It was a chilly winter here in Whatcom County — one of the coldest on record. Great news for skiers and snowboarders. More of a seasonal hobbit than a powder hound myself, I made it through the darkest of days with a little beer help from Bellingham’s fine selection of winter warmers. Kulshan’s Barrel Aged Kitten Mittens, Structures’ Skyhammer Imperial Stout, and Boundary’s Cask Cabin Fever were among my faves this winter. You might still be able to find a few of these bold brews lingering around town, but not for long.
Spring is here! And many beer enthusiasts around these parts start to crave something a bit lighter — at least in color. I sure do. Give me an East Coast IPA from Gruff, the latest version of Structures’ Fuzz, or something wild from Wander and I’m satisfied.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRlqYuqFs7c/?taken-by=bellinghamexperienceI reached out to our local brewers to find out what’s brewing around town this spring. Here’s what to expect on your next Tour de Bellingham Beer.
Aslan was kind enough to provide a full list of release dates for their upcoming spring beers. I’m most looking forward to Horizon Lines. As a native Skagitonian, any beer brewed with Skagit Valley Malt is bound to pique my curiosity. It’s great so see so much variety and experimentation coming from Aslan this year (Piranha Bath?!). And crowd-pleaser Disco Lemonade (Berliner Weisse) will be out just in time for May’s warmer weather.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRoE96Fgcn4/?taken-by=aslanbrewingAtwood is brewing the following beers in Blaine this spring. I’d be hard pressed to choose the one I’m most looking forward to, as they all sound irresistible.
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Atwood Ales Mos[/caption]
Each year, Boundary brews a special batch of Ski to Sea ESB in time for Bellingham’s biggest annual race. This year, the ESB will be made with a variety of malts — including Skagit Valley Copeland Pale and Club. I just so happen to adore the sometimes under-represented ESB style and will be seeking this one out for sure.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRb_hikDJH4/?taken-by=bbaybreweryConfession: I live within walking distance of North Nut and don’t get in there nearly enough. Now that they’re creating seasonal Skagit Malt ales on top of their award-winning lagers, I really have to get in there more often. See you there!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRcEhQ4lzDU/?taken-by=chuckanutbreweryWatch for a couple new Kulshan brews in April. I’m most excited about the Kulshan-Menace collaboration for Bellingham Beer Week, a Belgian Pale. Additionally, Kulshan plans to release their low ABV Saison Du Kulshan — a light, lemon-herb brew made with wheat, barley, spelt, and rye.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRJiVPWDuXn/?taken-by=kulshanbreweryI stopped by Wander the night that Peach Millie Sour was released. The place was so packed we couldn’t find a place to park. And so — as one does in Bellingham — we went to another brewery and circled back to Wander later on. Of course, Peach Millie was worth the wait. Here are Wander’s tasting notes for Peach Millie Sour (to which I would add: “looks great next to the fire!”)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRFNsGSDq6Y/?taken-by=beersatbThe big news over at Wander this spring is their annual Wild Warehouse release. This highly acclaimed beer won GABF Gold in 2015, several additional awards in 2016, and is likely to take home another one or three awards (no pressure, guys) this year. Get this beer while you can.
This time around I have less intel on (but no less enthusiasm for) the following breweries. Here’s what I’ve gathered regarding current/upcoming releases.
As always, Gruff has some fun stuff in the works. Watch for Skagit Valley Obsidian Malt in a future brew or two. Current offerings include Munich Ale (made with Skagit Valley Copeland Malt) and The Tripod Triple IPA, made from 7 hop varieties. Keep an eye on Gruff’s Facebook page for weekly updates.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRgwPWJBHDk/?taken-by=gruffbrewingI’m bummed that Menace tapped out of Chili Bravo, but hopefully it will be back soon. Try the ESB, American Wheat, or Vienna Pale at Bellingham’s newest brewery. And keep an eye out for that Beer Week collab with Kulshan!
What’s the best way to find out what is on tap at the North Fork? Take a scenic drive out Mount Baker Highway and see for yourself! Have a pizza or calzone while you’re at it. They are incredible.
Stones Throw has teamed up with Rain Country Refrigeration to produce their Rain Country Liquid Sunshine Lager. Just in time for those April showers!
There are two ways to find out what’s new at Structures: 1) Go there 2) Follow them on Instagram. Anything I recommend will likely be crushed by the time you read this, anyways. Structures always keeps it fresh with small batch, experimental brews.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRgqpiAlu7u/?taken-by=structuresbrewing
