Remember when you were perched at the top of Trappers Peak, feeling exhausted but accomplished as you survey the peaks and valleys of the landscape? Remember when you felt the tug of a catch while you’re standing knee-deep in a flowing Sol Duc River? Remember when paddled through whitewater rapids of South Fork Snoqualmie River? Remember when we use to ski every Thanksgiving instead of waiting for February for decent snow? Finding your bliss in the outdoors can mean something different to everyone. But whatever it means to you, you probably can find it in the Northwest, and you can celebrate your outdoor adventure with a craft beer at Peaks & Pints at Basecamp Proctor in Tacoma. Today, Peaks & Pints presents a five, outdoors-themed flight of beers to enjoy after your adventure, or to sip while planning your next. Stop by and enjoy Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Outdoors.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Outdoors
Douglas Lager
4.7% ABV
Named after the Douglas fir tree, the only native to the Northwest, specifically Cascadia, Douglas Lager is a return to the classic, crisp, easy-drinking beer that tastes just like it should, and is made by locals, for locals, and for anyone enjoying Northwest outdoor adventures. It’s brewed by Chris Smith and John Marti, the award-winning lager specialists of Seattle’s Lowercase Brewing, and is brewed and bottled at 7 Seas Brewing in Tacoma. The malt in the beer is from LINC Malt in Spokane while the hops and yeast are from Oregon. Even the bottling line the brewers are using to package the beer has regional roots: It’s the bottling line used by Olympia’s now-defunct Fish Brewing, which in turn contains parts from Olympia Beer’s bottling line.
Kulshan Bruce Springskiing
6% ABV
The Mt. Baker National Recreation Area was established in 1984, which butts against the westside of North Cascade National Park. The dominant feature in the North Cascades is Mt. Baker, a glaciated volcano that can be seen on clear days from as far as Olympia. Mt. Baker Ski Area is in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and is operated under a permit granted by United States Forest Service. Mt. Baker has had many names over the centuries. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Lummi called it Koma Kulshan, meaning “Great White Watcher.” Spring skiing has arrived at the Mt. Baker Ski Area and there’s no better beer to enjoy after skiing it than Kulshan Brewing’s Bruce Springskiing, a smooth and easy drinking IPA with hop notes of tangerine, grapefruit, mango, and tropical fruits.
Backwoods Copperline
5% ABV
In 1880 A. S. Estabrook built the first sawmill in Wind River Valley, a waterpower concern on Carson Creek in Skamania County, Washington. The following year, a company built a good-sized steam sawmill where the town of Carson now stands. The lumber industry has since left Carson, but Backwoods Brewing Co. pours craft beers and serves delicious pizza for flannel-wearing folk in the town. Backwoods’ taproom sits at the gateway to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Old Man’s Pass and Mt. St. Helens. Wind River Highway runs directly through Carson leading to world class fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, berry and mushroom picking, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and beautiful scenery. While only at 469 feet above sea level, Carson looks and feels like a mountain town. Backwoods pulls all its water used in the brewing process from Bear Creek in Carson, one of the freshest water sources the natural region offers. Their Copperline amber ale has a floral, sweet aroma like wild strawberries from the forest. Woodsy notes of honey and warm rain meet and greet in the glass and move into the mouthfeel with soft flavors of malt and caramel.
Bale Breaker TrailBreaker
6.8% ABV
Yakima’s backyard hosts some of the best outdoor recreation in the state. With its warm dry climate, easy access to the cascades, and nearly 300 days of sun, the Yakima Valley offers ample opportunities to move your body while enjoying the scenic beauty of rolling desert hills, crystal clear rivers, and evergreen forests. Peaks & Pints travelled to the Yakima Valley and Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to brew our seventh house beer, Bale Breaker Brewing TrailBreaker IPA, which was first released at Peaks & Pints Seventh Anniversary Celebration Nov 1, 2023, and will remain on tap a full year. We toured Loftus Ranches that ultimately grew the hops for TrailBreaker, and then brewed the IPA at Bale Breaker’s brewhouse in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Brewed with Simcoe, Cryo Citra, and Cascade hops, this old school, amber-colored IPA has notes of pine and citrus.
Lumberbeard Snowbird
7% ABV
Mid-January some retirees think, “That’s it, I’m done with the cold.” Let’s face it — winter is often better in theory than in practice, especially as we age. From increased fall risk to aching joints to social isolation, winter can be a challenging season for many retirees. That’s why so many people de-ice their cars and leave the flurries in the rearview mirror as they seek out warmer horizons. The snowbird lifestyle has become increasingly more popular for retirees whose primary residence rests in chilly climates, but retiring to the sun requires much more than sunscreen and a dream. Lumberbeard Brewing brewed a beer to inspire such dreams, Snowbird, a super tropical juicy IPA that features a 50/50 blend of El Dorado and Nectaron hops. This juice bomb is full of white peach, tangerine, and pear candy flavors.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
