The Freshest Fresh Hop Fest in the West. West Seattle, That Is

The Washington Beer Blog is once again teaming up with Beveridge Place Pub to provide beer lovers with an opportunity to sample a variety of fresh hop beers side by side and experience a broad range of fresh hop flavors. The wettest fresh hop fest, or the freshest wet hop fest. You decide, but whatever you call it, it’s gonna be fabulous.

The final list of breweries and beers is still coming together for the Fresh Hop Festival at Beveridge Place Pub (Thursday – Saturday). We know for certain that Thursday and Friday will offer hop lovers a selection of something like 24 fresh-hop beers (or more), available in full pours or on self-designed taster trays. Saturday is the main event, with something like 40 beers available festival-style: commemorative taster glass, taster-sized pours, you know the drill.

Gary the Publican and I got together to brainstorm and create a wish list. A dream team. Call it an invitational fresh hop fest. The lineup will include select breweries that we believe either have or will excel at making beers of this style. While this year’s exact lineup is still coming together, you can see last year’s brewery lineup here. It’ll get your mouth watering with antici……pation.

Basic Details:

• A three-day celebration of fresh hop beer crescendos with a full-on fresh hop beer festival on Saturday
• Thursday, October 15th, 3-11 p.m. (taster trays, full pours, something like 24 freshies on tap)
• Friday, October 16th, 3-11 p.m. (ditto)
• Saturday, October 17th, 1-7 p.m. (fest-style, something like 40 freshies on tap)
• Saturday: Tunes spun by DJ ABV, 2-5 p.m.
• Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136
• 21+ only  

Here is a taste of what to expect. 

• Enjoy beers from fresh-hop rockstars like Bale Breaker Brewing, Cloudburst Brewing, Single Hill Brewing, Stoup Brewing, and Varietal Beer. 
• Beers from breweries recognized for their exceptional hop prowess, like Breakside Brewing and Grains of Wrath Brewing, two of the most highly decorated producers of IPA in the nation. 
• Many other breweries on our all-star roster. 

By its nature, fresh hop beer is an ephemeral, time-bound style of beer. We will share more details as they reveal themselves. Hell, they haven’t even started harvesting in the Yakima Valley yet. But that doesn’t mean you cannot write this one in on your calendar.

Check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page for more beer-related events around Washington.

Copperworks Distilling and Urban Family Brewing hooked up for a barrel-swap whiskey that sounds pretty damned special. It involves the distillery’s whiskey and the brewery’s Treehouse in the City barleywine. This one is so special that you’ll need to join the club to get it. No secret handshake required, but membership is. I’ll explain.

Seattle’s beer and spirits scenes occasionally cross paths. Not often enough, if you ask me, but this new release from Copperworks Distilling Co. is a genuinely clever bit of collaboration. The distillery’s next Whiskey Club offering, Copperworks American Single Malt Urban Family Barley Wine Cask, was made in partnership with Seattle’s Urban Family Brewing.

Urban Family has been a fixture of the Seattle craft beer scene since 2011, when the original brewery opened in historic downtown Ballard, on Ballard Ave. It relocated, changed hands, and over the past decade evolved into a brewery known for its constantly rotating lineup, ranging from fruited sours to IPAs and from light lagers to robust barleywines. They’ve built a reputation as careful experimenters — leaning into complex yeast strains, unusual hop profiles, and fresh ingredients. They don’t play it safe or take the quick and easy route. That kind of hutzpah was alluring and Copperwork could not resist.

They’ve been together for years

This isn’t the first time Copperworks and Uban Family have collaborated on something like this. Back in 2023, I shared a story about a very similar project involving whiskey and barlewine.

“As mutual fans of each other’s work, we naturally formed an ongoing partnership which has led to this exciting cask collaboration,” said Jason Parker, President and Co-Founder of Copperworks Distilling Co.

Here’s how the collaboration actually worked: Copperworks handed over a cask that had previously held its American Single Malt Whiskey. Urban Family used it to mature their Treehouse in the City barleywine, letting the beer soak up whatever whiskey character remained in the wood. Once that barleywine was ready, the cask came back to Copperworks — now carrying its own layer of barleywine character. Copperworks then filled it with three-and-a-half-year-old signature 5 Malt whiskey and let it finish for another ten months before bottling at 50% ABV.

It’s the kind of back-and-forth barrel exchange that only really works when both sides genuinely like what the other is making, and that mutual respect shows up in the final product.

