Bret Gordon left the University of Colorado with a degree in Economics and a passion for craft beer. He continued into the finance world, probably sipping an Avery Brewing beer here and there. It didn’t take long for him to realize that being at a desk was not for him and he wanted to become a professional brewer. That passion led him and his family to California where he went back to school to earn a Professional Brewing Certificate at the University of San Diego. He swore he would never go back to school, but beer will make you do some crazy things. From there, Gordon worked as a professional brewer for several years at SoCal breweries, including The Bruery. In 2018, Gordon and his family traveled north to Spokane and opened Lumberbeard Brewing, a 20-barrel brewhouse on the east end of downtown. Today, Peaks & Pints salutes Lumberbeard with an in-house flight of their beer. It’s a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lumberbeard. For more background on Lumberbeard, tune-in Grit & Grain Podcast Episode 87.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Lumberbeard
Lumberbeard Handlebar & Hatchet
4.8% ABV
A collaboration with Chainline Brewing, this West Coast pilsner is brewed with Steffi Pilsner malt from Linc Malt plus Simcoe Cryo and Idaho 7 hops for a light, hoppy and drinkable pilsner.
Lumberbeard Hops In Here
6.4% ABV
Breweries incorporate wheat and oats to boost body and mouthfeel, as well as to lend opaque looks, while hops are added at the end of brewing for maximum aroma and flavor and minimum bitterness. Hazy session IPAs mimic the stronger stuff in everything but alcohol, creating opportunities for sipping — and selling — more beer. Lumberbeard’s Hops In Here rings in at 6.4% for an easy-drinking, hazy experience. Brewed with El Dorado, Bru-1, and Galaxy hops, expect notes of tropical fruit such as mango and kiwi in each sip.
Lumberbeard West Coast Is Awesome
7% ABV
West Coast IPA brewed with Idaho 7, Citra, and Strata hops for aromas of tangerine and apricot followed by a fruity pebble dankness with a subtle bitterness.
Lumberbeard Couples Skate
8.5% ABV
A collaboration with Spokane Valley’s YaYa Brewing, this hazy double IPA is packed with Mosaic and Motueka hops and bursting with flavors for blueberry and lemon lime.
Lumberbeard Anniversary Year 4
16.5% ABV
Sure, everyone loves anniversary cake, but Lumberbeard didn’t name themselves Lumberbeard Cakes for a reason. They brew beer, including a big barleywine for their fourth anniversary back in January. Year 4 is a blend of 1-year-old, 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and 4-year-old bourbon barrel-aged barleywine. This is a hefty beer with each sip full of caramel, fig, and bourbon notes. Think bourbon-soaked pecan pie.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
