like Elysian, Goose Island, Golden Road, Four Peaks, and several others. In February, ABI shuttered one of its acquired-craft breweries, Ohio-based Platform Beer Company. That same month, it laid off an undisclosed number of employees at some of its other High End breweries.

As far as we know, Elysian Brewing wasn’t impacted by the recent turbulence. As far as we know, Elysian is not on any kind of auction block. As far as we know, Space Dust IPA is still available in nearly every convenience store in the entire country.

“Winning in craft remains a key pillar of our strategy to lead and develop the premium segment, but winning means something different in today’s marketplace than it did a few years ago,” Andy Thomas, the president of ABI’s High End division told Brewbound in February, at the time of the closure and the layoffs.

So, yeah, maybe Anheuser-Busch InBev is experiencing a bit of buyer’s remorse. While some of ABI’s acquired-craft breweries are doing just fine, others are obviously struggling. “…winning means something different in today’s marketplace…” Maybe winning means a little bit of retreating.

Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber founded Appalachian Mountain Brewery in 2011, a modest-sized brewery that produced just 500 barrels of beer in 2013. It quickly began to grow. In 2018, Appalachian Mountain was fully acquired by Portland-based Craft Brew Alliance (CBA), which at the time was partially owned by A-B InBev. Following the A-B InBev full acquisition of CBA in 2020, Appalachian Mountain Brewery became part of A-B InBev’s High End division.

Now, Appalachian Mountain Brewery is back in the hands of its original owners. In a statement, the new/original owners said, “We will be shifting our focus immediately on growing our local team, opening our new taproom in Mills River, NC, and continuing our investment in sustainability and philanthropy efforts that make a difference in our North Carolina communities. This all hinges on producing the highest quality products and delivering a unique experience for our customers.”

This story must make a lot of beer lovers in North Carolina happy. It makes me happy and I’ve never even been there.

You can read the entire statement from Appalachian Mountain Brewing here.

Story by Kendall Jones

The Lilac Festival celebrates its 85th year, but the beer festival was added to the program last year. The larger Spokane Lilac Festival includes all sorts of events and culminates with the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade through the streets of downtown Spokane on Saturday night.

The Lilac Festival Brewfest takes place in the afternoon from 1:00 until 5:00. (Noon entry for VIPs.) The location is Spokane’s beautiful Riverfront Park. Here are the Brewfest details from the event organizers.

SPOKANE LILAC FESTIVAL BREWFEST

Tickets

On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Spokane Lilac Festival Association (SLFA) is bringing together over 30 local breweries for the 2nd annual Lilac Festival Brewfest!

For 85 years, the SLFA has championed the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, honoring our military, empowering our youth, and showcasing our region. Festival planners added the Brewfest to the mix to further showcase the region and Spokane’s many award-winning and innovative breweries.

Saturday, May 20, 2023 | 1:00 – 5:00pm (VIP early entry at Noon)
Riverfront Park | West Pavilion

• General Admission: $30 per person
• VIP: $40
• Tickets include a tasting glass and tokens for tastings.  VIP includes 1 hour early entry.
• Designated drivers will get free entry at the door, no prepurchase necessary.

This is a 21 and older only event. 
No cancellations or refunds.
Tickets

2023 Participating Brewers

• Badass Backyard Brewing
• Bardic Brewing & Cider
• Bellwether Brewing
• Bottle Bay Brewing
• Brick West Brewing
• For the Love of God Brewing
• Four Eyed Guys Brewing
• Garland Brew Werks
• Genus Brewing
• Golden Handle Brewing
• Hop Chaos Brewing
• Humble Abode Brewing
• Hunga Dunga Brewing
• Iron Goat Brewing
• Iron Horse Brewing
• Jeremiah Johnson Brewing
• Laughing Dog Brewery
• Lumberbeard Brewing
• Mountain Lakes Brewing
• Natural 20 Brewing Co.
• No Drought Brewing
• No Li Brewing
• OddStock Cider Co
• One Tree Hard Cider
• Paradise Creek Brewery
• Paramour Brewing
• Perry Street Brewing
• Precious Things Fermentation Project
• Quirk Brewing
• Snoweater Brewing
• Spokanite Brewing
• The Grain Shed
• Trailbreaker Cider
• Tricksters Brewing
• Uprise Brewing
• Whistlepunk Brewing
• YaYa Brewing

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

Ballard to Burien, Capitol Hill to West Seattle, and all points beyond and between, this Saturday, May 20th marks a busy day for beer lovers around the area. This year, Seattle Beer Week only includes one Saturday, so you’ve got your pick of what to do.

