Portland Beer Blog

Holiday Ale Festival Posts the Beers for this Years event!

2008-11-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

Many have you been asking, now you can see what will be there in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Checkout <http://www.holidayale.com/thebeers.php>
The Promoter writes:
I could go on, but I think the site says it all. Same address www.holidayale.com all new look.

See you there for a beer!

Dave Dronkowski

Holiday Ale Festival has an early gift for beer lovers

2008-11-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

announces Wednesday opening with rare vintage beers
The Holiday Ale Festival is giving beer lovers a gift by opening one day early, and rewarding those who come with a selection of rare and vintage kegs. The 13th annual Holiday Ale Festival will take place Dec. 3 through 7 at Pioneer Courthouse Square, located at 701 SW Sixth Ave. in downtown Portland. Hours for the event are 3 to 9 p.m. Wed., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thurs. through Sat., and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sun. The event has also expanded, increasing its capacity to better accommodate the crowds.

In addition to the three-dozen specialty winter beers that will pour all five days, the festival will tap a limited selection of hidden treasures on opening day; once they run dry, they’re gone. Beer aficionados can look forward to tasting 2005 Samichlaus, the strongest lager in the world; BridgePort Old Knucklehead, Fred Eckhardt Vintage No. 11; 2006 and 2007 Jim, a strong ale blended specifically for the festival by director Preston Weesner and Hair of the Dog Brewing Co.; 2007 Scaldis Noel from Brasserie Dubuisson; 2007 Allagash Curieux, a Belgian tripel aged in Jim Beam barrels; and 2007 Anchor Foghorn, among others.

These rare beers will join the festival lineup of winter warmers, most of which cannot be found outside the event. Among the highlights, look for Alameda’s Papa Noel’s Special Reserve, Cascade Brewing’s Drie Zwarte Pieten “Sangnoir”, Deschutes’ Mirror Mirror Barleywine, Collaborator Hallucinator, Firestone Walker’s Velvet Merkin Stout, Full Sail’s Dry Hopped Wassail, Golden Valley’s Oaken Bomb, Hopwork’s Noggin Floggin Barleywine, Lagunitas’ Black Pepper Chocolate Stout, Lompoc’s Brewdolph, New Belgium’s Abbey Grand Cru, Stone’s Smoked Porter with vanilla beans, Rogue’s Yellow Snow IPA, Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Ale, Pyramid’s Snow Cap’n & Tennille, and Track Town’s Oak Rum Stout. A complete list is available at www.holidayale.com.

Admission into the venue is free. To taste beer, the purchase of an initial $20 tasting package is required, which includes a souvenir mug and 10 beer tickets. It takes four tickets for a full mug of beer, or one ticket for a taste. Additional beer tickets can be purchased for $1 apiece. The festival stops selling beer tickets one-half hour prior to taps closing. The Holiday Ale Festival is for ages 21 and over.

Despite being held outdoors in the chilly month of Dec., more than 15,000 festival attendees stay warm and dry under a large clear-topped tent that covers the venue. Gas heaters create a cozy ambience beneath the boughs of the region's largest decorated Christmas tree. In addition to beer tasting, the festival also features on-site food, event merchandise, complimentary root beer for designated drivers, mead sampling, and seasonal background music.

Returning to the event is the fifth annual Belgian Beer Brunch taking place on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to Noon on the upper level of Pioneer Courthouse Square. The auxiliary event features European pastries, meats and cheeses to accompany an assortment of Belgian winter beers not available at the festival itself. Tickets cost $35 and are available at www.holidayale.com.

About the Holiday Ale Festival
The Holiday Ale Festival is the most prestigious winter beer sampling opportunity on the West Coast, and is a joyous tradition among beer lovers who treasure the big beers of winter. Held outdoors in the chilly month of Dec., the festival pours more than three-dozen robust winter craft brews, the majority of which have either been created specifically for the event, or are vintage or reserve beers not available in the general market. For more information, visit www.holidayale.com or call 503-252-9899.

BREWPUBLIC.com

2008-10-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hello, great readers of Guest on Tap. This is Angelo, local Portland beer writer. I would first like to apologize for not putting a post up here in sometime. I have been jumping headlong into my very own website, BREWPUBLIC. As a contributor to Guest on Tap, David Dronkowsi's noble work, I have had the opportunity to put my thoughts on beer and have you read them. I can't thank Dave enough for all that he has done for me. I still plan on poking my head in here and adding a post now and then, but if you are interested in checking out my writing in a larger capacity, please visit http://Brewpublic.com I hope you will like what you read there. Currently there are reviews of new breweries, brewpubs, and some humorous rants. I guess, this post is to inform you that I have this new site and promote it. Thanks for your time and readership. If you have a desire to post here, please contact Dave@guestontap.com If you would like to shoot press, comments, or hate mail my way, you may do so at angelo at brewpublic dot com. Prost!

Muddy Boots Organic Festival: A Soulful Celebration of Sustainable Living

2008-09-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

The third annual Muddy Boots Organic Festival is happening September 5 and 6, 2008 @ St. Philip Neri Church at 2408 SE 16th Avenue (near 18th & Division) in Portland, Oregon.

The theme of this year's festivities is "nurturing growth from seed to soul."

