Mashing-In News: Fort George Pilsner, Hall of Fame Beers
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 — Danny Bonaduce turns 66 today!
Today’s craft beer news pours like a flight you didn’t know you needed—beginning with Fort George’s crystalline Bear Creek Pilsner, proof that Astoria’s rain-fed water is as brew-worthy as Bohemia’s; shifting to Portland’s grand finale of Brews for New Avenues, the rare beer auction and philanthropic juggernaut aiming to raise $250K for youth in one day; and honoring history with the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame’s inaugural Landmark Craft Beers list. Add in the juicy debut of HBC’s Dolcita hop, the Willamette Valley’s fresh hop harvest kickoff, and North Carolina’s beer community being lauded for hurricane relief. Across the pond, the Brewers Association woos London with American pints, while in gaming land, the pixelated pilsner resistance is alive in Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop.
Astoria’s Water, Fort George’s Pilsner
Fort George Brewery’s new year-round Pilsner celebrates Astoria’s pristine Bear Creek Watershed—soft, balanced water ideal for the style—while sourcing grains and hops from Pacific Northwest farms and donating 1% of proceeds to local environmental nonprofits. (Fort George Brewery)
Rare Beer, Big Impact: Portland’s Beloved Charity Fest Bids Farewell
The 14th and final Brews for New Avenues on August 16 aims to raise $250,000 in a single day for Portland nonprofit New Avenues for Youth, uniting beer lovers from around the globe for the world’s largest rare beer auction, special brewery releases, food trucks, music, and an online rare beer auction—all to support programs for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness. (The New School)
Hall of Fame Honors Beers That Changed Craft Brewing
The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame has launched its Landmark Craft Beers program to honor individual beers that have made a lasting cultural and historical impact on U.S. brewing, debuting with five icons—Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Anchor Steam Beer, Celis White, and Anchor Liberty Ale—each recognized for shaping the craft beer movement. (Brewbound)
Hop Breeding Co. Unveils Dolcita™: A Sweet, Tropical Game-Changer
Hop Breeding Company has officially launched Dolcita™ HBC 1019, a fast-tracked new hop variety featuring vibrant notes of peach, tropical, citrus, and sweet aromas, combining standout flavor with strong agronomic traits. Now available to brewers worldwide through Yakima Chief Hops and John I. Haas. (BrewPublic)
Willamette Valley Kicks Off Fresh Hop Harvest
Oregon hop growers will kick off harvest next week, ushering in the Pacific Northwest’s once-a-year fresh hop beer season, with Willamette Valley farms supplying brewers within hours of picking to celebrate local agriculture and bolster a struggling state beer industry facing declining sales and brewery closures. (The Brewer Magazine)
Brewers Association Honors NC Beer Community for Hurricane Helene Relief
The Brewers Association has honored the North Carolina beer community with its 2025 Recognition Award for turning breweries into relief hubs, raising $250,000, and distributing over $150,000 in grants to rebuild after Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic flooding and destruction in 2024. (Brewers Association)
Brewers Association Pushes American Pints Across the Pond
The Brewers Association’s Export Development Program recently led a trade mission to London to expand the U.S. craft beer’s footprint in the U.K.—its third-largest export market—by showcasing 22 American breweries at the London Craft Beer Festival and hosting an exclusive beer-and-food media pairing event, thereby strengthening both consumer engagement and trade relationships. (Brewers Association)
The Pilsner Strikes Back
The sequel game Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop follows a mustachioed hero fighting to restore pilsner to a world where an evil Master Brewer has banned it, tasking players with exploring Oslo, solving puzzles, and joining “The Pilsner Front” in a humorous, retro point-and-click adventure—now with a playable demo on Steam. (Gaming On Linux)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
