Peaks & Pints 2025 Tournament of Beer: Northwest IPAs April 23
What is the best Northwest-style IPA in Oregon and Washington? You think you know where to find it. We all do. After weeks of feverish voting (and with the help of a nifty contraption called Instagram Stories), we at Peaks & Pints have watched you, beloved voters, narrow down the Pacific Northwest IPAs from 64 to the very best 16, the creamy mouthfeel of the crop. Yesterday, the first eight IPAs in the Sweet Wort 16 did battle. Today, the remaining eight go at it.
Let’s take a gander at yesterday’s results and preview today’s Sweet Wort 16 matches. …
Tuesday, April 22 Tournament of Northwest IPAs Sweet Wort 16 Results …
GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Georgetown Brewing Lucille IPA (#1 seed) vs. Boundary Bay Brewery Northwest Original IPA (#13 seed)
The Northern Washington Region Sweet Wort 16 game was heavy on pine and naval orange flavors and light on drama. Georgetown Lucille IPA cruised to victory with 69 percent of the votes. In pre-game chatter, Tournament of Beer analysts predicted a close game due to a highly even matchup of two strong defensive breweries with serviceable offenses, as this is Boundary Bay’s last Tournament since the Bellingham brewery is closing in September. Oddly enough, both IPAs scored 45 percent from the taprooms, but Lucille grabbed 24 percent from packaging, which made a huge difference. Proving the analysts wrong, Lucille easily moves into the Hot Break Eight round.
GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Wet Coast Brewing Moving Day IPA (#3 seed) vs. E9 Brewing Realize Real Lies (#2 seed)
When first discussing the Tournament of Beer in planning meetings that seemed like many moons ago, E9 Brewing’s Realize Real Lies was mentioned almost immediately. Tacoma’s oldest craft beer company has a following, and everyone knows it. E9’s marketing is strong. The brewery is tight with the wood-fired, artisanal pizza crowd. But this isn’t the Tournament of Artisanal Pizza. It’s the Tournament of Beer: Northwest IPA, and E9’s fruity yet dank aromatic IPA is the real deal, no lies. Wet Coast Brewing and its large, devoted Gig Harbor airline pilot fan base have been flying through the Tournament effortlessly. The Moving has halted. Behind strong play from E9’s Taproom Manager Sean Jackson, E9 put up Not For Sale signs at Wet Coast with 53 percent of the votes.
GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION
Fort George Brewery Vortex IPA (#1 seed) vs. Double Mountain Brewery Hop Lava IPA (#4 seed)
First brewed in 2007, coinciding with Double Mountain Brewery’s opening in Hood River, Oregon, Hop Lava Northwest-style IPA quickly became a flagship beer, known for its balanced bitterness and citrus-forward hop profile. In Tournament play, Hop Lava is not a run-and-gun player. Instead, the IPA will slow play opponents, concentrating on their malt bills, and flaunting floral, citrusy, and resinous hops. Double Mountain Lead Brewer Matt Coughlin also has a gentle touch. It’s worked so far. Then, Vortex whipped into the Double Mountains playing field. Coughlin, a longtime musician with musical roots in Tacoma, tried cranking Scorpions’ “Rock You Like A Hurricane” to fire up the brewery. Fort George named its flagship Vortex IPA after driving its first brewhouse through a Midwest tornado on its way to Astoria. Long story short, Double Mountain’s slow play didn’t work against the tornado juice inside Vortex IPA. Fort George moves on to the Hot Break Eight with 79 percent of the vote.
GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Oakshire Brewing Watershed IPA (#3 seed) vs. Bend Brewing Tropic Pines IPA (#7 seed)
We’ve said it before, and we’ll repeat it. This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die — one misstep and you’re out of the dance. Cut your diacetyl rest short, over-crush your grain, or grab the wrong hop bag, and you can pack your brewer’s paddle and go back to cleaning kegs, crying into your bag of Carapils malt. This tournament is about the fundamentals: water, grain, hops, and yeast in perfect harmony. It’s also about rallying the supporters. Back in January 2016, Packy and Leslie Deenihan purchased Bend Brewing, the 20-year-old family brewery from Wendy Day. Since its purchase, the new owners have expanded, beginning with the massive outdoor space at its original pub in 2017. Bend Brewing rallied the supporters, grabbing 60 percent of the vote and a slot in the Hot Break Eight.
