Peaks & Pints Tournament of Beer: Best PNW Breweries April 20
Today, the field tightens again.
By midnight, we cut it to the Sweet 16 — a bracket that no longer guesses, no longer experiments, just moves. From here on out, every round gets sharper, faster, and far less forgiving.
And then it comes quick. Fewer breweries. Heavier votes. No room to hide.
But that’s ahead.
Right now, it’s the final day of the Second Round.
No easing into it. No catching up later. These four matchups decide who gets within reach of something real. Every vote lands harder. Every result carries forward.
Voting is live on Peaks & Pints’ Instagram Stories.
One vote per matchup. Voting ends at midnight.
Check the bracket. Trust your gut. Back your brewery.
Monday, April 20, Second Round Best PNW Breweries Games
GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Structures Brewing, Bellingham (6) vs. Stoup Brewing, Seattle (3)
Structures doesn’t chase attention — it refines it. What started in 2015 as a Belgian-leaning, mixed fermentation project has evolved into one of the cleanest, most dialed-in lager and IPA programs in the state, especially since Bryan Cardwell joined James Alexander in ownership. The new waterfront-adjacent space feels like the beer — open, intentional, quietly confident.
Stoup is built on a different kind of risk — the kind that pays off. Lara Zahaba and Brad Benson left everything behind to plant a brewery in Ballard’s then-bare brewing district, backed by science, instinct, and just enough nerve. What followed is one of Seattle’s most complete operations: crisp lagers, hop-forward standouts, and a reach that now stretches across multiple locations and their own distribution arm.
Structures needs to stay precise and let its evolution speak.
Stoup needs to trust its balance and let experience carry it.
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GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Irrelevant Beer, Vancouver (12) vs. Vice Beer, Vancouver (13)
This one’s for the city.
Irrelevant Beer has made a habit of not acting like its name — loud room, strong pours, and a crowd that leans in when the energy’s right. If Matt’s behind the bar, working the room, keeping the vibe high, Irrelevant suddenly feels very relevant.
Vice Beer lives in a different lane — all 1990s muscle and attitude, a throwback swagger that doesn’t ask permission. Big flavors, bold moves, a sense that subtlety might be overrated. You can almost hear sneakers squeaking on hardwood.
Irrelevant needs to keep the room buzzing and make it feel like home.
Vice needs to channel the ’90s Bulls and close like a dynasty.
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GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION
Wayfinder Beer, Portland (7) vs. pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River (2)
Wayfinder doesn’t announce itself — it calibrates. Built on lager obsession and quiet innovation, it helped bend the conversation with Cold IPA and then went right back to pouring perfectly tuned pilsners like it was no big deal. There’s precision here, but also a willingness to nudge the style just enough to make you look twice.
pFriem operates at a different scale of polish. Belgian-inspired ales, pristine lagers, hop-forward standouts — all delivered with a consistency that feels almost architectural. It’s not just a brewery, it’s a standard. And voters know exactly what they’re getting every time.
Wayfinder needs to keep it sharp and land something just unexpected enough.
pFriem needs to stay flawless and let its reputation carry weight.
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GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Block 15 Brewing, Corvallis (1) vs. Crux Fermentation Project, Bend (8)
Block 15 doesn’t need to remind you — but it will anyway. Sticky Hands didn’t just win the 2021 Tournament of Double IPAs, it rewired expectations for what hop saturation could feel like when it’s done right. Beyond that, the Corvallis brewery moves with range and confidence, from Belgian nuance to hop-forward firepower, all grounded in a deep connection to Oregon ingredients.
Crux is built for movement. A Bend staple with a patio that feels like its own weather system, it leans into experimentation, seasonal shifts, and a lineup that rarely sits still for long. It’s energy, variety, and a sense that something new is always about to happen.
Block 15 needs to lean on its pedigree and land with authority.
Crux needs to keep it dynamic and turn momentum into noise.
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LINK: Tournament of Beer Headquarters
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