What’s better than a gold medal?
How about a silver medal to go with it.
For this year’s Washington Beer Awards, Bothell’s Watts Brewing entered The Leafcutter twice, once as a true kolsch and also as a kellerbier, or a lagered “cellar beer.” The judges decided the beer was so good it gave it gold and silver in the German-style Kolsch category.
“It’s a little odd for one beer to win two medals in the same category,” said Watts Brewing co-owner Evan Watts, who surmised that the Kellerbier category was too small and was absorbed into the Kolsch one, “but we’re just happy to have one.”
Brewed with Pacific Northwest malts and hops, The Leafcutter is an adaptation of the classic German style, born in Cologne, Germany and characterized by its straw color, subtle malt flavor and light hop bitterness.
If you’d like to try The Leafcutter, Watts said kegs were recently delivered to Bothell’s The Hop and Hound, Lynnwood’s Moonshine BBQ and Anacortes’ Rockfish Grill.
Here’s a look at other local winners of the 2018 Washington Beer Awards:
Pepper Lime Pils and Duh Dortmunder, Beardslee Public House: Pepper Lime Pils won a gold medal in the Chili Pepper category, and Duh Dortmunder won silver for German Pale Lagers. That makes three wins for Beardslee, which last won silver for its Sidewinder Stout in 2016. Beers are not currently on tap.
Red Elvis, Dreadnought Brewing: After winning two medals in 2017, the Monroe brewery took home its first gold medal for its Red Elvis in the Rye Beers category. Possibly on tap at the brewery this weekend.
Sassy Lassie, Whitewall Brewing: After winning silver for its Irish red ale in 2015, the Marysville brewery repeated with a silver medal three years later. It’s Whitewall’s sixth medal in four years. On tap at the brewery.
Butch’s Brew, Foggy Noggin Brewing: The Bothell brewery known for its English ales took home a silver medal for its Butch’s Brew, a brown ale, in the English Dark Ales category. Not currently on tap.
U-Pick Strawberry Pale Ale, Haywire Brewing: Made with fresh strawberries, this pale ale from the Snohomish brewery won bronze for American-style Fruit Beer. It’s Haywire’s second bronze in a row after its Red Rye IPA finished third in 2017. On tap at the brewery.
Departing brewer lands at Diamond Knot: A month after announcing his departure from Sound to Summit Brewing, Grady Warnock has landed at one of the stalwart breweries in Snohomish County.
Warnock, who grew up in Everett, recently accepted an associated brewing position at Mukilteo’s Diamond Knot Craft Brewing. Last week, Warnock was pouring for Diamond Knot at the Washington Brewer’s Festival.
“I’ve been a fan of their beer for a long time, and I’m so honored to join their team,” Warnock wrote on Facebook.
Warnock was hired by Sound to Summit to run the brewery operation when it opened in 2014. His Wild Willy Wee Heavy won a gold medal at the 2016 Washington Beer Award in the British Strong Ales category.
Legislation introduced to allow distilleries on tribal land: Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray introduced legislation last week to repeal a law that prevents distilleries from being operated on tribal land.
An identical bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in April and was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee. It is awaiting a floor vote.
The impetus of the bill is the Chehalis Tribe’s plans to build a brewery and distillery on its lands near Grand Mound. The law it is attempting to repeal was enacted in 1834 and directs the government to destroy and “break up” any distillery on tribal land.
Herrera Beutler put forth that local tribes should be given the opportunity to tap into the burgeoning craft distillery market.
“For this reason, it’s good to have Sens. Cantwell and Murray join me in this effort so that we can repeal this antiquated ban for the Chehalis and other Indian tribes across the country,” she told the Associated Press.
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