Tournament of Beer Northwest Pale Ales nominations open

In April 2023, Peaks & Pints will host the Tournament of Beer: Northwest Pale Ales. Chosen through the nomination process below, the top 64 vote getters — the cream of the hops — will compete Monday through Friday on our website, April 7-29. Through smartphone voting, Washington and Oregon American pale ale drinkers will pick daily winners until the best pale in the Northwest is crowned. It’s just like March Madness, only with way more citrus and tropical fruit accents.

The hop-to-hop battle of Washington and Oregon brewed American pale ales grand champion will be announced at the Tournament of Beers Party, April 29, at Peaks & Pints in Tacoma’s Proctor District. The final two pale ales will battle live pouring from our Western red cedar tap log with the champion brewery receiving a permanent handle at Peaks & Pints through the spring and summer 2023.

First, we need you to seed the tournament. Peaks and Pints is asking you to select the 64 Washington and Oregon brewed American pale ales that should be included in the tournament. Washington or Oregon, favorites or underdogs, clean or hazy, it’s all the same — as long as the craft beer falls under the 2021 BJCP Style Guide Category 18B American Pale Ale and the brewery is recognized by the Washington Beer Commission or the Oregon Brewers Guild. Peaks & Pints will take the top 64 Northwest pale ales voted by you and seed the tournament according to most votes, in the four regions — Northern Washington (Seattle, Spokane and north), Southern Washington (Tacoma, Olympic Peninsula and south), Northern Oregon (Portland, Hood River, Astoria), and Southern Oregon (Corvallis, Bend and south) with only one pale ale per brewery represented.

What is the best pale ale in the Northwest? Vote for your three favorites below before midnight Sunday, March 5. We’ll randomly select a ballot to win a $25 Peaks & Pints gift card.

Look for the first round of Northwest brewed pale ale battles April 7.