The annual Muddy Boot Organic Festival is a city-wide festival celebrating local organic foods and sustainable living in Portland, Oregon.

The festival will feature local organic brews from companies such as Roots Organic Brewing and Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland.

Under the sunny skies of early September, people from the Portland Area will experience a vibrant and enriching event. With live music, wine, and food you will experience an event like no other in Oregon. The booths, workshops, speakers and walking tours of local sustainable projects will allow you to share in the experience of living naturally.

The festival will spotlight a variety of local music, organic food, and many interesting workshops. For a list of these great events, go to: http://www.muddyboot.org/schedule.php

Astoria 7th Annual Pacific Northwest Brewcup September 26-28

2008-08-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

From the good folks at Fort George Brewing:

Summer may be ending, but things are just heating up on the coast! You’ll have a chance to taste some of the best craft beers the region has to offer in Astoria at the 7th annual Pacific Northwest Brewcup this September. Festival organizers aim to have a variety of beers, which are new and diverse to the coastal beer drinking community.

The focus of this year’s festival is to promote handcrafted artisan brews. An estimated three-dozen northwest microbreweries will have beers available for sampling. Root beers and ginger ales will also be available, making this a family-friendly event. There will be food vendors, three days of live music, and an opportunity to vote for your favorite beer.

This year, organizers from the Baked Alaska Restaurant are joining forces with Astoria’s newest brewery, the Fort George Brewery + Public House. The Fort George hopes to make this an especially brewer-friendly event, and is inviting other regional brewers to participate and attend.

Proceeds from the festival will go to the Clatsop County Food Bank. Nearly one third of the county’s residents tapped into the food bank last year to help their families. A new food pantry is in the works to meet the growing need and volunteers are gearing up for a long winter, providing to families in especially tough economic times.

The Pacific Northwest Brewcup takes place in downtown Astoria September 26th, 27th and 28th at the Astoria Public Plaza on Duane between 11th and 12th streets.

For more information log onto www.fortgeorgebrewery.com or call (503) 325-PINT and ask for Jack or Chris.

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Laurelwood Releases 5 New Brews

2008-08-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Helgaweizen
This super-refreshing German Hefeweizen features a tart wheat character, banana aroma, and a clove-like spiciness. Helgaweizen derives these wonderful flavors from imported German malt and yeast. No fruit or spices were added. This style is a perennial favorite at the brewery. It is historically correct to serve it with or without a slice of lemon- try it both ways. Prost!
5% ABV 13 IBUs O.G. 11º Plato
(available at Pizza Co)

Straight Up IPA
No smoke and mirrors here- this is just a good 'ol fashioned Straight Up IPA. We took some of our favorite malts and favorite hops and brewed them up into this simply delightful combination. In a world of crazy big IPAs (yeah we love 'em too!), this beer offers traditional, good-time, beer-drinking fun.
6.2% ABV 60 IBUs O.G. 14.5º Plato
(available at 51st)

Tre Otto Amber
To celebrate 8-8-08 we brewed Tre Otto - an American Amber Ale with Liberty and Cluster hops. Expect a balanced ale with a slight toasty and fruity character offset nicely by an American hop character.
5.7% ABV 45 IBUs O.G. 13º Plato
(available at 51st and NW locations)

Weizenbock
Our Weizenbock is a complex beer with that distinctive Bavarian wheat flavor. The aroma reminds one of bananas and apples while the finish is spicy with cloves. Wheat malt and yeast give a distinctive haze to this stronger and darker hefeweizen.
6.5% ABV 10 IBUs OG 16° Plato
(available at Pizza Co)

Liberty Red Single Hopped Ale
The seventh beer in our series of single hop Red Ales, Liberty Red brings us the wonders of the Liberty hop. Liberty hops are the American version of the German Hallertau and are known for their aromatic properties and mild bitterness. This beer features a nice citrus flavor with subtle earthy tones. Liberty Red is hopped like an American Pale Ale, with medium bitterness and a bit of dry hop aroma.
6.0% ABV 48 IBUs O.G. 14º Plato
(available at Pizza Co.)

By the Bottle now open on Sundays

2008-08-28T10:41:00.001-07:00

By the Bottle, Southwest Washington's premiere beer shop has announced that it will be open on Sundays 11am-4pm starting August 31st, 2008. The small shop started in 2006 with less than 100 beers and has grown to near 1,000 at last tally. Next door to Salmon Creek BrewPub @ 104 W. Evergreen in downtown Vancouver.

BTB owner Arlene Nunez loves helping customers find the right brew(s)

Owners Dave and Arlene Nunez have many beers from around the world including many that are unavailable in Oregon due to state mandated distribution laws. If you haven't been to By the Bottle, go check out what you've been missing.

Prost!

By the Bottle owner Dave Nunez (center) with Laughing Buddha brewers Joe Valvo and Chris Castillo

BridgePort Hops to Another Harvest Ale

2008-08-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

By Angelo M. De Ieso II

Brewers Jeff Edgerton (left) and Karl Ockert (right) add fresh hops to the hop jack at BridgePort.

