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Kulshan Brewing Company will be in the Cordata store pouring samples and talking beer! Stop by and take advantage of the great sale on their beer.
$2 off per six-pack on the following varieties from June 27 through July 4!
Kulshan Red, Sunnyland, and Bastard Kat $8.99/six-pack (reg. $10.99)
Kulshan Lager $6.99/six-pack (reg. $8.99).
Atwood is the middle name of brewmaster Josh, his father, and his grandfather (all Smiths), but they named the family brewery Atwood Ales because, as Josh explained, “it is a lot more interesting than Smith Brewing.”
Like many farm kids, Josh Smith left the family farm to attend college, and after graduation he got a job in the city. Several years later, the tranquil beauty and rural lifestyle lured Josh, his wife Monica, and their son, back to the farm in Blaine where Josh grew up and where his parents still live. But, they didn’t return to the farm to be beef farmers.
After 10 years of home brewing experience, Josh had a new vision for this family farm.
It took about seven years from the initial concept for Atwood Ales to their official first sale on May 13, 2016—a date that Josh and Monica proudly recalled. Since then, a legion of fans is propelling the business to great early success.
Josh and Monica lead the Co-op visitors through the hops. The farm is very diverse with fruit trees, vegetables, several varieties of hops, and lots of native plants.
Atwood Ales is quite different from the typical local breweries.
Not so much a collection of towering stainless steel tanks and gadgetry focused on producing IPAs, Atwood is based on hundreds of years of old-world farmhouse-style brewing with just an added dash of stainless steel tanks and gadgetry. Josh described it as “more artistic and less controlled—reflective of the farm itself.” They produce a variety of beers including farmhouse, barrel aged, sours, and more.
The brewery is a mix of custom two-barrel brewing methods with a dash of new technology.
Cordata Beer Department Buyer James Weddle and Atwood Brewmaster Josh Smith discuss all things beer.
The heart of the brewery is in the 100-year-old barn where the beer is produced in a custom two-barrel system, bottled in 750ml bottles (no six-packs in sight), and bottle conditioned in the upstairs loft. The process plays with elements of the natural farm environment, utilizing open fermentation, crops grown on the farm, seasonal wild foraged plants, and other local elements like oysters. Yep, oysters!
The brewery is a family affair. Josh’s dad, Stephen, lends his farming expertise; Josh’s mom, Leslee, helps with packaging and at farmers markets; Josh is the head brewmaster; Monica handles the sales, marketing, and distribution; their son, Xavier, contributes ideas for flavor profiles and catchy names like “No Whey, Bro”; Monica’s dad, Steve, helps with packaging; Monica’s mom, Nancy, helps with packaging and at farmers markets; and even farm dog, Keera, has a brew named after her.
The Atwood Ales family (from left): Monica, Josh, Xavier, Leslee, Stephen, and farm dog Keera.
Next up for the burgeoning small brewery is further renovation in the barn to enable increased production, additional varieties, and more barrel space.
Next time you’re in the beer aisle, pick up a bottle of Atwood Ales and taste the new old-world style of farmhouse brewing. It might be your first, but I promise it won’t be your last.
Read more about the Atwood Ales beer, watch videos, and follow the beer blog at atwoodales.com.
Craft beers from Kulshan Brewing Co. and Boundary Bay Brewery are popular choices with Co-op shoppers. Need a beer recommendation? Ask our knowledgeable Co-op beer department heads—Michael Smith, Downtown, or James Weddle, Cordata.
We’ve all heard the term craft beer, but what is a craft beer?
In the 1970s, due to highly effective marketing campaigns and aggressive merchandising practices, the beer industry was consolidated to only 44 breweries that mostly mass-produced lagers. In response, a grassroots home-brewing culture emerged. The creative spirit of those early home brewers gave birth to what we now call craft beer. These inspired beer enthusiasts would eventually start their own breweries to serve their local communities by making full-flavored beers and reviving European traditions.
"There is no better time to be a beer drinker!"
Despite a difficult beginning, by the 1990s craft brewers began to catch on. The number of craft brewers went from eight in 1980 to 537 in 1994, to more than 2,300 in 2012. Today, the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a craft brewery. There is no better time to be a beer drinker!
With the craft beer revolution, came the brew pub revolution. In Bellingham, brew pubs have become local gathering places that contribute to our local economy.
Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham’s oldest brew pub, opened its doors in 1995. It now employs more than 100 people. They partner with local businesses and support many community events.
In 2012, David Vitt opened Kulshan Brewing Company. They now have 25 employees and produced 3,000 barrels in 2013. Like those craft beer pioneers, Vitt was an avid home brewer who turned his passion into a vocation. He worked for six years at Fish Tale organic brewery in Olympia before opening Kulshan to create craft beers styled for our community.
In addition to Kulshan and Boundary Bay, our local craft beer mecca includes Chuckanut Brewery, Wander Brewing, The North Fork Brewery, Menace Brewing, and recently opened Aslan Brewing Company.
Craft beer was, and still is, community inspired. The people wanted something better. They wanted a quality product, not a mass-marketed lager. Craft beer is part of the “local” revolution. Try a local beer and support a craft brewery—I think you’ll like it. After all, it was made for you. Cheers!
We celebrated Cinco de Mayo early this year by visiting one of our favorite local companies, Tortillas Con Madre! Hear Lupita’s story and check out behind the scenes footage of production day at the tortilla factory.
Learn how to make two festive cocktails using local ingredients! Find everything you need to make these delicious drinks at the Co-op.
The Community Food Co-op has its origins in that season of love and change, summer of 1969. Don Alford offered up his tiny little garage and a local food-buying club was born.
