Kendall Jones

BrewDog's wild ride takes a new turn with Tilray acquisition Tilray Brands is acquiring the UK's BrewDog, paying the equivalent of $44 million for the global brand and intellectual property .

A fire-juggling high-wire artist in a penguin costume. Didn't take long to find a buyer. Tilray is acquiring BrewDog. Deal includes the brewery and UK pubs. Another deal for the remaining global assets will close soon. $44 million? Is that a bargain? 🤷‍♂️ washingtonbeerblog.com/brewdogs-wil...

Hop Notes | Eric R. Sannerud | Substack Howdy, I’m Eric. I care a lot about farmers and hops. I made the Hop Notes newsletter to help you make better hop decisions. Hop Notes is delivered once a month with expert analysis of current topics ...

Credit where it's due. The idea to do this survey came from something I read in Eric Sunnerud's Hop Notes newsletter. It was a pretty geeky deep dive into IPA's future from the brewers' angle. I decided to go a bit more consumer-focused. ericrsannerud.substack.com

Brewers and geeky beer folks often lean into the BJCP guidelines, but the huge majority of consumers don't know what BJCP is. Honestly, I think most IPA consumers just want to know if it is hazy or not. West Coast, American-style, NW-style just means not hazy to most folks

Results from our State of IPA Survey are here The first round of results are in from our State of IPA survey. With over 1,000 responses so far, this is what we are hearing from the craft beer consumer.

I've been running an IPA survey for the last few weeks. Here are the results based on the first 1,000-ish responses. Interesting to see what people think about craft beer's most popular style these days. What they do/don't like, what they want, etc. washingtonbeerblog.com/results-from...

Portland's SheBrew Festival celebrates women in the industry SheBrew is a festival in Portland that celebrates women in the craft beer and cider world. The event takes place on Sat. March 7th.

SheBrew festival in Portland on Sat, March 7th, kicks off Women’s History Month. A vibrant celebration of women in the craft beer and cider industry. washingtonbeerblog.com/portlands-sh...

Obec Brewing announces a series of Burlesque & Beer Shows Obec Brewing in Seattle has scheduled a series of Burlesque & Beer Cabaret events at its taproom in Ballard. The first event is on Sunday, March 8th.

Have you noticed that more breweries and beer joints are upping their events game? Not just more, but more diverse, different kinds of events to attract new, broader audiences. Not just the good ol' brewers night. Like this series at Obec Brewing in Seattle. washingtonbeerblog.com/obec-brewing...

Aslan Brewing announces it's opening a third Seattle location Bellingham-based Aslan Brewing just announced that it is opening another location in Seattle. This will be its fifth location overall and its third in the Emerald City.

Yep, Bellingham-based Aslan Brewing Company is at it again. Opening its third location in Seattle. This will be its fifth location overall. The new brewery and pizzeria will be located in the Seward Park neighborhood. washingtonbeerblog.com/aslan-brewin...

Lucky Envelope Brewing, The Fire Horse, and what it all means Lucky Envelope Brewing hosts its annual Lunar New Year celebration this Saturday to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse.

The Year of the Fire Horse is here, and I'm ready for it. Lucky Envelope Brewing celebrates the Lunar New Year this Saturday. So, what is the Fire Horse all about, and what does the brewery have planned? washingtonbeerblog.com/lucky-envelo...

Crux Fermentation gets new owners as the Oregon Beverage Collective is formed Five craft beverage companies in Central Oregon have combined forces to face the future. Cascade Lakes Brewing, Crux Fermentation Project, GoodLife Brewing, Silver Moon Brewing, and Tumalo Cider are n...

Big news coming out of Bend, OR, as some familiar names in the beer biz announce they are combining forces under one organization: the Oregon Beverage Collective. At the core, Crux Fermentation Project was acquired by another brewery. washingtonbeerblog.com/crux-ferment...

The State of IPA in 2026 This survey is for people who drinking IPA, whether they drink it often or occasionally. IT IS NOT for IPA haters. If your opinion is hardcore anti-IPA, it's not for you. Please only take the quiz o...

Resharing this. The survey is still live. Help me find out what people want from an IPA in 2026. Simple, quick survey about your thoughts on the State of IPA. I'll follow up with a story about the results. forms.gle/RpxhtUqM6bhH...

Yakima Valley Residency Program with NAGBW The Yakima Valley Tourism is sponsoring the Yakima Valley Residency, a new program open to North American Guild of Beer Writers (NAGBW) members.

Are you a beer-focused, new and emerging freelance writer, storyteller, and communicator? Are you a member of the NAGBW? (You should be.) Visit Yakima has an opportunity for you! Earn a residency in Yakima, home of the hops. @nagbw.bsky.social www.visityakima.com/nagbw

A Really Special Bitter, for a really special cause, at Logan Brewing A beer and event to celebrate resilience and independence, and honor the life of a special man. Logan Brewing's Really Special Bitter.

Sometimes a beer is more than a beer. It's a memorial and a celebration. This one is an example. It remembers and celebrates a special man, and supports the things he cared about. A senseless and tragic story, but a poignant memorial. washingtonbeerblog.com/a-really-spe...

The State of IPA in 2026 This survey is for people who drinking IPA, whether they drink it often or occasionally. IT IS NOT for IPA haters. If your opinion is hardcore anti-IPA, it's not for you. Please only take the quiz o...

