Peaks and Pints hosts Chuckanut Can Release Party

Chuckanut Brewery co-owner Mari Kemper returns to Peaks & Pints with lagers, giveaways, and her trademark charm. Yes, Mari was in the house this past November. Yes, we have invited her back to our craft beer and cider bar, bottle shop, and restaurant in Tacoma’s Proctor District. You would, too, if you had a giant beer cooler. The Burlington, Washington, brewery has added Pilsner and Kolsch cans to their core line-up — and we’re celebrating with a Chuckanut tap takeover and cans to-go from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. Chuckanut will also take over our five-taster flight Thursday.

For those who don’t know the Chuckanut Brewery story. … In 1984, chemical engineer and homebrewer Will Kemper and his culinary crackerjack wife Mari left Boulder, Colorado, opened Thomas Kemper brewery on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and quickly moved it to Poulsbo. In 1992, Thomas Kemper merged with Hart Brewing, which became Pyramid Breweries. The Kempers signed a non-compete and left to become consultants with East Coast and international breweries. The Kempers took their non-compete and helped build the craft beer scene in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Mexico, and Turkey.

After traveling, they moved to Bellingham, where they opened Chuckanut Brewery in 2008. This convergence of technical and engineering concepts developed from more than two decades of professional involvement with craft brewing at home and abroad. They hired Josh Pfriem as their head brewer, and later, Kevin Davey grabbed the head brewer paddle. In late 2016, Chuckanut launched a new 40-barrel production facility, Chuckanut South Nut, in Burlington. They closed Bellingham in mid-October 2021.

Tune in to Grit & Grain Podcast Episodes 50 and 51 to hear Mari and Will Kemper fill in the blanks with their accomplishments and amazing stories on their journey to open Chuckanut Brewery in 2008. Then, head to Peaks & Pints on Thursday,

PEAKS AND PINTS HOSTS CHUCKANUT CAN RELEASE PARTY, 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma, no cover

LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory