“No spirits will be dampened,” assures Eric Radovich, Executive Director of the Washington Beer Commission, which is hosting the first-ever Washington Beer Collaboration Festival tomorrow and Saturday in Seattle. “The 50 brewers are under a massive 100’ x 80’ tent, and there will additional tents put up as the weather dictates.”
Below I share some of the more interesting collaborative beers on the list. At least the ones that caught my eye. And below that, the complete list of beers that will be tapped at the festival, collaborations and otherwise.
Let’s be honest, the weather isn’t supposed to be that bad. There’s a chance of rain, but this time of year, nobody knows what that really means. Heck, it’s Seattle, there’s always a chance of rain. That’s why we all own rain gear.
For complete festival details, and ticket information, visit the official event website.
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Here are my top collaboration picks:
Postdoc Brewing + Resonate Brewery
One kinda new brewery + one very new brewery.
Collaboration: Gose
Brewed at Postdoc Brewing in collaboration with Resonate Brewery + Pizzeria, this distinctive beer incorporates blackberries, sea salt, and coriander into a crushably tart wheat beer. It pours a beautifully vibrant purple and welcomes you with aromas of fresh berry, citrus, and salinity. With a sessionable ABV and a refreshingly bright acidity, feel free to thoroughly research this one over a few glasses in an effort to fully understand this unique style. 42 IBU 4.7% ABV
Bale Breaker Brewing + Reuben’s Brews
Two breweries that can do NO wrong.
Collaboration: CollaBEERation IPL
An India Pale Lager (IPL) is similar to an India Pale Ale (IPA) except that IPLs use lager yeast which adds a smooth crisp body to the beer, and produces less esters which allow the hops to shine through brightly. CollaBEERation pairs Reuben’s Brews’ house lager yeast strain with a light pilsner malt base and plenty of hops! The brew features Citra, Mosaic, and the experimental hop HBC344, which features berry notes that will work well with the Mosaic and lager character. It was dry hopped multiple times with Citra, Azacca and more Mosaic hops. In all, this beer contains more than 4 pounds of hops per barrel and exudes tropical fruit, citrus and pineapple notes.
Flying Bike Coop + Lantern Brewing
A beer without hops? Yes, but I still bet it will be good.
Collaboration: Creature from the Bog: Greenwood Gruit
Brewed with the kinds of growing things that might have been gathered from the giant bog that Greenwood once was and at times still is, including peat, juniper branches, dandelions, rose hips, and perhaps other undisclosed, plant-derived material. 20 IBU 4.5% ABV
Ghostfish Brewing + Seattle Cider
A Gluten-free rice malt ale fermented with apple juice. Who does that?
Collaboration: Gluten Free Graff (Beer-Cider Hybrid)
Pale in color, with a light body and a crisp refreshing flavor somewhere between a blonde ale and a dry cider. Crystal rice malt adds body and a unique sweet grain flavor to balance the dryness of the cider. Dry-hopped with Caliente hops for a juicy stone-fruit aroma, accentuated by subtle fruity esters from a British ale yeast. 25 IBU, 5.7% ABV
Georgetown & Two Beers
Seriously. Is there any way this beer can be bad?
Collaboration: Juicy Hop Bomb Double IPA
Brewed from a blend of big single-hop-doubles from Two Beers and Georgetown Brewing. Equinox and Citra hops are combined with a simple malt bill to make a citrusy and fruity 8.5% brew.
Here is the Complete 2016 Collaboration Festival Beer List
1) Anacortes Brewery + Menace Brewing
Collaboration: Who Is Sheila Tantorino?
She has a delicate body, a crisp and bitter character and a scent of pineapple, nectarine and peaches. She’s a SMASH (single malt and single hop) birthed in collaboration with Bellingham Beer Lab / Menace Brewing and the Anacortes Brewery from Skagit Valley Copeland malt and experimental hop HBC-438. 4.2% ABV
Also:
Anacortes Whistle Lake Weizen 18 IBU, 4.6% ABV
Anacortes1516: This Year in Beer Series Marzen 22 IBU, 6.4% ABV.