Tasting notes

Sweet malt and orange sorbet greet you on the nose, with cocoa nibs and sandalwood right behind. Those flavors carry through to the palate, joined by tobacco, black walnut, cinnamon, and ripe blackberry. The finish lightens up, leaving sandalwood and dried raspberry, strawberry and peach candy, and a touch of floral hops.

The details: This is a limited release — just 330 bottles at 700ml each, bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof).

How to get it

Copperworks American Single Malt Urban Family Barley Wine Cask is available exclusively to Whiskey Club members, and memberships are still open if you want in before this one ships.

Club members get quarterly releases of Copperworks’ most inventive whiskeys delivered straight to their door, plus a handful of extra perks:

• Early access to additional special releases throughout the year
• 25% off a single order as a sign-up bonus (valid within your first 30 days)
• Free tastings for you and a guest
• A club-exclusive Glencairn glass included with your first bottle(s)

If you want to sign up for the club and get in on the action, go to Copperworks’ Whiskey Club enrollment page. Given the size of this release — 330 bottles isn’t much to go around — I wouldn’t wait too long to lock in a membership if this one has your attention.

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

For people around Spokane, where wildfires have caused so much suffering and stress, it’s hard to celebrate anything right now. No-Li Brewhouse knows this. Still, the brewery has a little bit of happy news to share: it scored three medals at the World Beer Awards, matching the brewery’s impressive performance last year. It’s little consolation in the bigger picture, but sometimes you must find the good news where you can.

The recognition comes during a challenging time at home, as Spokane and surrounding communities continue to recover from devastating wildfires that destroyed hundreds of structures and displaced local families. If news of some international recognition for one of the hometown breweries brings even a tiny smile to someone’s face, that’s a valuable thing right now.

“In the midst of an incredibly difficult time for the Spokane community, some positive news is coming home from across the Atlantic,” said the announcement from the brewery. “No-Li Brewhouse received three Gold medals at the 2026 World Beer Awards in Norwich, England, with Cascade Fog Hazy IPA, Victrix Squatch Juicy Imperial IPA and Apollo Squatch Juicy Haze IPA each receiving top honors. Victrix Squatch was also named the United States Winner in its category, advancing as one of the country’s top beers in the international competition.”

No-Li Brewhouse’s 2026 World Beer Cup awards:

• Victrix Squatch Juicy Imperial IPA – Gold Medal + United States Winner
• Cascade Fog Hazy IPA – Gold Medal
• Apollo Squatch Juicy Haze IPA – Gold Medal

“Right now, our attention and our hearts are here at home with the people who have been impacted by these fires,” said John Bryant, owner of No-Li Brewhouse. “But in the middle of a difficult time, it’s meaningful to receive some good news for Spokane. These beers are brewed right here by a local team that works incredibly hard, and to see Spokane represented at this level on an international stage is something our entire team can be proud of.”

The World Beer Awards recognize beers from around the globe across a wide range of styles, with winners selected through an international judging process.For No-Li, the three Gold medals continue a long history of international recognition while keeping the focus on where every beer begins: Spokane.

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

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).

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).
Discount code “WABeer26” through August 23rd.

• 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.

I won’t call it a trend — three data points don’t make one — but this marks the third time recently that I’ve reported on a Northwest brewery adding a new year-round beer to its core lineup. As far as trends go, the broader craft beer industry has been leaning hard into the taproom experience, where new releases, variety, and rotating taps tend to thrive. Grocery store shelves, by contrast, favor familiar, always-available labels, and sales in that channel have been less than stellar lately. 

Against that backdrop, Single Hill Brewing, Breakside Brewery, and Fort George Brewery are doing something different. Last month, Single Hill made a roster move, replacing a year-round IPA with a fulltime Pale Ale. Breakside rolled out a new year-round West Coast IPA a couple of weeks ago. Today it’s Fort George’s turn: the brewery just added Island Towns IPA, a tropical IPA, to its year-round lineup. 

Setting Sail For an Island Town

Fort George describes Island Towns as “a Tropical West Coast IPA as bright and aromatic as an island in the sun.” Great, now I’ve got that catchy Weezer song stuck in my head. 

“Astoria, Oregon, the home of Fort George, might not technically be an island, but it can feel like an island sometimes,” said the release announcement. “Not the lonely, isolated John Donne sort of island (that no man is), but a cheerful, welcoming, community-rich island. Surrounded by water on three sides, Astoria is diverse and ecologically unique with its own culture and custom. Island Towns aren’t always out of the way – this one is easy to visit. Wherever you are – you’re just one pint away.”