The official Seattle Beer Week calendar lists over a dozen events happening Saturday so it’s not realistic that you can do them all. You’ll need to make some decisions. Click here to see the list of all of the events happening on Saturday, May 20th — the only Saturday of Seattle Beer Week this year.

Here are a few highlights. These events seemed of particular interest to me, though your evaluation of the complete list may vary.

Haze Fest at Reuben’s Brews – No denying it. People love their hazies. The taplist at Reuben’s Brews always includes some hazy options but for Haze Fest they’ll tap into at least a dozen. And not just your typical hazy IPAs! The lineup will include a new fruited sour and a number of one-off infusions. All day long. Regular taproom hours.

Block Party at Logan Brewing – I like to call it one of the best breweries you’ve never heard of. Logan Brewing in downtown Burien cranks out some seriously tasty beer. They won some awards to prove it. The brewery’s particular location affords them the opportunity to take over the street out front and have some big block parties. They do not waste the opportunity. This is one such event. Live music, food trucks, extra outdoor seating, and games for kids of all ages. Oh, and beer. Lots of beer.

Sour Savoir Faire at Jellyfish Brewing – A dozen sours to choose from. Bottle discounts. Live music. Your ticket gets you a commemorative tasting glass, eight tasters, one complimentary bottle from the barrel room, and three tacos. Takes place in the brewery. Get tickets here.

Stour Fest at Brouwer’s Cafe – Back when Seattle Beer Week was 11 days long and spanned two weekends, Brouwers had two events: a stout fest and a sour fest. Now, they’ve combined them into one Stour Fest. The event kicks off on Saturday, offering 20 stouts and 20 sours on tap. It runs all week and the lineup will rotate as beers kick.

Mango Tango Fiesta at Bale Breaker Ballard – Mango Tango is a special beer Bale Breaker Brewing produces each year to benefit organizations in the Yakima area that support the migrant worker community. The hop-growing industry relies on these workers to produce the hop crop each year, so it’s fitting that there is a beer to support the organizations that support them: Mango Tango Summer Ale. The event features beer, tacos, music from a special guest DJ, and representatives from Yakima Cheif Hops.

Goat Fest West at the Beveridge Place Pub – As we explained in some detail in an earlier post, this is the westside version of the event that takes place at Varietal Beer Co. in Sunnyside, WA. It’s all about bock. West Seattle’s Beveridge Place Pub taps into a dozen bock biers from Germany, Austria, and the Great Northwest. Available in tasters and in full pours.

The above list is just a sample of what’s happening this Saturday. I encourage you to look at the complete list and see what other events might capture your fancy.

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

It’s a Seattle Beer Week event. See all our posts about Seattle Beer Week 2023 events. Visit the Seattle Beer Week website for a calendar of all events.

Story by Kendall Jones

Hellbent Brewing opened in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood eight years ago and immediately filled a need for the area’s first brewery and taproom. Sure, Elliott Bay Brewing was there operating its full-service brewpub, but that’s a different animal. The locals embraced Hellbent’s taproom vibe and Hellbent embraced the locals. The brewery has been an active member of the community ever since.

Join Hellbent Brewing on Saturday, June 10th as it pays tribute to its first eight years. For the event, they’ll welcome three tribute bands to fill the day with rockin’ entertainment. Also, the brewery will introduce a special anniversary beer, a West Coast IPA. Here’s what else they have planned for you.

Hellbent Brewing
8th Anniversary Party
Saturday, June 10th, Noon-Midnight
13035 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125

What’s it all about?
Pay tribute to some of your favorite bands while drinking some of the best beer north Seattle has to offer at Hellbent’s 8th Anniversary: The Tribute Party, Saturday, June 10th.