2) Aslan Brewing + The North Fork Brewery
Collaboration: Nelson Sauvin Dry Hopped Dark Sour
3) Bale Breaker Brewing + Reuben’s Brews
Collaboration: CollaBEERation IPL
An India Pale Lager (IPL) is similar to an India Pale Ale (IPA) except that IPLs use lager yeast which adds a smooth crisp body to the beer, and produces less esters which allow the hops to shine through brightly. CollaBEERation pairs Reuben’s Brews’ house lager yeast strain with a light pilsner malt base and plenty of hops! The brew features Citra, Mosaic, and the experimental hop HBC344, which features berry notes that will work well with the Mosaic and lager character. It was dry hopped multiple times with Citra, Azacca and more Mosaic hops. In all, this beer contains more than 4 pounds of hops per barrel and exudes tropical fruit, citrus and pineapple notes.
Also:
Reuben’s Gose
Reuben’s Pilsener 35 IBU, 5.5% ABV
Bale Breaker Bottomcutter Imperial IPA 100 IBU, 8.2% ABV
Bale Breaker Dormancy Imperial Stout 55 IBU, 7% ABV
4) Backwoods Brewing + Ashtown Brewing
Collaboration: Ashwoods IPA 2.0
Citrusy and crisp. A perfect Summer IPA. 60 IBU, 7.5% ABV
5) Boundary Bay Brewery + Farmstrong Brewing
Collaboration: Salvador Sour Saison
A kettle-soured saison (w/ house Lactobacillus from Boundary Bay), 100% Skagit Valley Malts, Fr Tardiff du Bourgogne hops, and Imperial Organic “Citrus” Yeast- brewed at Farmstrong Brewing Co. 11 IBU, 6% ABV
Also:
Boundary Bay Cedar Dust IPA
Farmstrong NW Farmhouse 32 IBU 5% ABV
Farmstrong Stackin’ Hay IPA 85 IBU, 6.8% ABV
6) Brickyard Brewing + Spinnaker Bay Brewing
Collaboration: Hibiscus Mistress
This French style Saison by Brickyard Brewing and Spinnaker Bay brewing is extreme, it has upfront lemon flavor and finishes with ground pepper notes. Post fermentation was infused with Hibiscus which created elements of tart and sweet notes that complimented this beer to create a flavorful and enjoyable drink.
Also:
Brickyard Craft Lite Ale 4% ABV
Brickyard Graham Cracker Brown Ale 6.8% ABV
Spinnaker Bay A Little Dinghy Blode Ale 30 IBU, 5.5% ABV
Spinnaker Bay Don’t Panic Robust Porter 50 IBU, 7.6% ABV
7) Cash Brewing + Valhöll Brewing
Collaboration: Kitsap Tangerine IPA
Tangerine extract, Mandarina Bavaria Hops. This beer is hoppy with a tangerine taste. Valholl Brewery and Cash Brewery both believe we have a great spring beer that has a 6.5% ABV kick
Also:
Cash Nightgame Indian Brown Ale 72 IBU’s, 6.3% ABV
Cash Home Run Red Ale- 17 IBU’s/5.3% ABV
Valhöll Golden Warrior Ale 5.5% ABV
Valhöll Crimson Cove Smoled Rye
8) Chuckanut Brewery + Red Hook Brewery
Collaboration: Rauch Helles
Chuckanut and Redhook brewers have collaborated to create a smoky style Helles Lager. This beer captures the unique smoky flavors of the Rauch Lager with the gentle easy going nature of the Helles Lager. This interesting collaboration creates a golden beer with deep malty flavor spiked with mild smoky overtones due to the use of beech wood smoked malted barley. OG 11.5 Plato, 18 IBU, 4.7% ABV,
Also:
Chuckanut Marzen Lager 5.8% ABV, 25 IBU.
