Mashing-In News: #PubJanuary, Flannel Fest
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 — Kate McKinnon turns 42 today!
Tuesday’s craft beer news swings from community-minded winter survival mode (#PubJanuary and flannel-and-charity season) to deep-style nerdery and big-ticket spectacle, with American bock history, Utopias’ barrel-aged bravado, and a fresh wave of genuinely good non-alcoholic beers rounding out the mix.
#PubJanuary Urges Drinkers to Support Local Breweries Through Winter
The #PubJanuary campaign encourages people to support local breweries during the toughest winter months by gathering in taprooms for community events, meals, and non-alcoholic options, highlighting how pubs combat isolation, support mental health, and provide critical economic lifelines beyond just selling beer. (Beervana)
Flannel Fest Returns to Bend With Winter Warmers and Charity Cheer
Bend’s Midtown Yacht Club will host the 4th Annual Flannel Fest on January 31, 2026, bringing winter warmers, flannel-fueled fun, charity raffles for Bethlehem Inn, and a flurry of beer, cider, and community spirit to Central Oregon. (Brewpublic)
American Bock: The Lager Style Germany Didn’t Invent
A deep historical and technical dive traces how American bock evolved into its own distinct style—lighter, drier, often adjunct-driven, and culturally rooted in beers like Shiner Bock—revealing a uniquely American lager tradition shaped as much by practicality, climate, and perception as by malt and yeast. (Craft Beer & Brewing)
Utopias 2025: Boston Beer’s Boundary-Pushing Magnum Opus Returns
Boston Beer Company’s Utopias 2025 revisits and refines its decades-long experiment in pushing beer beyond traditional limits, blending ultra-high-ABV ale aged across an expansive range of spirit and wine barrels into a $250, spirit-like release that drinks more like a complex digestif than a conventional beer. (Northwest Beer Guide)
The 30 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers for 2026, Ranked by Flavor and Hardware
A 2026 guide argues non-alcoholic beer has officially grown up, rounding up 30 standout NA picks across styles using medals, ratings, and stats while explaining why modern brewing methods now deliver real hop, malt, and stout-level flavor without the foggy next morning. (PorchDrinking)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
