Springing forward, a couple of big beer and cider events are on the horizon in Skagit County. In Whatcom County, visit off-the-beaten-path breweries in Birch Bay and try hoppy new releases in Bellingham.
Celebrate Skagit Beer and Cider
Purchase tickets for the Skagit Farm to Pint Roadshow. Beginning April 1 and extending through the end of the month, the roadshow coincides with the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival — so you can enjoy both spring blooms and brews.
This self-guided tour of Skagit breweries rewards attendees with a sample beer (brewed with Skagit Valley Malt) and “bite” highlighting local ingredients at each stop.
In 2021, District Brewing offered a sample of their Northwest IPA paired with Samish Bay mozzarella caprese skewers. Breweries also offer special beer discounts during the event.
Roadshow tickets are $55 and include a fest guide to redeem your beer and bite at each brewery. Participants can also join in the fun of a homebrewer’s competition, cornhole and trivia tournaments throughout the month of April.
VIP tickets are $85 and include entry to Tulip Town and Skagit Cider Fest. Held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Farmstrong Brewing in Mount Vernon, the first-ever Skagit Cider Fest is shaping up to be quite the party.
Meet cider makers, learn about the cider-making process, and sample ciders from more than 15 Pacific Northwest cideries. Admission includes eight 4-ounce cider samples, plus lawn games and live music in the beer garden. Without VIP Roadshow tickets, you can purchase Skagit Cider Fest tickets separately for $30. Skagit Cider Fest is a 21-plus sampling event and will be held outdoors, rain or shine.
After Skagit Cider Fest wraps up, stick around (or show up) for the free afterparty. Kicking off at 5 p.m. on April 9, this all-ages event will feature a concert by Bellingham-based band Baby Cakes.
North Whatcom Brewery Hopping
On a weekend getaway to Birch Bay, my family and I visited Atwood Farm Brewery for the Washington Beer Open House.
Brewer/owner Josh Smith greeted us with samples ranging from lavender-infused and spruce-infused farmhouse ales to The Fundamentals of Hugging, an amber ale made with all-local malt and hops. Brewed in a barn, Atwood’s farmhouse ales showcase the unique terroir of the region (some ingredients are estate-grown, and most are sourced from within a 50-mile radius). We walked away with a mix of bottles and cans to-go.
While the brewery doesn’t operate a taproom, you can peruse Atwood’s website, order “barnside pickup” online, and collect your order at the farm most Saturdays between noon and 3 p.m.
You can also find Atwood beers at Elizabeth Station and various locations around the region. Use the beer finder on their website to track some down.
Of course, we couldn’t spend a weekend in Birch Bay without stopping in at Beach Cat Brewing.
Opened during the summer of 2020, Beach Cat is the youngest brewery in Whatcom County and is already beloved by its community. Pet- and family-friendly (my nieces love their flavored sodas), it’s the ideal spot to hang out after a day at the beach. We enjoyed beers on the covered, heated bay-view deck and grabbed a growler to go.
Beach Cat brews something for everyone, with a range of styles from light to dark. In addition to 10 or so of their own beers, Beach Cat offers guest taps from Bellingham Cider Co. (and sometimes other breweries). Stop by this week to try Atwood Farm Brewery’s Rhudy Rhubarb Sour on tap.
Recent Releases
Wander Brewing has dropped Level of Opacity Hazy IPA, available on draft and in cans. Judging by the name and promo photo, this beer has a high level of opacity — meaning you won’t be able to see your own hand through this “thick” brew.
Stemma Brewing is releasing a barrel-aged version of their Autumn Rain IPA called Juniper’s Harvest. The juicy double IPA has been aging in Bellewood Farms gin barrels since October, lending the beer notes of juniper.
If you like Juniper’s Harvest, consider taking a trip to Lynden to taste the barrel’s previous contents. Washington state’s first apple distillery, Bellewood Farms produces gin, vodka, brandy and liqueurs. Their award-winning gin earned gold in Sip Magazine’s 2021 Best of the Northwest awards. Head up to Bellewood Farms & Distillery in Lynden for tastings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday.
Brandon Fralic’s Drink Cascadia column appears on Wednesdays. Reach him at drinkcascadia@gmail.com.