You know how we like to do it over at Hellbent, we “Can’t Stop” making mouth-watering, hop-forward brews and we’re going all out for our 8th Anniversary IPA – our personal homage to the west coast style IPA. We invite you to “Come as You Are” and rock out to 3 bands paying tribute to Bruce Springsteen (1-3pm), Nirvana (3:30-5:30pm), and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (6-9pm).

We’ll be closing off the parking lot for an extended beer garden featuring a satellite bar, and three food trucks: Tacos & Beer, Oskars Pizza, and Impeckable Chicken. Great music? Great Food? Great beer? We’ll be “Dancing in the Dark” before you know it. No cover. 21+.

Bands/Schedule

1-3pm – Hungry Heart: Springsteen Tribute
“Of all the music that has influenced local Americana singer/songwriter, Tyler Hamilton, the classic sounds of Bruce Springsteen have taken root the deepest. He is excited to finally put together his own E-street Band to play some of his favorite songs in tribute to the Boss! Catch Tyler up on stage delivering his high energy rock and roll stylings as he takes you on a Hemi-powered journey from Asbury Park all the way to the streets of his Hometown.”

3:30-5:30pm – Nevermind: Seattle’s Tribute to Nirvana
“Nevermind is a Seattle based rock and roll trio that pays tribute to legendary rock band, Nirvana. Born in the heart of Seattle in the old Studio 7 rehearsal spaces they have taken the region by storm by selling out venues with a singer that can shred the mic and guitar, a 6’8″ rock bass legend, and a drummer that would make Dave Grohl blush, Nevermind is able to deliver the powerful and energetic performance that captures the sonic energy of Nirvana. Come as you are and experience a performance that will take you through BLEACH, NEVERMIND, Unplugged, IN utero, and a splash zone of DESTROYED GUITARS.”

6-9pm – Readymade: Chili Peppers Tribute
“Est. 2020, Readymade is The PNW’s #1 tribute to the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band’s three seasoned instrumentalists are Nate Bushmaker (A Band Called Celia), Zak Melang (Supersonic Soul Pimps), and Chase Culp (Point One) playing the parts of “John Frusciante”, “Flea”, and “Chad Smith”, respectively. Readymade found their free spirited “Anthony Kiedis” when a mutual friend spotted Derek Sepesy crushing “the Zephyr Song” at weeknight karaoke! Readymade is dedicated to recreating the look, sound and ecstatic live energy of the iconic California rockers to the PNW with every performance!”

Food Trucks

Tacos & Beer 12pm until Sold Out
Oskars Pizza 4pm until Sold Out
Impeckable Chicken 4pm until Sold Out

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

Join Yoked Farmhouse & Brewery for Fishtales & Ales, a benefit dinner and event with Harbor Wildwatch.

Enjoy a pre-dinner beverage, a delicious meal featuring fresh clams from Minterbrook Oyster Company, and a presentation from the folks at Harbor Wildwatch. Proceeds benefit Harbor Wildwatch and its efforts to inspire stewardship for the Salish Sea through education. Event tickets here.

The evening’s theme is “Deep, Defensive, and Delicious” – a focus on what thrives in the deep, the amazing defenses some animals have, and the species that are likely to end up on our dinner plates. A portion of ticket and beverage sales goes straight to Harbor Wildwatch.

For those who’ve not yet visited Yoked Farmhouse & Brewery in Port Orchard, Washington, understand that this brewery lives up to its name. It is not a “farmhouse-style” brewery so much as it is a brewery on a farm. Rural, rustic, bucolic. The address says Port Orchard, but it is actually closer to Purdy, about 10 miles north of Gig Harbor. (525 SW Pine Rd SW, Port Orchard, WA 98367)

You can get your tickets to Fishtales & Ales here.

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.

Story by Kendall Jones

SBW Kickoff and Beer Launch

The 14th annual celebration of all things beer in Seattle kicks off this Friday. For a solid, action-packed week at various locations around the Seattle area beer lovers are provided an opportunity to join the festivities and observe Seattle Beer Week.

Here are a few events happening on Friday, May 19th, the first day of SBW 14.

Official Seattle Beer Week Kickoff at Stoup Brewing. Each year, the folks at Seattle Beer Week partner with a local brewery to produce the official SBW beer. The beer officially releases at Stoup Brewing on Friday at 5:00.

