Release the Kraken! And Expand on a Three-Year-Old Partnership

Three Pacific Northwest beverage brands are expanding their partnership with the Seattle Kraken, rolling out a new lineup of co-branded drinks for the 2026 season. 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Craftwell Cocktails, and Seattle Cider Co. have released Kraken-branded packaging on three of their existing products, building on a partnership that began back in 2023.

The lineup includes 2 Towns Ciderhouse Original Cosmic Crisp, made with 100% fresh-pressed Northwest apples, including the Cosmic Crisp, an extremely popular and trendy variety developed at Washington State University. The roster also includes Craftwell Cocktails Pineapple Margarita, made with Costa Rica Gold pineapple, key lime, and agave nectar. Rounding out the squad is Seattle Cider Co. Honeycrisp, made with Washington-grown Honeycrisp apples.

“We’ve loved being part of the Kraken community and connecting with fans over the past few seasons,” said Lee Larsen, co-founder and CEO of 2 Towns Ciderhouse. “This partnership is such a natural fit because we share a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest and the communities that make this region special. Expanding the lineup gives us a chance to bring even more Northwest flavor to Kraken game day and celebrate the team, the fans, and the place we’re proud to call home.”

“We’re thrilled to bring Kraken fans a game-day lineup with even more ways to celebrate the team all season long,” said Brian Carriveau, VP of Food, Beverage, and Retail at Climate Pledge Arena. “With three distinctly Pacific Northwest beverages in the mix, there’s something for every kind of fan. We can’t wait to see them in hand for every face-off, breakaway, and big Kraken moment.”

The co-branded lineup will be available at participating retailers across the Pacific Northwest and at Seattle Kraken games throughout the season.

CO-BRANDED LINEUP

2 Towns Ciderhouse Original Cosmic Crisp®
Made with 100% fresh-pressed Northwest apples, including the Cosmic Crisp® apple developed at Washington State University, this bright, balanced cider delivers crisp apple flavor and a clean finish in a Kraken co-branded 19.2-ounce can.
Format: 19.2-oz can and cobranded 6-packs in select retailers
ABV: 8%

Craftwell Cocktails® Pineapple Margarita
A tropical twist on a classic margarita, crafted with juicy Costa Rica Gold pineapple, zesty key lime and agave nectar for a bold, refreshing cocktail with a touch of sweetness.
Format: 19.2-oz can
ABV: 10.5%

Seattle Cider Co. Honeycrisp
Crafted with fresh-pressed, Washington-grown Honeycrisp apples, this smooth, easy-drinking cider is made for game day. Sweet, vibrant and bursting with fresh apple flavor, it delivers a clean shot on goal every time.
Format: 16-oz can
ABV: 5.5%

Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.

Spokane’s No-Li Brewhouse is lending its Big Juicy IPA to a statewide cause that has nothing to do with beer and everything to do with basketball. No-Li has partnered with Iconic Sonics, the fan-run media outlet dedicated to Seattle SuperSonics nostalgia and advocacy, on a campaign built around one message: Bring Back Our Sonics.

The collaboration teams up No-Li’s Big Juicy IPA with Iconic Sonics’ platform to rally basketball fans from Spokane to Seattle around the team’s championship legacy. The Sonics won their only NBA title in 1979, and more than four decades later, that history still resonates with fans who’ve kept the colors and stories alive and passed them down to the next generation.

“Sonics basketball has always been bigger than the team itself,” said Danny Ball, host of Iconic Sonics. “It is the memories, the championship, the players, the fans and the feeling of being part of something that belongs to Seattle and Washington. Partnering with No-Li lets us take that message from east to west and celebrate the people who have kept the Sonics alive all these years.”

The partnership will roll out through Big Juicy and Iconic Sonics content and activations across the state, framed as a link between Washington’s basketball history and the fan base that’s kept it alive. Whether or not the Sonics ever actually return, this one’s a reminder that some things — beer and basketball nostalgia among them — cross the mountains just fine.

