Peaks and Pints Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers April 24

PAPPI THE GREY: The best amber and red ales in Middle-Northwest? You think you know where to find it. We all do. After weeks of feverish voting using algorithms, classifiers, and processes, we at Peaks & Pints have watched you, beloved voters, narrow down 64 ambers and red brewed in Oregon and Washington to the very best 16, the maltiest of the crop. Yesterday, the first eight ambers and reds in the Saccharification 16 did battle. Today, the remaining eight go at it.

Here’s a recap of yesterday’s battles, followed by my commentary on today’s Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers Saccharification 16 games. Thanks for voting on Peaks & Pints Instagram Stories!

Tuesday, April 23, Saccharification 16 Northwest Ambers Games results

GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION

Stemma Brewing First Amber (#16 seed) vs Kulshan Brewing Local Amber (#13 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: I have mention numerous times a competition such as the Tournament of Beer can ruin friendships. When there’s an amber on the line, people can get weird. Years of friendship can be washed away over amber interpretations. There are so many possible decisions a brewer can make when creating a beer, and each decision has an impact on the end product’s taste – and ambers might be one of the most widely varied of all. But the admiration and love for Stemma Brewing and Kulshan Brewing goes beyond beer, beyond stickers, and beyond pedigree. It’s the people. How many times has Stemma owner Jason Harper offered to babysit cats? Or, how about the many times has Kulshan Head Brewer Wes Finger offered to change a mountain tire tube? At the buzzer, the people chose Stemma’s First Amber with 58 percent of the vote.

GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION

Wet Coast Brewing Hi Jack! Red (#3 seed) vs Triceratops Brewing Collin James Irish Red (#10 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Despite a late push from dudes named “Jack,” Triceratops Brewing’s Collin James Irish Red and its large, devoted, Thurston County following proved too powerful in yesterday’s action, grabbing 59 percent of the vote and catapulting into the Ethanol 8 with a resounding victory. Some analysts claim Collin James received a push from the South Sound Irish community. Other analysts say having the powerful River Barrel Distributing in Triceratops’ camp didn’t hurt. Whatever the reason, Triceratops is using all its horns to plow through this tournament.

GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION

Living Haus Kenny Hoppy Red (#16 seed) vs Pelican Sea’N Red (#4 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Only seven teams with double-digit seeds have made the March Madness Final Four since the men’s tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985, including the 2023-24 season when No. 11 seed NC State completed a stunning coup on the South regional crown. No 16th seeded team has ever made it to the Sweet 16; certainly not two 16th seeds in the same tournament. In the Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers, both 16ths seeded Living Haus Beer and Stemma Brewing made it to the Saccharification 16.  As you know, Stemma made it past Kulshan for a slot in the Ethanol 8. Even though the alarm went off in the Living Haus early for an early lead, by time the afternoon arrived Tournament of Beer veteran and former champion Pelican Brewing had a big lead, and, eventually, 62 percent of the vote. Incredible run, Kenny!

GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION

Barley Brown’s Point Blank Red (#6 seed) vs Block 15 Brewing Ridgeback Red (#2 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Serving delicious beers to thirsty gold miners and cowboys in Baker City is business genius, probably why Barley Brown’s does it. However, name recognition also goes long way — and Block 15 Brewing has been unblocking the blocks with regional distribution. In this contest, the Renaissance hound ruled the day with Ridgeback Red securing roughly 58 percent of the votes for a slot in the Ethanol 8.

Let’s weed through the malts. The following are advancing to the Ethanol 8:

Stemma Brewing First Amber (#16 seed)

Triceratops Brewing Collin James Irish Red (#10 seed)

Pelican Sea’N Red (#4 seed)

Block 15 Brewing Ridgeback Red (#2 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Alright, it’s time to launch the second half of Peaks and Pints Tournament of Beer: Northwest Ambers Saccharification 16 with four more games today. 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.

Wednesday, April 24, Saccharification 16 Northwest Ambers Games

GAME 1, NORTHERN WASHINGTON REGION

Boundary Bay Railroad Ave. Amber (#14 seed) vs Triplehorn Brewing Folkvang Red (#15 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Triplehorn Brewing has Viking vibes. They know Boundary Bay Brewing had an exhausting game against Old Stove Brewing’s Amber Waves Monday. It was the great Viking warrior Lagertha who once said, “Remember fellow Vikings; It is always a strength to know the weakness of your enemies. May the shields block and the axes cleave! Skål!” Triplehorn, do doubt, will charge strong with their Folkvang Red Ale. What the Woodinville brewery shouldn’t forget is Boundary Bay was named best chili restaurant in Whatcom County, it’s currently Bellingham Beer Week, and Boundary Bay was brewing beer when Triplehorn was still attending Erik The Red Elementary School.

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GAME 2, SOUTHERN WASHINGTON REGION

Top Rung Brewing Box Alarm Amber (#8 seed) vs 7 Seas Brewing Cutt’s NW Amber (#4 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Top Rung Brewing beat number one seeded and two-time Tournament of Beer Champion E9 Brewing. Enough said there. 7 Seas Brewing’s Cutt’s NW Amber made it past Loowit’s Two-Sixteen and Backwoods’ Copperline — two strong contenders. Which of these two South Sound breweries will meet Triceratops Brewing’s Collin James Irish Red in the Ethanol 8? Their fate is in your hands.

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GAME 3, NORTHERN OREGON REGION

Double Mountain Brewery I.R.A. (#3 seed) vs Buoy Beer NW Red (#2 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: In Hood River, fan favorite Double Mountain Brewery I.R.A. uses plenty of Northwest-grown, Brewer’s Gold and Simcoe hops. With a solid foundation of Pilsner and Crystal malts and their inimitable house yeast, these ingredients intertwine in delicious complexity and a shining ruby hue. Buoy Beer’s NW Red is brewed with five malt varieties commingle to create a dark red color with a balanced malt base. Late kettle additions and dry hopping with Ultra and Sterling hops bring out the NW Red’s defining character. Tournament of Beer statisticians gave up trying to predict this outcome. The votes will decide, obviously.

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GAME 4, SOUTHERN OREGON REGION

Boneyard Beer Diablo Rojo (#1 seed) vs Kobold Brewing Brimstone Red (#13 seed)

PAPPI THE GREY: Boneyard Beer’s Diablo Rojo continues its expected domination of the brackets, the No. 1 seed easily surpassing the tasty but hidden Oregon Trail Mosaic Red. In a battle for Bend, Oregon, Boneyard went pint to pint with Bend Brewing’s Outback Amber. The downtown Bend brewery put up a good fight, but Diablo Rojo’s superlative red ale was not to be denied. Kobold Brewing saw a little closer contests, especially against Three Creeks Head Brewer Pat “Patio” O’Shea’s Firestorm Red. But Kobold’s Brimstone Red was too much fire and brimstone for the Sisters, Oregon, brewery to handle. Technically, THIS is the battle for Bend, and it shouldn’t disappoint. Which dastardly-named beer has your vote?

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LINK: Tournament of Beers: Northwest Ambers explained

LINK: Tournament of Beer Headquarters

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