Peaks and Pints Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers April 23
AMBER BAGGINS: Amber ale in 2024 might seem a little passé in a world dominated by hazies, adjunct-laden stouts and barrel-aged beasts. But not that long ago, amber was the ale that practically built the craft beer house. Immensely sessionable and immediately recognizable, amber ales were easy to drink — making it an enticing prospect to macro drinkers looking for something different — while also being flavorful enough for seasoned drinkers in search of something lighter. And as an accompaniment to a meal, amber has incredible versatility, harmonizing beautifully with everything from deli sandwiches to spicy Indian dishes and lettuce-based salads. Hello, everyone. I’m Amber Baggins and the competition has been whittled down to the Saccharification 16. Yes, 16 Middle-Northwest brewed amber and red ales are poised to make the final push to the Final Four, which will be held Friday. With me in the broadcast booth is our own, Pappi The Grey.
PAPPI THE GREY: Thanks Amber Baggins! Here’s a recap of yesterday’s battles, followed by our commentary on today’s Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers Saccharification 16 games. Thanks for voting on Peaks & Pints Instagram Stories!
Monday, April 22, Second Round Northwest Ambers Games results
GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Old Stove Brewing Amber Waves (#11 seed) vs Boundary Bay Railroad Ave. Amber Ale (#14 seed)
AMBER BAGGINS: I think Old Stove Brewing underestimated the power of Bellingham Beer Week. The Bellingham Metropolitan Area’s population is 231,919, making it the 204th-largest in the United States, and 231,910 of them drink Bellingham beer, including beer from oldest brewery in the college town, Boundary Bay Brewing. Old Stove with its three growing breweries/taprooms in Seattle had the early morning lead until Bellingham Beer Week participants climbed out of their beds. Then, Railroad Ave. Amber went off the rails smashing Old Stove votes beneath its rail wheels. When Boundary Bay reached the station, it had 55 percent of the vote and a slot in the Saccharification 16.
GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Backwoods Brewing Copperline Amber (#5 seed) vs 7 Seas Cutt’s NW Amber Ale (#4 seed)
PAPPI THE GREY: These two Southern Washington Region breweries traded mash paddle shots all day until around 2 p.m. when 7 Seas Brewing‘s Cutt’s NW Amber began to pull away. The Tacoma brewery pushed Cutt’s on the Instagram, which helped. The big push came around 4 p.m. when 7 Seas co-owner Travis Guterson walked into the taproom from the adjoining brewhouse, grabbed a pint of Cutt’s NW Amber and hugged every customer. With tears in their eyes, the customers flooded their phones with Tournament texts. Brilliant, Trav! Cutt’s NW Amber makes the cut, grabs 53 percent of the vote, and enters the Saccharification 16.
GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION
Ruse Brewing Dad Moon Rising (#10 seed) vs Buoy Beer NW Red (#2 seed)
AMBER BAGGINS: This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die — one misstep and you’re out of the dance. For some reason Ruse Brewing’s Dad Moon Rising didn’t wear its standard durable corduroys and half-zips, but showed up to the game wearing pleated shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and a fishing hat. Not cool, according to voters. It wasn’t the game to change as Buoy Beer’s NW Red is a vote-garnering machine. At the buzzer, Buoy had 71 percent of the vote and a date with Double Mountain’s I.R.A. in the Saccharification 16.
GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Boneyard Beer Diablo Rojo (#1 seed) vs Bend Brewing Outback Amber (#9 seed)
PAPPI THE GREY: Ten minutes after number one seed Diablo Rojo beat number nine seed Outback Amber with 71 percent of the vote, Boneyard Beer owner Tony Lawrence stepped into the entrance of Boneyard brewhouse, chugged a pint of Diablo Rojo, yelled “Diablo Rojo!”, cranked “Giving The Dog A Bone” by AC/DC, and walked out while the brewers superseding “Dog” with “Outback” in the song. It was a magical moment, indeed.
AMBER BAGGINS: Let’s weed through the malts. The following are advancing to the Saccharification 16:
Boundary Bay Railroad Ave. Amber Ale (#14 seed)
7 Seas Cutt’s NW Amber Ale (#4 seed)
Buoy Beer NW Red (#2 seed)
Boneyard Beer Diablo Rojo (#1 seed)
Alright Pappi, it’s time to launch the Peaks and Pints Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers Saccharification 16 with four games today and four more tomorrow. Please vote for one beer per game on Peaks & Pints’ Instagram Stories. Voting for today’s battles ends at midnight. We’ll announce the winners tomorrow morning around 10 a.m., but today’s games are live on Peaks & Pints’ Instagram Stories right now.
