Grains of Wrath rocks lagers

The metal movement has an outsider ethos and no-holds-barred authenticity that appeals to many brewers, including Grains of Wrath Brewery co-owner and brewmaster Mike Hunsaker. The metal- and punk-loving 48-year-old cut his teeth as a homebrewer and by working for breweries in Chicago and Cleveland, before relocating to Portland in 2014 to become the head brewer at Fat Head’s Brewery, where he became known for original west coast IPA recipes such as SemperFiPA and his GABF Gold Medal-winning Blitzkrieg Bock. Fat Head’s closed, which lead to Hunsaker opening his new punk and metal inspired brewery Grains of Wrath in Camas, Washington, with backers Brendan Greenen, Shawn Parker, and Brendan Ford.

Peaks and Pints had the pleasure of hanging out with Hunsaker on several occasions. First, we were at his downtown Camas, Washington brewery when he walked through his taproom door after winning a bronze medal for his Vienna Lager at GABF last year. Second, last month we brewed a collaborative double IPA, now known as Beer Beer IIPA, with Hunsaker, the brain trust of Brothers Cascadia and Trap Door Brewing, Sean Jackson of the Parkway Tavern and Ben Chased of Rainier Growlers. Last, Hunsaker was at Beer Beer’s release party Friday night at Peaks and Pints, where he brought us cans of Sin Fronteras Mexican Lager and Wrath of Chuck, a dry-hopped India pale lager collaboration with Chuckanut Brewery.

Sin Fronteras Mexican Lager is light and crisp with hints of lime zest from Motueka hops. 4.9%

Wrath of Chuck is a Nelson Sauvin dry-hopped India pale lager with flavors and aromas of resin, gooseberry, white grape and a roundhouse kick to the face. 5%

Cheers Mike!