Chuckanut’s Skagit Tulip Ale Gets a Sneak Peek

Every year Chuckanut Brewery makes a new Skagit Tulip Beer to celebrate the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival during the month of April.

This year’s Skagit Tulip Ale is a delightful beer using experimental hop HBC1134 from WA state’s Haas Hops. And of course, as in every year, the Skagit Tulip brew uses malts from Skagit Valley Malting. These grains are grown in the Northwest region and malted by Chuckanut’s neighbor Skagit Valley Malting. A sneak preview of the beer will take place at South Nut Tap Room (in the heart of Skagit Valley) on March 25, Saturday, at 4 pm. A very small gravity keg of unfiltered Keller Skagit Tulip Ale will be tapped and $1 of every beer will be donated in support of Lydia Place in honor of Women’s month.

This year’s Skagit Tulip Ale was a collaboration with Haas Hops. The experimental HBC 1134 hop was created with sustainability in mind. The hops provide floral, citrus and herbal flavors and aromas. Tulip Ale is rounded out and balanced with the inclusion of Skagit Valley Malts.

Each year the malt is different and in 2023 Chuckanut has used a combination of Climate Select and Talisman Pilsner malts. This is an uncomplicated beer that has aromas of lemon and biscuit with a bright balanced finish. Skagit Tulip Ale is a great accompaniment to seafood dishes or the perfect beer just on its own for light refreshment. The official tapping of this year’s Skagit Tulip Ale will begin on Friday March 31 in anticipation of the Tulip Fest that begins April 1.