Catch all things Iconic Sonics: Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.

Same grain bill, same hop bill, two completely different beers. A tale of two cities as told through beer. A fun collaboration project involving two vacation destinations and two great breweries: pFriem Family Brewers and Fort George Brewery. 

The upstream version brewed in Hood River is called Vacation Destination, a bright, bone-dry West Coast IPA from pFriem. The downstream version brewed in Astoria is called Destination Vacation, an opaque, pillowy Hazy IPA from Fort George. Both available on tap and in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans starting on October 8th. Details about the availability and vacation giveaway below.

A Study in Contrasts

The concept is simple enough: both breweries agreed on identical raw ingredients — a base of Pilsner and Pale malts, malted and unmalted wheat for texture, and a shared hop bill that includes Eclipse, Krush, Citra Cryo, and Simcoe. Each brewery created its version independently. Everything beyond those basic ingredients—yeast selection, fermentation, dry-hopping approach—was left entirely up to each brewery’s imagination.

• pFriem’s Vacation Destination (7.0% ABV) leans into clarity and precision, with targeted hot-side hop additions and a clean, attenuative fermentation producing a straw-hued West Coast IPA with resinous pine, sharp citrus, and a bone-dry finish. 
• Fort George’s Destination Vacation (also 7.0% ABV) takes the same ingredients somewhere entirely different, using a distinct yeast strain and heavy bio-transformative dry-hopping to build a soft, opaque Hazy IPA with mandarin and stone-fruit character and no bitter edge to speak of.

Another fun part of the equation: each of the breweries calls one of the Pacific Northwest’s best weekend getaways home: pFriem in Hood River, in the Columbia River Gorge, and Fort George in Astoria, on the Oregon Coast.

“We are so proud to call the amazing folks at Fort George Brewing good friends,” said Josh Pfriem, co-founder and brewmaster at pFriem Family Brewers. We share so much in common, from our dedicated and passionate approach to brewing beer, to running businesses that we are proud of, and investing in our communities. We also share commonality with being situated on the Columbia River in two iconic Oregon towns. That said, we both beat to our own drums and find inspiration from each other. So what a great opportunity to stretch our creative wings and collaborate on a set of raw materials, but take them in two totally different directions of a West Coast IPA and a Hazy IPA! 

“The beers alone should take you on a vacation-like journey, but we hope you feel the Gorge and Oregon Coast in each of them,” added Josh. “We encourage you to try them side by side or maybe even better to have an excuse to go to Hood River and/or Astoria to figure out if you are on a Vacation Destination or a Destination Vacation.” 

According to Fort George’s Brian Bovenizer, Director of Sales and Marketing, “We have a ton of love and respect for our friends at pFriem Family Brewers. Everything they do is world-class, and it turns out, we have a lot in common. Our dedication to making great beer is first and foremost, matched only by our dedication to providing a fantastic brewpub experience. We also happen to be based in two of the most iconic vacation destinations in the Pacific Northwest, Astoria and Hood River, places that we are lucky enough to call our homes.”

Brian asks, “Is the vacation in the destination, or is your destination the vacation? I think you’ll find both in our beers. One’s hazy, the other is clear. One is the gateway to the Oregon Coast, while the other is the gateway to Mt. Hood. Try them both for a limited time and enter for your chance to win a trip to one of these cities.”

Two breweries, one recipe, two completely different beers. Worth hunting down both and deciding for yourself which destination you’re on. What’s your trip?

Win a Weekend in Hood River or Astoria, Oregon.

Alongside the release, pFriem and Fort George are hosting a Weekend Getaway to either Hood River or Astoria Oregon. One winner will choose between two Pacific Northwest getaways:

• Two-night stay in Astoria, Ore. + $100 gift card to Fort George Brewery
• Two-night stay in Hood River, Ore. + $100 gift card to pFriem Family Brewers

Entries open Oct 1st and close December 1, 2026. Enter at pfriembeer.com/vacation-getaway

No purchase necessary. Must be 21 or older.