9) Cloudburst Brewing + Stoup Brewing
Collaboration: Fist Bump
The first rule of Fist Bump is: You do not talk about Fist Bump. OK, fine. Mutual respect and a shared fervor for delicious beer led to the creation of Fist Bump, a collaboration between Stoup and Cloudburst. Bittering with Warrior followed by generous additions of Simcoe, Mosaic and HBC 522 throughout the boil and in dry hopping create citrusy and tropical fruit aromas and flavors.
Also:
Stoup Bavarian Hefeweizen
Cloudburst Umm an IPA?
10) Diamond Knot Craft Brewing + Scuttlebutt Craft Brewing
Collaboration: Thai Me Up – A Thai inspired lager
Wanting to represent the light and delicate flavors of Thailand, this beer was brewed with jasmine rice and infused with lemon grass, galangal root, and kaffir lime leaves. Late addition hops of Sorachi Ace, Mosaic, and Citra, impart a bright and welcoming aroma. 15 IBUs, 5.0% ABV
Also:
Diamond Knot Binnacle Summer Ale 20 IBU, 5.5% ABV
11) Elysian Brewing + Bluebird Microcreamery & Brewery
Collaboration: “Split Personality” Bourbon Banana-Chocolate-Vanilla Stout
A hybrid between a German wheat and American stout. Liberal use of chocolate malt and roasted barley set the foundation for the classic banana flavors produced by the German yeast. Vanilla beans steeped in bourbon are the proverbial “cherry on top.” Served with Bluebird Ice Cream as a float! 32 IBU, 6.9% ABV
12) Fish Brewing + Top Rung Brewing
Collaboration: The India Red Lager
A collaboration between five South Sound Breweries: Fish Brewing Company, Top Rung, Three Magnets, Harmon Brewing, and Pacific Brewing. The South Sound IRL is 6.5% ABV and 40 IBU.
Also:
Top Rung Prying Irons IPA 60 IBU, 6.7% ABV
Top Rung Lacey Dark Lager 27 IBU, 5.8% ABV
13) Flying Bike Coop + Lantern Brewing
Collaboration: Creature from the Bog: Greenwood Gruit
Brewed with the kinds of growing things that might have been gathered from the giant bog that Greenwood once was and at times still is, including peat, juniper branches, dandelions, rose hips, and perhaps other undisclosed, plant-derived material. 20 IBU 4.5% ABV
Also:
Flying Bike Pale Hoppy Thing-NW Pale Ale 50 IBU, 6% ABV
14) Georgetown & Two Beers
Collaboration: Juicy Hop Bomb Double IPA
Brewed from a blend of big single-hop-doubles from Two Beers and Georgetown Brewing. Equinox and Citra hops are combined with a simple malt bill to make a citrusy and fruity 8.5% brew.
15) Ghostfish Brewing + Seattle Cider
Collaboration: Gluten Free Graff (Beer-Cider Hybrid)
Gluten-free rice malt ale fermented with apple juice).
Pale in color, with a light body and a crisp refreshing flavor somewhere between a blonde ale and a dry cider. Crystal rice malt adds body and a unique sweet grain flavor to balance the dryness of the cider. Dry-hopped with Caliente hops for a juicy stone-fruit aroma, accentuated by subtle fruity esters from a British ale yeast. 25 IBU, 5.7% ABV
16) Hilliard’s Beer + Wander Brewing
Collaboration: Pongal Kölsch
German-style Kölsch brewed with Jasmine rice. Crisp, clean, nutty flavors with sensations of fresh popped corn. 4.5% ABV
Also:
Wander Sour Cherry Millie 4.4% ABV
Hillard’s Picard Session IPA infused w/ Earl Grey Tea
17) Iron Goat Brewing + Everybody’s Brewing
Collaboration: Everybody’s Goat Gose
Gose finished with fresh lemon peel. 1 IBU, 4.5% ABV
Also:
Iron Goat Irish Kate Imperial Red 62 IBU, 9.2% ABV
18) Lazy Boy Brewing + Naked City Brewing
Collaboration: Tapioca Tart
Berliner Weisse Style Beer brewed with 65% Pale Malt and 35% Wheat. We added 16.5 lbs of Tapioca Pearls to the mash and Tapioca Malto Dextrin was added to the boil. This beer was kettle soured for 48 hours with Lactobacillus. The result is a beer that is bracingly tart and extremely refreshing. 4% ABV
19) Maritime Pacific Brewing + Roslyn Brewing
Collaboration: Boom Town Pre Prohibition Lager
Old style lager.
