Washington Beer Open House
Every winter, breweries across the state open their brewhouses to the public for Washington Beer Open House. This year’s event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 5.
The open house offers a unique opportunity to meet brewers, sample new brews (sometimes directly from cellar tanks), and get a behind-the-scenes look at how local beers are made. Each brewery participates in its own way. Some host hourly tours and tastings; others offer special pricing during the event. It’s a great excuse to spend a winter weekend brewery-hopping.
I’ve enjoyed grand tours at several local breweries over the years. During one open house at Boundary Bay, our group was led downstairs to the cellar, offered sips in the Mountain Room event space and sent home with souvenir coffee mugs. I’ve chatted with brewers at Kulshan while tasting barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, sampled from stainless steel tanks at Bastion Brewing and toured Atwood Farm Brewery in Blaine — all during the free event.
At least 10 north sound breweries are participating this year. Check the Washington Beer Open House (WBOH) website at washingtonbeer.com before setting out, as others are likely to join. I recommend rounding up a friend or two (including a designated driver) and making a day of it. Following are a few suggested itineraries.
In Bellingham, Kulshan, Stones Throw, Twin Sisters and Wander Brewing have confirmed participation for 2022. One could reasonably visit all four — spending an hour at each — but I’d pick two or three for a more relaxed Saturday. Maybe make a Sunnyland day of it, walking or biking to a few breweries in the neighborhood.
Burlington’s Port of Skagit is another hotspot with a handful of participating breweries. Notably, Cardinal Craft Brewing will host a rare Saturday opening. Normally only open on Thursday afternoons, this taproom showcases beers made by students of the Skagit Valley College Cardinal Craft Brewing Academy. Add in stops at neighboring Chuckanut Brewery (South Nut) and Garden Path Fermentation to round out your tasting tour. All three breweries are located within a half-mile radius.
Chuckanut Brewery will celebrate WBOH with a Rauch Fest (Smoke Fest) at South Nut. Three unique smoke beers will be on tap, including Grodziskie Polish Lager, Rauch Marzen Lager and Rauch Helles Lager. Chuckanut will be donating $1 of each smoke beer sold on March 5 to Direct Relief, an organization that supports wildfire relief. The brewery will also host tours from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and food pairings from Skagit Valley Provisions and Skagit Landing Restaurant.
Other local participating breweries include Anacortes Brewery and Terramar Brewstillery. Anacortes Brewery co-owner (and Washington Beer Commission Chairman) Allen Rhoades gave our small group an informative tour in 2020 with tastes from the brew tanks. If you’ve ever wondered what Anacortes Brewery’s brewhouse looks like (it’s not visible from the taproom), this may be your chance to check it out. Happy touring!
Recent Releases
Aslan Brewing has released Floraison (French for “flowering”), a saison brewed with hibiscus and rose hips. I picked up a six-pack at the brewpub on release day. With floral can art by Seattle artist Kelsea Hill, Floraison pays tribute to the changing of the seasons. An “ode to spring,” this gorgeous beer pours cloudy with a sunset-orange appearance. It’s not all looks, though. Floraison is a lovely expression of the saison style, with a soft mouthfeel and lightly malty body. Try it on tap or pick up a six-pack at Aslan Brewpub.
Not ready to move on from dark winter brews just yet? Structures Brewing is offering their Czech Dark Lager on draft at the taproom. Fairhaven’s Stones Throw Brewing also has a dark lager on tap this week called Midnight Rider, a German-inspired Schwarzbier style. Czech Dark Lager and Schwarzbier are typically crisp, “crushable” dark lagers, with lower alcohol in the 5% range. These styles are perfect for sipping outside on cold, sunny days.
