Happy New Beer!

[Originally published January 2, 2017, on Chocolate Chip Mint]

2016 was the year of beer for me. It all started with a taster flight at Feral Public House in Vancouver, Washington, and my world was forever changed.

I soon discovered the Brewcouver Passport which led me to nine more breweries located in Vancouver alone. I moved on to the Pour of Discovery Passport which introduced me to the North Bank breweries, so named for being located on the north shore of the Columbia River - 13 more breweries to try.

And, then, I became a member of Washington Beer Lovers (WABL) which encompasses all the aforementioned breweries plus 325 more! Just since Labor Day weekend, when I received my passport in the mail, I have visited 45 breweries:

North Jetty Brewing	Islands & Peninsulas	9/9/16	Seaview
Aslan Brewing Co	North Sound	9/28/16	Bellingham
Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro	North Sound	9/29/16	Bellingham
Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen	North Sound	9/29/16	Bellingham
Kulshan Brewing Co.	North Sound	9/28/16	Bellingham
Wander Brewing	North Sound	9/28/16	Bellingham
20 Corners Brewery	Seattle & King Co.	12/24/16	Woodinville
Bellevue Brewing Co	Seattle & King Co.	11/11/16	Seattle
Geaux Brewing	Seattle & King Co.	11/11/16	Seattle
Machine House Brewery	Seattle & King Co.	10/2/16	Seattle
Pike Brewing	Seattle & King Co.	10/1/16	Seattle
Resonate Brewery	Seattle & King Co.	11/10/16	Seattle
54-40 Brewing	South & Central	9/4/16	Washougal
Amnesia Brewing	South & Central	9/4/16	Washougal
Ashtown Brewing Company	South & Central	10/2/16	Longview
Backwoods Brewing	South & Central	9/17/16	Carson
Barrel Mountain Brewing	South & Central	10/17/16	Battleground
Dick's Northwest Sausage & Deli	South & Central	11/23/16	Vancouver
Doomsday Brewing Co	South & Central	9/17/16	Washougal
Everybody's Brewing	South & Central	9/17/16	White Salmon
Five Dons Brewing	South & Central	10/16/16	Longview
Fortside Brewing Company	South & Central	10/7/16	Vancouver
Ghost Runner Brewery	South & Central	9/14/16	Vancouver
Heathen Brewing	South & Central	11/5/16	Vancouver
Heathen Brewing - Feral Public House	South & Central	11/29/16	Vancouver
Loowit Brewing	South & Central	10/16/16	Vancouver
McMenamins - Columbia River	South & Central	11/19/16	Vancouver
McMenamins - East Vancouver	South & Central	12/28/16	Vancouver
Mill City Brew Werks	South & Central	12/30/16	Camas
Northwood Public House	South & Central	12/28/16	Vancouver
Old Ivy Brewery and Taproom	South & Central	11/26/16	Vancouver
Parkers Steakhouse & Brewery	South & Central	11/26/16	Castle Rock
Railside Brewing	South & Central	11/5/16	Vancouver
Trap Door Brewing	South & Central	11/5/16	Vancouver
Trusty Brewing Co.	South & Central	12/20/16	Vancouver
Victor 23 Brewing	South & Central	11/29/16	Vancouver
Walking Man Brewing	South & Central	12/3/16	Stevenson
7 Seas Brewery and Taproom	South Sound	11/26/16	Tacoma
Engine House No. 9	South Sound	10/2/16	Tacoma
Fish Tale Brew Pub	South Sound	10/16/16	Olympia
Harmon Brewery & Eatery	South Sound	9/3/16	Olympia
McMenamins - Olympic Club	South Sound	12/26/16	Centralia
McMenamins Spar Cafe	South Sound	9/4/16	Olympia
Narrows Brewing Co.	South Sound	12/26/16	Tacoma
Northwest Brewing Company	South Sound	10/16/16	Pacific

All of those listed are also in the Brewcouver or Pour of Discovery Passports (or both). However, I need to mention River Mile 38 Brewing Company in Cathlamet WA as a brewery that I visited with the Pour of Discovery Passport but haven't been back to visit since getting my WABL Passport.  (It's worth the drive so I will definitely be back.)

This doesn't cover the beer I've tasted at the quarterly beer festivals in Vancouver WA and others such as the one hosted by Shorty's Garden & Home. I also have a Brewery app on my phone that covers all of the United States which is a handy place to keep notes about the places I've visited and the beers I've tasted. Outside the state of Washington, I've visited:

Kohola Brewery - Lahaina, HI
La Quinta Brewing Co. - La Quinta, CA
Maui Brewing Co. - Lahaina, HI
Old Town Brewing - Portland, OR
Tamarack Brewing Co. - Missoula, MT
Thunder Island - Cascade Locks, OR

I must say, that's a ridiculous amount of beer! We can just say goodbye to skinny jeans in 2017!

We'll be kicking off the New Year with more new beer at the Holiday Hangover Brew Fest on January 14 in Hood River, OR.

So much beer, so little time. But, here's to new discoveries! May your 2017 be filled with new adventures and new friends. Maybe, over a pint of beer.