Mashing-In News: Celebration Fresh Hop IPA, Denver Rare Beer Tasting
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 — Chevy Chase turns 82 today!
From cider to stouts, philanthropy to hop harvests, today’s craft beer headlines cover passion, purpose, and innovation: 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s Matt Sharpe shares how he plans events and handles feedback; Sierra Nevada readies its 2025 Celebration Fresh Hop IPA (with Celly Drippins slated for November); U.S. craft beer volume fell about 4% last year, sparking debate over maturity vs. collapse; the sold-out Denver Rare Beer Tasting 16 raises awareness for prostate cancer; Maryland launches Make Mine a Maryland to support local beer, wine, and spirits; Mexico’s Cervecera Hércules earns gold at the World Beer Cup with Pueblito stout; and Robert Pattinson steps in as global ambassador for French beer brand 1664.
2 Towns Ciderhouse’s Matt Sharpe on Events, Feedback & New Flavors
Matt Sharpe of 2 Towns Ciderhouse explains how he manages a calendar of 15–25 events a month, coordinates logistics and sales, values listening closely to customer feedback, and stays passionate about the industry through the satisfaction of making events come together — citing the new Guava Get Down flavor as a personal favorite. (Brewer Magazine)
Sierra Nevada Unveils 2025 Celebration Fresh Hop IPA, Release Set for Oct. 13
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will release the 2025 edition of its seasonal Celebration Fresh Hop IPA on October 13 nationwide—showcasing the intense aromatics of whole-cone hops from the recent harvest at 6.8% ABV and 65 IBU—and will pour its ultra-rare Celly Drippins (made from Celebration’s dry-hop bag drippings) at both Mills River, NC and Chico, CA locations Nov 21–24, with no take-home packaging. (The New School)
Craft Beer Slumps: U.S. Volume Drops 4% as Closures Outpace Openings
The U.S. craft beer industry is facing a contraction — in 2024, more breweries shut down than opened and production volume dropped nearly 4% — prompting media outlets to declare a “crash,” though analysts argue it looks more like market maturation than collapse. (Beervana)
Denver Rare Beer Tasting 16 Pours Rare Brews and Raises Cancer Awareness
The Denver Rare Beer Tasting 16, hosted by Pints for Prostates on October 9, 2025, features more than 50 breweries pouring ultra-rare, hard-to-get beers to raise awareness for prostate cancer, cap the GABF weekend, and offer complimentary health screening—all in a sold-out afternoon of top-tier brews and philanthropy. (All About Beer)
Craft United: Maryland Launches “Make Mine a Maryland” Campaign
Maryland’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries have joined forces in the new “Make Mine a Maryland” campaign to rally consumers to choose locally made beer, wine, and spirits—boosting state pride and supporting over 300 craft producers and tens of thousands of jobs across the region. (Craft Brewing Business)
Pueblito Export Stout Wins Gold: How Cervecera Hércules’ Josh Brengle Hit the Mark
Josh Brengle, now head brewer at Mexico’s Cervecera Hércules, crafted the export stout Pueblito—rooted in his Irish stout instincts and refined for tropical drinkability—and earned gold at the 2024 World Beer Cup by combining balance, coffee roast nuance, bottle-conditioning (using speise) and slow conditioning to overcome freshness disadvantages; the result is a richly roasted yet drinkable 6.5–6.8% ABV stout beloved by judges. (Craft Beer & Brewing)
Robert Pattinson Named Global Ambassador for French Beer 1664
Robert Pattinson has been named the first-ever global brand ambassador for French beer brand 1664, starring in an upcoming campaign directed by Oscar-nominated Brady Corbet that “explores contrasting perspectives on good taste” and positions 1664 as a beer that “brings people together.” (Variety)
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