On Tuesday August 27th, 2008 BridgePort brewers fired up their hop jack and poured a massive amount of whole cone Centennial hops fresh off the vine. 250 pounds of large, sticky, lupulin-rich green hops per brew (about 67 barrels constitute one brew)were used. This was in addition to between 75 and 80 pounds of pellet hops used for bittering the base beer. This beer according to brewers Karl Ockert and Jeff Edgerton was similar to the original Blue Heron recipe from the '80s...only a bit bolder.

The brewing process began as plump Centennials--some more than three inches long--were harvested at BC Hop Farm in Woodburn, Oregon. Centennials are dual-purpose hops used by many brewers for both bittering and aroma and impart a pungent, citrus-like flavor and aroma. The 2008 BridgePort Hop Harvest ale will brew to around 7% ABV and will possess a green, earthy flavor profile. In total, 255 barrels of this year's Hop Harvest will be brewed. The beer will be available in 22-ounce bottles following a release party at the BrewPub on September 6th at 6PM. For more information, visit BridgePort Brewery at 1313 N.W. Marshall St. call 503-241-7179 or go on-line to www.BridgePort.com

BridgePort brewmaster Karl Ockert with fresh Centennial hops in the jack.

Interview with Oakshire (Willamette) Brewing Brewer Todd Friedman

2008-08-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

BIERBEERPIWO is a podcast with some interviews of brewers and beerfolks. Yesterday at the Green Dragon Bistro and Pub, I interviewed Oakshire Brewing's Todd Friedman.

bierbeerpiwo.mypodcast.com

Oakshire head brewer Todd Friedman

Oakshire Meet the Brewer Event

2008-08-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Aug. 26th @ Green Dragon Pub and Bistro
6PM
Meet the brewer (every Tuesday)

Oakshire Brewing from Eugene, Oregon (formerly Willamette Brewing) will represent their lovely brewery. Brewer Jeff Althouse will be on hand to discuss his product with patrons.

Try Oakshire's Espresso Stout with one shot of espresso per pint. Wow!

Hopworks Releases Another New Brew

2008-08-26T07:59:00.001-07:00

Evelyn's Imperial Sunshine is a self-proclaimed "big and beautiful double IPA" brewed in celebration of the birth of Master Christian's first daughter, Evelyn Sunshine Ettinger.

7.6% ABV 100+ IBUs

In addition to this new IIPA, the brewery also has a Secret Alt on tap as well as another alt and a biere de gaard selected from a recent homebrewing competition. Hopworks will also be releasing their delicious red ale soon.

More to come...

Interview with Barley Browns' owner Tyler Brown

2008-08-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

By Angelo M. De Ieso II

Far from the majority of Oregon's craft beer community, Barley Brown's is one of the eastern-most breweries in the state, not to mention one of the best. At home in Baker City, the brewery is not the most likely spot for full-bodied craft beers with rich hop and malt profiles. Sitting off Interstate-84 about 45 miles east of La Grande and a few hours from the Idaho border, the high desert city is rich with history and 19th Century architecture. Once Oregon's most populated community during the bustling Oregon Trail days, Baker City today is a laid back blue collar community of farmers and small business owners. Proprietor Tyler Brown, with his parents came to Baker from Connecticut in 1974 when their automobile broke down on the way to Seattle. The family liked the town so much, they decided to call it home. The building at 2190 Main Street in the heart of Baker wad erected as Gwilliam's Bakery, in the 1940's. Brown's parents bought the property in 1976 and ran a bakery there until 1983. Tyler took over the space in 1998 and converted it to Barley Brown's in June of that year. Since then the quaint brewpub has grown into a thriving local stop for tasty pub fair and undeniably delicious brews. With the help of current brewer Shawn Kelso (who is also a professional painter), Bailey Brown's has become a destination for beer lovers everywhere. The brewery has received numerous accolades including 10 medals at the N.A.B.A. (North American Beer Awards) in 2008, following five in 2007, eight in 2006, and two in 2005--the first year the brewery entered the contest. In 2006, Brown's Tumble Off Pale Ale (aka AM Pale Ale) won one or the most prestigious awards in America, a gold medal at the Great American Beer Awards. The brewery is especially well recognized in its area, locally being voted the best burger, best place to take a friend, and for having the best server by the Baker City Herald's readers. Further, Historic Baker City awarded Barley Brown's with a Downtown Business Success Award. With the tremendous success of the cozy establishment, comes a lot of pride in the business and a humble approach to the trade by Tyler Brown. He recently answered some of my questions over some hoppy treats.

Tyler Brown and brewer Shawn Kelso @ Barley Brown's

Angelo De Ieso II: What spawned your interest in craft beer and brewing?

Tyler Brown: Swiping good beer out of my parents restaurant when I was younger, and a home brew kit, that was put to use in the restaurant kitchen in the early days on slow nights.

AD: How did the brewery come to life?

TB: A dream, a restaurant in need of a facelift, and an IPO of our local bank...

Head brewer Shawn Kelso

Barley Brown's owner Tyler Brown

AD: You are so far away from the majority of Oregon's craft beer community. What is it like doing what you do where you do it?

TB: Sometimes it takes a week to get a malt order from Portland... I don't make it to Portland very much so I don't know what we're missing. We have loyal brewery friends that fill a shelf in our cooler with growlers and bottles of beer from brewers all over Oregon.