Availability

Vacation Destination & Destination Vacation are available beginning October 8th on draft and 16oz 4/pk cans at both Fort George and pFriem Tasting Rooms. The beers will roll out through the month of October at select retailers and draft accounts across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Southern California.

Release Parties

• 10/8 – pFriem Milwaukie Tasting Room (party on the patio) from 3-5pm followed by 1847 Taproom from 5-7pm
• 10/10 – Fort George Brewpub pre-party followed by Bridge and Tunnel at 5pm
• 10/14 – Seattle’s Queen Anne Beer Hall from 5-8pm

To learn about other recent beer releases, visit our New Beer Releases page. To let us know about your brewery’s new releases, here’s how to reach out to us.

NOTE – as of September 28th, VIP tickets are going fast. Act now!

Ales for ALS is exactly the kind of program that makes me love this industry — craft breweries from all over the country teaming up to raise money and awareness for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) research, one pint at a time. Each participating brewery gets a free, exclusive hop blend from Loftus Ranches and Yakima Chief Hops, brews it into a unique, limited-release beer, and pledges $1 per pint to the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). Simple concept. Real impact. At least 20 Washington and Oregon breweries have brewed, or are about to brew, their own Ales for ALS beer this year.

There’s also a handful of Ales for ALS events happening around the country, including one right here in the Seattle area: the Ales for ALS Festival at The Lodge on October 3, 2026. (Details below.) Same idea as the beers themselves, just bigger — a chance to support a genuinely great cause by doing the easiest thing in the world: showing up and drinking some good beer. Enjoy local brewers, food trucks, and a vibrant festival atmosphere under a tent. This event is for adult humans only. No pets or kids (21+ only).

Participating Breweries

The following breweries will pour at the ALS for ALS event

• Bale Breaker Brewing Company
• Bellevue Brewing Company
• Georgetown Brewing Company
• Ghostfish Brewing
• Humble Abode Brewing
• Logan Brewing
• Narrows Brewing Company
• Postdoc Brewing
• Project 9 Brewing
• Ram Restaurant & Brewery
• Reuben’s Brews
• Anacortes Rockfish Grill & Brewery
• Republic of Cider
• Stoup Brewing
• U-Neek Brewing
• Watts Brewing
• Big Sky Brewing
• Chuckanut Brewery
• Incline Cider
• Icicle Brewing

But wait! There’s More! In addition to a regular old beer festival, there’s a VIP opportunity. All this, and more, is discussed below.

Event Details:

The first annual Ales for ALS Festival at The Lodge

Date and Time:
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
12:00-5:00 pm
General admission entry at 1:00
VIP entry at Noon 

Location:
The Lodge at St. Edward Park
14477 Juanita Drive Northeast 
Kenmore, WA 98028

Tickets:
Early bird prices available through August 31st.
General admission tickets are $60 (early bird).

• Access to the festival under the tent 1-5pm
• Unlimited pours from all the local breweries (List of breweries to come)
• A commemorative glass from the event
• Access to food trucks
• Parking for a fee at the Lodge or State Park
• Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your ticket early.

VIP Tickets:
Upgrade to an exclusive VIP Experience (inside the Lodge, at the Remington Ballroom) for a Food and Beer Pairing menu along with a chat with Chef Luke Kolpin. Also, a chat with Shawna Cormier, a local Advanced Cicerone (certified, high-level beer expert).

• VIP package is available for $130 ($125 early-bird)
• Early entry to the Festival at 12 pm
• Admission to the VIP Room
• Access to the Food & Beer Pairing menu
• Access to the conversations with Chef Luke Kolpin and Shawn Cormier, a local Advanced Cicerone
• Valet parking included
• Access to private bathrooms
• Seating available within the building.
• Tickets here.

Visit our events page and calendar to learn about all sorts of other upcoming beer events. To submit an event for inclusion on our events calendar, use our event submission form. Got more details to share, reach out to us.

