Engineer Barry Chan adored homebrewing. He dove, kettle first, into the Seattle homebrewing scene asking questions and sharing his beer knowledge. His passion and dedication soon translated into a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judge where he earned a National score on his first tasting exam. One day, while homebrewing in his kitchen, his buddy Ray Kwan sunk into the couch playing Mario Bros. and dreaming of his next big thing. His first idea was an East Coast-style sports bar since Kwan has roots in New Jersey and loves sports. Chan, from Pennsylvania, thought a brewery in Ballard made more sense. In its first year, Lucky Envelope Brewing won a medal at the 2015 GABF, which is no longer alone on their medal wall. The brewery name comes from a Chinese tradition of handing out red envelopes filled with paper money. The color red is meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good health, while the money inside is supposed to bring prosperity. Chan and Kwan are Chinese Americans who embraced a culturally inspired philosophy to creating beer — from their Pandan Almond Milk Stout brewed with real pandan leaves to a Gotlandsdricka beer based on Swedish homebrew made with juniper boughs and smoked malts to a 5,000-year-old Mijiaya Historic Chinese Beer recipe complete with Job’s tears, barley, millet, lily flowers, and yam. Today, Peaks & Pints presents an all-day, in-house flight of Lucky Envelope beer — a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lucky Envelope Brewing.

Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lucky Envelope Brewing

Lucky Envelope Pears-n-Spice

5.5% ABV

The pear cobbler of sours with loads of pear puree, cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg.

Lucky Envelope Gingerbread Cream Stout

6% ABV

Their rich, roasty cream stout base brewed with gingerbread spice, vanilla, lactose, and blackstrap molasses to create this quintessential holiday treat.

Lucky Envelope Peanut Butter Cream Stout

6% ABV

Peanut Butter Cream Stout contains real peanut butter infused with the cocoa, coffee, and light roast flavors of our cream stout. Aromas of peanut butter and milk chocolate with light roast hit the nose, followed by chocolate, roast, and peanut butter. Lactose and flaked oats add a smooth creaminess to balance out bold dark malts.

Lucky Envelope Pumpkin Emoji Cream Stout

6% ABV

The hip younger sister of their Erma Gourd Pumpkin Porter, Pumpkin Emoji Cream Stout has cocoa and light, roasty coffee flavors, which blend deliciously with real pumpkin puree and a mix of pie spices. Lactose and flaked oats balance out bold dark malts creating a creamy smoothness not unlike a “PSL” — perfectly spiced latte.

Lucky Envelope Buddha’s Hand Citron IPA

6.4% ABV

Zest from the uniquely shaped Buddha’s Hand fruit is brewed into this seasonal West Coast IPA. Buddha’s Hand Citron imparts botanical notes and intense flavors reminiscent of fresh cut lemon and crushed lemon candies.

LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory

LINK: Lucky Envelope Brewing on the Grit & Grain Podcast