Northwest Beer Guide

A few weeks ago, we received a curious package from Baltimore’s Sagamore Whiskey. (Let’s be honest—the “Maryland” is probably unnecessary when you’re talking about Baltimore.) Inside wasn’t a bottle from the distillery’s latest release, but a bottle of its limited-edition Festivus Maximus Small Batch Rye Whiskey. Originally released in September 2025, bottles like this rarely show up unsolicited at a reviewer’s doorstep.

TLDR; Buffalo Trace Distillery is launching Camp Buffalo Trace, a new immersive bourbon experience blending summer camp nostalgia with whiskey education on August 29 and September 5 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Available exclusively through a free online sweepstakes, the program features barrel-inspired competitions, blind tastings, woodcraft workshops and bourbon education, with 10 winners receiving an overnight stay in luxury canvas tents on the distillery grounds.

TLDR; Pursuit Spirits has joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, making its Whiskey Row destination in Louisville an official stop on the iconic whiskey tourism route. Founded by the creators of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast, the independent whiskey blender offers immersive blending and bottling experiences rather than a traditional distillery tour.

TLDR; Maui Brewing Co. has expanded its Maui Light lineup with Maui Light NA, its first packaged non-alcoholic beer, rolling out now in 6-packs at select Hawaii retailers and restaurants. Previously available only on draft as Maui Lime NA, the brew offers a light, crisp profile with a hint of lime, contains less than 0.5% ABV and 35 calories, and is designed for anytime drinking.

TLDR; Registration is now open for the 2026 Washington Beer Awards, with Washington breweries able to enter the state's only brewery-exclusive, blind-judged beer competition through July 24. The awards recognize brewing excellence, provide judges' feedback to entrants and promote Washington craft beer both statewide and nationally. Blind judging will take place September 12-13, with winners announced November 3 during the Washington Craft Beer Summit.

TLDR; Award-winning Chuckanut Brewery is moving its annual Oktoberfest celebration to August 29, rebranding it Auktoberfest to take advantage of warmer, drier weather. The free-entry, family-friendly event encourages guests to don traditional Oktoberfest attire and enjoy German-inspired games, yodeling and costume contests, dancing, food and the brewery's acclaimed lagers.

Received from Woodinville Whiskey, as a parting gift from my visit to their distillery in Woodinville, I thought it best to share my thoughts on their Straight Bourbon Whiskey Port Finished. But, like all things, you need to know the beginning of an expression's journey before you fully appreciate it. The Roots of Woodinville Whiskey covered by copyright.

TLDR; The Singleton has unveiled a refreshed packaging design across its core Dufftown and Glendullan single malt Scotch whisky ranges, rolling out globally from July 2026. The redesign introduces deeper teal tones, metallic inks, tactile finishes and enhanced tasting note presentations while highlighting the brand's Slow Batch Distillation process and the signature of Malt Master Dr Craig Wilson. The updated packaging also incorporates measures to reduce its carbon footprint.

Received from Warfield Distillery & Brewery, this marks our first opportunity to review any expressions from them. Nestled beneath the peaks of Idaho's Wood River Valley, Warfield Distillery & Brewery has built its reputation by embracing a philosophy that places provenance above production volume.

TLDR; Chuckanut Brewery has released its annual Summer Pale Ale, a seasonal beer brewed with Washington-grown hops and a touch of wheat malt for a dry backbone. Dry-hopped with Galaxy, Strata and Mosaic, the pale ale offers pronounced fruit aromas alongside light gold color, citrus-forward hop character and a crisp, dry finish. Designed for warm-weather drinking, it is recommended alongside barbecue favorites including burgers, salmon and vegetables.