18 Washington beers were competing in the 1st round of the Brewing News National IPA Championship this past weekend. Hopefully, you filled out your bracket and are in the running to win a case of the winning IPA once the tournament is over.
The first round matchups for Washington beers are below, with the winning beer in bold. The competition is stiff for this event, and overall WA took quite a beating. With 18 beers entered, just 5 advanced to the 2nd round. And, 2 of those advanced against other WA beers…so WA had to win. This speaks volumes about the quality of beer that is being made all over the country these days.
Congrats to all of the breweries that advanced, and I hope to see all the others competing back here again next year.
There were 10 Washington beers entered in the regular IPA category. Here are those matchups:
Two Beers Evo IPA vs. Lazy Boy IPA
Boundary Bay IPA vs. Bowser Brewing Electric City IPA
Redhook Long Hammer IPA vs. Lakefront IPA
Reuben’s Brews India Wheat Ale vs. Sam Adams Whitewater IPA
Old Schoolhouse Ruud Awakening IPA vs. Ska Modus Hoperandi
Diamond Knot IPA vs. Boneyard RPM IPA
Elysian Valhalla IPA vs. Lawson’s Finest Triple Play IPA
Ice Harbor IPA vs. Jack’s Abby Hoponius Union
Elysian Savant IPA vs. Depot Street Freighthopper IPA
There were also 8 Washington beers entered in the Imperial IPA category:
Ice Harbor Hop Warrior vs. Pelican Imperial Pelican Ale
Airways Brewing Sky Hag IPA vs. Moylan’s Hopsickle
Elysian Diprohopus Double IPA vs. Diamond Knot Industrial IPA
Reuben’s Brews Imperial IPA vs. Kuhnhenn Brewing Double Rice IPA
Boundary Bay Imperial IPA vs. Boulder Mojo Risin’
Reuben’s Brews Imperial Rye IPA vs. Great Lakes Alchemy Hour
Old Schoolhouse Imperial IPA vs. High Water Retribution Imperial IPA
Here are the matchups for the 5 WA beers that made it into the 2nd round, which will take place this weekend:
Two Beers Evo IPA vs. ABQ Brewpub In the Mood IPA
Old Schoolhouse Ruud Awakening IPA vs. Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA
Elysian Savant IPA vs. Winder River Wyoming Pale Ale
Airways Brewing Sky Hag IPA vs. Moylan’s Hop Craic XXXXIPA
Elysian Diprohopus Double IPA vs. Marin White Knuckle Double IPA
The structure seems kind of flawed. Half these beers aren’t distributed to Washington and most of Washington’s aren’t beyond the West Coast.
Not sure how that makes it flawed? It’s just a fun contest to have IPAs from all over the country face off against each other, regardless of where they are/aren’t available. This is not a region specific event.
Maybe someday the Northwest Brewing News will do something similar that focuses on just IPAs from the NW…
Just like in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, it’s all about the match-ups.
I’m so sad Rubens and Old School House imperials didn’t win. My two favorites.