The glorious mountain regions in Washington state offer all sorts of great climbing opportunities. Belay from a sandy river beach in Olympic National Park rain forest. Choose from thousands of routes in eastern Washington’s rugged canyons and sunny crags. In the Cascades, take in snow-capped mountain views on a multi-pitch route. Washington is a climber’s paradise. The sheer diversity of rock climbing in Washington State is impressive, to say nothing of the quality of its basalt columns, granite crack systems, and expertly set routes. Washington is pitch perfect. Many Washington breweries brew for these climbers due to the brewery’s location near routes and trails, or the brewer is an avid adventurist. Peaks & Pints’ Western red cedar tap log and 850-plus beer cooler has the proof. Today, we’re pulling five climbing and hiking themed beers from the cooler for a special beer flight. Swing by Peaks & Pints, grab Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Climbing Ales, and celebrate your pre- and post-sends.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Climbing Ales
Old Schoolhouse Fun Rock IPA
5.8% ABV
The owners of Old Schoolhouse Brewery are outdoor enthusiasts, which is almost mandatory since the original riverfront brewery and gastropub is in Winthrop, which sits east of Mazama and north of Twisp in Okanogan County. Brewed just for the fun of it, Fun Rock IPA is anchored with a light bodied mouth feel followed by a big wall of bright citrus, tropical and dank hops. Choose your route wisely and lead yourself to new heights of hoppy enlightenment.
Bale Breaker TrailBreaker
6.8% ABV
Yakima’s backyard hosts some of the best outdoor recreation in the state. With its warm dry climate, easy access to the Cascades, and nearly 300 days of sun, the Yakima Valley offers ample opportunities to move your body while enjoying the scenic beauty of rolling desert hills, crystal clear rivers, evergreen forests, and year-round climbing opportunities. Peaks & Pints travelled to the Yakima Valley and Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to brew our seventh house beer, Bale Breaker Brewing TrailBreaker IPA, which was first released at Peaks & Pints Seventh Anniversary Celebration Nov 1, 2023, and remains on tap a full year. We toured Loftus Ranches that ultimately grew the hops for TrailBreaker, and then brewed the IPA at Bale Breaker’s brewhouse in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Brewed with Simcoe, Cryo Citra, and Cascade hops, this old school, amber-colored IPA has notes of pine and citrus.
Icicle Enchantments Cannon
6.9% ABV
The Enchantments is a region within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area of Washington state’s Cascade Mountain Range. At an elevation of 4,500 feet, it is home to over 700 alpine lakes and ponds surrounded by the vast peaks of Cashmere Crags, which rate among the best rock-climbing sites in the western United States. Icicle Brewing sits on the edge of the Enchantments in the town of Leavenworth. The 19th rotating recipe in Icicle’s award-winning Enchantments Hazy IPA series, Cannon, salutes Cannon Mountain, a cross-country scramble that can be approached from several different routes. The beer features Nelson and Motueka hops from New Zealand, along with Pacific Northwest favorites Citra and Mosaic. Expect notes and aromas of citrus, passion fruit, stone fruit, gooseberry and white grapes.
Barrel Mountain Trail Builder Imperial IPA
9% ABV
Barrel Mountain Brewing donates a portion of profits from its Trail Builder Imperial IPA to trail associations, clubs and volunteers that maintain and improve Washington state’s trail systems. Thank the Battle Ground brewery as you dip your nose into mildly caramel malt, citrus and dank hops, orange citrus with slight lemon. Flavor follows with pale malt with slight caramel, citrus and dank hops, plus orange, grapefruit and lemon juice and rind. The Trail Builder finishes with lightly resinous citrus rind bitterness and lingering citrus and herbal flavors.
Fast Fashion Rock Hound Hazy IPA
6.3% ABV
Washington has an extraordinary variety of rocks and fossils. Collectors can find beautiful agates, amethysts, garnets, jaspers, opals, and even the occasional nugget of gold. With a wide variety of rock types out there, perhaps rock climbers should aim to heighten their abilities in bouldering, top-roping, and sport-climbing with rock knowledge. On the other hand, perhaps a natural curiosity is born from the rush of problem-solving and triumphing over something greater than mankind itself. Something that is a natural part of this 4.6-billion-year-old planet. And something that might also be here long after humans as well. Anyway, after a long day of rock hounding — on the mountain or on the beach — pour a stone-cold pineapple, mango, citrusy rind beer to sip on while the treasures are tumbling. Fast Fashion Brewing’s Rock Hound Hazy IPA, brewed with Bru-1, Motueka, and New Zealand Cascade, should do the trick.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
