(Tumwater, Wash.) July 27, 2026 — What do you get by combining a classic pre-Prohibition recipe with one of the South Sound’s favorite beers? A blend of historic proportions! Leotucky Lager (5% ABV), the latest collaboration between friends Rob Horn of Triceratops and Chris Knudson and Paul Pearson of Well 80, captures the malty magic of Pennsyltucky Lager and Leopold’s Original 1896 Lager, the beer that started it all for Olympia Brewing Company.
“When Leopold Schmidt, a German immigrant, established what later became the Olympia Brewing Company in 1896, he introduced Olympia Beer, a type that had become known as American Lager,” explains Paul Knight, Olympia’s brewmaster from 1961 – 1997. “It was a product of highest quality and flavor, yet was moderate in alcohol and hop character. With the benefit of the famous artesian spring water, his Olympia Beer quickly established itself as an outstanding example of that type. Both Olympia Beer and Leopold Schmidt became famous throughout the nation. It should be considered a craft beer of its time.”
By incorporating elements of this refreshing, malt-forward pre-prohibition lager and the crisp, award-winning amber lager that’s made Triceratops a local favorite, Horn and Pearson created something that speaks to the past and present of the South Sound region. A full flavored beer that doesn’t sacrifice approachability, Leotucky Lager honors Washington’s brewing legacy while inviting drinkers to consider the ways craft brewers have changed today’s landscape.
“I’m fascinated by local history and the rise of the Olympia Brewery,” says Well 80 founder Knudson. “And Olympia Beer in the late 1800s and early 1900s parallels the growth and development of our region. The original release [of Leopold’s first lager] was in the fall of 1896, only seven years after Washington became a state. To boot, the beer is fantastic!”
“I was a fan of great lagers before I even started homebrewing years and years ago,” adds Horn. “And every once in a while Paul and I will blend Tucky with Leo’s Lager just for fun. So the chance to hang out with two of my best friends in the industry and use a recipe that’s 130 years old as inspiration for a new beer was too good to pass up. Plus we canned it! Who isn’t going to smile at the image of a 19th-century brewing baron riding a three horned dinosaur?”
Beginning this Friday, July 31st, beer fans can find Leotucky Lager at the Triceratops tasting room in Tumwater and Well 80’s brewpub in Olympia. And in the weeks ahead, this small-batch collaboration will appear on shelves and tap lists at select retailers across western Washington.
About Triceratops Brewing Company
Founded by Rob and Kelly Horn in 2014, Triceratops Brewing Company evolved from a tiny one barrel garage system to a 10-barrel brewhouse and tasting room in the Tumwater Warehouse District near the Olympia Regional Airport. The company’s range of offerings include Collin James Irish Red, Mrs. Voorhees Peanut Butter Stout, the award-winning Pennsyltucky Lager, Liquid Swords IPA, and a new range of hard sodas. Triceratops currently self distributes to King, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties. Its family-friendly taproom is open year round, Friday thru Sunday. For more information, visit https://www.triceratopsbrewing.com
About Well 80 Brewhouse
Built on the site of one of Olympia, Washington’s famous artesian wells, Well 80 Brewhouse strives to follow in the footsteps of Leopold Schmidt, Paul Knight, and all the other brewing pioneers that made great beer from some of the best water in the world. In fact, this pure artesian water is used exclusively in brewing its line of tasty craft beers including Artesian IPA, Artesian Gold Light Lager, and the award-winning Volle Pulle Hefeweizen. As an all-ages restaurant open seven days a week, Well 80 offers a full menu of pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and salads, always with a creative twist. For more information, visit: https://well80.com/