AD: Do you have any connections or interaction with the other breweries in the "area" (Terminal Gravity, Beer Valley, Idaho etc)?

TB: Pete (Ricks)from Beer Valley usually stops in on his way through, and I try to do the same. Also have got to know Josh King the brewer at Sockeye Brewing in Boise pretty well. The Boise Brewers refer a lot of friends to our place if they are going our way. Dean (Duquette) from TG (Terminal Gravity) was in the other night, we're a long twisty road apart from Enterprise--a perfect road if you're on two wheels.

AD: What do you foresee for BB's in the future? Expansion? World Domination?

TB: We will keep on making the best product we can. Expansion... why not?!

Stop by Barley Brown's Brewpub in Baker City and enjoy a wide assortment of flavorful brews and delicious food. For more information go to www.BarleyBrowns.com

Barley Brown's high alpha hopped Imperial IPA and Double Whiskey Malt!

Snoqualmie Falls and Meantime Ales Tasting & Meet the Brewer @ Belmont Station

2008-08-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Taste Snoqualmie Falls PGA Amber, Steam Train Porter, Copperhead Pale Ale, Wildcat IPA, & Summer Beer, and chat with Janelle Pritchard, brewer from this special brewpub in Snoqualmie, Washington. Snoqualmie Pale Ale & a rare Cask Conditioned keg of Wildcat IPA on draught. The cask will be Thursday night only! Bottles to take home on sale. This tasting is Thursday August 22 from 6-8PM.

Tuesday August 26, 2008 from 6-8PM Meantime Ales Tasting and meet the brewer.
Meet Alastair Hook, the Brewer of Meantime Ales from Greenwich, England. Alastair will give a brief talk about his brewery and beers in the Biercafe at 6:30 and we'll be pouring tastes of his IPA and Porter from 6-8PM. Sale on the bottles during the tasting.

All tastings are free and open to all over 21.

Two (more) Awesome Beers @ Belmont Station this Tuesday

2008-08-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Portland's home of 1,000 brews, Belmont Station is featuring two killer sour beers on tap in their biercafe. On Tuesday
August 12th @ 5PM the Station will feature a "Puckerfest Flashback" Special Tapping of two rare kegs: Russian River Supplication (Brown ale aged in Pinot Noir wine barrels for one year with sour cherries, Brettanomyces yeast, and Lactobacillus & Pedicoccus bacteria) and Walking Man Blootvoeste Bruin (Barefoot Brown soured with Kombucha culture). Both these beers were on the schedule for Puckerfest but arrived too late.
Get them while you can, and remember to save me some!

ps-Check out the recently expanded craft beer tap selection at Belmont's biercafe, featuring such brews as Stone's Oaked Bastard and a few tasty selections from Fort George Brewing. Yum!

Stone Vertical Epic Out Now! 08.08.08

2008-08-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

Stone Brewing Company's Vertical Epic Ales are a series of beers that began in 2002. They are specifically designed to be aged until December 12, 2012, provided you can wait that long. Collectors have paid upwards of $400 a bottle to complete their sets. With each release, "vertical" tastings along the way, show how a beer ages in the cellaring process.

Each recipe is unique to the year it is released, and each one is released one year, one month, and one day from the previous edition. So last year's was released on 07-07-07, and this year's is unveiled on 08-08-08, and so on until December of 2012 (unless another month is added to our calendar).

An email today from By The Bottle in America's Vancouver claimed they have some on hand right now!

The 08 Epic is a Strong Golden Belgian-style ale highly hopped with American hops. Here is a detailed description from Stone's Head Brewer, Mitch Steele:
http://www.stonebrew.com/epic/080808/notes/initial.html

For more info on the Vertical Epic Series, click here: http://www.stonebrew.com/epic/index.php

Back label of Stone's Vertical Epic 08.08.08

...and check out Stone's head brewer Greg Koch's vBlog HERE!

The Green Dragon expands, opening huge beer garden

2008-08-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

(Portland, OR) The Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub is expanding. Owner Ed Schwartz has leased the building & lot adjacent to the Green Dragon. The lot will become a beer garden with 9 picnic tables for outdoor seating. The landscaping will consist of bamboo and planters to help conceal the busy street.

There will be an additional wifi router for the outdoor area so patrons can get some work done or just surf the net while enjoying a beer. There will also be electrical outlets outside so customers can keep their laptops powered up.

The expanded space will be open to the public and will be available to rent for private parties or events. Future plans for the space include a covered canopy with decorative lighting as well as heaters.

Weather permitting, future meet the brewer events will be held in the new outdoor area.

In addition to expanding into the lot, the Green Dragon will also be taking over the Q Hut. A large Green Dragon logo will be painted on the outside and the space inside will be renovated. A coffee roaster will reside in the Q HUT offering fresh roasted artisan coffee.

More changes to come in the next few weeks.

For information: www.pdxgreendragon.com

Contact: kefinteractive@gmaildotcom

Phone: 503-869-7408

Lagunita's Tasting @ Belmont Station this Wednesday

2008-08-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Wednesday August 6th 6-8PM @ Belmont Station. LAGUNITAS TASTING. In case you live under a rock or haven't had the latest greatest beers from them, Lagunita's has an extensive variety of delicious brews from their brewery in Petaluma, California: IPA, Pale Ale, Pils, Sirius, Maximus Imperial IPA, Imperial Stout & Censored Ale (aka the Kronik) & the newest in their Frank Zappa series: We're Only In It For the Money Tripel. Lagunitas six packs on sale. Bonus: Hop Stoopid on draught in the Biercafe.

