Introducing Otherlands Beer: Bellingham’s newest gathering place

Driving through Sunnyland on a cold November morning, if you're taking the long way, you'll probably pass Kulshan on James St., Twin Sisters Brewing on Carolina St. When you loop around to pass Homeskillet, if you turn on Humboldt, there's a brand new building that was once upon a time [...]

Introducing Otherlands Beer: Bellingham’s newest gathering place2019-11-30T10:19:54-08:00

How much electricity is needed to produce one beer?

Green power is renewable power. It's power made from resources that are naturally replenishing like sunlight, flowing streams and cool breezes. The PSE Green Power Program is an ideal way customers can match some or all of their electricity usage with green power.  The attached graphic indicates the amount of renewable [...]

How much electricity is needed to produce one beer?2019-09-25T10:04:33-07:00

The Rebirth of Illuminati Brewing Company

Getting your first few stamps on your Tap Trail passport right off the bat can be easy when you have a handful of places where you’re a regular. For instance, the Cornwall neighborhood has Wander, Kulshan, Twin Sisters and more right at their fingertips, easily walkable for a pint. But half [...]

The Rebirth of Illuminati Brewing Company2019-01-30T13:53:17-08:00

Aslan is coming to Seattle

Coming Summer 2019...Aslan Seattle! Located in the heart of the Fremont neighborhood, this new taproom will serve exclusive organic beer brewed by and delivered directly from Aslan Brewing Company. Soon, Aslan will be able to give the Seattle community access to a wider selection of seasonal offerings, barrel projects, and specialty can [...]

Aslan is coming to Seattle2019-01-09T14:52:58-08:00

Building a Brewery: Stemma’s journey to opening day

It's Thursday night and you randomly scored a babysitter. Wondering what to do with your spouse with the few hours of free time that you have, you naturally decide to get a few stamps on your Tap Trail passport, right? Soon enough, the number of breweries on the passport will grow [...]

Building a Brewery: Stemma’s journey to opening day2018-11-28T06:00:38-08:00

Growler’s Keep: Northern Bellingham’s beer gem

We’re all always thinking about where we’re gonna get our next pint, in the beer garden at Twin Sisters, in the Menace taproom or down the street at Elizabeth Station. But having a pint at home has become increasingly popular, luckily Growler’s Keep, located in Bakerview Square Shopping Center, has Bellingham’s [...]

Growler’s Keep: Northern Bellingham’s beer gem2018-10-18T13:20:58-07:00

Introducing Hopstories

  In craft beer towns across the United States, not only have the brews become a point of tourism, but an integral part of the community. In fact, some of us probably see our beertenders more than we see some of our family members. While it’s easy to get lost in [...]

Introducing Hopstories2018-10-18T13:20:59-07:00

On naming beers

With all the challenges of opening a brewery these days, coming up with names for beers is usually low on a brewer’s priority list. If anything, it may be viewed as one of the “fun” tasks. But it shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it’s an important part of a brewery’s brand. [...]

On naming beers2018-10-18T13:21:03-07:00

Brewer for a Day: Brewing at Atwood Ales Farm Brewery

It’s 6:30 in the morning on a cold and dreary Wednesday in February. I pull up to the Atwood Ales Farm Brewery, which is a mere 2 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border, and I see owner/brewer Josh Smith quietly laboring away through the fogged-up windows of the old barn. After [...]

Brewer for a Day: Brewing at Atwood Ales Farm Brewery2018-10-18T13:21:12-07:00

Bellingham’s newest Menace: Steve DeMoney

Menace Brewing, part of a Bellingham beer trifecta alongside The Local Public House and its neighboring Annex, has brought delicious and memorable beer to the Fountain neighborhood for officially over a year now. Before their brewery opened its doors, co-owner and brewer Ben Buccarelli made beer and perfected recipes for the [...]

Bellingham’s newest Menace: Steve DeMoney2018-10-18T13:21:12-07:00

Brewers Association’s 2017 Craft Beer in Review

  Boulder, CO • December 13, 2017 – Strong brewery growth, increased beer tourism and the launch of the independent craft brewer seal—with more than 2,700 craft brewers signed on—were all part of a watershed year for craft beer in 2017. The Brewers Association (BA) —the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independentAmerican brewers—looks back on [...]

Brewers Association’s 2017 Craft Beer in Review2018-10-18T13:21:15-07:00

Méthode Traditionnelle attempts to define a growing category of American-made, Lambic-inspired beers

An increasing number of American breweries are making beers similar to Belgian Lambics using traditional methods, such as spontaneous fermentations, turbid mashes, long boils, barrel aging, etc., along with traditional ingredients such as raw/unmalted wheat and aged hops. Some are even blending one-, two-, and three-year-old batches, similar to Belgian Gueuze [...]

