How a tribally owned brewery is rapidly leveling up the region’s craft scene
Talking Cedar didn’t start with a business plan; it started with a rebellion, bold from the beginning. Before a drop of beer was brewed or a single grain was fermented the Chehalis Tribe helped overturn a 184-year-old federal law that prohibited Native nations from distilling spirits on tribal land. That victory cleared the path for what would become the first tribally owned and operated distillery in the United States. It also set the tone for everything that followed, including a brewery, brew pub, and growing distribution footprint.
Fast forward to today and that same resolve is turning the brewery into one of the most exciting rising forces in the Pacific Northwest. This week Talking Cedar earned four medals from Sip Magazine’s Best of the Northwest Awards, a clear signal that the beers coming out of Grand Mound are hitting hard in a market teeming with excellent craft beer offerings.
The wins only tell part of the story. The rest comes from the team shaping what Talking Cedar is evolving into.
Earlier this year the Chehalis Tribe brought on Master Distiller Matt Hofmann, known for pioneering American single malt and co-founding Seattle’s Westland Whiskey. Hofmann brings deep technical expertise, a deep respect and reverence for the state he grew up in, and a track record of building category defining brands. His leadership has tightened the connection between the brewery and distillery and accelerated Talking Cedar’s shift from ambitious newcomer to true craft contender.
The tribe has also invested in a strong marketing and sales program with the kind of strategic horsepower rarely seen in young breweries. The team is sharpening brand identity, growing Chehalis Light’s presence, and laying the groundwork for collaborations, pilot batches, and regional partnerships. It is the kind of thoughtful, data driven work that parallels the growth of much larger craft operations.
On the culinary side, the brewery’s restaurant welcomed Executive Chef Richard Jensen, a Washington native whose career includes time at Aqua with Michael Mina, Redwood Park with George Morrone, and Meadowood Napa Valley where he worked on a three Michelin star team. Jensen’s menu blends comforting pub classics with ingredients that reflect the land and tribal values, giving Talking Cedar a food program that feels both grounded and elevated.
The brewery is also making smart moves where craft beer is actually growing. This year Talking Cedar developed a high ABV Imperial Juicy IPA in 19.2 ounce cans specifically for convenience stores, one of the strongest performing channels in the industry. It is a strategic play designed for the way craft beer is growing, not the way it grew in previous decades.
All the work behind the liquid shows up with several podium finishes. Chehalis Light earned Double Gold for the second year in a row, proving that a locally brewed light lager can outperform some of the biggest names in the Northwest. Baltic Porter, Raspberry Blonde, and Amber medaled as well, showing both range and consistency across styles.
Talking Cedar is on a steep upward trajectory. What began with a historic legal victory and a vision to build something meaningful on Chehalis tribal land is an emerging into a powerhouse with award winning beer, new leadership, a strengthened marketing team, world class brewers, culinary excellence, and a strategy built on understanding where the craft world is actually headed.
Talking Cedar is not simply rising with the region, it is pushing the region forward.
