Craft Beer. Cider. Spirits.

At home in the heart of Tumwater

“Craft” is a movement. It’s about real people who use their talent to better their communities.

This is an unfolding story of entrepreneurs, educators, farmers, and leaders, bringing resources together to create prosperity. It begins in fields and orchards, catalyzes living wage jobs, revitalizes the former Olympia Beer brewery, and ends with a glass in hand and a vibrant economy.

 

 

Public Partners

City of Tumwater

South Puget Sound Community College

Thurston Economic Development Council

Washington State

WSU Extension

News & Events

Posted on February 10, 2017 by

Cider apples have terroir, too

Across the country, industrious entrepreneurs are creating unique craft beer, cider, and spirits with amazing stories. These beverages are really agricultural products and the source of their raw ingredients (apples, barley, wheat, or hops) is critical to the flavor profile. Producers of these craft beverages have discovered what farmers have long known. Like grapes that make great wine, these raw ingredients have a terroir – a unique set of characteristics related to climate, soil conditions, and farming practices that translate to unique characteristics and flavor profiles of beverages. This is true for… Read More

Posted on January 6, 2017 by

Why are local grains important?

The Cascadia Grains Conference asked why local grains are important? Grains have unique flavors and characteristics, based on the region and conditions in which they’re grown. For producers and consumers of craft beer and spirits (and chefs, foodies, etc.), the expansion of local grains creates a robust palette to create and experience unique flavors, colors, and textures in food and beverages. Local grains are important to our economy and the future of craft beer and spirits. View the Why Local Grains? video. PRODUCTION OF SMALL GRAIN CROPS – wheat, barley, oats, and rye – has been a… Read More

Posted on January 4, 2017 by

Local WSU Extension strengthening agriculture connections in Thurston County

Posted on behalf of Washington State University (WSU) Extension of Thurston County. We envision a vibrant farming community, delicious fresh local food and beverages, an interlinked economy of producers, processors, brewers, distillers, bakers, restaurateurs, and practical agricultural research and education. The agriculture program at the WSU Thurston County extension office is proud to work on these issues with a diverse group of partners and organizations in South Puget Sound. In 2017, the WSU Extension agriculture program in Thurston County is enthusiastic about several initiatives: Join us at the 2017 Cascadia Grains Conference (January 6-7)… Read More

About the Hub

Tumwater is home of Olympia Beer, a legacy born over a century ago. A handful of partners have been collaborating around the idea of building on that brewing legacy by turning Tumwater and the surrounding area into a thriving hub that grows Washington’s craft beer, cider, and spirits movement. This geographic hub is a place where educators, business incubators, industry support (barrel-makers and canners, to name a couple), brewers, distillers and cider-makers convene to refine and grow their crafts. South Puget Sound Community College has already started teaching some classes around brewing and distilling. Redeveloping the old Olympia Brewery is also a piece of this collaboration.

Washington is uniquely positioned to take a national leadership role in growing the craft brewing, cider and distilling movement because of the state’s prominence in wheat, barley, hops, and apple production. The hub will support those agricultural communities, add value to the crops, and grow recognition for Washington, in much the same way that Walla Walla has made a profound impact on the wine industry. Partners involved in this effort have have been meeting people in the industry, telling our story, and finding ways to collaborate and achieve mutual goals. Industry Guilds, Associations, Commissions, State Agencies and their directors, State Legislators, Congressmen and women, and many of the State’s brewers, distillers, and cider-makers are enthusiastic about this vision.

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Craft Brewing and Distilling Center