Chuckanut Pilsner (bottles)

Chuckanut sent some Festbier bottles down to Seattle last week but I don't think their other bottles have ever seen distribution down here. I've always just picked them up at the brewery or at the Bellingham Co-Op.

 

Best chances are at the brewery, the above mentioned Food Coop, or Bellinghams only "Speciality Beer Store" just a few blocks up the street from the brewery. Maybe the Lakeway Fred Meyer.

 

Sadly, I think it's virtually impossible to normally find any Chuckanut bottled beer outside of Whatcom county.

 

At least it's easy enough to get a crowler/growler outside Whatcom.

 

True. Would love to see their Alt turn up in Spokane again.

 

I got three crowlers of their Japanese Lager, and it’s damn delicious.

 

Bottles are available at the South Nut in Burlington, not exactly close but 30 minutes closer than Bellingham.

I'd call if making a special trip, selection is rotating

 

Sure, but, if one were to go to South Nut on a Friday afternoon; Cardinal Craft Brewing (the brewing program at Skagit Valley College) is only open 3-6 Fridays. But, it's right next door to S'nut, which is across the street from the Flyers outpost at the airport (don't brew there, but nice selection of their brews, and tasty food. Caution, the Cocktail Sauce on the Oyster Shooters has a LOT of horseradish!!!! (A GOD DAMN LOT!!!!!) Just fair warning), and, a couple hundred yards up the trail is Garden Path. A damn fine little beer run, in its own right. Add in that you could continue on to Anacortes for Bastion and Anacortes Brewing, or hit North Sound, Farmstrong, and 192 on the way back.

On the other hand, just get a room in Anacortes.

 

I found an “Asian Lager” on Chuckanut’s website, but cross-referencing it, I couldn’t confirm if it is the same or not. I believe it’s the same, but I can’t claim that with absolute certainty. However, I can claim with absolute certainty that’s its damn smooth and delicious. I lived in Japan for a year and return every few years, and it’s like an improved, craft version of Kirin Ichiban Shibori in Japan on draft. (Note to any who think that as subpar, if you read the fine print on any Kirin cans or bottles in the US, they are all brewed “under the strict supervision of Anheuser-Busch.” Not strict enough by me after buying a bomber, and I haven’t bothered buying any here in the States in a decade because of that. Last I checked, Sapporo is still imported, but that was years ago, so it could be different now.)

It’s likely not worthy of some wild hunt, but if you happen to see it, get some.

 

Well then, those oystet shooters will be your jam!

 

They make it for Din Tai Fung. It’s always on tap at all the Seattle area locations.

 

Well, the labels actually say the supervision is from Kirin

(the deal actually dates back to the 1990s, when Kirin was licensed to brew AB's Budweiser for the Japanese market. After that, AB actually contract-brewed some Kirin brands (Ice was the first) in L.A. that was then shipped back to Japan for Kirin's domestic market.).

Yeah, Sapporo is still "Imported" --- from Canada (where they own Sleeman) or Vietnam...



... or it might be from Wisconsin (via City Brewing Co.):

 

On the first, thanks. I knew there was "supervision," and I knew it was A-B brewed, but I also knew it doesn't hold a candle to the real deal.

On the second pair of labels ... ugh. That's sad, but at least that explains why I didn't find my last round of Sapporo at a friend's house last year anywhere near as good as when I was in Japan. I had just chalked it up to nostalgia from my trips to Japan, but now I know. Cheers, jesskidden!