Let’s pitch some yeast. The following are advancing to the Hot Break Eight:
Georgetown Lucille IPA
E9 Brewing Realize Real Lies
Fort George Vortex IPA
Bend Brewing Tropic Pines IPA
All right! Let’s dive into the last four games of the Sweet Wort 16. Please vote for one IPA per game on Peaks & Pints’ Instagram Stories. Voting for today’s battles ends at midnight. We’ll announce the winners tomorrow morning around 9 a.m., but today’s games are live on Peaks & Pints’ Instagram Stories. Take a deep whiff and get to voting. …
Wednesday, April 23, Sweet Wort 16 Northwest IPAs Games
GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Stoup Brewing Citra IPA (#6 seed) vs. Hellbent Brewing House IPA (#7 seed)
Stoup Citra battles Hellbent House. Talk about a heavyweight battle. A matchup like this is why we created the Tournament of Beers. Everyone knows the IPAs at Stoup and Hellbent are just about as good as they get. But whose Northwest IPA has the ever-so-slight edge? Needless to say, it’s debatable. It’s also voteable – where you and your finger come in.
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GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Camp Colvos Brewing Buckhorn IPA (#16 seed) vs. Odd Otter Brewing Optimus Pine IPA (#13 seed)
Even the most casual fan gets into the act regarding the Tournament of Beer. People who have never drunk a Northwest-style IPA will suddenly become experts and bracketology braggarts. You know, the people sitting with a couple of friends at most sunken into a sofa, drinking as many of the tournament participating IPAs as possible. This group of fans saves at least 5-6 sick days specifically for use in April. It’s safe to say that these fans didn’t have the number 16 seed Camp Colvos Buckhorn IPA in the Sweet Wort 16. The pine and citrus forward IPA brewed in Tacoma’s Historic Brewery District beat 7 Seas IPA and Talking Cedar Pacific Northwest IPA. Odd Otter is aware of the situation. The downtown Tacoma brewery hasn’t had a number 13 seed mentality so far, beating number 4 seed Loowit Shadow Shinobi and number 12 Top Rung Prying Irons. Generally depicted as a brave and noble leader, Optimus Pine is the supreme commander of the Autobeerbots in their fight against the Diacetylcons, so that seems like an advantage. Pacific Avenue between the two breweries will be a clogged nightmare today. Vote!
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GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION
pFriem Family Brewers IPA (#3 seed) vs. Buoy Beer IPA (#7 seed)
pFriem IPA is making a strong run at the Hot Break Eight as most predicted. They have won numerous awards, including multiple “Brewery of the Year” titles from prestigious organizations like Beer Connoisseur magazine. Their beers, including this IPA, have consistently received high praise and accolades in various competitions. However, they must first get by Astoria’s gem, Buoy Beer IPA. Buoy emphasizes a balanced approach to IPAs, ensuring a good mix of hop bitterness, malt sweetness, and other flavor notes. Buoy has faced challenges, including a partial building collapse, but has persevered and expanded its operations. Both IPAs took the carbonation out of their competitors. Vote now.
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GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Boneyard Beer RPM IPA (#1 seed) vs. Silver Moon Brewing IPA 97 (#5 seed)
Boneyard Beer RPM IPA has had difficulty dispatching the competition up to this point. But this battle for a birth to the Hot Break Eight may be more challenging. Silver Moon IPA 97 has the heart, the talent, and the impressive wins (Cascade Lakes This IPA and Crux Grade A) in the first two rounds. And, lo and behold, we haven’t mentioned Silver Moon bartender Marieke yet. Try to have a bad day around her. Does Boneyard worry about a sparkplug bartender pouring a bold tropical fruit citrus zest IPA? If so, they’ll brew another tremendous craft beer. That’s what they do.
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LINK: Tournament of Beer: Northwest IPAs explained
LINK: Tournament of Beer Headquarters
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