The Bite of Oregon

2008-08-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here's the info on The Bite of Oregon going on this weekend at Tom McCall Waterfront Park (Home of the OBF) from Brian and the Brewers Guild:

FRI Aug 8, 2008 11am-11pm
SAT Aug 9, 2008 11am-11pm
SUN Aug 10, 2008 10am-8pm

http://www.biteoforegon.com"

New this year for Craft Beer Lovers!

* The Oregon Brewed Craft Beer Garden featuring Organic Craft Beers
* Choose from a wide selection of Craft Beers from across the state
* Bite of Oregon Exclusive! Rogue Brewery's Debut Release of Double Dead Guy Ale
* Pelican Brewery’s Doryman's Dark Ale and Kiwanda Cream Ale exclusively at The Bite

Deschutes Brewery - Bend
Green Lakes Organic Amber Ale ABV 5.2%, IBUs 45
Inversion IPA OG 1.069, IBUs 75, Alcohol By Volume 6.8%

Golden Valley Brewpub & Restaurant - McMinnville
Organic Chehalem Mountain IPA Alcohol 6.1%, 55 IBU
Red Hills Pils - ABV 5.2%, IBU 42

Hopworks Urban Brewery - Portland
Hub Organic Lager 5.1% ABV 11.5° Plato OG 32 IBU
Crosstown Pale Ale - Organic 5.3% ABV 12.5° Plato 45 IBU

Laurelwood Brewing, Portland • Website »
Organic Free Range Red - 6.1 ABV. 14 º Plato O.G. 2.5 º Plato T.G. 60 IBU
Organic Tree Hugger Porter - 5.6 ABV. 13.5 º Plato O.G. 3.0 º Plato T.G. 30 IBU.

Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City
Kiwanda Cream Ale - 12.5 degrees Plato, Alcohol: 5.1% by volume, Bitterness: 25 IBU, Color: 5 lovibond
Doryman's Dark Ale - 14 degrees Plato, Alcohol: 5.8% by volume, Bitterness: 42 IBU, Color: 33 lovibond

Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub, Portland
Zomer Wit - 4.8 % ABV 12 IBU
Blond Bock

Rogue Ales, Newport
Double Dead Guy Ale - 20º PLATO, 60 IBU, 78 AA, 25º Lovibond
Brutal Bitter - 15 degrees Plato, IBU 59, Apparent Attenuation 76, Lovibond 14.2

Roots Organic Brewing Co., Portland
Island Red - . IBU 62.5 ABV 5.6%
Woody IPA - IBU 73.3 ABV 6.0%

Standing Stone Brewing Co., Ashland • Website »
German Hefeweisen
India Pale Ale

Terminal Gravity Brewing, Enterprise
Belgian style Tripel.
Extra Special Golden

Admission and Special Promotions 2008
Regular Admission:
Adults–$7.00 at the gate • Children–12 and under FREE
General admission fee covers entrance and entertainment but does not included food and beverage. Same day reentry allowed with approved hand stamp.

Special Admission Promotions:
There are several great ways to enjoy the Bite and save this year!
TGIF – All Adults $5 before 5pm. Good on Friday only.
Sunday - All adults $5 after 5pm. Come celebrate with us on the last evening of the festival!

Attn: Providence Bridge Pedal Participants – There is No Gate Admission charge to enter the Bite on Sunday, August 10th from 10am to 2pm. A donation of $3.00 to Special Olympics Oregon is suggested. Please show your Bridge Pedal bib or bracelet at the gates for entry.

Bite Super Saver 3-Day Pass – Adults only $12. Come enjoy the Bite of Oregon all three days for one low price! Purchase your Bite Super Saver 3-Day Pass online now - Limited Quantities!

A Fantastic Four Days

2008-07-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

By Angelo M. De Ieso II

2008's Oregon Brewers Festival was the best yet with more beer and more attendees than ever before. The state's rich culture of craft beer was highlighted by more than 70 breweries offering their tasty selections to a boisterously jolly quaffing crowd.

The crowds on a Thursday afternoon at the OBF are big, but nothing compared to those on Friday and Saturday.

I always enjoy getting down to the festival early to ensure short lines and that the beers I really want to sample are still available. One thing I've learned from years past is that by Friday and Saturday, the festivities are in full swing and Tom McCall Park can feel a bit more like a moshpit with seemingly endless lines. Another time that I like to visit the festival is early Sunday afternoon. At this time I hoped to try the remainder of the beers undiscovered by my palate in hopes that many of them will still be available.

People from all continents visit Portland for the Oregon Brewers Festival during the last weekend in July each year.

