Bellingham, Washington's masters of lagers at Chuckanut Brewing are now bottling and distributing their German-inspired beers starting with Kolsch. Chuckanut bottled beer will be available from NW Beverages in Washington state, Day One Distributors in Oregon, Dickerson Distributing in northwest Puget Sound and West Craft in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Some may remember that Chuckanut first began bottling a handful of years ago but was moving so much draft beer that they curtailed the program. Oh how times have changed now with the COVID-19 pandemic where draft beer is dead in the water. The Coronavirus has made all of these businesses more creative in ways to get craft beer into consumers hands.

The first to be distributed is Kolsch, the current Gold Medal World Beer Cup winner that is a light bodied soft malt flavored ale that gives way to a crisp finish. Kolsch German Style Ale has undergone cold conditioning resulting in a slightly fruity aroma, effervescent quality and smooth, easy finish.

"Once we bottle up our Kolsch and New World Ale, and our Maibock we'll have set up the system (all kinds of things you have to do to make a bottling line work well)," says Chuckanut co-owner Mari Kemper. "We'll move the bottler south and bottle our Pilsner, Vienna Lager and Mexican Style Lager and maybe even our Citra Leaf Pilsner."

Chuckanut Kolsch is great with sandwiches, seafood and any spicy foods it is a winner of multiple awards at the Great American Beer Festival (4 medals), World Beer Cup (2 medals), North American Beer Awards (5 medals) and WA Beer Awards (4 medals) since 2011.

Chuckanut beer in half liter bottles can be found at Metropolitan Markets, PCC, Town & Country and smaller bottle shops in the Puget Sound region. In Portland Chuckanut bottles will be located at Market of Choice, New Seasons Markets and smaller bottle shops and in the northwest Puget Sound it is on the shelves of the Community Food Co-op, Elizabeth Station and other grocers.

About Chuckanut:

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen located at 601 West Holly St, Bellingham was awarded the National Small Brewpub/Brewer of the Year 2009 and National Small Brewery/Brewer of the Year 2011 at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The full service “Kitchen” currently offers Beer to Go with curbside pick up 12:30-6:30 pm Wednesday-Sunday (360-752-3377 opt 1). Chuckanut’s South Nut’s Tap Room is in the heart of Skagit Valley, 11937 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington. South Nut currently offers Beer to Go with curbside pick up Wednesday-Friday 3-6 pm and Saturday 1-6 pm (360-752-3377 opt 2). Check out additional information about Chuckanut Brewery at http://www.chuckanutbrewery.com/