Get ready for the annual three-Day Oktoberfest celebration at Ounces in West Seattle. This year, it runs October 2nd through 4th. With Link Light Rail coming to West Seattle, this may be one of the last Ounces Oktoberfest celebrations at the current location. We’ll be keeping an eye on that situation.

According to Laurel Trujillo, the owner at Ounces, “We’ve likely got one or two Oktoberfests left in us here on Delridge before light rail forces us to relocate, so now’s the time for folks to come down and enjoy the festivities while we have this expansive space, perfect for Oktoberfest!”

Plenty of beer and Oktoberfest fun, but it is also a family-friendly event. In fact, Sunday is kids’ day, with special stuff geared towards the little ones.

“This year we’re featuring three action-packed days of Bavarian tradition, local craft beer, and community fun at Ounces!  Admission is completely free, and everyone is welcome—including kids and pups!”

Event Highlights:

• Giant steins of local craft Oktoberfest beer
• Live Polka Music every day
• GIANT Pretzels, Oktoberfest Dogs & Pretzel Bun Smash Burgers
• Epic Stein Hold Competitions
• Costume Contest
• Hammerschlagen, Games and more

And this year, They’ve added three things you don’t want to miss!

1) Pre-order a Mug for $10 and the first fill is on us! 

2) Stein-o-Clock HH Deals on Friday, 10/2 from 3-5pm 

3) Sunday, Oct 4th is Kids Day! (featuring special activities just for kids)

Full event details can be found here

Visit our events page and calendar to learn about all sorts of other upcoming beer events. To submit an event for inclusion on our events calendar, use our event submission form. Got more details to share, reach out to us.

Eugene, Oregon’s Oakshire Brewing is ceasing brewing operations at its production brewery and will close all of its taprooms: Eugene, Springfield, and Portland. Oakshire announced the news over the weekend on its social media feed.  

One last, bittersweet hurrah, Oakshire Brewing hosts its 20th anniversary party on Saturday, October 3 at its location in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood. “It will also be our going-away party,” said Jeff Althouse, founder and CEO. “I hope you’ll join us to celebrate 20 years of great beer and time together, and to say goodbye.”

“Oakshire Commons in Springfield will serve its last customers on Sunday, September 27. The Beer Hall in NE Portland will close after service on Wednesday, September 30. We have not set a final closing date for the Public House in Eugene; we’re working with our food carts on the schedule and will share it when it’s settled. Our brewers will continue packaging the beer we have in tank.”

Stop me if you’ve heard this one

The circumstances leading to the decision sound familiar to anyone who’s paid attention to the craft beer industry in recent years. “We’ve faced years of rising costs, increasing competition, the financial damage of COVID, and changes in how people gather to eat and drink. We worked hard to adapt, but we can’t continue operating Oakshire as a whole.”

“To everyone who brewed our beer, served our community, worked together, or gathered in our spaces: thank you. You made Oakshire great,” Jeff said.

Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.

Pelican Brewing Company has opened its newest coastal restaurant in Yachats, Oregon, marking the brewery’s sixth location along the Oregon Coast. Located along Highway 101, the new pub brings Pelican’s beer, food, and coastal hospitality to the central coast.

“When we started Pelican thirty years ago, our goal was to transform food and beverage experiences into lasting memories for our guests,” said Mary Jones, Pelican Brewing Company president and co-founder. “Opening in Yachats is the result of years of hard work, intentional growth, and a deep commitment to our coastal community. We’re honored to step into this special space, earn the trust of our neighbors, and offer a welcoming spot for guests.”

The property holds personal meaning for Pelican co-founder and vice president Jeff Schons, whose mother lived in Yachats for 15 years. Schons and Jones were regulars at LeRoy’s Blue Whale, which operated at the site for 45 years before becoming the Whale’s Tail Diner — and now, Pelican’s newest location.

“Having spent so much time in Yachats with friends and family over the years makes the opening here especially meaningful,” said Schons. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of this building’s next chapter and to serve more of our coastal neighbors and visitors.”

