Stillwater
Client Brewer
in
Grand Mound,
Washington,
United States 🇺🇸
Associated Venue: Of Love & Regret - Pub and Provisions
Established in 2010
Contact
Description
Founded in 2010, Stillwater is an original nomadic beer project that utilizes the traditional brewery as if it were a studio - a place where beer becomes a canvas for creation, collaboration, and experimentation. For it’s founder Brian Strumke, nomadic brewing isn’t simply a job title. It’s a way to tell stories, engage with the world at large, and move through it on his terms.
In 2011, Strumke woke one morning to find himself anointed as one of the top new brewers in the world by Ratebeer.com - a proclamation that would change the trajectory of his life forever. Over the last 10 years, he built and scaled Stillwater® into an international business, capturing broad attention with it’s multidisciplinary approach and award-winning products crafted worldwide.
Formerly known as Stillwater Artisanal. Brian is from Baltimore, MD but has relocated to Seattle. Stillwater was tied to the Brooklyn, NY scene and importer / brewery Twelve Percent. Beers have been brewed at various breweries, but with many coming out of Twelve Percent's North Haven, CT brewery. Now Brian has brought Stillwater to the state of Washington and set down roots. Stillwater beers are brewed at Talking Cedar as of late 2023/early 2024.
A dozen years after pioneering the “nomadic brewing” model, Stillwater® has planted roots in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time, all production of its inventive and style-bending beers is concentrated at one location under founder Brian Strumke’s oversight and control: Grand Mound, Washington’s Talking Cedar. Opened by the Chehalis Tribal Enterprises in 2020, Talking Cedar is a 35,000-square-foot complex that houses a state-of-the-art brewery with a 60-barrel brew house, rows of 120-barrel fermenters, and multiple oak foedres.
In 2011, Strumke woke one morning to find himself anointed as one of the top new brewers in the world by Ratebeer.com - a proclamation that would change the trajectory of his life forever. Over the last 10 years, he built and scaled Stillwater® into an international business, capturing broad attention with it’s multidisciplinary approach and award-winning products crafted worldwide.
Formerly known as Stillwater Artisanal. Brian is from Baltimore, MD but has relocated to Seattle. Stillwater was tied to the Brooklyn, NY scene and importer / brewery Twelve Percent. Beers have been brewed at various breweries, but with many coming out of Twelve Percent's North Haven, CT brewery. Now Brian has brought Stillwater to the state of Washington and set down roots. Stillwater beers are brewed at Talking Cedar as of late 2023/early 2024.
A dozen years after pioneering the “nomadic brewing” model, Stillwater® has planted roots in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time, all production of its inventive and style-bending beers is concentrated at one location under founder Brian Strumke’s oversight and control: Grand Mound, Washington’s Talking Cedar. Opened by the Chehalis Tribal Enterprises in 2020, Talking Cedar is a 35,000-square-foot complex that houses a state-of-the-art brewery with a 60-barrel brew house, rows of 120-barrel fermenters, and multiple oak foedres.
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
75 cL bottle at ACBF2011. Pours hazy yellow with no head. Aroma is spiced and slight herbal to slight ginger. Spiced, yeasty and slight citrusy. Bitter and spiced. Spiced and dry yeasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Mar 2011
at 14:52
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
33 cL bottle at ACBF2011. Pours hazy dark brown with a small tan head. Aroma is caramelish and slight butterish. Light spiced, thick caramelish and somewhat butterish. Ends roasted malty and light caramelish sweet.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Mar 2011
at 14:14
8.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
Cask at Max’s. Very dark murky brown, massive brown head, solid lacing. Aroma of cocoa and light spice. taste smooth milk chocolate and cocoa powder. Tastes well above its strength. Very nice.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Mar 2011
at 12:25
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
From bottle at Struise school. Very dark brown very hazy with lasting beige head. Floral flowery hoppy. Spicy aroma only from flowers though. Very soft in mouth. Lovely sweet toffee too due to the 10% abv. Little bit of candy sugar. Really floral tastiness though. Very good. Interesting. Lovely
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Mar 2011
at 09:57
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Imported from my RateBeer account as Stillwater A Saison Darkly (by Stillwater Artisanal):
Aroma: 5/10, Appearance: 3/5, Taste: 7/10, Palate: 4/5, Overall: 11/20, MyTotalScore: 3/5
05/03/2011 - 33cl bottle @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-89)
Dark brown to blackish beer, looking very much like a glass of cola. No head at all. Aroma: little caramel, bit sweet. MF: some carbon, ok, medium body. Taste: sweet 'n sour caramel first, then roasted malts, some mocha. Aftertaste: mocha to coffee, more sour to balance it out. Don't know if you can still call this a saison though.
Aroma: 5/10, Appearance: 3/5, Taste: 7/10, Palate: 4/5, Overall: 11/20, MyTotalScore: 3/5
05/03/2011 - 33cl bottle @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-89)
Dark brown to blackish beer, looking very much like a glass of cola. No head at all. Aroma: little caramel, bit sweet. MF: some carbon, ok, medium body. Taste: sweet 'n sour caramel first, then roasted malts, some mocha. Aftertaste: mocha to coffee, more sour to balance it out. Don't know if you can still call this a saison though.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Mar 2011
at 08:06
9/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
Imported from my RateBeer account as Stillwater / Mikkeller Two Gypsies Our Side (by Stillwater Artisanal):
Aroma: 8/10, Appearance: 5/5, Taste: 9/10, Palate: 5/5, Overall: 18/20, MyTotalScore: 4.5/5
05/03/2011 - 75cl bottle @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-85) Thanks to Brian for the sample!
