Mashing-In News: Tournament of Beer, Seahawks Cheers
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 — Alice Cooper turns 78 today!
Wednesday’s craft beer news reads like a winter survival manual with a pulse — a region-wide beer bracket throws elbows for Northwest supremacy, the Seahawks offer a possible Super Bowl thaw, brewers brace through Dry January hangovers, legends earn their flowers, and homebrewers are officially cleared to chase glory again.
Tournament of Beer Returns with a Region-Wide Search for the Best Northwest Brewery
Peaks & Pints will host its April 2026 Tournament of Beer: Best Northwest Brewery, inviting the public to nominate and vote 64 Washington and Oregon breweries into a head-to-head bracket that culminates in a live championship pour-off and a permanent tap handle for the winner. (Peaks & Pints)
Seahawks Super Bowl Run Could Deliver a Much-Needed Winter Boost for Washington Breweries
The Seattle Seahawks’ historic Super Bowl run offers a timely chance for Washington’s craft breweries to shake off Dry January and Frigid February, with brewers hoping game-day parties and fan-fueled celebrations translate into much-needed winter beer sales during the toughest stretch of the year. (Washington Beer Blog)
Dry January, Frigid February: Washington Breweries Struggle Through a Brutal Winter
Washington’s craft brewers are facing their toughest winter in decades, with January and February now the slowest months of the year, sales continuing to decline post-pandemic, and record brewery closures mounting even as the industry remains a major economic engine for the state. (The New School)
Craft Beer Hall of Fame Names 2026 Class, Honors Pioneer Teri Fahrendorf
The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026 nominees and induction ceremony, with pioneering brewer and Pink Boots Society founder Teri Fahrendorf—the only honoree with a direct Pacific Northwest connection—recognized for a career that helped shape modern craft beer and expand opportunity across the industry. (Washington Beer Blog)
Registration Opens for the 2026 National Homebrew Competition
Registration is now open for the 2026 National Homebrew Competition, the world’s largest beer, cider, and mead competition, featuring nine first-round sites, lower entry fees, new leadership, and cash prizes, with finals and awards held during Homebrew Con in Asheville this June. (Homebrewers Association)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
