There’s a certain magic that happens when a Vancouver, WA staple makes its way up the I-5 corridor to a Seattle tap handle. When we saw Trap Door Brewing’s Glowed Up Hazy IPA on the tap list at one of our favorite local spots, naturally, Wee Beers had to have a pint.
If you aren’t familiar with Trap Door Brewing, they’ve been quietly (and not-so-quietly) winning a mountain of awards down in Clark County. But Glowed Up is the one that really put them on the map for hazy lovers.
A Great Pour from Trap Door Brewing
Glowed Up is a 6.8% ABV New England-style IPA that looks exactly like you want a “glowed up” beer to look: a beautiful, opaque straw yellow with a soft, pillowy white head. It’s got that classic hazy density that tells you right away this wasn’t filtered within an inch of its life.
The Profile of Glowed Up
This beer is a triple-threat of Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops. They use a heavy hand of rolled oats and wheat, giving it a velvety, “juice-box” texture that makes the 6.8% go down dangerously easy. What separates this from the sea of “juice bombs” out there is a subtle pine resin and pithy bitterness on the finish that keeps it balanced. It’s “glowed up,” but it hasn’t forgotten its Pacific Northwest roots.
Wee Tip: If you happen to see the “Fresh Hop” version of this during the autumn months, drop everything and buy a pint. It’s a multi-award winner at the Washington Beer Awards for a reason.
Why Wee Are Fans
Wee Beers is all about the little details that make a big impact. Trap Door manages to hit that “Double Dry Hopped” intensity (over 5 lbs of hops per barrel!) without any of the hop burn or astringency that plagues lesser hazies. It’s refined, it’s consistent, and it’s exactly how Amarillo hops can be used to their full potential.
Where Can You Find Glowed Up in Seattle?
While Trap Door Brewing is based in Vancouver, their distribution in Seattle is solid. We spotted this one at Beveridge Place Pub in West Seattle, but it frequently rotates through spots like The Beer Junction and other taphouses in the area.
If you see that neon-style label or the name on a chalkboard, do yourself a favor and order a pour. It’s the kind of beer that reminds you why the Hazy IPA trend isn’t going anywhere.
Clark believes that the best professional relationships are built on shared experiences and a bit of fun. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Clark has been a vocal advocate of the local craft beer scene for years. He enjoys exploring the unique flavors and community-driven atmosphere of Washington’s and Oregon’s many breweries while working through the complex software architecture opportunities presented by social interaction. After a hard day of work, Clark can often be found on the karaoke stage any day of the week belting out 80’s rock and heavy metal tunes while bringing the same passion and energy to his performances as he does to his startups; valuing confidence, engagement, and the power of a good song and a bourbon barrel aged beer to bring people together.