Méthode Traditionnelle attempts to define a growing category of American-made, Lambic-inspired beers2018-10-18T13:21:20-07:00

Farm to pint

  Sitting down for a meal and deconstructing where everything on your plate came from is something many Bellingham residents are guilty of. What can we say? We love buying locally and knowing exactly where our food is from. It’s easy to look at a plate of huevos rancheros and be [...]

Farm to pint2018-10-18T13:21:21-07:00

Atwood Ales Farm Brewery harvests its own hops

It’s an exciting time of year in the Northwest. We’re now knee deep in hop harvest season, which typically runs from August through late September, depending on the hop variety and the local climate of the hop field. It’s also prime time for making “fresh” or “wet” hop beers, which are [...]

Atwood Ales Farm Brewery harvests its own hops2018-10-18T13:21:22-07:00

Aslan Brewing takes big leap forward in sustainability

  With every decision Aslan Brewing’s owners make, they ask themselves: Does this support our principles? And as you may know, one of their core principles is producing 100% organic beer, which is a challenging and expensive way to make beer. Raw ingredients are limited and difficult to source, additives that [...]

Aslan Brewing takes big leap forward in sustainability2018-10-18T13:21:24-07:00

Mid Year Report give mixed results for craft beer

  In Bellingham, craft beer is killing it. It's growing, breweries are flourishing and things are looking up. Across the US though, outside of our secluded and protected waters, craft beer isn't flowing with the same fervor. The Brewer's Association released a midway 2017 report on how craft beer is fairing. [...]

Mid Year Report give mixed results for craft beer2018-10-18T13:21:25-07:00

Rural Meets Urban: Atwood Ales Farm Brewery collaborates with Urban Family Brewery

There are all sorts of brewer collaborations these days, but the best ones happen naturally. (Isaac, Josh, and Rowan) After enjoying some Atwood Ales beers, Rowan Chadwick and Isaac Koski, co-head brewers of Urban Family Brewing, contacted Atwood Ales owners Josh and Monica Smith about collaborating on a beer. [...]

Rural Meets Urban: Atwood Ales Farm Brewery collaborates with Urban Family Brewery2018-10-18T13:21:26-07:00

Anheuser Busch has harsh response to new “Independent” logo

  This week, the Brewers Association released their new Independent logo, which was intended to distinguish which breweries are independently owned and which breweries are owned by "Big Beer." The logo has riled up the Big vs. Craft debate in an increasing competitive market. Yesterday, AB took an official stance on [...]

Anheuser Busch has harsh response to new “Independent” logo2018-10-18T13:21:27-07:00

Skagit Valley Malting is leading the malting revolution

  Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles on Skagit Valley Malting. We'll be looking at SVM's impact on craft brewing, their importance to our region and the impact they can have on the malting industry. ------- There are now more than 5,300 breweries in America, and [...]

Skagit Valley Malting is leading the malting revolution2018-10-18T13:21:31-07:00

Brewers Association Launches New Seal to Designate Independent Beers

Boulder, CO • June 27, 2017—In an effort to educate beer lovers about which beers are independently produced, the Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers—launched a new seal touting independent craft brewers. Featuring an iconic beer bottle shape flipped upside down, [...]

Brewers Association Launches New Seal to Designate Independent Beers2018-10-18T13:21:31-07:00

How much beer each Bellingham brewery produced in 2016

  2016 is well behind us, but the numbers are still trickling out. The Brewer's Association just released it's May/June edition of The New Brewer Magazine. In it they detailed their annual Industry Review where 2016 barrel production for all US breweries was broken down. For those unaware, a barrel is equal [...]

How much beer each Bellingham brewery produced in 20162018-10-18T13:21:33-07:00

Cholaca, world’s first and only liquid cacao, is a game changer for beer, coffee, cocktails

I love chocolate porters, stouts, and brown ales, but most of the commercial examples I have had lack the chocolate depth I desire, and many seem to get their chocolaty flavor more from dark malts than actual chocolate additions. I get it, though. As a homebrewer, I understand how challenging it [...]

Cholaca, world’s first and only liquid cacao, is a game changer for beer, coffee, cocktails2018-10-18T13:21:34-07:00

Northwest breweries look to their own backyard for innovation after AB InBev buys entire South African hop crop

  Last week AB InBev bought the entire South African hop crop. That's right, the entire country's crop. South African hops make up about 1% of the world's hop crop, but have become an increasingly hot commodity in the race towards breweries seeking out new, rare and innovative hops. According to AB [...]

Northwest breweries look to their own backyard for innovation after AB InBev buys entire South African hop crop2018-10-18T13:21:34-07:00

New report shows Bellingham has more breweries per capita than Seattle and Portland

  Yeah, things are slowing down in craft beer. But keep in mind that is saying something for one of the hottest growing business sectors in the US. 2016 saw a tapering off in in growth and, by some measurements, a regression. But there's still over 5,200 breweries in the United [...]