“Like the town it was brewed in, Island Towns isn’t just a summer destination. In a new, year-round 6pack, this Tropical West Coast IPA is lush, a little sweet, and perfect for activities in any season. If you’re ready to escape the crush of city life, if you’re ready to go a little slower, enjoy your time on Astoria Island with Island Towns.

Island Towns IPA is brewed with a mix of cutting-edge, fruit-forward hops like Superdelic and the bold, citrusy West Coast flavor of Citra and Chinook. “Modern brewing science and warm sandy beaches, ripe tropical fruit on the breeze and a refreshing citrusy breeze off the Pacific – it’s a brand new, year-round Tropical West Coast IPA from Fort George.”

The brewery will host some release parties in the coming weeks across the Northwest: 

You can find more information at FortGeorgeBrewery.com as well as updates and details about Island Towns release parties all over the Pacific Northwest: 

• 8-21 – Release Party – Asylum Spirits in Portland
• 8-25 – Release Party – Noble Hop in Hillsboro
• 8-27 – Release Party – Red Hot in Tacoma
• 9-1 – Release Party – Beach Hut Deli in Bend
• 9-9 – Release Party – The Barn in Albany
• Get Island Towns IPA online.

For more news about recent beer releases, visit the Washington Beer Blog’s New Beer Releases page.

It’s always a big day when an experimental hop gets a name. Well, today is the big day for two hops: HBC 1325 and HBC 682

Today, Hop Breeding Company (HBC) announced the launch of Terra Alpha Hops. This new series was built specifically for high-alpha performance — that is, performance in both the field and in the brewhouse. The Terra Alpha series currently includes two hop varieties: HBC 1325 and HBC 682 (TerraSurge and TerraFlux).

Hop Breeding Company is a joint venture created by the nation’s two largest hop suppliers: John I. Haas, Inc. and Yakima Chief Ranches (YCR). In short, the mission at HBC is to develop and introduce new hop varieties that address the needs and desires of the brewing industry, as well as the agricultural realities faced by the growers. 

If you know Hop Breeding Company at all, you probably know them for gifting the world with flavor-forward, aromatic hop bombs like Citra® (HBC 394), Mosaic® (HBC 369), and Krush® (HBC 586). But bittering hops have always been part of the program too, and now that side of the portfolio is getting its own identity: Terra Alpha Hops. The new series kicks off with two varieties: TerraSurge and TerraFlux.

TerraSurge is the new kid on the block — a high-yield variety bred to provide resistance to powdery mildew and also offer a late harvest window. That combo gives growers more flexibility and points toward more efficient, sustainable production down the road. 

Michael Ferguson, Director of Hop Breeding at John I. Haas, isn’t shy about calling it a milestone. “TerraSurge encompasses every innovation we’ve developed over the last seven years. It’s a breakthrough. That’s what we want a hop to look like.” 

Dean Moshing, Chief Sales Officer at Yakima Chief Hops, sees it as an answer to something brewers have been asking for: alpha varieties that perform consistently, season after season. “The future of alpha depends on varieties that consistently perform in the field as well as the brewhouse. Terra Surge was bred for exactly that: a vigorous, high-yielding cultivar grown in the Pacific Northwest and designed to deliver dependable performance year after year. As brewers look to diversify their alpha sourcing and build resilience into their hop supply chain, TerraSurge gives them a foundation they can rely on.” 

TerraFlux, meanwhile, isn’t a brand-new hop. It’s an official name applied to an existing, experimental variety, HBC 682, which has been commercially grown since 2018. Since its introduction, HBC 682 racked up more than 36 million pounds grown to date. 

The Terra Alpha Series combines an established workhorse, TerraFlux, with a fresh-faced, innovative breakthrough, TerraSurge. Both TerraFlux and TerraSurge are now available through Yakima Chief Ranches and John I. Haas.

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

It’s no arbitrary decision. There’s a reason an AVA is an AVA

Washington’s wine map just got a little more crowded — in a good way. On August 17, 2026, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau made it official: Columbia Hills is the state’s 22nd American Viticultural Area (AVA), a designation that gives this stretch of vineyards along the Columbia River its own name on the label. In very basic terms, the new AVA is located, more or less, across the river from The Dalles, Oregon. The photo above is by Cascade Cliffs Vineyard and Winery, which lies within the new AVA.

