Peaks & Pints 2025 Tournament of Beer: Northwest IPAs Second Round
Now it’s getting exciting. The hops are starting to fly, and the malts are becoming so thick you could cut them with a knife. OK, so that’s a horrible analogy.
The point is: This is serious.
Today, the Tournament of Beer officially kicks off its Second Round. This means 32 Oregon and Washington-brewed, Northwest-style IPAs remain, and the competition is as hot as ever. Who will be crowned champ on Saturday, April 26? The path to IPA greatness starts today.
Here’s a look at today’s Tournament of Beer Second Round action and a recap of yesterday’s results. Take a deep whiff and get to voting.
Tuesday, April 15, First Round Northwest IPA Games results
GAME 1: NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Stoup Brewing Citra IPA (#6 seed) vs. No-Li Brewhouse Born & Raised (#11 seed)
Named for a Scottish drinking vessel, Stoup brims with energy. Communal tables and intimate seating attract multigenerational, board-game-playing families, couples, and regulars who call themselves Stoupers. A chemist founded it, and the state’s first female cicerone has dialed in a Citra IPA that’s hard to beat. Just ask No-Li Brewhouse. Stoup’s Citra IPA grabbed 72 percent of the votes yesterday and moves into the Second Round.
GAME 2: SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Old Stove Brewing Two Pronged Crown (#3 seed) vs. Old Schoolhouse Brewery Allgood IPA (#14 seed)
These two Northwest-style IPAs traded pine shots all day with Old Schoolhouse, and the Methow Valley held the lead as tight as they held their mountain bike handlebars. Rumor has it that Old Schoolhouse Head Brewer Kyle Koger pulled out a vinyl of “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and filled the brewhouse with the sound of a scraping needle as he pounded an Allgood IPA. It’s all good, no doubt, Old Stove Brewing replied. We have a 180-degree view of Elliot Bay and Brewmaster Don Webb. At midnight, Old Schoolhouse Brewery had 64 percent of the votes and a spot in the Second Round.
GAME 3: NORTHERN OREGON REGION
Boneyard Beer RPM (#1 seed) vs. Oblivion Brewing Backside IPA (#16 seed)
In yesterday’s last blowout game, Boneyard RPM grabbed 85 percent of the votes over Oblivion Brewing’s Backside IPA. The traffic along US-97 was extra heavy with Uber drivers as folks traveled back and forth between the two breweries. There’s a rumor that Oblivion’s taproom manager, Adam, switched all the screens to the Tom Cruise film, Oblivion, to rally the troops. Tom Cruise or not, Boneyard poured it on strong. RPM IPA enters the Second Round.
GAME 4: SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Hop Valley Brewing Alphadelic IPA (#8 seed) vs. Rogue Ales Pacific Northwest IPA (#9 seed)
It hasn’t been Hop Valley Brewing’s month. First, its parent company, Tilray Inc., will close the Eugene brewery’s production facility in July and has already laid off some of its local staff. Second, Rogue Ales flaunted its local ownership and Pacific Northwest IPA’s dank and piney notes, winning 71 percent of the vote. Hop Valley’s Hop logo spun so fast that Alphadelic couldn’t concentrate.
Let’s weed through the malts. The following are advancing to the Second Round:
Stoup Brewing Citra IPA
Old Schoolhouse Allgood IPA
Boneyard Beer RPM
Rogue Ales Pacific Northwest IPA
All right! Let’s dive into the first games of the Second Round. Please vote for one beer 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 16, Second Round Northwest IPAs Games
GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Georgetown Brewing Lucille IPA (#1 seed) vs. Machine House Brewery Northwest IPA (#8 seed)
Georgetown’s Lucille survived a run-in with Valholl Brewing’s Poulsbo Viking IPA in the First Round. It’s probably because Georgetown Brewmaster Matt Edwards forced the brewhouse to watch Season One of the History Channel’s “Viking” series. We’re honestly not sure what went down at Georgetown, but we can assure you there was a lot of flexing and a Viking burial. Enter Machine House Northwest IPA. If Edwards enters the brewhouse today wearing a tweed jacket, a flat cap, and brogues, Machine House had better move its base.
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GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Everybody’s Brewing Illuminated NW IPA (#7 seed) vs. E9 Brewing Realize Real Lies IPA (#2 seed)
Everybody’s Brewing lit up Victor 23 Brewing’s Imitator NW IPA in the First Round. Today, everybody shines its Illuminated NW IPA in the face of E9 Brewing’s Realize Real Lies IPA. Everybody may not have seen that E9 has won two Tournament of Beer contests — 2022’s Tournament of Lagers and 2023’s Tournament of Pales. We don’t know where we’re going with this; maybe you should vote now.
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GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION
Migration Brewing Straight Outta Portland (#5 seed) vs. Double Mountain Brewery Hop Lava (#4 seed)
These two breweries have rabid fans, die-hard supporters, and worthy IPAs so that this craft beer matchup may be the most hotly contested competition. Straight Outta Portland shoots straight with big tropical juicy aromatics and a crisp finish. Hop Lava is more of a true Northwest-style IPA, packed with assertive Northwest hops that are floral, citrusy, and resinous. Hop Lava’s healthy dose of Munich malt will pound Migration’s brighter IPA on the court and balance against a counter-hoppy attack. Migration will mix ’em and cook ’em in a pot like gumbo. This one could be decided at the final buzzer.
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GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Bend Brewing Tropic Pines IPA (#7 seed) vs. GoodLife Brewing Descender IPA (#2 seed)
Bend Brewing knows its fellow Bend, Oregon, brewery and opponent across the Deschutes River has ripped up its taproom for a remodel. The downtown Bend brewery taunts its huge beer garden at GoodLife’s regulars. GoodLife has an equally large beer garden and a considerable parking lot. Ignoring the history, talent, beer gardens, and marketing behind these two popular Bend breweries, it comes down to a battle of pine and tropical fruit versus pine and citrus, respectively. Let your taste buds do the voting. Can’t believe we just wrote that.
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Thursday, April 17 Tournament of Beer: Northwest IPAs Second Round action
Game 1: Wander Brewing Shoe Toss IPA (#5 seed) vs. Boundary Bay Brewery Northwest Original IPA (#13 seed)
Game 2: Heathen Brewing Transcend IPA (#6 seed) vs. Wet Coast Brewing Moving Day IPA (#3 seed)
Game 3: Fort George Brewery Vortex IPA (#1 seed) vs. Barley Brown’s Beer Pallet Jack IPA (#9 seed)
Game 4: Worthy Brewing NW IPA (#6 seed) vs. Oakshire Brewing Watershed IPA (#3 seed)
LINK: Tournament of Beer: Northwest IPAs explained
LINK: Tournament of Beer Headquarters
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