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🌿 Garden Path Fermentation Named “Very Small Brewery of the Year” — More Medals for River Barrel Partners at the 2025 Washington Beer Awards

  • Writer: River Barrel
    River Barrel
  • Nov 4
  • 3 min read

🍻 Washington Craft Beer Shines Statewide

The 2025 Washington Beer Awards brought together more than a thousand entries from across the state — and our partner breweries shined bright. We’re especially proud to celebrate Garden Path Fermentation, which earned six medals and the title of Very Small Brewery of the Year. This recognition highlights the depth of talent in Washington’s craft community and showcases what makes independent brewing so special: local ingredients, authentic processes, and creative freedom. 👉 View the full list of winners on the official site.

Garden Path Awards

🏆 Garden Path Fermentation — “Very Small Brewery of the Year”

Few breweries capture a sense of place quite like Garden Path Fermentation. Using 100% native Skagit Valley yeast and locally sourced grains and fruits, they craft beers, ciders, and wines that embody the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Their six-medal sweep and “Very Small Brewery of the Year” title are proof that thoughtful, small-batch producers can make a big impact — both locally and across the state.

🥇🥈🥉 Garden Path’s 2025 Washington Beer Awards Medals:

Medal

Beer

Category

🥇 Gold

(This Is A) Crush Story

Belgian & Belgian-Inspired Ales

🥇 Gold

The Garden Paths Led To Flowered

Belgian & French Farmhouse Ales

🥈 Silver

The Easygoing Drink

Belgian & Belgian-Inspired Ales

🥈 Silver

The Twisted Branch Out

Brett Beers

🥈 Silver

The Spontaneous Ferment: 5-Year Blend on Raspberries & Blue Haskap

Belgian Sour & Wild Ales

🥉 Bronze

The Spontaneous Ferment: 5-Year Blend on Tayberries

Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour Beers

Garden Path’s artistry in spontaneous fermentation and use of native microflora sets them apart. Each bottle tells a story of Skagit Valley’s fields, fruit, and time — and we’re honored to bring their creations to taps and shelves across Western Washington.

🍺 Single Hill Brewing Company — Yakima, WA

Single Hill continues to impress both judges and drinkers, earning five medals across hop-forward, lager & barrel-aged styles.

🏅 2025 Washington Beer Awards Wins:

  • 🥈 Silver – European-Style Dark Lager - Czech-Style Dark Lager

  • 🥉 Bronze – American-Style Strong Pale Ale - Eastside IPA

  • 🥉 Bronze – Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale - Sightglass IPA

  • 🥉 Bronze – Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale - Groundswell IPA

  • 🏅 Bronze — Wood & Barrel-Aged Strong Stouts - Overstory Rye Reserve ’24 

These awards reflect Single Hill’s precision, creativity, and deep Yakima Valley roots in every pint.

🍻 Trap Door Brewing — Vancouver, WA

Trap Door remains a powerhouse of Washington hop expression, earning two Gold Medals this year.

🏅 2025 Awards:

  • 🥇 Gold – Hoppy Lagers - Day Beer Pale

  • 🥇 Gold – Imperial or Double IPA - Juiced Up IIPA

Crisp, aromatic, and relentlessly drinkable — Trap Door’s beers continue to set the bar for hop-driven excellence.

🥃 Terramar Brewstillery — Edison, WA

From beer to cider, Terramar Brewstillery pushes boundaries while staying true to Skagit Valley flavor. Their innovation earned four medals this year.

🏅 2025 Awards:

  • 🥇 Gold – German-Style Sour Beers - Octopus Garden Gose

  • 🥇 Gold – Fruited Ciders - Harvest Cider

  • 🥈 Silver – Pastry Stouts, Coffee & Chocolate Beers - Coffee Porter

  • 🥉 Bronze – Other Belgian Strong & Abbey Ales - 2025 Space Quadyssey

Their creativity bridges brewing and cider — yielding truly distinctive, local expressions.

🌾 Stemma Brewing Co. — Bellingham, WA

Family-owned and community-focused, Stemma Brewing once again earned recognition for fun flavors.

🏅 2025 Award:

  • 🥉 Bronze – Spiced, Field & Herb Beers - Conditus Lager

Stemma’s beers are crafted to bring people together — and this award underscores their commitment to quality and community.

🌟 A Collective Win for Washington Craft

From wild ferments in Skagit Valley to hop innovation in Yakima and Vancouver, this year’s awards highlight the diversity and excellence of Washington beer. At River Barrel Distributing, we’re honored to represent these breweries and share their award-winning products with retailers, restaurants, and beer lovers across the Pacific Northwest.

🍻 Cheers to Our Partners

Congratulations to Garden Path Fermentation, Single Hill, Trap Door, Terramar, and Stemma Brewing Co!

 
 
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