Mashing-In News: Top 10 Sports Bra, New NA IPA With a Cause
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Thursday, August 28, 2025 — Jack Black turns 56 today!
From Portland’s Sports Bra making USA Today’s list of America’s top sports bars, to Olympia’s Self Care Brewing releasing a non-alc IPA with a cause, to Elysian’s pumpkin beers earning their own Untappd badge, today’s craft beer news is a full pour of innovation, tradition, and the shifting challenges shaping the industry.
The Sports Bra Named One of America’s Top 10 Sports Bars by USA Today
Portland’s The Sports Bra, the nation’s first bar dedicated entirely to women’s sports, has been named one of USA Today’s 10Best Sports Bars in America, recognized for its electric atmosphere, inclusive community, and commitment to showcasing women’s games on the big screen. (USAToday)
Hop-Forward, Heart-Forward: Self Care’s New NA IPA With a Cause
Olympia-based Self Care Brewing has released Hasta La Raíz, a non-alcoholic Oatmeal Cream IPA brewed in collaboration with Crosby Hop Farm, featuring citrus-forward hops, oats, wheat, and lactose for a fluffy mouthfeel. Proceeds from the sale of this beer support Freedom for Immigrants as part of a nationwide effort to promote dignity and human rights. (Washington Beer Blog)
Elysian and Untappd Launch Pumpkin Patch Badge for Fall 2025
Elysian Brewing is celebrating more than 25 years of pumpkin beer tradition by teaming up with Untappd to launch the Pumpkin Patch Badge, which drinkers can unlock between September 1 and October 31, 2025, by checking in Space Dust IPA, Night Owl, Great Pumpkin, or Punkuccino—making fall festivities a little more fun for pumpkin (and IPA) fans nationwide. (Untappd)
Sierra Nevada Unveils 2026 Lineup With West Ghost IPA and Juicy Non-Alc
Sierra Nevada unveiled its 2026 “core four” strategy—centered on strengthening its flagship beers—while rolling out spotlight releases including West Ghost IPA, a spring seasonal, rotating hazy offerings, and a juicy non-alcoholic beer, aiming to complement its core lineup rather than replace it. (Brewbound Insiders)
Millennials Age Out, Gen Z Drinks Less: Craft Breweries Struggle to Adapt
As Millennials age out, Gen Z drinks less, and rising costs squeeze margins, craft breweries in Western Massachusetts are facing declining taproom traffic and closures, forcing owners like White Lion, Skyline, and Brew Practitioners to pivot toward food, events, and broader experiences beyond beer to stay viable. (BusinessWest)
AI and Enzymes Drive Brewing Into the Future
Beers brewed with the help of enzymes like amylase and digital tools such as AI are gaining ground, with a new report projecting the global brewing enzymes market to grow from $534.1 million in 2024 to $792.8 million by 2030, driven by craft innovation, rising beer consumption, and demand for health-conscious options like gluten-free and low-calorie brews—though regulatory hurdles, high costs, and traditionalist resistance remain challenges. (The Drinks Business)
TTB Launches Pilot Program to Simplify Brewery Tax Filings
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has launched a Tax Simplification Pilot Program, inviting brewers to test new consolidated forms that combine excise tax returns and operational reports to reduce filing time, streamline compliance, and gather industry feedback before implementing permanent changes. (Craft Brewing Business)
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