Mashing-In News: Lowlander Opens, Vancouver Beer Hall
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 — Billy Gibbons turns 76 today!
Craft beer headlines today swing between celebration and recalibration—new openings and anniversaries collide with closures, hop science, sustainability plays, industry honors, and fresh reminders that the way we drink, gather, and build beer culture is still rapidly evolving.
Brewers Association: Craft Beer Slows, but the Sky Isn’t Falling
The Brewers Association’s 2025 Year in Beer report shows craft beer facing continued headwinds—from rising costs, tariffs, and slower growth to more closures than openings—but points to stabilizing taproom traffic, low-ABV growth, community-focused hospitality, and long-term scale as reasons for cautious optimism rather than collapse. (Washington Beer Blog)
Lowlander Brewing Opens in Pioneer Square With Lagers, Tanks, and Game-Day Energy
Seattle’s Lowlander Brewing opened December 14 in Pioneer Square, pairing chef Renee Erickson’s food vision and veteran brewer Josh Waldman’s lager-forward beers in a striking new tank-bar beer hall built for game-day crowds and classic pub energy. (Washington Beer Blog)
Loyal Legion Expands to Washington With Vancouver Beer Hall
Portland-based Chefstable Group has purchased Heathen Brewing’s former Feral Public House in downtown Vancouver, Washington, and plans to reopen the 10,000-square-foot space as Loyal Legion Vancouver in spring 2026, bringing its high-draft-count beer hall concept to Washington for the first time with a focus on Washington-made beer. (The New School)
Mighty Pine Brewing Quietly Becomes a Port Angeles Standout
Opened in summer 2024, Port Angeles’ Mighty Pine Brewing has quickly earned a loyal following, near-perfect reviews, local “Best Brewery” honors, and a Washington Beer Awards medal by focusing on quality beer, welcoming hospitality, and true community roots. (Washington Beer Blog)
Dogfish Head Goes Full Rock ’n’ Roll With CREEM and a Dirty Martini Finale
To cap its 30th anniversary, Dogfish Head teamed up with CREEM Magazine to launch a rebellious “Drrrty Thrrrty” rock playlist and a limited-edition dirty martini canned cocktail, blending off-centered music culture with a bold, savory spirits release. (Brewpublic)
Outlaw Light Expands Across the Pacific Northwest With New Distribution Deals
Outlaw Light Beer is expanding its Pacific Northwest presence by partnering with Odom Corporation in Washington and Idaho and Point Blank Distributing in Oregon, bringing its fast-growing, 105-calorie light lager to more bars, retailers, and drinkers across the region. (Brewer Magazine)
Crosby Hops Begins Direct-to-Brewer Distribution in Canada
Crosby Hops has expanded direct distribution into Canada, giving brewers nationwide access to fresher hops, advanced CGX products, streamlined logistics, and direct relationships with the Oregon grower. (Brewers Journal)
Untappd Recappd 2025 Turns Beer Check-Ins Into a Month-Long Game
Untappd has launched Recappd 2025, a month-long, gamified look back at users’ drinking histories that adds daily missions, faction competition, exclusive badges, and the power for participants to help choose the app’s 2026 icon. (Untappd)
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