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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Your weekly roundup

Rick Bonino

Daft Badger Brewing photo

Catching up with more news from the past week in local craft beer:

– The Inland Northwest Craft Beer Festival drew a respectable opening-night crowd Friday after a slow start amid unexpectedly cool, damp, windy weather.

With the forecast calling for sunny skies this afternoon – and better-than-ever sales of advance tickets (good for either day) – expectations are higher for today’s session from noon to 8, which will be all-ages for the first time (kids admitted free with a parent or guardian).

The brewery total sits at 40 after Tacoma’s Wingman was a no-show. While it happened too late to make the official list, Clarkston’s Riverport stepped in for late cancellation Puyallup River and brought its Bullseye PA, Alpha Reign fresh hop, Schnauzen Honker Oktoberfest and a barrel-aged sour blonde.

As usual, there were plenty of other beers pouring that you won’t find in the program, including an imperial peach IPA from Bale Breaker; a lower-octane peach IPA by Whistle Punk (in lieu of its listed fresh hop, which wasn’t ready); No-Li’s Pumpkin Pie PA (a rather tasty gourd-infused Born & Raised); a habanero and Hatch pepper version of Iron Goat’s Impaler imperial IPA; a Mosaic dry-hopped firkin of Twelve String’s Batch 201 IPA; the Block 40 fresh hop and Oktoberfest from Ten Pin; Black Label’s V-Town Vienna lager and Burgundy Scotch (though no Espresso Stout); a new version of Waddell’s Connie Mack Reserve strong ale, conditioned with bourbon-soaked oak; and various selections on a rotating Orlison tap.

– Orlison is serving an experimental red ale (6.4 percent alcohol by volume, 55 International Bitterness Units) at the downtown taproom.

– 238 Brewing today releases its 8 Point Bock, brewed with homemade apple butter.

– Daft Badger’s Kahlua Porter paired with Thin Mints was the winning combo in the crowd vote at Thursday’s inaugural Coeur d’Alene Craft Beer & Cookie Fest by the local Girl Scouts organization.

– No-Li announced that its new Citra-hopped Red, White & No-Li Pale will be available year-round in 12-ounce cans beginning Nov. 8, along with the already-released 22-ounce bottles and draft.