If you’re picturing another sprawling appellation, think smaller and more specific. Not so wee as Candy Mountain, the state’s smallest AVA, but not at all expansive. Columbia Hills covers 29,387 acres, tucked between two other AVAs: the Columbia Gorge to the west and The Burn of Columbia Valley to the east. It sits entirely within the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Right now, Columbia Hills is home to roughly 300 acres of wine grapes, making it one of Washington’s more intimate designations.

Columbia Hills is unique because of science

The appellation takes its name from a 35-mile ridgeline running along the north side of the Columbia River, which forms its southern edge. The northern boundary is drawn at the 1,050-foot elevation line, and that number is not arbitrary. It is significant.

Kevin Pogue, a geology professor at Whitman College who authored the AVA petition, explained that this elevation line marks the highest level the ancient Missoula Floods reached in this part of the state. That flood history is written into the soil: thin, wind-deposited silt and sand sitting on top of flood-scoured basalt bedrock. Pogue described it as a scenic stretch of terrain, with vineyards perched on terraces the floods carved above the river. Geology is so cool!

What sets Columbia Hills apart

The TTB doesn’t dish out AVA status for scenery alone — a region has to show genuinely distinguishing features. Columbia Hills makes its case on four fronts:

• South-facing slopes. The entire appellation sits on southern exposure, prime real estate for sun-loving wine grapes. Flood erosion left a series of stepped terraces on those slopes, widely regarded as among the best vineyard sites around.
• A river running through it. The appellation sees warmer temperatures during the growing season, especially in the early morning hours. But with most of the AVA lying within a mile of the Columbia River, temperatures — especially overnight and early in the morning — are moderated, stretching out the growing season.
• Lower ground. Elevations here range from just 74 feet to 1,050 feet, notably lower than much of the rest of the Columbia Valley AVA, within which Columbia Hills and most other Washington AVAs lie.
• Thin, well-drained soil. Shallow soils let vine roots reach down into the basalt bedrock beneath — something you don’t see much of elsewhere in the Columbia Valley. Combined with coarser soil texture, drainage here is excellent.

The grapes appreciate a view of the river

Happy grapes make happy wine. Robert Lorkowski, who owns Cascade Cliffs Vineyard and Winery within the new appellation, put it in more personal terms. He described the region as a patchwork of small, intimate microclimates shaped by their closeness to the water, and pointed to a line he’s fond of: “All the great grapes see the river.” Whether there’s hard data behind that, Lorkowski admits he can’t say — but he’s convinced there’s something real in vines grown within sight of the Columbia.

What it means for wineries and drinkers

The designation isn’t just symbolic. Starting September 16, 2026, wineries will be able to submit Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) requests to the TTB to list Columbia Hills as the official appellation of origin on their labels. That’s the moment this becomes more than a line on a map — it starts showing up on bottles.

For a state that already boasts 21 other AVAs, adding a 22nd might not sound like huge news. But Columbia Hills is a reminder of how much local variation is packed into Washington wine country — river-warmed, flood-carved, basalt-rooted variation that’s now got a name of its own. Keep an eye out for it on shelves once those first labels start rolling out this fall.

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

But you need to do it soon! The discount code expires on Wednesday, August 19th at 11:59 pm.

Fifteen years. Let that sink in for a second.

That’s fifteen years of Cider Summit Seattle setting up shop in the heart of the city, fifteen years of artisan cidermakers pouring their hearts (and their heritage apples) into taster glasses for thirsty fans, and fifteen years of me personally underestimating how many good ciders exist outside the six or seven that I can name off the top of my head. (Don’t judge me: I’m working on it.) Every single year, I’m wrong about the popularity of cider. Every single year, I’m happy to be wrong, and happy Cider Summit endures. It’s sinking in: cider is not going anywhere, and I need to lend it more attention.

The region’s largest hard cider tasting festival returns Friday, September 11 (3 – 8 p.m., with a VIP session kicking things off at 2 p.m.) and Saturday, September 12 (noon – 5 p.m.), right back where it belongs — South Lake Union, 101 Westlake Ave. N. If you’ve been before, you know the drill. If you haven’t, buckle up. Tickets are on sale now!

The Numbers Are Kind of Absurd

More than 40 producers. Over 125 ciders, meads, cider cocktails, and fruit spirits. Sourced from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. And it’s not just pour-and-go, either — plenty of the cidermakers themselves show up to talk shop, offer advice for cider-food pairing possibilities, and generally make you feel smarter about cider than you actually are. Let the experts guide your afternoon’s tasting experience.

