Bret Gordon left the University of Colorado with a degree in Economics and a passion for craft beer. He continued into the finance world, probably sipping an Avery Brewing beer here and there. It didn’t take long for him to realize that being at a desk was not for him, and he wanted to become a professional brewer. That passion led him and his family to California, where he returned to school to earn a Professional Brewing Certificate at the University of San Diego. He swore he would never return to school, but beer will make you do crazy things. From there, Gordon worked as a professional brewer for several years at SoCal breweries, including The Bruery. In 2018, Gordon and his family traveled north to Spokane and opened Lumberbeard Brewing, a 20-barrel brewhouse on the east end of downtown. Today, Peaks & Pints salutes Lumberbeard with an in-house beer flight. It’s a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lumberbeard. For more background on Lumberbeard, tune in to the Grit & Grain Podcast Episode 87.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lumberbeard Brewing
Lumberbeard LGR SZN: Czech Pilsner
4.9% ABV
Czech-style or Bohemian pilsners are pale gold and brilliantly clear. They have a low-to-medium hop profile and almost exclusively use the native Czech Saaz hop, giving the overall flavor a spiciness. Often, Czech-style pilsners are slightly more malt-forward, with notes of biscuit, cracker, and bread. They can be lower in carbonation and have a more full, rounded mouthfeel. They finish crisp and refreshing. Lumberbeard brews a Czech-style pilsner, LGR SZN, brewed with locally grown and malted Czech heritage variety Pilsner malt and hopped exclusively with Saaz. The aroma is slightly nutty with light honey, dried flowers, and a good dose of noble hops. It’s a bit grassier in the flavor with slightly sweet malt and hoppiness.
Lumberbeard Taco Vibes
4.8% ABV
The story of Vienna lager begins in 1841 when Anton Dreher, owner of the Schwechat brewery near Vienna, introduced it to the market. This was only a year before the advent of pilsner, the first clear lager popularized in Europe. Vienna lager, named after the city where it was created, introduced most of Europe to modern bottom-fermented beer before being supplanted by pilsner. Emperor Maximilian 1st, an Austrian nobleman brought to Mexico by the French, is said to have introduced Vienna lager to Mexico so that he could drink his native beer in his new homeland. He is said to have ordered the construction of a brewery to brew Viennese beers. The brewery was built in Orizaba, Veracruz, and was known as La Constancia. As a result, Vienna lager was quickly adopted throughout Mexico, which explains the current popularity of this beer style and the name of Lumberbeard’s Vienna lager’s Taco Vibes with notes of malt and dark bread with a sweet and dry finish.
Lumberbeard Shaky Start
7% ABV
Shaky Start is a collaboration between Spokane Valley breweries Lumberbeard, YaYa Brewing, and Brick West Brewing. It’s a classic West Coast IPA brewed with Centennial, Chinook, Cascade, and Riwaka hops for pine notes, a slight dankness, and a beautifully clean finish.
Lumberbeard SnowBird
7% ABV
A juice bomb collaboration with CLS Farms and NZ Hops, Lumberbeard created a 50/50 blend of El Dorado and Nectaron hops for white peach, tangerine, and pear candy flavors.
Lumberbeard Anniversary Year 5
15.8% ABV
Everyone loves anniversary cakes, but Lumberbeard didn’t name themselves Lumberbeard Cakes for a reason. They brew beer, including a big barleywine, for their fifth anniversary back in January. Year 5 is a blend of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old Willet Whiskey barrel-aged barleywine. This is a hefty beer, with each sip full of caramel, dark fruit, subtle orange, oaky vanilla, and whiskey notes. Think whiskey-soaked pecan pie.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
