An Ear For Beer

Recent Trip To Texas In Pictures Part 1

2011-12-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from our recent trip back to Austin, Texas. We started off the 1st day with a tasting of mostly NW beer that we had brought for sharing. The next set of pictures is at Uncle Billy's Brew & Que to hang out with our good friends Amos Lowe and Brian "Swifty" Peters. Then we hit Red's Porch for some food and beer then on to Billy's On Burnet to enjoy their great happy hour with more friends. We did hit Draught House(which is my favorite beer bar/brewpub in Texas) but for some reason didn't find it necessary to take any pictures there.

Part 2 coming soon...

Beer Tasting

Fun At Uncle Billy's With Swifty & Amos

Now I Get In On The Action

Swifty Grading My Work

Amos In The Brewhouse

Adding Amarillo Hop Too Hop Zompie

Dan & Joelle Want To Work Too

The Line Up At Uncle Billy's

Checking Out Red's Porch

At Billy's On Burnet For More Beer

Brewing up Cocktails presents Winter Holiday Special Edition Tonight at The Hop & Vine!

2011-12-10T11:16:00.001-08:00

Brewing up Cocktails presents Winter Holiday Special Edition at The Hop & Vine!

Saturday December 10th 6-9pm
(Drinks individually priced)
The Hop & Vine
1914 N. Killingsworth
Portland, OR 97217
503.954.3322
http://thehopandvine.com/
http://brewingupcocktails.com/

This holiday season welcome back Brewing up Cocktails for a special winter warmer/holiday themed evening of Beer Cocktails at The Hop & Vine. Last winter's edition was perhaps the most popular installment of Brewing Up Cocktails ever, featuring acclaimed drinks like the Hot Scotchy, Wassail, and the Furburger, all three of which will make their return on December 10th. There will also be four brand new beer cocktails to set your head right and warm the cockles of your heart as the holidays near.

The new beer cocktails run the gamut of styles: Three varieties will be served hot to fend off the winter cold, an effervescent and citrusy take on the French 75, a fruity and hoppy punch made with IPA, and a silky smooth beer flip. There will be something for everyone at this event, even an ugly Christmas sweater contest! Drink list...

Hot Drinks

Wassail

Returning from last year's hit Brewing up Cocktails is the hot mulled classic Wassail made with a base of Deschutes Jubelale slowly heated in a crockpot with brandy, sherry, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange. Served warm in a mug with a lemon slice.

Hot Scotchy

Beervana described the Hot Scotchy as "The Greatest Beverage in the World." Perhaps the most popular beer cocktail to date, made with hot unfermented beer and Scotch. It may be the perfect winter brewers beverage.

Hot Choklat

A new creation served steaming hot, it is one boozy treat. Starting with a base of dark rum, a little Galliano Ristretto is added and then topped off with steamed 9% abv Choklat Imperial Stout and a float of whipped cream. Served with or without a dash of chili powder.

Cold Drinks

Trade Winds Punch:

Rum, gin, vanilla Beans, grapefruit zest, ripe guavas, Chinese five spice powder, and a stalk of lemongrass are infused over night and then built into a tasty beer punch the next day with fresh lime juice, citrusy IPA, and sugar. This is our recreation of punch originated by Washington, DC bartender Jon Harris. You have never had anything like it, we promise you.

Euclidean 75

The lightest and most refreshing of the bunch, the Euclidean 75 is made with gin, lemon, and sugar, then topped off with an effervescent and refreshingly tart Berliner-Weisse. A creation from Denver bartender and beer cocktail afficionado Ryan Conklin of Euclid Hall.

Furburger

The lovingly named Furburger returns from the very first Brewing up Cocktails. Black and thick as night with chocolate and roasty creaminess from Great Divide's Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, balanced with herbal Chartreuse and bourbon.

Smoked Vanilla Bean Flip

This creamy dessert of a beer cocktail has an incredible melange of flavors, from the anise-tinged aquavit to cream sherry, rhubarb and chocolate bitters, one whole egg, and Stone Brewing's Smoked Porter.

About Brewing up Cocktails:

Founded in July 2010 in Portland, OR the Brewing up Cocktails series of events explores the interplay of craft beer and spirits to create a new breed of beer cocktails. Since its introduction beer cocktails have exploded onto the national drink scene and BuC has been at the forefront. Founders Ezra Johnson-Greenough, Jacob Grier, and Yetta Vorobik have presented more than seven different cocktail events spanning three states and two countries in just one year. They have also been asked to present on beer cocktails at the Spring Beer & Wine Festival, Cocktail Camp, Tom Douglas Restaurants, and Portland Cocktail Week.

Lompoc Brewing Release Party for C-sons Greetings & Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat Tomorrow

2011-11-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Lompoc Brewing is releasing 2 of there

Lompoc Brewing Announces Release Party for

C-sons Greetings & Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat

PORTLAND, Ore. - Lompoc Brewing will release its perennial favorite C-sons Greetings and its Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat on Friday, November 11 from 4 to 11 pm at Sidebar, its tasting room located at 3901 N Williams Ave. Both beers will be available on draft and in bottles.