The opening comes as Pelican marks its 30th year in business. Founded in Pacific City in 1996, the brewery has built a track record of investing in Oregon’s coastal towns, and the Yachats location introduces a new format for the company: a “neighborhood pub” concept, with a smaller footprint and a more casual dining experience than Pelican’s larger brewpubs.

The pub is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

About Pelican Brewing Company
Born at the beach in 1996, Pelican Brewing Company is celebrating its 30th year. The company that opened Oregon’s only beachfront brewpub is now one of the state’s most-decorated breweries, with more than 450 awards to its name. Pelican operates coastal brewpubs in Pacific City, Cannon Beach, Siletz Bay, and Yachats; a production facility and taproom in Tillamook; and a taproom in Rockaway Beach. Pelican beers, its zero-alcohol Sparkle Hops, and craft sodas are available at Pelican locations and in stores across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Northern California.

Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.

Today, I’m happy to share the news that Doug Hindman was recently named a recipient of the Master Brewers Distinguished Life Service Award. The Master Brewers Association of the Americas hands out its awards to individuals who drive the industry forward through innovation and service, and the Distinguished Life Service Award specifically recognizes sustained, exceptional contribution.

IYKYK, there are some rockstar brewers around the Pacific Northwest, with flashy social media personalities, pithy comments on podcasts, and names that beer drinkers recognize. Doug Hindman is not one of those, but folks who brew beer for a living know who he is. A pillar in the community, a cornerstone of industry. I say that not only because it is true, but also because I know it will make Doug, and maybe some other folks, laugh. More important than my personal admiration for his work, The Master Brewers Association has now recognized his contributions.

The regard goes both ways. “The Master Brewers Association is among the best opportunities for craft brewers to advance their technical education,” Doug said. “It has been an honor to help put on valuable seminars and workshops aimed at advancing the knowledge base of colleagues in the Pacific Northwest.”

Hey, all you craft brewers out there — the Master Brewers National Conference is coming up on October 22 through 24. Details here. Just sayin’.

Doug helped shape Elliott Bay’s brewery operations and organic program for nearly three decades. Beyond that, he’s been deeply involved with the Washington Brewers Guild and, as you can probably guess from his quote above, the Master Brewers Association.

Here’s a pro tip: Of all of Doug’s creations, Demolition Ale, a longtime flagship at Elliott Bay, stands out for me. If you get the chance, drink this beer. It is today, as it was back in 2003 when it won a GABF medal, an excellent example of what an Imperial IPA is supposed to be, damn it! Hit any of Elliott Bay Brewing’s three locations — West Seattle, Burien, or Lake City — and just ask for a Demo.

Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.

Across the Pacific Northwest, fresh hop beers are hitting the street hard right now. You’ll have no trouble finding one or more of them at your favorite brewery taproom or beer-focused bar. Reuben’s Brews doesn’t want anyone to feel left out, so on Friday, September 25th, the brewery releases its first fresh hop NA IPA.

A bit of a unicorn, yes, but Reuben’s Party On Fresh Hop NA IPA is not the first or only beer of its kind; most notably, Crux Fermentation Project’s annual offering is called NØ MØ Feeling Fresh IPA. Three Magnets/Self Care has done it, but apparently not this year. As we explained in a previous story, brewing NA beer is not as easy as some folks might imagine. In fact, it’s pretty damned difficult. Introduce the volatility of fresh hops to the process, and it’s easy to understand why Fresh Hop NA beer is a beast and, thus, why it is rare. Not to mention that there are not a lot of NA brewers located in the PNW, which is pretty much a prerequisite if you’re going to dabble in the art of fresh hop beer. 

Reuben’s Party On Fresh Hop NA IPA is one of the beers featured for this week’s Fresh Hop Friday event at the brewery’s taprooms in Seattle (Ballard and Downtown). “This Friday’s fresh hop release is an extra special milestone, and every bit of delicate work that went into brewing it was worth it! Introducing Party On: Fresh Hop N/A IPA (<0.5% ABV), our very first non-alcoholic fresh hop brew!”