This year, the official SBW beer is described as a hoppy pale ale. “We kept the ABV moderate and the hop additions bright for a beer that will fuel the party all week long. Mosaic, Citra, HBC 586 and Simcoe pack aromas and flavor of citrus, berry and mango.”

Seattle Cask-O-Rama at Beveridge Place Pub. Starting at 5:00, they’ll serve a selection of Seattle-brewed beers straight from the firkins, the way God intended. They’ll line eight casks up on the bar top and offer the beers in taster flights or in full pours. The experience is very Seattle and the Bev has been doing it for a long time.

Live Music, Dick’s Burgers, and (Hopefully) Sunshine at Ounces Taproom and Beer Garden. The Dick’s Drive-In Food Truck makes a rare stop in West Seattle at Ounces. The bar will serve $6 pints of the SBW beers and Hayward Sun will provide the live music.

See all our posts about Seattle Beer Week 2023 events. Visit the Seattle Beer Week website for a calendar of all events.

Story by Kendall Jones

As summer was coming to a close last September, West Seattle Brewing announced that it was closing its location on Alki Beach. Apparently the landlord said there were plans for the building –renovations and additions– that didn’t involve West Seattle Brewing. Well, for whatever reason, those plans have yet to come to fruition and today we learned that Future Primitive Brewing will open in the spot at 2536 Alki Avenue SW, right across the street from the beach.

“We’re opening an auxiliary taproom on alki beach in the old West Seattle Brewing space,” said Ian Roberts, one of the owners of Future Primitive Brewing. “We were obviously excited when the opportunity came up and home to be open within a month or two. We’re doing some extensive/necessary remodeling to the classic building and plan to keep the same FP vibe but on the beach.”

Future Primitive Brewing is located in White Center, Washington where it operates a brewery and taproom. The location on Alki is just seven miles away from the brewery.

We will keep you posted on the details as they come together and will certainly share any news of an opening date.

Story by Kendall Jones

Lumber House Brewery announces it is closing and is for sale.

Jacob and Melissa Earl opened Lumber House Brewery about eight or nine years ago and originally served beer at a rural, residential location near the town of Hobart in King County. Following some trouble with county code enforcement, the company eventually moved and opened a taproom and restaurant in a commercial space in Black Diamond, Washington along Highway 169.

Today, Lumber House Brewery announced that it is shutting down the retail portion of the taproom and restaurant and that the business is for sale. They are still looking to move some beer but are closing down the taproom and restaurant. On May 26th Lumber House Brewery will host a party to share one last hurrah with the community.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we have made the difficult decision to close our retail store and kitchen as of May 26th, 2023,” said today’s announcement. “We understand that this news may come as a shock, and we want to assure you that we have explored all options before arriving at this decision. We are closing our doors due to the economic and social headwinds facing our business which we were unable to overcome…”

The statement went on to explain, “We will be falling back into wholesale distribution, local out of house events, and occasions openings when we have something amazing to share. Want to help? If you have a favorite place to hang out in town, talk to their bar manager and see if they would like to carry our products. If you know anyone wanting to own a Restaurant or a Brewery, ours is for sale. Reach out to jacobe@lumberhousebrew.com for inquiries.”

Keep an eye on Lumber House’s social media channels for details as the finale approaches.

One last thing to mention… The location of the brewery/restaurant is just two miles away from a new masterplan community that is currently partially complete. The first residents moved into the Ten Trails community in 2018 and homes are still being constructed. In the coming years, Ten Trails will add a total of 6,000 new homes and 15,000 new residents to the community. Just something to think about.

Story by Kendall Jones

The 2023 World Beer Cup judging is complete. Yesterday the Brewers Association announced the winners at the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville. Above: the crew from Icicle Brewing celebrates, winners of two medals.

A total of 2,376 breweries from the U.S. and beyond entered a total of 10,213 beers for judging by a panel of 272 expert judges. Washington breweries brought home 13 medals this year. Oregon breweries brought home 22 medals. I share the list of Northwest winners below.

