Engineer Barry Chan adored homebrewing. He dove, kettle first, into the Seattle homebrewing scene asking questions and sharing his beer knowledge. His passion and dedication soon translated into a Beer Judge Certification Program judge where he earned a National score on his first tasting exam. One day, while homebrewing in his kitchen, his buddy Raymond Kwan sunk into the couch playing Mario Bros. and dreaming of his next big thing. His first idea was an East Coast-style sports bar since Kwan has roots in New Jersey and loves sports. Chan, from Pennsylvania, suggested opening a brewery in Ballard, which is what they did. In its first year, Lucky Envelope Brewing won a medal at the 2015 GABF, which is no longer alone on their medal wall. The brewery name comes from a Chinese tradition of handing out red envelopes filled with paper money. The color red is meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good health, while the money inside is supposed to bring prosperity. Chan and Kwan are Chinese Americans who embraced a culturally inspired philosophy to creating beer — from their Pandan Almond Milk Stout brewed with real pandan leaves to a Gotlandsdricka beer based on Swedish homebrew made with juniper boughs and smoked malts to a 5,000-year-old Mijiaya Historic Chinese Beer recipe complete with Job’s tears, barley, millet, lily flowers, and yam. At 4:30 p.m. today, Chan and Kwan will sit down with the Grit & Grain Podcast in Peaks & Pints’ Event Room to discuss their brewery and culture. In conjunction, Peaks presents an all-day, in-house flight of Lucky Envelope beer — a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lucky Envelope.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lucky Envelope
Lucky Envelope Helles Lager
5% ABV
Refreshingly crisp and malt-forward, this traditional German-style helles lager is light and bright. This lager balances delicate grain flavors and a hint of bread crust with traditional noble hops for a pleasant, soft bitterness. Fun fact: This helles grabbed bronze in the “Dortmunder/German-Style Oktoberfest” category at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival competition
Lucky Envelope Swiss Army Bier
5.4% ABV
New Spring Brewing owner and head brewer Dave Marliave left Corvallis, Oregon, and headed to Ballard. Angora Brewing owner and head brewer Warren Billups stopped building out his future Olympic Peninsula brewery and headed to Ballard. Barry Chan welcomed them to his Lucky Envelope brewery and the three brewers made the Swiss Army Bier, an “Alpine Red Lager” brewed with Swiss yeast from Zürich’s Hürlimann Brewery that boasts a toasty and warming profile complemented by a crispness reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.
Lucky Envelope South African Hazy IPA
6.3% ABV
Lucky Envelope appropriately hops and dry hops their South African Hazy IPA with Southern Passion and Southern Star straight out of the city of George, South Africa. Expect notes of red berries, apricot, green coconut, and orange peel.
Lucky Envelope Peanut Butter Cream Stout
6% ABV
Peanut Butter Cream Stout contains real peanut butter infused with the cocoa, coffee, and light roast flavors of our cream stout. Aromas of peanut butter and milk chocolate with light roast hit the nose, followed by chocolate, roast, and peanut butter. Lactose and flaked oats add a smooth creaminess to balance out bold dark malts.
Lucky Envelope Toffee Chocolate Cream Stout
6% ABV
Lucky Envelope’s latest cream stout combines real toffee chips and cacao nibs to elevate the base notes of coffee, chocolate, and roast. Hints of caramelized brown sugar dance alongside the decadence of rich cocoa powder.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