New report shows Bellingham has more breweries per capita than Seattle and Portland2018-10-18T13:21:34-07:00

Another craft brewery acquisition, and why it’s upsetting

  It happened again. AB InBev acquired yet another craft brewery. I know, shock of the century. Except, this time it was the highly praised and respected Wicked Weed Brewing of Asheville, N.C., and it nearly broke the internet. After reading hundreds of comments from various sources, the same arguments, explanations, [...]

Another craft brewery acquisition, and why it’s upsetting2018-10-18T13:21:35-07:00

Washington Largest Brewery, Redhook, to close brewhouse

  Redhook Brewery is almost as synonymous with Northwest craft beer as Rainier and, well, maybe craft beer itself. It's ESB was ubiquitous across in grocery stores aross the Northwest and the region. It was announced today in the Seattle Times that Redhook will be closing its 220,000bbl. It's likely that [...]

Washington Largest Brewery, Redhook, to close brewhouse2017-05-03T16:23:03-07:00

Anheuser-Busch looking to make Wicked Weed Brewing 10th craft brewery acquisition

  2017 is quarter old and AB InBev is at it again with the announced purchase of Wicked Weed Brewing out of North Carolina. The proposed purchase won't happen until it gets regulatory approval. In a press release, Wicked Weed co-founder Walt Dickinson expressed excitement for the potential acquisition. We have [...]

Anheuser-Busch looking to make Wicked Weed Brewing 10th craft brewery acquisition2018-10-18T13:21:35-07:00

The ever-evolving IPA and its many variants

By far, the India Pale Ale is the most popular style of craft beer, and I don’t see its status changing anytime soon. Every so often, another critic claims this hop-craze “trend” will fade, and that it will be replaced by the rising popularity of light lagers or the surge of saisons, [...]

The ever-evolving IPA and its many variants2018-10-18T13:21:35-07:00

Our beer options are exploding, and what it means

Two years ago, back when Bellingham had half the number of breweries that it does today, I outlined many reasons why I thought this city could sustain many more breweries. Even though Bellingham now has 10 breweries (with more in the works), plus a continuously expanding selection of beers from other [...]

Our beer options are exploding, and what it means2018-10-18T13:21:36-07:00

Brewers Association releases list of 50 largest breweries of 2016

The Brewers Association (BA) – the not-for-profit trade group representing small and independent craft brewers – just released its annual lists of the top 50 craft and overall brewing companies in the U.S., based on beer sales volume. Of the top 50 overall brewing companies, 40 were craft brewing companies. The [...]

Brewers Association releases list of 50 largest breweries of 20162018-10-18T13:21:37-07:00

The resurgence of light lagers

Decades ago, beer lovers began gravitating toward full-flavored craft beers (“micro” beers back then) while abandoning the likes of Miller, Coors, and Budweiser. The vapid light lagers that dominated the market at the time were essentially industrial products made with adjuncts (see the definitions at the end of this article) with [...]

The resurgence of light lagers2018-10-18T13:21:37-07:00

BrewDog opens new brewery in America

Scotland’s dog-friendly brewery, BrewDog, opened its new brewery, restaurant and taproom in Columbus, Ohio yesterday. Named DogTap Columbus, the stylish building features a gaming area, a full restaurant, and a dozen taps from BrewDog and other guest breweries (see photos below from brewdog.com). Once its brewhouse is fully operational, it will double [...]

BrewDog opens new brewery in America2018-10-18T13:21:39-07:00

BrewDog gives employees Paw-ternity leave for new dog families

  Scotland's BrewDog is well known for not only its crazy powerful beers, expanding business, but also its unique business practices. BrewDog has announced that any employees that adopt a dog will officially receive one week of paid vacation when they bring a new dog into the household. This is a [...]

BrewDog gives employees Paw-ternity leave for new dog families2018-10-18T13:21:40-07:00

Tropical IPAs are hot

With this last round of snowstorms behind us, I think we could all use a tropical escape. But if that’s not possible, the next best thing just might be some tropical drinks, and I’m not talking sugary cocktails with tiny umbrellas. In recent times, I’ve noticed a surge of “tropical IPAs” [...]

Tropical IPAs are hot2018-10-18T13:21:41-07:00

Bellingham hospitality industry starts to offer craft beer packages

  Craft beer tourism is actually a thing. It's why Tap Trail even exists and it drives people to our city every year. As you may know, Bellingham Beer Week 2017 is in April and we want people to flock here from across the region, drink our award winning beers and stay [...]

Bellingham hospitality industry starts to offer craft beer packages2018-10-18T13:21:44-07:00

RateBeer Best Awards from year 2016 released

RateBeer has just released its last batch of competition results from its annual RateBeer Best Awards for the year 2016. “I'd like to raise a glass to the people who make the beer we drink,” says Joe Tucker, executive director of RateBeer. “These men and women are the artists, engineers, visionaries, [...]

RateBeer Best Awards from year 2016 released2018-10-18T13:21:45-07:00
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