I sometimes worry the industry isn't listening to its audience because they don't ask, so I put together a quick survey to gauge where people's heads are at these days regarding the state of IPA. You can take the survey here. I will compile and share the results. forms.gle/aYtN58apZiWe...

Tacoma Beer Week , 10 days of events starting February 27th Tacoma Beer Week offers dozens of events at many different locations, all to celebrate the city's current and past, rich beer scene.

Tacoma Beer Week is coming up soon. Feb 27 through March 8th. Events across the city celebrate the city's vibrant beer culture, both today and yesterday. More details in the story. washingtonbeerblog.com/tacoma-beer-...

Untappd ratings are a funny thing. There is an Emperor’s New Clothes effect, for sure.

I agree. It's nice when something lives up to the hoopla.

A plastic cup of Pliny the Younger triple IPA. Served in a mini mart environment.

It’s a Super Sunday. A great day for a Pre-Game Pliny the Younger. Wait… what? Yep. On tap at Super Deli Mart. (They got a full keg this year!)

GoSelfDistro Gives Self-Distributed Breweries a Collective Voice Self-distribution is one expression of the independence that defines craft beer, but it comes with real challenges. GoSelfDistro aims to help.

GoSelfDistro is a new resource for Northwest breweries that choose to self-distribute their beers. And there are a lot of those. It's a collective, valuable to the breweries and the pubs/restaurants/bars. washingtonbeerblog.com/goselfdistro...

Forged in SoDo: Ghostfish Celebrates 11 Years with SODO Steel IPA Seattle's Ghostfish Brewing celebrates its 11th anniversary on Sat. Feb 7th. Event at the taproom and a special beer release. Details here.

Ghostfish Brewing (perhaps the most esteemed GF brewer in the nation) celebrates its 11th anniversary on Sat. Event and beer release: SODO Steel IPA. Why steel? They have their reasons. I share info about that and a bit about how Ghosfish works its magic. washingtonbeerblog.com/forged-in-so...

Bale Breaker's Five Star Dive Bar taps into a trend in the right way Bale Breaker Brewing introduces a new full-time brew: Five Star Dive Bar Light Lager. Available in 12-oz cans, soon in 12-packs. It's trendy, but that is NOT a bad thing.

This new brew from Bale Breaker Brewing taps into a trend. AND that is not necessarily a bad thing. Five Star Dive Bar provides a craft-brewed alternative to "those beers." In case you haven't noticed, a lot of folks are looking to lower ABV beers these days. washingtonbeerblog.com/bale-breaker...

% It is a dismal month for beer sales, but Washington breweries hope the Seahawks' Super Bowl run will help thaw Frigid February.

Got plans for the big game on Sunday? I hope it involves some locally brewed craft beer. Let's make the Seahawks success translate into good news for our local breweries. I talk about that, and "Frigid February" in general, in a story on the blog today. washingtonbeerblog.com/can-the-seah...

The GABF is thinking outside the box, or just outside period The Brewers Association announces that the Great American Beer Festival is moving to a new, outdoor venue this year. A big change after a 26-year run at the old locations. So why the move?

I've mused that beer festivals need to start thinking outside the box. This one is thinking outside. Period. After 26 years, GABF 2026 is moving to a new open-air venue. washingtonbeerblog.com/the-gabf-is-...

Second Pours: Washington Breweries Reopen, Rebrand, and Reload A few breweries in Washington have recently changed hands. With new ownership comes new ideas, new visions, and reimagined expectations.

I hesitate to call it a trend, but Washington has seen a spate of brewery takeovers -- not evil takeovers, but ownership changes as folks retire, move on, etc. I share some thoughts and a list of recent deals. washingtonbeerblog.com/second-pours...

Dear Columbia Sportswear, if you'd like to also include the Washington Beer Blog in your media blitz for $uper $unday, call my agent.

Is craft beer too serious for a little potty humor? I hope not. There's enough serious sh*t happening in the world these days. I drank the beer. It's a huckleberry lager. Loads of huckleberry flavor. Bears eat a lot of huckleberries. What's the adage? "If you have to explain the joke..."

Last night I drank the beer. I did not taste any poop, not that I know what bear poop tastes like. It's true that black bears eat a lot of huckleberries, and I tasted plenty of that, so then again... I'd describe it as a light-bodied huckleberry lager.

I will be trying this beer later this evening and will report as to whether or not I taste poop.

If I get a PR that says "embargoed" before I've agreed to those terms, I consider it a leak. Why would/should they trust me? Maybe they want me to ignore the embargo. I mean, if there is no relationship. If there's a relationship, if there's established trust, that's totally different IMHO

I sometimes find that beer tastes better with tongue-in-cheek. Is it a gimmick? Duh. Is it a lark? Duh. Is it okay that beer gets a bit silly now and again? I hope so.

Breakside Brewery and Columbia Sportswear answer nature's call Breakside Brewery teamed up with Columbia Sportswear to create a beer that reeks with the essence of the steamy wilderness: bear poop.

Just in time for the big game (go Seahawks), Breakside Brewery and Columbia Sportswear are dropping a collaboration beer. Answering nature's call, as it were. A light lager brewed with an unexpected ingredient... bear poop. washingtonbeerblog.com/breakside-br...