Chuckanut Brewery Bread To Beer Collaboration

Chuckanut Brewery Bread To Beer Collaboration

Chuckanut Brewery is bringing together craft beer, local agriculture, community education and food-waste prevention with the upcoming celebration of Chuckanut Baker’s Beer in Skagit Valley, Washington. The unique lager was created through a collaboration involving Chuckanut Brewery, Garden Path Fermentation, WSU Breadlab and the Skagit Food Waste Prevention Coalition, turning surplus bread from local bakeries into an ingredient in a traditional German-style Landbier.

What makes this project especially interesting is how much hands-on work went into transforming the leftover bread into beer. Bread from The Bread Farm and Watertank Bakery was collected, toasted and broken into smaller pieces before being added to the mash alongside malted barley. Five people spent approximately 1.5 hours preparing the toasted bread for brewing, making this a very literal example of turning surplus food into something new.

The resulting Baker’s Beer is being presented as both a celebration of Skagit Valley and an opportunity to learn more about preventing food waste. The October 3 event at Chuckanut Brewery will combine the beer release with games, trivia, prizes, food, educational tables and practical information about saving food and money while reducing waste.

Here is the announcement from Chuckanut Brewery:

Chuckanut Brewery Bread To Beer Collaboration

Chuckanut Brewery is happy to announce they are celebrating the making of their Baker’s Beer in collaboration with Garden Path Fermentation, WSU Breadlab and the Skagit Food Waste Prevention Coalition on October 3rd. The celebration will take place from noon to 3pm at Chuckanut Brewery, 11937 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington, WA in Skagit Valley. This free, family friendly afternoon of activities will include the tapping of the Baker’s Beer made with surplus bread from The Bread Farm and Watertank Bakery in Skagit.

There will be trivia and games, prizes and giveaways, the Skagit Valley College Food Truck and tips on how to help you save food & money and prevent waste. Visit with coalition staff at tables from United General, Skagit Valley Food Co-op, Burlington/Mt Vernon Library, Skagit Soils/Lautenbach Recycling, Skagit Gleaners, WSU Master Gardeners and Skagit County Solid Waste to name a few.

Chuckanut Baker’s Beer uses toasted bread to impart a rich, warm flavor to this traditional Landbier German style lager. Brewed with bread from 2 different bakeries. The bread was collected, toasted and took 1.5 hours of 5 people breaking the toast up into smaller pieces to add to the mash tun along with malted barley. Neighbors at Garden Path Fermentation joined in for the brewing of this deep golden lager.

It’s a true toast to Skagit Valley and the beauty of upcycling. Baker’s Beer will be on tap and in cans for a limited time at Chuckanut Brewery and Garden Path Fermentation at the Port of Skagit Airport. You can also find this unique beer only at the Skagit Valley Food Co op and other groceries, bottle shops, restaurants and bars in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. Cheers!

Chuckanut Brewery Bread To Beer Collaboration

Chuckanut Brewery brews award winning Lagers and Ales and has won Large Brewery of the Year at WA Beer Awards 2017, 2019 and 2021 and Small Brewery at the GABF 2009 & 2011. The production facility and Tap Room is in Skagit Valley at 11937 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington, WA. Chuckanut welcomes guests of all ages and has indoor and outdoor seating! Check out additional information about Chuckanut at chuckanutbrewery.com.

Related Chuckanut Brewery coverage on MyBeerBuzz.com:
Check out Chuckanut Brewery Franconian Style Lager & ESB Collaborations for recent Chuckanut lager and ale releases, October Beers from Chuckanut Brewery for seasonal and autumn beer coverage, Chuckanut Brewery Wins Six Medals at WA Beer Awards for award history, Chuckanut Brewery Announces Jan 2019 Releases for additional lager and ale releases, and Chuckanut Brewery Releasing New Beers January 2018 for more coverage of the brewery’s German-style beers, seasonal releases and collaborations.

About Chuckanut Brewery:

Chuckanut Brewery is a Pacific Northwest craft brewery with a strong focus on traditional European brewing, particularly German-style lagers and classic ales. Founded by Mari and Will Kemper in 2008, Chuckanut grew from the Kempers’ long history in Northwest brewing, including their earlier work with Thomas Kemper Brewery. The brewery says its mission has remained closely connected to traditional European brewing methods, with lagers playing a particularly important role in its identity.

Chuckanut’s current brewing portfolio demonstrates that commitment through a wide variety of traditional styles. Its beer lineup includes Pilsner, Kölsch, Helles, Vienna Lager, Märzen, Dunkel, Bock, Rauch Helles, Rauch Märzen, Alt, Schwarz Lager, Rye Lager, Mexican Lager and West Coast Pils, along with other ales and specialty beers. The brewery’s current master list also includes Skagit Baker’s Beer, making the beer featured in this announcement part of Chuckanut’s broader portfolio of European-inspired brewing.

The brewery’s approach to lager brewing is particularly evident in its individual beer descriptions. Chuckanut’s Vienna Lager, for example, is built around Vienna malt and emphasizes a delicate amber color, caramelized and toasted malt character and a clean, crisp finish. Its Helles focuses on bready malt, light body and a dry finish, while its Rauch Helles combines the characteristics of a Munich Helles with mild smoky flavors.

Chuckanut Brewery has also accumulated an extensive record of competition recognition. According to the brewery’s official awards history, Chuckanut received the GABF Small Brewpub & Brewer award in 2009 and GABF Small Brewery & Brewer award in 2011, followed by Washington Beer Awards Large Brewery of the Year honors in 2017, 2019 and 2021. The brewery’s individual beers have also received numerous medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, Washington Beer Awards and other competitions.

More recently, the brewery’s awards history includes a 2026 World Beer Cup Gold Medal for Kölsch, Silver Medal for Dunkel Lager and Bronze Medal for Pilsner. These awards add to a long history of recognition for Chuckanut’s traditional European-style beers.

Chuckanut’s production facility and taproom are located at 11937 Higgins Airport Way in Burlington, Washington, in the Skagit Valley. The brewery’s official site describes the location as its Taproom & Production Site and currently lists family-friendly taproom service with indoor and outdoor seating.

That Skagit Valley location is especially appropriate for Baker’s Beer, a project that connects brewing with local food resources and food-waste prevention. The brewery’s current website specifically highlights its upcoming Bread to Beer event and identifies October 3 as the date for the community gathering.

Chuckanut has also demonstrated an ongoing interest in collaborations and specialty releases. MyBeerBuzz recently covered Chuckanut’s Franconian Style Lager and ESB collaborations, along with additional 2026 beers including Bamberg Rauchbier, Volatility West Coast Pilsner, West Coast IPA and a Euro Strong Premium Lager collaboration.

With its emphasis on German-style lager brewing, traditional European beer styles, local community involvement and brewing experimentation, Chuckanut Brewery provides an appropriate home for Baker’s Beer. This new Landbier takes that brewing philosophy in an unusual direction by incorporating toasted surplus bread, connecting Chuckanut’s traditional lager program with a practical example of upcycling and food-waste prevention.

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