Mashing-In News: Ezra Meeker Hop Museum Beer, Untappd Mania
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 — Keanu Reeves turns 61 today!
From Ezra Meeker’s hop empire reborn as a modern taproom-museum to Yakima’s growers pressing Congress for labor and innovation support, from Rochester’s foraged-brewery fairy tale to Untappd’s flurry of new badges and partnerships, today’s craft beer news reminds us that history, creativity, and technology are all on tap.
Ezra Meeker’s Legacy Lives On in a New Taproom-Museum Vision
Tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in the Peaks & Pints Events Room, the Grit & Grain Podcast records Episode 159 diving into Puyallup’s hop-soaked past and future with community leader Shelly Schlumpf, co-president of the Puyallup Historical Society at Meeker Mansion, as she shares how Ezra Meeker’s “Hop King” legacy is inspiring a new taproom-meets-museum hop barn for today’s Puyallup Valley. (Grit & Grain Podcast)
Yakima’s Hop Giants Call for Policy Support to Fuel Beer Innovation
Representative Dan Newhouse met with Yakima Valley hop industry leaders to discuss federal policies affecting growers, highlighting the economic impact of beer in Washington ($12 billion and 57,000 jobs), while CEOs from Hopsteiner, Yakima Chief, and John I. Haas stressed the importance—but high costs—of the H-2A guest worker program, the need for ongoing innovation, and the role of R&D tax credits in keeping the region’s hop industry globally competitive. (NBC Right Now)
Forager Brewery: From Fundraiser Spark to National Recognition
Forager Brewery co-owner Annie Henderson never set out to run a brewery, but a chance fundraiser sparked a partnership with brewer Austin Jevne that grew into Forager—a Rochester, Minnesota community hub known for its foraged décor, scratch-made food, live music, and nationally acclaimed wild and barrel-aged beers, which over ten years has become one of the most celebrated breweries in the state and beyond. (Hop Culture)
Untappd Launches “Celebrate Oktoberfest” Badge for 190th Fest
Untappd is celebrating the 190th Oktoberfest with a new “Celebrate Oktoberfest” badge, which drinkers can unlock between Sept. 1 and Oct. 6, 2025, by checking in any Märzen or Festbier, with a special Oktoberfest Beer Box also available in the Untappd Shop for those seeking festive brews. (Untappd)
Sip, Hike, Repeat: Unlock Untappd’s New Love Hiking Badge
Speaking of Untappd, it has launched the Love Hiking badge, sponsored by Athletic Brewing and Oboz Footwear, encouraging beer fans to enjoy a pint outdoors between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, 2025, while also entering a giveaway for hiking shoes, NA beer, and eco-friendly gear. (Untappd)
Untappd Partners With DoorDash to Power Smarter Beer Listings
Haven’t had your fill of Untappd news yet? Untappd has partnered with DoorDash to integrate its 3-million–beer catalog into the food delivery app, letting customers see detailed product info—including style notes, ABV, IBUs, descriptions, and packaging photos—while giving breweries more control and visibility through an upgraded Producer Beverage Management tool. (Craft Brewing Business)
Against the Trend: Why Halfway Crooks Still Brews Its Beloved Sanguine Pale Ale
Halfway Crooks’ Sanguine (4.9% ABV), named one of the Best 20 Beers of 2022, is a Belgian-inspired, hop-forward pale ale brewed with Belgian-grown hops and a unique three-strain yeast blend, offering a balance of fruity esters, spice, citrus, and firm bitterness—an optimistic yet challenging beer that the Atlanta brewery continues to brew despite shifting consumer trends. (Craft Beer & Brewing)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