Tuesday, April 23, Saccharification 16 Northwest Ambers Games
GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Stemma Brewing First Amber (#16 seed) vs Kulshan Brewing Local Amber (#13 seed)
PAPPI THE GREY: Our little Instagram Stories vote engine will have to run on all pistons for this game. Stemma Brewing is less than a half-mile between Kulshan Brewing’s Sunnyside neighborhood brewery on one side and the Roosevelt neighborhood brewery on the other side. Kulshan won our 2019 Tournament of Beer: Northwest Pilsners with their German-style Pilsner. Stemma Brewing’s owner Jason Harper leads his 4-year-old brewery with an Advance Cicerone certificate in his back pocket (he often has a kitten in the other back pocket). If you don’t know their stories, or worse, their ambers, then Peaks & Pints doesn’t event want to know you.
VOTE ON PEAKS & PINTS’ INSTAGRAM STORIES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION
Wet Coast Brewing Hi Jack! Red (#3 seed) vs Triceratops Brewing Collin James Irish Red (#10 seed)
AMBER BAGGINS: With 7 Seas Brewing’s win yesterday, the South Sound rules the Southern Washington Region’s Saccharification 16. Wet Coast takes on Triceratops Brewing today, with Top Rung and 7 Seas battling tomorrow. Hi Jack! Red beat Sig’s Amber Rambler and Barrel Mountain’s Ash Cloud. Triceratops Brewing beat Narrows Eldies Amber and Silver City Ridgetop Red. I wouldn’t be surprised if new tire grooves on Interstate-5 will appear between Tacoma and Tumwater. Vote now!
VOTE ON PEAKS & PINTS’ INSTAGRAM STORIES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION
Living Haus Kenny Hoppy Red (#16 seed) vs Pelican Sea’N Red (#4 seed)
PAPPI THE GREY: Number 16 seeded Living Haus Kenny Hoppy Red beat number one seeded Full Sail Amber in First Round action. Then, Kenny beat eighth seeded Zoiglhaus’ Ramona Red in the Second Round. The little Kenny that could “sees” number four seed Pelican Brewing’s Sea’N Red in the Saccharification 16 today. The third time’s the charm at the corner of Southeast Belmont and Southeast 7th in Portland — and we’re not talking about Living Haus’ situation being the third brewery in the space (the space was once the second home of the beloved The Commons Brewery and then after its demise, California’s Modern Times Beer’s Belmont Fermentorium), or the three Living Haus owners (Culmination’s Conrad Andrus, Modern Times’ Mat Sandoval and former pFriem Family Brewers’ head brewer Gavin Lord) — but rather the 16th seed red ale’s third game of the Tournament. On the other side, Pelican beers have always advanced deep into our Tournaments, including winning 2020’s Tournament of Flagships with their Kiwanda Cream Ale. The longtime brewery with four taprooms along the Oregon Coast is a force to be reckoned with a phone tree that doesn’t stop. Kenny better stretch before the game.
VOTE ON PEAKS & PINTS’ INSTAGRAM STORIES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION
Barley Brown’s Point Blank Red (#6 seed) vs Block 15 Brewing Ridgeback Red (#2 seed)
AMBER BAGGINS: Today, these two successful Oregon breweries’ red ales face off. Both have deep followings and fanatic fans. Oregon will never be the same.
VOTE ON PEAKS & PINTS’ INSTAGRAM STORIES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Wednesday April 24 Tournament of Northwest Ambers Second Round action …
Game 1: Boundary Bay Railroad Ave. Amber (#14 seed) vs Triplehorn Brewing Folkvang Red (#15 seed)
Game 2: Top Rung Brewing Box Alarm Amber (#8 seed) vs 7 Seas Brewing Cutt’s NW Amber (#4 seed)
Game 3: Double Mountain Brewery I.R.A. (#3 seed) vs Buoy Beer NW Red (#2 seed)
Game 4: Boneyard Beer Diablo Rojo (#1 seed) vs Kobold Brewing Brimstone Red (#13 seed)
LINK: Tournament of Beers: Northwest Ambers explained
LINK: Tournament of Beer Headquarters
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