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. 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 cans to its 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, which we call Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Chuckanut.

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.

Stop by Peaks & Pints for an all-day Chuckanut flight and a 5-8 p.m. celebration with co-owner Mari Kemper.

Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Chuckanut

Chuckanut Kölsch German Ale

4.5% ABV,

Chuckanut Kölsch German Ale maintains a restrained bitterness, although the palate is light-bodied and bone-dry. A soft malt flavor in the center gives way to a drying, slightly acidic finish. The flavor is big and full, bready, and crisp, with a nice bite at the finish.

Chuckanut Mexican-Style Dark Lager

5% ABV

Chuckanut originally brewed its Mexican-Style Lager for Tom Douglas Restaurants, which served it at two of its restaurants: Brave Horse Tavern and Cantina Leña. Then, Chuckanut added its 2 Amigos Mexican-Style Dark Lager, which is now renamed Mexican-Style Dark Lager. Despite its dark color, this new rendition offers smooth, dark toast and bready flavors with an effervescent light body.

Chuckanut Pilsner

5% ABV

Following their passion for German pilsners, the Kempers brewed their own golden, vivid, crisp version with Pilsner malt and secret noble hops. The multiple award-winning pilsner pours a light gold color with good head retention and lacing. Expect a pilsner-like nose with honey, biscuit dough, and light pepper notes. The flavor profile replicates the nose with an excellent crisp, bitter finish. The beer is light, crisp, and refreshing, and the drinkability is superb.

Chucaknut Rye Lager

5% ABV

Historically, country brewers in Finland and Russia have used rye in their beers. Chuckanut Rye Lager is autumn-inspired with a deep golden color and toasty flavor due to generous portions of rye malt and Spalt hops. This unique beer has a spicy rye bitterness rounded out with a creamy finish.

Chuckanut Stout Ale

6% ABV

Chucknaut Stout is a winter seasonal ale. It is brewed with Pilsner, Munich (German), Chocolate, and Roast malts (UK and Argentina) and then hopped with German hops for a clean bitterness while accenting the roasted flavor among the notes of coffee and chocolate. A small addition of oats amplifies the creamy mouthfeel without becoming overly sweet, and a velvety smoothness coats the palate with hints of biscuit and toast.

LINK: Peaks and Pints beer and cider cooler inventory