Little cloudy orange to light amber beer, off-white creamy head, little adhesive and somewhat stable. Aroma: citrus, pineapple, hoppy fresh. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: very fruity, citrus and passion fruits, touch of yeast. Aftertaste: hops, fruity, citrus, pineapple. Very balances IPA or very hoppy saison, being a blend of both styles I love the outcome!
Aroma: 8/10, Appearance: 5/5, Taste: 9/10, Palate: 5/5, Overall: 18/20, MyTotalScore: 4.5/5
05/03/2011 - 75cl bottle @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-85) Thanks to Brian for the sample!
Little cloudy orange to light amber beer, off-white creamy head, little adhesive and somewhat stable. Aroma: citrus, pineapple, hoppy fresh. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: very fruity, citrus and passion fruits, touch of yeast. Aftertaste: hops, fruity, citrus, pineapple. Very balances IPA or very hoppy saison, being a blend of both styles I love the outcome!
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Mar 2011
at 08:06
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Imported from my RateBeer account as Stillwater Of Love & Regret (by Stillwater Artisanal):
Aroma: 6/10, Appearance: 4/5, Taste: 6/10, Palate: 3/5, Overall: 13/20, MyTotalScore: 3.2/5
Note: the scores entered are the average of two independent ratings as entered below.
05/03/2011 - on tap @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-81) Thanks to Brian for the sample!
Ar: 6, Ap: 5, T: 5, P: 3, O: 12, total: 3.1
Cloudy orange beer, very creamy smooth head, stable and adhesive. Aroma: band-aid, yeast, little fruity. MF: ok carbon, light body. Taste: same band-aid again, guess it's the yeast? Fruity and somewhat chemical. Aftertaste: little dry, bit watery, more of the chemical taste. Nope, prefer the Stateside Saison!
20/II/2012 33cl bottle from Geers (Oostakker) @ home - BB: n/a (2012-xxx)
Ar: 7, Ap: 3, T: 6, P: 3, O:14, Total: 3.3
Clear deep orange beer, very fizzy yellowish head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: citrus, pot-pouri, dried orange peel, cloves, other herbs and spices. MF: lots of carbon, medium body. Taste: bit fruity first, oranges, overripe fruits, lots of spices, herbal, bitter hops. Aftertaste: citrus hops, some alcohol warming the throat, bitter and a little nasty.
Aroma: 6/10, Appearance: 4/5, Taste: 6/10, Palate: 3/5, Overall: 13/20, MyTotalScore: 3.2/5
Note: the scores entered are the average of two independent ratings as entered below.
05/03/2011 - on tap @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-81) Thanks to Brian for the sample!
Ar: 6, Ap: 5, T: 5, P: 3, O: 12, total: 3.1
Cloudy orange beer, very creamy smooth head, stable and adhesive. Aroma: band-aid, yeast, little fruity. MF: ok carbon, light body. Taste: same band-aid again, guess it's the yeast? Fruity and somewhat chemical. Aftertaste: little dry, bit watery, more of the chemical taste. Nope, prefer the Stateside Saison!
20/II/2012 33cl bottle from Geers (Oostakker) @ home - BB: n/a (2012-xxx)
Ar: 7, Ap: 3, T: 6, P: 3, O:14, Total: 3.3
Clear deep orange beer, very fizzy yellowish head, unstable, non adhesive. Aroma: citrus, pot-pouri, dried orange peel, cloves, other herbs and spices. MF: lots of carbon, medium body. Taste: bit fruity first, oranges, overripe fruits, lots of spices, herbal, bitter hops. Aftertaste: citrus hops, some alcohol warming the throat, bitter and a little nasty.
Tried
from Draft
on 05 Mar 2011
at 08:05
8.3/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Imported from my RateBeer account as Stillwater Stateside Saison (by Stillwater Artisanal):
Aroma: 7/10, Appearance: 5/5, Taste: 8/10, Palate: 4/5, Overall: 18/20, MyTotalScore: 4.2/5
05/03/2011 - 75cl bottle @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-79) Thanks to Brian for the sample!
Little cloudy orange yellow beer, white creamy head. Aroma: citrus, some pineapple, little yeast. Taste: very fruity, pineapple, some sour apple, hops and yeast. MF: soft carbon, light to medium body. Aftertaste: little sour, some hops, nice dry finish. Really good beer. I can see why Brian calls it "the flagship" of his brewery.
Aroma: 7/10, Appearance: 5/5, Taste: 8/10, Palate: 4/5, Overall: 18/20, MyTotalScore: 4.2/5
05/03/2011 - 75cl bottle @ Alvinne Craft Beer Festival (2011-79) Thanks to Brian for the sample!
Little cloudy orange yellow beer, white creamy head. Aroma: citrus, some pineapple, little yeast. Taste: very fruity, pineapple, some sour apple, hops and yeast. MF: soft carbon, light to medium body. Aftertaste: little sour, some hops, nice dry finish. Really good beer. I can see why Brian calls it "the flagship" of his brewery.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Mar 2011
at 08:05
7.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
A hazed reddish brown saison with a thin moka head. In aroma, light cherries over nutty malts, light lactic points. In mouth, a smooth nutty malt with some curacao, fruity esters, herbaceous and smooth. On tap at Brewvival, Feb. 26 2011.
Tried
from Draft
on 04 Mar 2011
at 19:16
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
A copper orange ale with a thin off white head. In aroma, a nice fusel crayon, light salts, herbaceous and smooth, saison-like. In mouth,a smooth sweet fruity ester, with cloves, cardamom, caramel, quite nice and balanced, veering on belgian dubbel. On tap at Brewvival, Feb. 26 2011.
Tried
from Draft
on 04 Mar 2011
at 19:10