Mashing-In News: Grit & Grain with Shanleigh Thomson, Garden Path Sues
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Friday, Jan. 8, 2026 — Jimmy Page turns 82 today
Today’s craft beer news surveys an industry in transition, from big questions about beer’s future and who gets to tell its story, to legal battles over transparency, consolidation reshaping Northwest cider, hop markets slowly finding balance, and breweries doubling down on quality, community, and cold-weather joy.
A New Year Look at Beer’s Future With Fermentation Expert Shanleigh Thomson
Episode 172 kicks off 2026 with fermentation expert and beer educator Shanleigh Thomson discussing her path through the beer world and unpacking how the future of beer may hinge on what people drink, when they drink it, and where ingredients like vintage hops and regional inputs come from. (Grin & Grain Podcast)
Garden Path Fermentation Sues to Allow Vintage Labels on Cider and Mead
Garden Path Fermentation has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a TTB rule that bans cider, mead, and fruit wine producers from listing vintage years on labels above 7% ABV, arguing the prohibition suppresses truthful information and unfairly treats these products differently than grape wine. (Washington Beer Blog)
2 Towns Cider Acquires Seattle Cider, Production Moves to Oregon
2 Towns Ciderhouse has acquired Seattle Cider Company, uniting two of the Pacific Northwest’s most influential cider makers while shifting Seattle Cider’s production to Corvallis, expanding capacity, and closing the Seattle SODO taproom as the brands move forward under one growing cider portfolio. (The New School)
Seattle Cider to Leave Seattle as Production Moves to Oregon
Seattle Cider Company will close its SODO taproom and move all production out of Seattle to 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s Corvallis, Oregon facility following its acquisition, ending taproom service in late February 2026 and marking the loss of a longtime Seattle cider landmark. (Washington Beer Blog)
Michael James Jackson Foundation Awards New Scholarships to Oregon Brewers
The Michael James Jackson Foundation has announced its 10th cohort of technical education scholarship recipients, including Oregon brewers Dashawn Agbonze of Von Ebert and Alexis Chanes of pFriem, continuing its mission to expand access to world-class brewing and distilling education for people of color while strengthening the industry’s future talent pipeline. (The New School)
USDA Report Shows Hop Market Moving Toward Balance After Years of Surplus
The latest USDA National Hops Report suggests the hop market is slowly finding balance, with acreage, production, and value continuing to decline at manageable rates while surplus stocks shrink, signaling a cautious reset driven by reduced brewery demand, fewer beer releases, and a growing concentration around a smaller number of dominant hop varieties. (Beervana)
Visualizing Hop Acreage: How the Hop Landscape Has Changed Over Time
A new interactive visualization by Max Coleman of Coleman Ag maps how hop acreage has shifted over the past decade, revealing dramatic changes in varieties, regions, and the balance between aroma, bittering, public, and proprietary hops as grower priorities and market demand evolve. (Beervana)
Dru Bru Brings Ski and Snowboard Rail Jam Back to Snoqualmie Pass
Dru Bru is turning its Snoqualmie Pass taproom into a front-row winter arena with the 2nd Annual Dru Bru Rail Jam, hauling in snow to host a free, parking-lot ski and snowboard competition complete with cash prizes, beer, food, live music, and full-on mountain-community vibes. (Washington Beer Blog)
pFriem Sets a Focused, Quality-Driven Course for 2026
pFriem Family Brewers is heading into 2026 with a tightened, fan-focused beer lineup, highlighted by the launch of Tropical Hazy IPA, a full calendar of seasonal and barrel-aged releases, a high-profile Firestone Walker collaboration, and a continued emphasis on quality, collaboration, and community stewardship as craft beer matures. (BrewPublic)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
