Homebrew Diaries: Making a kettle-soured beer

Sour ales, or beers that feature acidic and tart qualities derived from one or more strains of lactic acid bacteria, can be made in many different ways. Generally speaking, there are traditional, long-aged sour ales and there are quick/wort-soured sour ales. Most of the commercial sour ales on the market are [...]

Homebrew Diaries: Making a kettle-soured beer2018-10-18T13:21:15-07:00

This weekend, help these Bellingham breweries help others

I can’t think of an industry that is more charitable or gives back more to its local communities than the brewing industry, and Bellingham breweries are as generous as they come. A few events this weekend are perfect examples, even though this is just a slice of what our local breweries [...]

This weekend, help these Bellingham breweries help others2018-10-18T13:21:23-07:00

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

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

Unique beers in the plans at Gruff Brewing

Gruff Brewing is planning to use some interesting ingredients in upcoming beers. The brewery has made unique beers before, such as its pineapple hefeweizen, spiced imperial Belgian brown, and chocolate coffee stout, but it’s about to take things to another level. No, it’s not going to use odd or gross ingredients. [...]

Unique beers in the plans at Gruff Brewing2018-10-18T13:21:37-07:00

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

Wander Belgo-American IPA

  Wander's new Belgo-American IPA is a clean, crisp, and refreshing beer. Don't let the classic copper American IPA color fool you...the Wander production crew made this brew mild enough to crush but nuanced enough to sip and ponder. It's got a creamy head that I wish lasted a bit longer [...]

Wander Belgo-American IPA2018-10-18T13:21:39-07:00

Chuckanut’s Doppelbock is fantastic

  Want the TL;DR version?  It’s fantastic.  Get yourself to Chuckanut and drink a glass while you can. Doppelbock Lager is a typically higher alcohol and dark gold to black colored version of traditional German Bock.  Though doppel means "double" in German, Bock ABV usually ranges in the 6-7% range while Doppelbock [...]

Chuckanut’s Doppelbock is fantastic2018-10-18T13:21:44-07:00

Less Hype, More Hops: Washington Hop Mob Triple IPA Roadshow celebrates strong, aggressively hopped beers

The fourth annual Washington Hop Mob Triple IPA Roadshow kicks off tomorrow, Feb. 2, at Brouwer’s Café in Seattle, where you will find a whopping 32 Hop Mob beers on tap. Through Feb. 12, other Hop Mob events will follow in 8 western Washington cities, from Bellingham to Vancouver. This year, [...]

Less Hype, More Hops: Washington Hop Mob Triple IPA Roadshow celebrates strong, aggressively hopped beers2018-10-18T13:21:45-07:00

2016 GABF Roundup, winners from WA & B’ham

  In its 30th year of competition (35th year of the festival), the 2016 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) awarded 286 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the U.S., plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur homebrewers paired with professionals. In a ceremony on Oct. 8 at the Colorado [...]

2016 GABF Roundup, winners from WA & B’ham2018-10-18T13:21:54-07:00

Tap Roundup – 10/10

Our email list is the first to hear about new local brewery openings, breaking news, exclusive email list gear deals & general craft greatness. Infrequent, not annoying, always full of beer. Sign up here. Pint Points Chuckanut Brewery won Gold for their Helles and Kulshan Brewing won Silver for their Gose at this [...]

Tap Roundup – 10/102018-10-18T13:21:54-07:00

Wander Brewing’s Cascade Coolship Fresh Hop Ale

  As we continue through Fresh Hop season, we are starting to see some of the different results being obtained by our local breweries. Today we visit one of Wander Brewing’s Fresh hop beers, Cascade Coolship. We’ve discussed the classic Cascade hop before, as it’s one of the most common hops [...]

Wander Brewing’s Cascade Coolship Fresh Hop Ale2018-10-18T13:21:55-07:00

Whatcom Women in Beer

  Whatcom Women in Beer is a coalition of females from various breweries in Whatcom county. WWiB has a goal of helping women who are interested in the beer industry, in whatever role interests them, gain the education and opportunities needed to pursue their dreams. The beer industry has many facets, but there have been [...]

Whatcom Women in Beer2018-10-18T13:22:04-07:00

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – North Fork DooLittle Sour

  One of the growing trends in the American craft brewing scene the last few years has been the emergence of “sour” beers. This is a very broad term, and covers a lot of territory. A lot of the use of souring “bugs” such as Brettanomyces (of which there are several [...]

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – North Fork DooLittle Sour2018-10-18T13:22:06-07:00

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Gruff Brewing Belgian Blonde

The Belgian Blonde Ale generally tastes like it has its roots reaching far back into history. Surprisingly, it has a development that only dates circa World War Two, and was intended to appeal to Pilsener drinkers, who had grown fond of the lighter beers. The popularity of the style continues to [...]

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Gruff Brewing Belgian Blonde2018-10-18T13:22:07-07:00

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Wander + Kulshan Raspberry Lager

  A combined effort from two of Bellingham’s busiest breweries, Wander and Kulshan, has spawned a light, refreshing beer for the upcoming Bellingham Beer Week that pays tribute to Whatcom County’s important raspberry crop. With over 8,500 acres of red raspberries, spread among about 100 farms, Whatcom County produces over 60% [...]

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Wander + Kulshan Raspberry Lager2018-10-18T13:22:07-07:00

Gruff Brewing is Open

  The article's title has been changed to reflect that Terry, in fact, did not review the beers below. The numbers associated with the beers are, as he says, ABV. Terry's Rating graphic has been moved so it's less confusing. Editorial regrets the confusion. Reviews of Gruff's beers will be coming. [...]

Gruff Brewing is Open2018-10-18T13:22:09-07:00

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Aslan Brewing’s I am Gruit!

  You’re most likely unfamiliar with the Gruit (rhymes with “root”) style. I only have had limited dealings with it myself. So, let’s take a look at what we have in front of us. Gruit is an old style of beer dating back to the 1100’s, and perhaps even farther, that was popular in [...]

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Aslan Brewing’s I am Gruit!2018-10-18T13:22:09-07:00

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Structures Empress Double IPA

  Welcome to Bellingham Brewed Reviews, where we review ONLY beers brewed in Bellingham. Opinions held here are not necessarily those of Tap Trail. There’s a new type of beer that you may have encountered lately. Generally, they come with the term “IPA” as a style descriptor, but look nothing like the [...]

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Structures Empress Double IPA2018-10-18T13:22:11-07:00

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Boundary Bay Galaxy Single Hop

  Welcome to Bellingham Brewed Reviews, where we review ONLY beers brewed in Bellingham. Opinions held here are not necessarily those of Tap Trail. On a similar theme as our most recent review, today we are visiting another Single Hop brew. The soon-to-be 21 year old Boundary Bay Brewery has been [...]

Bellingham Brewed Reviews – Boundary Bay Galaxy Single Hop2017-09-13T17:10:08-07:00

Fairhaven Stones Throw – SMaSH Cascade

  Welcome to Bellingham Brewed Reviews, where we review ONLY beers brewed in Bellingham. Opinions held here are not necessarily those of Tap Trail. This new brew from Fairhaven’s Stones Throw Brewery features a Single Malt and Single Hop, (thus the name SMaSH) in this case a Skagit Valley grown and [...]

Fairhaven Stones Throw – SMaSH Cascade2018-10-18T13:22:15-07:00
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