“We’re very excited to celebrate this benchmark,” said Alan Shapiro, Cider Summit co-founder and producer, who has watched this thing grow from a scrappy regional gathering into the PNW’s signature cider event. “Each year, we’re excited to introduce a range of new vendors and new products to even our most loyal festival attendees.”

Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of the NW Cider Association, put it even more plainly: since 2010, this has been the event. Not an event. The event.

“Each year, our members and cider fans throughout the region look forward to Cider Summit Seattle,” Ritchie said. “Since 2010, it has been the area’s signature cider event. We’re excited to see its momentum continue in the PNW.”

Fifteen years of momentum. That’s not a fluke — that’s a community showing up. Seriously, most festivals of this ilk don’t last more than five years — cider, beer, spirits, whatever. The 15-year run is an impressive testament to cider’s enduring popularity. This ain’t no bandwagon, but you are still welcome to jump on if you’re new. Like me.

The Cider & Cupcake Pairing Is Back, and It’s the Best Kind of Weird

New-ish this year (or at least a delightfully, deliciously returning twist: a hosted four-course pairing session on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon, featuring Slightly Furry Cider paired with cupcakes from noted Seattle bakeries.

Cider and cupcakes. Not cider and cheese, not cider and charcuterie — cupcakes. I don’t make the rules, I just report on the sugar-fueled chaos, and honestly? I’m all about it. Space is capped at 60 participants, and there’s a surprise bonus tasting thrown in, so if that’s your idea of a well-spent Saturday morning, don’t sleep on it: secure your spot.

Tickets, Because Logistics Matter

Here’s the breakdown — pricing goes up the longer you wait, so if you’re the type who buys concert tickets the day they drop, this is your moment to shine:

• Use discount code WABB-5 (valid through Wednesday, August 19th at 11:59 pm).
• VIP tickets – $45+ through July 31, $50+ after. Includes early entry on Sept. 11, 16 tasting tickets, and a festival tasting glass.
• General admission – $35+ through July 31, $40+ through Sept. 11, $55 at the gate. Includes 12 tasting tickets and a tasting glass.
• Cider & Cupcake paired tasting – $30+ add-on to any ticket. Limited to 60 people.
• Designated driver tickets – $10/$11, gate only, comes with a bottle of water because someone’s got to get everyone home safely. Minors are not allowed at the festival, full stop.

Advance tickets are online-only, and additional tasting tickets run $2 each once you’re onsite. Sales close at 11:59 a.m. on September 11 — so procrastinators, you technically have until the morning of. I don’t recommend it, but I respect the hustle.

Beyond the Cider — Because a Festival Needs More Than Just Drinking

• Food from Miss Café and Kathmandu MoMoCha, plus snack reinforcements from KaffeeKlatsch, Little Jamie’s Mini Donuts, Don & Joe’s Meats, and Salt Blade Handcrafted Meats.
• Oregon Fruit Co. Fruit Cider Challenge — vote via QR code for your favorite. Democracy, but make it cider.
• Heritage Cider Pavilion, spotlighting farm-based regional artisanal producers doing things the old-fashioned way.
• Dog Lounge, hosted by and benefitting Seattle Humane Society. Shade, water, treats, and — this is the important part — well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome at the festival. Bring the good boy. He’s earned a cider festival too.
• Event store for bottles, cans, merch, and backup tasting tickets when your first batch runs out faster than expected (it will).
• Cider Summit Rewards, with post-event bonus offers and discounts from sponsors and local vendors, because the fun doesn’t have to end when the lawn empties out.

The Bottom Line

Fifteen years is a long time for anything to stay good (let alone stay this good), but Cider Summit Seattle has managed it by doing the simple things right: great producers, real conversation, and just enough unexpected creativity (looking at you, you scrumptious cupcakes) to keep it interesting.

Mark the calendar. Buy early. Bring the dog, but leave the kids and toddlers at home. See you on the lawn.

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.

Don’t Get Too Excited. Rogue’s IP Assets Have Attracted Some Interest

As we reported, Rogue Ales & Spirits abruptly ceased operations at all of its facilities last November. Not long thereafter, we shared news that the company filed for bankruptcy. It was an unceremonious end for a nearly 40-year-old brand that helped propel the craft beer revolution forward. But wait, the Dead Guy is not entirely dead yet! As part of the process, the company’s intellectual property rights are up for sale and, to date, there’s a $400,000 offer on the table. Bidding continues through this week. Also, there are rumors about the possible future of Rogue’s more tangible, beery assets.

