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Life // Food & Dining

You voted, we listened: SeattlePI names its official IPA Champion

Christina Ausley

Last month, we decided to give our Seattle breweries some much-needed love, and at the same time, bring a little joy to tough times.

In wake of the novel coronavirus, breweries across the Emerald City have closed their doors, depending on can and growler sales via curbside pickup or nearby groceries.

And though many of us likely miss a crisp brew on tap after a long day of work, we're looking forward to the day we'll cheers over a pint once more.

In the meantime, it seems many of us are more than happy spending our spare time studying some of the city's favorite pours.

So last month, we rounded up 24 breweries across the Seattle area, featuring 24 brewers which have poured their passion projects into some of, arguably, the country's best brews.

Formerly hosting summer days atop picnic tables with a cool IPA, growlers to-go for a neighbor’s picnic, and thawing the Seattle freeze over nothing more than a crisp brew, we rounded up these 24 breweries, and selected one of their best-selling IPAs available for pick-up via the helping hand of Untappd, an app which tactfully tracks beer tastings across the country .  With 24 ultimate IPAs at the helm, we curated our very own take on a May Madness bracket, and posted each brewery and their famed IPA against one another to determine one thing, and one thing only: Seattle’s most beloved IPA. There were some tough contenders, featuring the famed Bodhizafa, Bellingham’s beloved, but Seattle newbie Aslan Brewing, and popular hangout for all manner of fresh brews and free pretzels, Fremont Brewing. 
Tara L via Yelp

Formerly hosting summer days atop picnic tables with a cool IPA, growlers to-go for a neighbor’s picnic, and thawing the Seattle freeze over nothing more than a crisp brew, we rounded up these 24 breweries, and selected one of their best-selling IPAs available for pick-up via the helping hand of Untappd, an app which tactfully tracks beer tastings across the country . 

With 24 ultimate IPAs at the helm, we curated our very own take on a May Madness bracket, and posted each brewery and their famed IPA against one another to determine one thing, and one thing only: Seattle’s most beloved IPA.

There were some tough contenders, featuring the famed Bodhizafa, Bellingham’s beloved, but Seattle newbie Aslan Brewing, and popular hangout for all manner of fresh brews and free pretzels, Fremont Brewing. 

And there were some underdogs making names for themselves, like Ravenna’s Lawn Chair Accessory West Coast Hazy IPA.  Nonetheless, Seattleites voted, week by week, submitting their love for the brew keeping them company during stay-at-home orders, and a little brightness to the consequences of a global pandemic.  In the midst of incredibly troubling times, the city’s thousands of votes have brought a sense of community, laughter, and joy to our simple little boozy bracket. For that, we thank you for chipping into a little Seattle summer fun with the SeattlePI.
Kevin W via Yelp

And there were some underdogs making names for themselves, like Ravenna’s Lawn Chair Accessory West Coast Hazy IPA. 

Nonetheless, Seattleites voted, week by week, submitting their love for the brew keeping them company during stay-at-home orders, and a little brightness to the consequences of a global pandemic. 

In the midst of incredibly troubling times, the city’s thousands of votes have brought a sense of community, laughter, and joy to our simple little boozy bracket.

For that, we thank you for chipping into a little Seattle summer fun with the SeattlePI.

Now, after a few thousand more votes, we’re happy to announce Seattle’s IPA Champion: Without further ado, we’d like to formally congratulate Seapine Brewing’s Canyonero IPA, which has officially been named our 2020 IPA champion. Nestled in the Sodo neighborhood, Seapine might have also been considered an underdog by some, though its hundreds of 5-star reviews online might suggest otherwise for the cozy brewery just a few blocks from Starbucks’ headquarters.  The Kolsch, the hefeweizen, the helles, the lagers, the milk stouts – you name it. Customer reviews boast high regards for beers true to their respective style in a kid- and dog-friendly atmosphere.
Christina A. via Yelp

Now, after a few thousand more votes, we’re happy to announce Seattle’s IPA Champion:

Without further ado, we’d like to formally congratulate Seapine Brewing’s Canyonero IPA, which has officially been named our 2020 IPA champion.

Nestled in the Sodo neighborhood, Seapine might have also been considered an underdog by some, though its hundreds of 5-star reviews online might suggest otherwise for the cozy brewery just a few blocks from Starbucks’ headquarters. 

The Kolsch, the hefeweizen, the helles, the lagers, the milk stouts – you name it. Customer reviews boast high regards for beers true to their respective style in a kid- and dog-friendly atmosphere.

Originally, Seapine was just a 3-barrell system founded by Drew Colpitts and his business partner, Adam Smith, in 2011.  The pair met stirring up curds at Beecher’s Cheese in Pike Place Market. “I trained him to make cheese and discovered his appreciation for craft beer, so I asked him to help out in the business,” Colpitts said. Colpitts is a graduate of the University of California Davis Brewing Science and Engineering program and has been a career brewer for many years, though Seapine was his first independent venture. 
JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM

Originally, Seapine was just a 3-barrell system founded by Drew Colpitts and his business partner, Adam Smith, in 2011. 

The pair met stirring up curds at Beecher’s Cheese in Pike Place Market.

“I trained him to make cheese and discovered his appreciation for craft beer, so I asked him to help out in the business,” Colpitts said.

Colpitts is a graduate of the University of California Davis Brewing Science and Engineering program and has been a career brewer for many years, though Seapine was his first independent venture. 

He spent time working for Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, among other breweries, before opening Seapine Brewing Company. Back when the brewery’s doors were open, it wasn’t uncommon to catch Colpitts hoisting a pint of his beloved Positron IPA.  Though the company started out incredibly small, it grew steadily over the years.  “Our philosophy has stayed the same since the beginning, ‘Produce the highest quality beers available,’” Colpitts said.  Though the brewery is closed in wake of the novel coronavirus, they’re in their third expansion phase which will triple their current capacity. 
Courtesy Yelp

He spent time working for Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, among other breweries, before opening Seapine Brewing Company.

Back when the brewery’s doors were open, it wasn’t uncommon to catch Colpitts hoisting a pint of his beloved Positron IPA. 

Though the company started out incredibly small, it grew steadily over the years. 

“Our philosophy has stayed the same since the beginning, ‘Produce the highest quality beers available,’” Colpitts said. 

Though the brewery is closed in wake of the novel coronavirus, they’re in their third expansion phase which will triple their current capacity.