Mashing-In News: Importer Aaron Cohn, Stoup Soccer
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 — Kate Moss turns 52 today!
Today’s craft beer news pours deep and wide — from legacy importers and milestone anniversaries to neighborhood soccer partnerships, evolving beer strengths, and a timely reminder that some of the best ideas in beer, like cask ale and Baltic porter, only get better when we slow down and listen to the people who keep carrying them forward.
Merchant du Vin and the Art of Importing Great Beer
Episode 173 of the Grit & Grain Podcast features Merchant du Vin regional sales manager Aaron Cohn discussing the importer’s legacy in shaping American beer culture, his own path through the beer world, a love of funky classics, and the human stories behind some of the world’s most iconic imported beers. (Grit & Grain Podcast)
Stoup Brewing Joins Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC in Community-Driven Soccer Partnership
Stoup Brewing has become the official brewery partner for Ballard FC and Salmon Bay FC, bringing its beers to Interbay Stadium, hosting team watch parties and community events at its Ballard taproom, and launching a pint glass collaboration that celebrates local soccer, neighborhood pride, and women-led leadership. (Washington Beer Blog)
San Juan Seltzer Joins Great Frontier Collective, Expanding PNW Craft Portfolio
San Juan Seltzer has joined the Great Frontier Collective of Brands, aligning the Northwest’s top craft hard seltzer with Ninkasi, Incline Cider, and Ecliptic Brewing to expand its production, distribution, and reach amid a shifting craft beverage landscape. (Washington Beer Blog)
Briess Celebrates 150 Years of Malting Innovation and Craft Beer Partnership
Briess Malt & Ingredients is marking its 150th anniversary in 2026, celebrating a five-generation legacy of innovation, quality, and partnership that helped shape modern malting and fuel the rise of American craft brewing. (Briess Malt)
Firestone Walker Turns 30, Reaffirming Beer Before Glory
Firestone Walker is marking its 30th anniversary in 2026 by reaffirming its founding values, refreshing heritage beers like DBA, reviving fan favorites, and celebrating three decades of innovation, balance, and community without losing sight of what made the brewery enduring in the first place. (Northwest Beer Guide)
Why Cask Ale Still Matters in a Changing Beer World
In a new Brewer to Brewer podcast episode, Wild Bloom’s Devin Bush and Thornbridge’s Rob Lovett dig into the enduring joy of cask ale while exploring how consistency, process, and genuine consumer connection can help brewers navigate a changing beer landscape. (All About Beer)
Doug Veliky on the Trends That Will Shape Craft Beer in 2026
Beverage consultant and BeerCrunchers author Doug Veliky shares his clear-eyed take on where craft beer and beverage branding are headed in the next year, from emerging flavor trends and mid-strength beers to pricing pressure, brand discipline, and why quality and patience matter more than ever. (Craft Beer & Brewing)
A Year in Beer Travel: The Places Are Great, the People Are Better
A reflective look back at 2025’s beer travels traces a year of revisiting classic beer cities, discovering new ones, and celebrating the brewers, writers, bartenders, and chance companions whose conversations and shared pints gave the journeys their real meaning. (A Tempest In A Tankard)
From London Docks to Baltic Lagers: Celebrating Baltic Porter Day
Baltic Porter Day 2026 celebrates the evolution of porter from 18th-century London to the Baltic region, highlighting its lager-fermented roots, rich dark malt flavors, and modern ways for drinkers to join in by checking in a Baltic porter during the January 17–19 celebration. (Untapped)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