After a week or so of preparation, I've mapped out some of the beers that I anticipate as being the "buzz beers." Usually there is one that shines about the rest, but there is usually at least a handful that I anticipate will be gone by Saturday and may not be available to me again for some time. Talking to some folks in the media tent on Thursday, I get clued in to a must-try beer, the Old Market Brewing Pub & Brewery's "Hopcask" Triple Tripel Organic. This beer describes itself as an "overly-hopped" Belgian Tripel and includes a few of my favorite hop varietals, Simcoes, Amarillos, and Centennials. I've enjoyed Old Market's brews in the past, but honestly never thought they might be thee buzz beer at this prestigious event. With a rich orange-amber body and a wispy white head, this Triple Tripel is just as big as the hype surrounding it. Funky armpit hopped nose with slight bubblegum and candy esters, this beer is undeniably delicious. I could have spend an hour with a couple full mugs of this beer, but I had a lot of "work" to do. I had to be sure this was the one.

After reading through the handsome festival program that read like a craft beer lover's bible, I decided that I would aim for something light on the tongue that was hard to find here in Portland. The Wild River Harbor Lights Kolsch from Grants Pass seemed fitting, and was available at the first table which made the decision even easier. A bright, glowing fruity beer with a sharp yeasty carbonic clove bite, this beer was very satisfying.

The Deschutes Brewing keg trailer was one of many attractions at this year's OBF

Previously in the media tent, I had sampled a few beers that, if not considered the festivals buzz beer, would certainly stand out as some of the more unique offerings. One particular stand out brew was the Roots Organic Brewing Calypso Ale. Brewed with 70% organic red wheat and gently hopped with the German Hallertau hop, the character that set this hybrid apart from the rest was a distinct smoky hot pepper profile. Light in body and low in alcohol, the Calypso was far from overwhelming considering its daring recipe. Employing Oregon-grown apricot and scotch bonnet peppers, the Calypso had a mild bite and as my friend put it, tasted like chips and salsa.

Volunteers are a huge part of the festival's success

One of my all-time favorite brewery's, Bells Brewery, from Comstock, Michigan offered their dark and roasty porter. With a creamy, beige head and a big nutty, chocolaty character, this porter was a great example of why the oldest craft brewery east of the Mississippi is a perennial buzz beer candidate.

Not being a coffee drinker, I was still interested in approaching the Surley Brewing Company's Coffee Bender Brown Ale. Surley is one of those breweries that is unavailable for distribution in Oregon and I had read a lot of praising reviews about it in publications such as Celebrator and Beer Advocate magazine. Overwhelmingly coffee, this beer was an explosion of espresso flavor, yet with a thinner body than your typical coffee brew (often a stout or porter). If you like beer with your coffee, this is definitely the beer for you. It still wasn't my choice for a buzz beer at this festival, unless of course, you count the caffeine jitters that would have certainly ensued had I partook in a full mug.

Craft beer lovers congregate under one of the large tents at Tom McCall Waterfront Park

It seems every beer crowd has a league of IPAs that duel to out-hop one another. I was certain that the Russian River Pliny the Elder Imperial IPA was its usual amazingly delicious self. But it had made previous appearances here and I wanted to see what other hop monsters, if any might give Pliny a run for its money. I had previously enjoyed Lagunita's Hop Stoopid, the Green Flash Hop Head Red Ale, and BridgePort Brewing's latest, greatest, the Hop Czar, so I took a gander at the beer that boasted the highest IBU level at this year's festival (113), McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House's Madman Jack's Insane Pale Ale. I was to assume this beer was as big of a mouth-full as the name itself. Pouring a hazed amber-orange body, the nose of this supposedly off-the-charts brew was surprisingly subdued. Winner of the 2008 McMenamins Battle of the Belt competition, the Madman was perhaps a little nutty, but lacked the extremeness that might hoist it to the apex as this year's OBF winner.

An eclectic array of live music adds to the ambiance of the bustling festival

Making my way down the line of keg trailers, I was compelled to partake in a few of my favorite breweries at the festival. Ashland, Oregon's Caldera Ginger Ale seemed promising considering how delightful their two canned offerings, the IPA and the pale consistently prove to be. For me, a lot of ginger spice goes a long way, and while I have enjoyed some of the genre's offerings like the Hitachino Ginger and the Laughing Buddha Ginger Pale Ale, I have known myself well enough to realize that I am not a ginger beer person. Well, I thought so until I had what Caldera was serving up. A very mild gingerbread and hops nose with a gentle biscuity spine, this sessionable spiced brew was an instant classic. I would certainly return for a full mug of this beer before the weekend was over.

Down the line even further was another brewery I have grown to like tremendously. The regular availability of Chicago's Goose Island beers has disappeared from the area to many people's dismay. Something to do with Widmer and Anheuser-In-Bev-Alliance dealings I've heard, which is, in my opinion, a crying shame. Goose Island's Matilda, a Belgian-styled Reserve Series beer proved easily to be one of my favorite beers at the entire festival! An orange hazy body imparted a well-balanced Brettanomyces yeastiness that projected a lavish, creamy, candy body. Mildly spiced with a perfect hop floralness, this beer was worthy of a four-token topper.

So many other beers graced my palate over the course of the afternoon, it was a sort of sensory overload and almost too much of a great thing. Almost. Other standouts included the Standing Stone Almond Brown Ale (another fabulous brewery from Ashland, Oregon) and New Holland Brewing Company's Dragon's Milk Barrel Aged Strong Ale (Holland, Michigan) yet there was one beer that separated itself as the perfect balance of ingredients and was suited perfectly for a Northwest crowd of beer lovers amidst a warm summer's weekend.