What does “IP assets” mean? Rogue’s IP rights include its website domain name (Rogue.com), beer recipes, biological strains, the right to propagate its proprietary yeast. Add to that its social media accounts, trademarks, brands, graphics, and all that jazz. 

Not Very Beery

Does this mean that Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale may rise from the grave? Not likely, given the current offer, which comes from an English company that does not make beer. Silver Scope Media is a digital marketing and web design agency that provides custom-built websites, strategic search engine optimization (SEO), and online growth campaigns. 

Search engine optimization is definitely not beer and definitely not very rogue. If nothing else, rogue.com is a desirable web property and, for the right business, $400k might be a steal. When evaluating its assets for bankruptcy purposes, Rogue Ale & Spirits valued its IP property rights at $2 million. That might have been optimistic. 

Another Oregon-based business filed an objection to the sale of the IP assets, asserting that it has a “perpetual license” for Rogue’s wine and wine-based products. Valley View Winery trademarked “Rogue” in 1983, but a court settlement later granted Oregon Brewing (Rogue) the trademark rights. A hearing is scheduled for later this month to address that matter. 

Will the Brewery Rise From the Dead?

In related news, there are rumors floating around that Rogue’s more tangible assets, like its brewing equipment, may find a new home. When, and if, those rumors become fact, I’ll share that news. Read a more detailed report on the potential sale of Rogue’s IP assets here.

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

It sounded simple. It sounded small. But sometimes things just have a life of their own and that’s happy news. Such is the case with Sound2Summit Brewery’s Summer Celebration of Beer. The event takes place on August 22nd at the brewery’s location in Snohomish, WA, and features more beer than Sound2Summit expected. 

Doug Milnor, Co-Owner of Sound2Summit Brewery, explains, “Basically, we asked a bunch of friends of ours to send us their FAVORITE summer beer – we thought we might get 10-15 but are ending up around 37 or 38 breweries represented.”

The list of guest breweries is impressive, with Washington and Oregon well-represented by esteemed breweries you do not often see around here. Like Brickwest Brewing, Humble Abode Brewing, Uprise Brewing, and Whistle Punk Brewing from Spokane. And that’s just the start. See the complete list below. 

• Tickets are $35 presale or $40 day of the event.
• Limited supply. Act now. 
• Includes 10 beer tasting tokens.
• Each taste is 7-ounces. You do the math.
• Keep the commemorative taster glass.
• Lots of activities planned, including live music.
• 3 PM brewery tour.

“Join us for the Summer Celebration of Beer, bringing together 35 guest breweries alongside 20 unique Sound2Summit selections. This festival highlights a special focus on each participating brewery’s absolute favorite summer beer, offering attendees an exceptional lineup of seasonal brews designed for warm weather.”

Washington Breweries

• 210 Brewing, Arlington
• Anacortes Brewing, Anacortes
• Beach Cat Brewing, Bellingham
• Brick West Brewing, Spokane
• Dru Bru, Cle Elum
• Fast Fashion Brewing, Seattle
• Formula Brewing, Issaquah
• Grains of Wrath, Camas
• Halcyon Brewing Company, Seattle
• Humble Abode Brewing, Spokane
• Ladd & Lass Brewing, Seattle
• Lucky Envelope Brewing, Seattle
• McMenamins, Bothell
• Mirage Beer, Seattle
• Postdoc Brewing, Redmond
• San Juan Brewing, Friday Harbor
• Sig Brewing, Tacoma
• Structures Brewing, Bellingham
• Terramar Brewstillery, Bow
• Trap Door Brewing, Vancouver
• Uprise Brewing, Spokane
• Varietal Beer, Sunnyside
• Vice Beer, Vancouver
• Victor 23 Craft Brewery, Vancouver
• Watts Brewing, Woodinville
• Whistle Punk Brewing, Spokane

Oregon Breweries

• Claim 52 Brewing, Eugene
• Gigantic Brewing, Portland
• Kings & Daughters Brewery, Hood River
• Little Beast, Portland
• Living Häus Beer, Portland
• Obelisk Beer, Astoria
• Ruse Brewing, Portland
• Sunriver Brewing, Sunriver
• Threshold Brewing, Portland
• Von Ebert Brewing, Portland
• Wayfinder Beer, Portland

Check out the Washington Beer Blog’s events page for more beer-related events around Washington.