Also:
Rosylyn Dark Lager 4.8% ABV
20) Postdoc Brewing + Resonate Brewery
Collaboration: Gose
Brewed at Postdoc Brewing in collaboration with Resonate Brewery + Pizzeria, this distinctive beer incorporates blackberries, sea salt, and coriander into a crushably tart wheat beer. It pours a beautifully vibrant purple and welcomes you with aromas of fresh berry, citrus, and salinity. With a sessionable ABV and a refreshingly bright acidity, feel free to thoroughly research this one over a few glasses in an effort to fully understand this unique style. 42 IBU 4.7% ABV
Also:
Postdoc Hogus Maximus Barriclus Tripe IPA 11.1% ABV
Postdoc Kilty By Association Wee Heavy Pro Am 29 IBU 7.65 ABV
21) Seapine Brewing + Standard Brewing
Collaboration: Basil Saison
Farmhouse-style Saison brewed with fresh Basil. Enticing basil aroma, clean malt body, delicately spiced lemony citrus flavor. A uniquely refreshing and drinkable Summer beverage. 20 IBU, 5.5% ABV
22) Silver City Brewery + Sound Brewery
Collaboration Sound City Wheatfist
This Collaboration is a blend of Silver City Hopfist Imperial IPA & Sound Brewery’s Wheat Wine.
Also:
Silver City Liquid Sunshine Belgian Tripel – 30 IBU’s 9% ABV
Silver City Bourbon Barrel Aged Fat Scotch Ale – 30 IBU’s 9.9% ABV
23)Rooftop Brewing + Lowercase Brewing
Collaboration Beer: Valley Girl Kolsch
You will, like, totally be so hoppy about drinking this bier! From the brewers at Lowercase Brewing and Rooftop Brew Co comes a modern Seattle take on an old style German kolsch. A little bit darker and hoppier than you would expect from a kolsch, this bier was brewed exclusively from ingredients grown in Washington’s fertile valleys. Skagit Valley Malting’s Copeland base and Alba dark malts are complimented with only a single hop, Yakima Valley’s “Goldeneye” hops. 18 IBU, 5.2% ABV
24) Three Magnets Brewing + Triceratops Brewing
Collaboration Beer: Big Dumb Face Session Triple IPA
This is the Session Triple IPA you’ve been waiting for! Made in collaboration with the “up and coming” Triceratops Brewing Co. Loads of Lemon Drop, Chinook and Mosaic bellow huge fruity, dank, lemon cake and resin aroma and flavor; loosely anchored by a blend of pilsner, 2-row and rye malts for a big bitter and dry finish. #sodumbipa 8.5% ABV
Also:
Three Magnets Dry Hopped Brett Belgian Pale 5.4% ABV
Three Magnets Eastside Club Pale 5.6% ABV
Three Magnets 2014 Tart Helsing Junction Farmhouse Ale 6.8% ABV
25) Whitewall Brewing + Skookum Brewery
Collaboration Beer: Rollin’ Down Rodeo Wit a Sasquatch
A White IPA brewed with Galaxy, Citra, and Mosaic hops. Conditioned on whole Mango and pink peppercorn.
Also:
Skookum Hoppy Lager
Whitewall Firetrail Smoked Strong Ale