“We brewed this one with Oregon-grown wet Amarillo hops, famous for their vibrant orange-citrus character and floral bouquet. Expect bursting notes of sweet orange, grapefruit, and tropical fruit backed by subtle herbal and spicy undertones—all with zero alcohol and maximum harvest flavor.”

​”Whether you’re taking a night off, moderating, or just love great beer, this release is built to delight your day. It’s available in 12oz 6-packs at our taprooms in Ballard + Downtown Seattle, and it’s heading to a frosty cooler near you throughout the PNW!”

​Other Fresh Hop Brews Tapping at Ballard & Downtown Seattle Taprooms: Fresh Hop First Pick West Coast Pils 5.4% ABV – “Freshly harvested Luminosa hops make First Pick burst with notes of peach-mango lemonade, candied orange peel, papaya, and guava. A touch of Citra adds bright citrus, while German Pilsner malt and flaked rice deliver the crisp, clean finish that defines a great West Coast Pils. This taproom exclusive brew is available on tap + in 16 oz 4-packs!”

Learn more about Fresh Fridays at Reuben’s Brews. 

To learn about other recent beer releases, visit our New Beer Releases page. To let us know about your brewery’s new releases, here’s how to reach out to us.

Bellingham Cider Company is purchasing Lost Giants Cider Company. It’s not a hostile or even unfriendly takeover: Lost Giants’ current owners, Brad Wilske and Abe Ebert, approached Bellingham Cider’s owners a few months ago looking for a buyer, and they found one. 

Brad Wilske, former co-owner of Lost Giants, said, “We’re really proud of what we’ve built. It’s been an incredible ride, and we’re grateful for all the people who have supported us. At the same time, we feel like we’ve taken the company as far as we can, and the time feels right to hand it off to someone who can bring new energy and take it even further. Bellingham Cider Company feels like such a great fit. They’re local, they care about this community, and most importantly, we trust them to respect what we’ve built.”

Lost Giants and Bellingham Cider both opened their taprooms in 2018, part of a wave of local cider producers that sprouted up in the Bellingham area. A press release announcing the deal said that the two cideries share a reputation for quality, a local-first approach to business, and deep community ties — qualities both sides point to as the natural basis for the deal.

“Brad and Abe built something special here, and this deal is really about protecting that,” said Bryce Hamilton, co-owner of Bellingham Cider Company. “It gives us the scale to invest in both brands while keeping what makes each of them distinct, and it strengthens Bellingham’s place in the Northwest cider scene as a whole.”

The priority is preserving what makes Lost Giants Lost Giants — the tagline, “good cider made by nice people,” sums it up. The cider recipes, branding, and distributor relationships will stay the same; the taproom will remain open, and current employees will stay on staff. The two teams say they’re working closely behind the scenes to keep the transition smooth for staff and customers alike.

Moving forward, Bellingham Cider Company will move production to the Lost Giants facility. Merging production spaces allows the two brands to share equipment, streamline resources, and reduce overall costs. “Each brand will have its own dedicated Cider Maker and maintain their own unique identities,” said Josh Serface, who manages cider production for Bellingham Cider Company and is one of the company’s co-owners.

Bellingham Cider also plans to reenergize the Lost Giants taproom with more events, turning it into a bigger community hub for surrounding neighborhoods. Bellingham Cider’s Event Coordinator and Brand Ambassador Shanna Sheridan-McInnis will expand her role to include Lost Giants.

“It’s really exciting to have this opportunity to build on the momentum Lost Giants has created, stay true to the brand, while also bringing new ideas to a great space,” Sheridan-McInnis said.

“Our biggest hope is simply to see Lost Giants continue to grow and thrive. We hope Lost Giants continues to have the incredible support of the local and regional cider community. We’re excited about what’s ahead and feel really good knowing Lost Giants is staying in local hands,” Wilske added.

Ebert and Wilske will stay on through the transition to help guide the process — a reflection of the friendship that’s grown between the two teams throughout the deal.

Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.