Mashing-In News: Grit & Grain & Ladd & Lass, Chinese Hops

GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!

Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 — Emily Blunt turns 43 today!

Today’s craft beer news hums with late-winter momentum — from Tacoma’s community-charged Beer Week and a deep dive into Chinese hop terroir to the rise of experimental hoppy lagers and a fresh Grit & Grain conversation with the thoughtful builders behind Seattle’s Ladd & Lass Brewing.

Grit & Grain Podcast Spotlights Ladd & Lass Brewing

Grit & Grain Podcast Episode 178 features Ladd & Lass Brewing owners Nick Ladd and Jessie Quan sharing the story behind their University District brewery, their architectural approach to brewing, and what it takes to run a small, hands-on taproom. (Grit & Grain Podcast)

Tacoma Beer Week Brings Late-Winter Beer Celebration Back

Tacoma Beer Week returns Feb. 27–March 8 as a citywide late-winter celebration featuring nearly 50 events — from collaborative beer releases and tastings to charity drives, community projects, and creative gatherings — highlighting Tacoma’s diverse craft beer culture. (Washington Beer Blog)

Chinese Hops Step Into the Terroir Spotlight

Terroir Tuesday Week 12 explores how China’s ancient hop origins, emerging terroirs in Gansu and Xinjiang, and distinctive varieties are shaping new flavor possibilities and climate-resilient innovation in the global brewing landscape. (Shan Ferments)

Hoppy Lagers Become Craft Beer’s New Innovation Zone

As brewers refine hop-forward lagers, a new wave of experimentation is blending crisp fermentation traditions with modern hopping techniques and advanced products, reshaping styles like West Coast pilsner and Italian-style pils while redefining how time and hop expression coexist. (Craft Beer & Brewing)

LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory