Year End Wrap-Up of Bellingham’s Beer, Wine and Cocktail Scene
As another year comes to a close, we look back on a year of good memories...and even better drinks! Bellingham and Whatcom County are known for their great breweries, and for good reason. See for yourself why so many people flock to our corner of the Pacific Northwest to sample craft beers, ciders, and even wines as we reflect on another big year of awards and honors.
2022 Award-Winning Beers
GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL
- GOLD: German Sour Ale: Trackside – Gose
- GOLD: Brown Porter - Transporter
WASHINGTON BEER AWARDS
- GOLD: International-Style Pilseners - Sunnyland - Mexican Lager
- GOLD: American-Style Strong Pale Ales - Sunnyland
- SILVER: Irish-Style Red Ales - Red Cap
- BRONZE: Imperial or Double India Pale Ales - Sunnyland - Bull Of The Woods
- BRONZE: American Amber Ales: Sunnyland - Local Amber
- BRONZE: Session Beers: Sunnyland - New Moon
BEST OF THE NORTHWEST BEER AWARDS
- GOLD: Lager - Premium Lager
- JUDGE'S PICK: Mainstays - Heliotrope
- JUDGE'S PICK: Porter - Transporter
- JUDGE'S PICK: Fruited Sour Ale – Raspberry Goose
GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL
- SILVER: Golden or Blonde Ale - Blonde Ale
GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL
- SILVER: German Sour Ale - Champagne Toast
WASHINGTON BEER AWARDS
- SILVER: Wood & Barrel Aged Beers - Wild Warehouse
- BRONZE: Wood & Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts – Earlybird
WASHINGTON BEER AWARDS
- BRONZE: Chili Pepper Beers - Conditus Lager
NORTH AMERICAN BREWERS ASSOCIATION
- GOLD: Bavarian-Style Wheat Beer - Gold Garden Party Hefeweizen
WASHINGTON BEER AWARDS
- BRONZE: American-Style Sour Ales - Cucumber Berliner Weisse
- BRONZE: Belgian-Style Fruit Beers – Electricberryland
WASHINGTON BEER AWARDS
- SILVER: Spice, Field and Herb Beers - Christmas In July
- SILVER: Collaboration Beers: Beach Cat Brewing & Anacortes Brewery - Raspberry Purrrree
WASHINGTON BEER AWARDS
- GOLD: American-Style India Pale Lagers - Metal Bridge
2022 Award-Winning Wines, Ciders, & Spirits
BELLINGHAM NW WINE FESTIVAL
- DOUBLE GOLD: Delilah Raspberry Table Wine
- DOUBLE GOLD: Framboise Raspberry Dessert Wine
- SILVER: Yakima Valley Resiling
SUNSET INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION
- GOLD: Yakima Valley Resiling
- SILVER: Oro Hazelnut Dessert Wine
EAST MEETS WEST CHALLENGE
- BEST OF CLASS: Yakima Valley Resiling
New Breweries & Bars
This new brewery on State Street in Downtown Bellingham is a taproom-focused brewery focused on "wild and spontaneous fermentation." They are dog- and kid-friendly, and also offer various local beers, ciders, and wines.
In 2022, this Mount Vernon brewery opened a new location in Ferndale, just north of Bellingham. In addition to two dozens taps serving up delicious District brews along with other local beers and ciders, they also offer a food menu featuring burgers and more than 10 flavors of chicken wings.
Welcome Road Winery Tasting Room
Kids and pups are both welcome in this tasting room in the heart of Downtown Bellingham's Arts District.
The Barrel House - The North Fork Brewery
Now you can enjoy delicious North Fork beers in Bellingham! The Deming-based brewery expanded in summer of 2022, creating a dedicated location for fermenting as well as a taproom where Bellinghamsters can taste the brewery's sour projects, ales and lagers from their Deming location, along with various collaboration brews. Though the Bellingham location doesn't offer pizza or food, it does have the same beer-shrine vibes as its mountain town counterpart.