Northwest Highlights

• Multiple-medal winners from the Northwest include Icicle Brewing, Grains of Wrath Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, Bend Brewing, and Sunriver Brewing.
• Fair Isle Brewing of Seattle brought home two of the three medals in the Mixed-Culture Bret Beer category.
• Sunriver Brewing brought home a medal in the most hotly contested category, American-Style IPA, which saw over 400 beers entered.

Competition Highlights

• Beers Entered: 10,213
• Breweries Entered: 2,376
• International Breweries: 22.9% (546 international)
• Countries Represented: 51
• Judges: 272
• Judging sessions and days: 9 days, 18 sessions
• Beer Style Categories: 103
• Beer Styles: 176 (includes all subcategories)

Top 5 Most-Entered Style Categories:

• Category 102, American-Style India Pale Ale: 412 entries
• Category 103, Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale: 374 entries
• Category 40, German-Style Pilsener: 233 entries
• Category 35, International Light Lager: 220 entries
• Category 30, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout: 202 entries

About the World Beer Cup

The competition was founded in 1996 to recognize and celebrate the art and science of brewing globally and create greater consumer awareness about different beer styles and flavor profiles. Previously a biennial event, the competition was annualized last year, making 2023 the first time the World Beer Cup has taken place in back-to-back years.

“The World Beer Cup brings together the finest brewers and beers from around the globe and celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and passion for great beer,” said Chris Williams, World Beer Cup competition director. “Receiving a World Beer Cup award is a testament to quality and innovation, and we commend this year’s winners for setting the bar higher than ever.”

Northwest Winners

Here are the winners from Oregon and Washington. You can get the complete list of all winners here (PDF).

Washington Winners (13 medals)

Session Beer or Belgian-Style Table Beer – 60 Entries
Gold: First To Fall, The Good Society Brewery & Public House, Seattle, WA

Other Strong Beer – 35 Entries
Silver: Deluxe, Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, WA

Gluten-Free Beer – 56 Entries
Gold: Ghostfish 8th Anniversary Beer, Ghostfish Brewing Co., Seattle, WA

Mixed-Culture Brett Beer – 65 Entries
Gold: Knitting Circle S3 Batch C, Fair Isle Brewing, Seattle, WA
Bronze: Tove, Fair Isle Brewing, Seattle, WA

International Pilsener – 129 Entries
Bronze: Icicle Premium Pilsner, Icicle Brewing Co., Leavenworth, WA

Bohemian-Style Pilsener – 160 Entries
Gold: Polaris Pilsner, Chainline Brewing Co., Kirkland, WA

Munich-Style Helles – 178 Entries
Bronze: Chuckanut Helles, Chuckanut Brewery, Burlington, WA

Dortmunder/Export or German-Style Oktoberfest – 66 Entries
Gold: Festbier, Brick West Brewing Co., Spokane, WA

American-Style Pilsener – 104 Entries
Bronze: Happy Little Clouds, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA

Barley Wine-Style Ale – 71 Entries
Bronze: Three Ryes Men, Reuben’s Brews – Production Brewery, Seattle, WA

Category 70: Specialty Saison – 74 Entries
Bronze: Faithful and True, Sovereign Brewing, Seattle, WA

Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 153 Entries
Gold: Alpenhaze, Icicle Brewing Co., Leavenworth, WA

Oregon Winners (22 medals)

Field Beer – 78 Entries
Gold: Cucumber Crush, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR

Coffee Stout or Porter – 110 Entries
Silver: Mocha Cow, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Honey Beer – 60 Entries
Gold: BeeLoved, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR

Session India Pale Ale – 116 Entries
Gold: Wild Gravity, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Other Strong Beer – 35 Entries
Gold: Superswell, Pelican Brewing Co. – Tillamook, Tillamook, OR

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 58 Entries
Bronze: Sensationator, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – Portland, OR

International Lager – 97 Entries
Gold: Japanese Lager, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR

German-Style Pilsener – 233 Entries
Gold: Pils, Von Ebert Brewing – Pearl, Portland, OR

German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock – 102 Entries
Bronze: Lucubrator Dopplebock, Occidental Brewing Co., Portland, OR

American-Style Lager – 105 Entries
Bronze: Cole’s Lager, Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond, OR