Boundary Bay Brewing Company's Dry Hopped Crystal Pale Ale. This beer from Bellingham, Washington was made specially for the OBF and fully and completely hit the spot. An American pale ale with a light amber body and a crisp, biscuity, bitter grassy, earthy, floral complexity was off the hook! The server spoke to me as handed him my first token, "This is one people are coming back for seconds for."

A busy shift for this gentleman serving up the Boundary Bay Dry Hopped Crystal Pale Ale

"Better fill that one" I said as I handed him three more tokens. After all, everything I've ever had from Boundary Bay has been superb. The Crystal was long gone before I returned on Sunday at opening time. Several other wonderful beers were poured and enjoyed. To be honest, and I know this might be hard to believe, I don't think there was a bad beer at this year's OBF. Some I enjoyed more than others, but it was evident that the brewers and staff put their best foot forward to ensure a spectacular beer festival. Great food, music, and vendors illustrated the amount of preparation and work that went into it all. Watching the eclectic crowd of people peruse the ground was a treat in and of itself. T-shirts with witty and outrageous slogans unraveling the multiplicity of beer culture that coalesced for this amazing event. People from all around the globe coming together for a sip of Brewtopia. Just another shining example of why it is so great to live in here Beervana.

BridgePort's Big Beer Series Rolls on with Hop Czar IIPA

2008-07-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

BridgePort Brewing Company has (finally) released an imperial IPA as a part of their new "Big Beer Series."

By Angelo De Ieso II

Say hello to the Hop Czar, a light amber-orange bodied hop bomb with an inviting, blanketing white head. Brewed with three different malts and four hop varieties, the Hop Czar has a deep malt background with an
enthusiastic citrus and floral notes paired with uber hop bitterness.

8.0% ABV OG 17.9 IBU 100

The Hop Czar is available in 22 ounce bottles at select retail outlets and also on draught at BridgePort's BrewPub.

I talked to BridgePort's Jeff Edgerton, who was instrumental in producing the big brew. Edgerton said, "We'd been talking about it for a while. We thought it would be best if we not wait before hops are incredibly expensive." Edgerton is a ten-year veteran with BridgePort, and started brewing at the now defunct Blitz-Weinhard Brewery in 1989.

According to Edgerton, the Hop Czar is based on the brewery's flagship IPA, but with more grain, producing more alcohol, and employing almost three times as much hops. "We brewed 115 barrels in total" said Edgerton. "In these we used over 300 pounds of hops." The brew was bittered with Nugget hops in the kettle and made use of two hop jacks for additions of Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial.

"One thing about hop flavor" Edgerton continued, "It is volatile. So the beer is unfiltered. It sat in tanks for three weeks to let it chill."

The response to the Big Beer series has been great according to the brewer. "It is always fun doing this kind of thing like with the Hop Harvest Fresh Hop Ale" said Edgerton. "I stuffed my Four-runner with fresh hops for that one. That's my favorite one. We will be making that one again as our next Big Beer in September."

Edgerton also clued me in on another Big Beer that the brewery has on it's back burner : a wine barrel-aged imperial porter. "We killed our original porter for a while" said Edgerton. "Karl (Ockert) and I worked to make a better porter. The recipe was completely reworked to make it black and dark and roasty." The forthcoming porter will be much bolder and aged in surplus pinot noir and bourbon barrels acquired for the latest Old Knucklehead and Stumptown Tart.

More to come...

A Joint Adventure; New Belgium and Elysian Share Breweries

2008-07-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

A Joint Adventure; New Belgium and Elysian Share Breweries

New Belgium Brewing, of Fort Collins, Colo., and Elysian Brewing Company, of Seattle, announced Friday that they were entering a partnership in which both breweries would serve as a second home of sorts to the other's brewers in a new model within the craft brewing industry.

The two breweries called the new partnership an "artisanal collaboration," saying it will allow their brewing teams to use each other's brewhouses while remaining independently owned enterprises.

"By coming together, New Belgium and Elysian have the ability to increase efficiency, encourage creative experimentation, and take a bold collaborative step into the future of American craft brewing," the breweries' representatives said in a news release Friday.

According to the news release, the collaboration will provide Elysian the opportunity to make bigger batches at the New Belgium brewhouse, and will assist the Seattle brewery in its distribution endeavors as it reaches out to new U.S. markets. Elysian recently entered the New York market, for example.

New Belgium representatives said that brewing in smaller batches at Elysian will allow them to expand their experimental beer innovations, such as their Lips of Faith series, while getting closer to their
customers in the "fertile Pacific Northwest brewing scene."

"With mutual love of interesting beer as the primary driver, this alliance doesn't appear to fall into any typical business stratagem,"
the breweries said in the news release. "As the craft brewing scene evolves, adventures such as this may soon become commonplace as groups of brewers utilize each others' strengths to bring world-class beers to an expanding audience while staying true to the spirit and origins of the craft brewing movement."

Full Sail and Double Mountain release new summer brews

2008-07-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Two of Hood River's favorite breweries introduce tasty new summer beers in Portland.

