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“Chuckanut!” It’s the rallying cry for one of Washington’s up-and-coming breweries, Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen. Co-owner Mari Kemper says that Chuckanut is “a small brewery that uses the latest computer technology and engineering know-how to create beer masterpieces!” Ohhhhh. I like. Malt is my canvas and hops are my brushstroke, says I!
So how did Chuckanut become “Chuckanut!?” Brewmaster and co-owner Will Kemper established his first brewery, Thomas Kemper Brewery, in Washington in 1984. Will took his brew savvy to set up breweries as brewmaster and brewing engineer in many other places, including Philadelphia; Washington, DC; Monterey; Mexico; and Istanbul, Turkey. He also taught brewing engineering for the American Brewers Guild. When the time was right, he brought all that experience to bat with the opening of Chuckanut in 2008 in Bellingham.
Bat well and bat hard he did! They’re now brewing up award-winning beers with his team’s artisans, which include head brewers Bryan Cardwell, a Chemist and soon-to-be graduate of the VLB Berlin (short for Versuchs- und Lehranstalt fuer Brauerei in German, which translates to Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing), Michael Toomes (on computers and Electrical Engineer), and assistant brewers Jeff “Catfish” Dione (recent Japan transplant, woot-woot!) and Ryin Reese (playing on malt and bass?).
The robust experience of the brewers has allowed Chuckanut (“Chuckaaaaanuuut!”) to brew well-made, popular styles of winning beer. Chuckanut (Chuckaaaauuuut!”) recently won Gold for both their Kolsch and their Yellow Card Golden Ale plus a Bronze for their Vienna Lager at the Washington Beer Awards. At NABA (North American Beer Awards) this year, their Kolsch won another Gold and their Rauch grabbed a Silver. “These great beers are all European styles which we love to make and drink and is what Chuckanut Brewery does. We make award-winning European style lagers and ales that are true to their roots and style guidelines,” says Mari. I can drink to that!
Fans of Chuckanut (“Chuuuuuckaaaaaanuuuuuut!”) expect perfect beer that the brewery is ready to deliver. Want to meet and talk shop with the brewers? Chuckanut brewers often take part in festivals so they can meet and speak with fans about all aspects of beer making and of course drink together! Their beers are distributed beyond Washington and the US to Japan as well. Keep an eye out for their Vienna Lager, O Town! The Vienna and a few of their other beers that are often available at local Osaka favorites such as Yellow Ape Craft, Dig Beer Bar, and Garage 39.
These brews are always refreshing, with a clean finish that won’t leave you with a headache, even after many refills. Great art, like great beer, should leave you craving more. So, let’s hear it one more time for this baseball rock n’ roll squad of artisan brewers… “Chuckanut!”