German-Style Sour Ale – 45 Entries
Silver: Baywindow, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse – 53 Entries
Gold: Gindulgence, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Brown Porter – 63 Entries
Silver: Old Normal, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Old Ale or Strong Ale – 42 Entries
Bronze: Ol’ Beauty, Oregon City Brewing Co., Oregon City, OR

American-Style Pale Ale – 176 Entries
Bronze: Papermaker Pale Ale, Grains of Wrath Brewing – Portland, OR

Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 153 Entries
Bronze: Queens & Sons Soft IPA, Kings & Daughters Brewery, Clackamas, OR

American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 154 Entries
Gold: Something Dank This Way Comes, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR
Silver: Breakside IPA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout – 81 Entries
Gold: Falling Up, Grains of Wrath Brewing – Portland, Portland, OR

American-Style Imperial Stout – 58 Entries
Gold: Block & Tackle Imperial Stout, Chetco Brewing Co., Brookings, OR
Silver: Night Howler Imperial Stout, Baerlic Brewing Co., Portland, OR

American-Style India Pale Ale – 412 Entries
Silver: Applied Science, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Story by Kendall Jones

There are over 9,000 breweries in the USA. Only about 100 are owned by African Americans. The Brewers Association says there are over 700 breweries here in the Pacific Northwest. In Washington, three breweries are Black-owned, in Oregon there is just one, and in Idaho there are none.

Industry experts and observers, like me, recognize that if the craft beer industry wants to enjoy a prosperous, dynamic, and robust future, it must become more diverse and inclusive. That said, today I am sharing some important, happy news.

This week, craft beer professionals from around the country are gathered in Nashville for the annual Craft Brewers Conference. The occassion provided a great opportunity for the National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) to introduce itself. The newly formed organization’s motto: We Celebrate Those Bringing Culture to the Cup.

“Less than 1% of craft breweries in the U.S. are owned by African Americans and there is no single entity to help African American brewers and brewery owners with their specific needs and issues,” says the NB2A website.

“Given these challenges, the National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) was formed as a 501c6 membership-based non-profit organization to:

• Promote the Black brewing community as a first-of-its kind organization
• Increase the number of African Americans in the brewing industry at all levels of production, especially ownership and brewmaster
• Exercise political influence by developing and advocating for effective policy
• And foster understanding about the history and legacy of African American brewing in the United States.

“The NB2A is governed by a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of the most experienced and successful Black brewery owners and brewmasters across the country.”

You can learn more about the NB2A and sign up for the mailing list on the organization’s website.

By the way, here are the four breweries in the Pacific Northwest that are on the NB2A’s list of Black-owned breweries:

• Assembly Brewing – Portland, Oregon
• Black Label Brewing Company – Spokane, Washington
• 23rd Ave Brewery – Seattle, Washington
• Métier Brewing – Woodinville, Washington

Story by Kendall Jones

It’s a Seattle Beer Week event. See all our posts about Seattle Beer Week 2023 events. Visit the Seattle Beer Week website for a calendar of all events.

Back in the day, and for many years, Brouwer’s Cafe in Seattle hosted two separate events as part of Seattle Beer Week: a stout festival and a sour festival. Historically, Seattle Beer Week was actually an 11-day week, stretching across two weekends. Now, it’s abbreviated to an actual one-week series of events. Brouwer’s Cafe still wants to celebrate both stout and sour beers, so they’ve combined it all into one event.

Starting on Saturday, May 20th, Brouwer’s will tap into 20 stouts and 20 sours. You decide which direction you want to go. Or go both directions.

“Our usual special events include Back in Black Stout Fest and Sour Fest, which we’ve hosted since their inception,” Brower’s Cafe explains. “This year beer week has been shortened, so we’ve decided to combine our signature events into one, Stour Fest!”

“So how will that work? On Saturday, May 20th, we will kick off with at least 20 stouts and 20 sours on draft. Then as those kick, we will add new stouts and sours to keep you going throughout the week. That means you get the best of both worlds – if it’ cold and rainy, you can curl up with a few stouts, and if its super warm and sunny, you can enjoy some thirst-quenching sours.”

“We are excited about combining these two great events and changing things up! So stay tuned as we work on the draft list and get a great lineup of stouts and sours ready for your enjoyment.”

For more beer-related events around Washington, check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page.