Wednesday marked the release of Double Mountain's first ever summer seasonal, a pilsner. The kick-off took place at Henry's 12th Street Tavern in Portland, Oregon, where giveaways and good times where enjoyed.

Ezra Johnson-Greenough of Belmont Station enjoys a pint with Double Mountain owner-brewer Charlie Devereux @ Henry's Tavern.

"Our first summer seasonal, Double Mountain Pils is a true lager, featuring a Czech yeast strain and six to eight weeks of aging. The malt bill is predominately Gambrinus Organic Pilsner malt, with a dash of imported German Vienna malt. The hops are 100% Sterlings, grown locally in the Yakima Valley.

Stylistically speaking, Double Mountain Pils will combine the upfront hoppy attack of a distinctive German-style pils with the slightly richer malt body often found in the Czech beers. Our Pils will be calibrated to the Northwest palate (translation = more hops!) and, as with all Double Mountain beers, will be served unfiltered."

Full Sail, similarly has released a summer brew on Tuesday, July 8th @ their Pilsner Room on Portland's southwest waterfront. The beer is a hazy, full-bodied summer weizen beer brewed in their Brewers Share series. The Brewers Share series is in celebration of Full Sail's 21st birthday. Cheers to beers!

Jimmy quaffs a Summer Weizen @ Full Sail's Pilsner Room in Portland

Laurelwood Infrared Red Ale

2008-07-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

Following in the foot steps of beer like Bear Republic's Crazy Ivan, Laurelwood Brew Pub presents its Infrared Red Ale, a version of their Free Range Organic Red Ale.

According to the brewery:
Infrared is what our Free Range Red would be like if brewed in Belgium. Brewed with Belgian yeast and malt and a heavy does of European hops, we've shown that molecular absorption spectrometry really can be fun.

6.8% ABV 55 IBUs O.G. 16º Plato

Infrared Ale is now on tap at Laurelwood Public House & Brewery (51st and Sandy).

Belmont Station presents Meet the Brewer w/ Walking Man

2008-07-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

MON JULY 7th 6 - 9PM @ Belmont Station. WALKING MAN MEET THE BREWER & BIG BLACK HOMO Release Party! Meet Walking Man Brewers "Walking" Bob and Jacob Leonard as they unleash their latest perambulatory project: A dark malt version of one of our all-time favorites: Homo Erectus. Also on tap from the talented duo: IPA, Old Stumblefoot, & Sasquatch Legacy (yes, all the proceeds from the Legacy go to the Glenn Hay Falconer Foundation).

Belmont Station
4500 SE Stark St.
Portland, OR 97215
503-232-8538

Fourth of July Six Pack

2008-07-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, America! Today is the day to celebrate 232 years of independence from Britain. What does this mean? Well, really, it usually equates to starting a few fires, the barbecue and some fireworks, while cracking some cold beers and enjoying the prime of summer at the head of a three-day weekend. Sounds great, and it is! So, for the Fourth, I have a few suggestions, in fact six, of beers you might want to grab to celebrate. Belmont Station, Portland's premiere beer store will be open on this day from 10am-7pm, so there's no excuse for not grabbing at least a few of these...

1. Rogue American Amber: A tasty mildly hopped tawny amber ale with a roasted malt flavor and a bitter finish. This crowd pleaser comes in 22-ounce bottles dawning an American Flag; an obvious choice for Independence Day.

2. Bass Pale Ale: Yes, this is an English beer, but that is just the beauty of it. The Bass & Co Brewery was established in 1777 and was one of the first breweries in Burton upon Trent. It might boost your patriotic ego to think the US of A's dismissal of the monarch a year prior is responsible for motivating the Brits to drink more. Either way, it's a tasty, time-tested brew worthy of hot summer quaffing.

3. Butte Creek Revolution XI Imperial IPA: Celebrate the Revolution with one of your own. Over the top and bold, just like the people who made American great, the Rev XI is a chewy, gritty, hop monster that will leave your palate stickier than your fingers after grubbing wings off the grill.

4. Flag Porter: Yeah, this is another English beer, but c'mon, the name says it all. America loves to wave a flag in the face of adversity, and this one is one with conviction. A perfect example of a classic porter with the complexity of an American. Chocolate, coffee, malt, caramel, raisin, and grains with a nice mild bitter tinge. At 5% ABV, you won't end your party too soon with this session porter.

5. Victory Prima Pils: This hoppily spiced pilsner is a one of a kind and just the thing for July afternoons. From the state of Pennsylvania where Thomas Jefferson inked the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Victory can be yours again and again.

6. Chimay Red, White, and Blue: This is three great Belgian Trappist beers in one. The Red aka Première is a dark brown 7% ABV peppery brew. This beer possesses a nutty character much like a few of your pyromaniac pals. The White is an 8% ABV Trippel also known as the Cinq Cents. It is of a light orange hue and a very crisp and bitter. The Blue aka Grande Réserve is the classic Chimay beer with a copper-brown body and a creamy head. It possesses a mildly bitter taste. It's fruity, peppery character is fun and festive like a summer holiday should be. These three beers together may make you a likely candidate for finding a designated driver. Have fun, share with your friends, and be sure to be responsible.

Hoppy Independence Day!