Mashing-In News: Washington Beer Awards, WA Beer Hall of Fame
GOOD MORNING, SOUTH PUGET SOUND!
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 — Art Garfunkel turns 84 today!
Today’s craft beer world hums with reverence and reinvention — from Washington brewers enshrining their founding legends and racking up fresh awards, to Goose Island’s 30-year bourbon-barrel milestone, Kulshan’s cozy winter lineup, and homebrewers and hop wizards charting new frontiers in flavor, foam, and fermentation.
Washington Brewers Guild Launches Hall of Fame, Honors Seven Craft Beer Legends
Seven pioneers of Washington’s craft beer scene — Bob Brenlin, Dick Cantwell, Bert Grant, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel, and Mari and Will Kemper — were honored as the inaugural inductees into the newly established Washington Brewers Guild Hall of Fame during the 2025 Washington Beer Awards in SeaTac. (Washington Beer Blog)
Washington Brewers Shine at 2025 Washington Beer Awards
Washington’s brewing community gathered in SeaTac for the 2025 Washington Beer Awards, where 155 breweries submitted more than 1,000 beers for blind judging across 67 categories, with Garden Path Fermentation, Four Generals Brewing, Grains of Wrath Brewing, and Stoup Brewing–Ballard earning top brewery honors at the state’s largest craft beer competition. (Washington Beer Blog)
Thirty Years of Bourbon County: How Goose Island’s Experiment Changed Beer Forever
Thirty years after Goose Island’s first bourbon barrel–aged stout accidentally sparked a revolution, the experiment that began with a few borrowed Jim Beam barrels in 1995 now stands as one of America’s most influential brewing innovations—launching a global wave of barrel-aged stouts and redefining what “American beer” could mean. (Beervana)
Kulshan Brewing Unveils Winter Seasonal Lineup for the Rainy Months
Kulshan Brewing has unveiled its winter seasonal lineup, featuring the return of Kitten Mittens Winter Ale, Last Chair West Coast IPA, Bark in the Dark dark lager, and HelioTropical IPA—each brewed to carry Pacific Northwesterners through the long, rainy months with a mix of cozy malt and bright hop warmth. (Washington Beer Blog)
American Homebrewers Association Celebrates Independence and Expansion in 2025
The American Homebrewers Association announced major momentum following its transition to full independence in 2025, unveiling dual nonprofit filings, new leadership initiatives, expanded member programs, and plans for Homebrew Con 2026—all part of its vision for “a homebrewer in every neighborhood and a homebrew club in every community.” (American Homebrewers Association)
The Top IPA in Every State, According to BeerAdvocate (2025)
IPAs now command roughly half of U.S. craft sales, and a new roundup uses BeerAdvocate data (100+ ratings where available) to name each state’s highest-rated IPA—think Pliny the Younger (CA), Heady Topper (VT), King Julius (MA), Juicy Bits (CO), Notorious Triple IPA (OR), and Blimey That’s Bitter! (WA)—with Arkansas and South Dakota included, despite fewer reviews. (VinePair)
Czech vs. American Beer: A Buttery Divide
An essay reflecting on Czech and American brewing cultures argues that while Czech brewers embrace diacetyl’s buttery richness as part of their beer’s character, American brewers reject it as a flaw—revealing how each nation’s taste, tradition, and brewing history shape what they consider “good beer.” (Beervana)
North Park Beer’s Kelsey McNair Reveals Secrets to Hop Saturation in New Brewing Course
North Park Beer founder and head brewer Kelsey McNair, long celebrated for his hop-saturated IPAs, shares his latest brewing insights and advanced techniques in a new 62-minute video course—covering everything from water chemistry and pH balance to dry-hopping strategies and oxygen control—designed to help brewers master the art of hop flavor and aroma. (Craft Beer & Brewing)
GMO Apple Inspires Endless Orchard’s Rapid Rise in the Craft Cider World
Endless Orchard Cider, born from the genetically engineered nonbrowning Arctic apple, is transforming agricultural innovation into cider success—expanding from 112 to nearly 700 accounts in under two years while positioning itself as a leader in sustainable, education-driven, and flavor-forward growth within the modern cider industry. (Brewers Magazine)
The Essential Guide to Pub Etiquette
The Pellicle Magazine piece argues that pubs are vital community spaces whose spirit is preserved not just by keeping doors open but by protecting pub culture—etiquette, atmosphere, and respect for staff and fellow patrons—offering a practical, humorous code of do’s and don’ts to keep pubs convivial and inclusive. (Pellicle Magazine)
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