One of the most anticipated beers of the year, C-sons Greetings is a higher alcohol version of Lompoc's popular C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, brewed and dry-hopped with even more of the seven "C" hops - Crystal, Cluster, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus and Challenger. It features a deep copper color with a piney, citrusy, floral and resinous aroma. The full hop flavor and endless developing hop presence arebalanced by a rich caramel malt finish. This is a big one at 8% ABV.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat Barley Wine was originally brewed in December 2009, then aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for 10 months and cellared for another 13. The dark amber-colored barley wine features a soft oak character with notes of raisins and figs. Get a designated driver, this beer comes in at 9.7% ABV. This beer was named in honor of legendary publican Don Younger.

The release party will also feature on tap 2007 Batch 69 Baltic Porter, a porter with hints of chocolate and black licorice that was brewed with a lager yeast for a much cleaner and smoother finish than a traditional porter; Bourbon Barrel Fermented Proletariat Red, fermented in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for two months for a malty body with strong oak and vanilla flavors; Bierz Brown, a dark brown beer with a malty body and strong chocolate and roast flavors; and Condor Pale Ale, a crisp and nicely hopped pale ale that's great for quaffing with comrades or enjoying alongside some pub grub.

As is the case with all of Lompoc's release parties, there will be complimentary appetizers to nosh while imbibing. Lompoc will release seven more holiday beers at a release party on November 29, and its Hanukkah beer, 8 Malty Nights, on December 14. For more information, visit www.newoldlompoc.com.

C-Sons Greetings & Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat Release Party at Lompoc Sidebar tomorrow November 11, 4 to 11 pm.

Hopworks Urban Brewery Pig War Release Party Today 5 – 7 pm

2011-10-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, October 25, (today) join Hopworks Urban Brewery and the artists from Jolby to celebrate the release of Pig War NW Style Ale. At both Hopworks Urban Brewery and Hopworks BikeBar brewers will raise a toast to our estate ale and the San Juan Island farm that exclusively grew the hops for this beer.

Hopworks’ owner and brewmaster Christian Ettinger and bottle designers from Jolby will be at Hopworks BikeBar at 3947 N. Williams in North Portland.

The bottle’s distinctive label was designed by local artists Jolby (www.JolbyAndFriends.com) Juan Juar-Pig is a surly swine with plenty of attitude. Grab a bottle, admire the guys’ work and see if you can find Juan’s hidden tattoos.

About Pig War NW Style Ale

Our estate ale uses both Willamette and Cascade hops grown exclusively for Hopworks on San Juan Island. These hops impart a fresh, crisp and stunning fruitiness, coupled perfectly with aromatic floral herbaceousness. A rich malt body and warming finish are followed by a subtle, balancing hop bitterness.

The name Pig War commemorates the confrontation in 1859 between American and British authorities over San Juan Island.

8% ABV 80 IBU 19.8 Plato

The 16th Annual Holiday Ale Festival Dates And Details Announced

2011-10-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

Holiday Ale Festival toasts the spirits of the season

16th annual event serves up four-dozen rare

winter beers in the heart of downtown Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oct. 11, 2011 - The 16th annual Holiday Ale Festival will take placeNov. 30 through Dec. 4 at Pioneer Courthouse Square, located at 701 SW Sixth Ave. on the MAX Light Rail line. The popular event will feature four-dozen big, bold ales designed to fend off the cold chill of a long winter night. From IPAs, Belgians and barleywines to winter warmers, porters and stouts, these beers are crafted specifically for the event or are hard-to-fine vintages, helping secure the event's reputation as one of the nation's preeminent winter beer festivals.

Event hours are 2 to 10 pm Wednesday, 11 am to 10 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 11 am to 5 pm Sunday. To avoid the lengthy lines that often accompany Northwest beer fests, the recommended days for attendance are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The Holiday Ale Festival is for ages 21 and over.

What makes this festival standout from other similar events is the beer selection; the festival works with every brewery involved to make sure they can send a beer that has either been made specifically for the event, or is a rare or vintage beer that isn't commonly tapped in the state. According to festival manager Preston Weesner, "It's about the fans. This is a once-a-year event and these beer lovers are here to support their favorite brewery. When they get up to the taps and find something special, it further solidifies their support of Oregon craft brews and strengthens our reputation in the beer world as THE place to drink beer."

To enter and consumer beer, the purchase of an entry package is required. The general admission package at the door costs $25 and includes the 2011 tasting mug and eight taster tickets. Advance general admission packages cost $25 and include the tasting mug, 10 taster tickets and expedited entry all five days. Advance VIP packages are available for $50 and include the tasting mug, 20 taster tickets, a bottle of water, access to VIP lines and express entry all five days. Express re-entry requires a wristband and the 2011 mug, and is subject to the festival's capacity. Previous year's mugs will not be filled. Advance packages are available online at www.holidayale.com.

Once inside the festival, a full mug of beer costs four taster tickets, and a four-ounce taste costs one ticket. Certain limited release and special tappings may not be available in full mug pours, or may cost double tickets. Additional beer tickets can be purchased for $1 apiece. Designated drivers in a party of two or more may purchase a designated driver wristband for $5, which includes Crater Lake Root Beer or bottled water for the duration of the stay.

Despite being held outdoors during one of the coldest months of the year, more than 17,000festival attendees stay warm and dry under clear-topped tents that cover the venue. Gas heaters create a cozy ambiance 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 and a coat and bag check that raises funds for the Children's Cancer Association.

For more information, visit www.holidayale.com or call 503-252-9899.

GABF Is Almost Here...

2011-09-23T12:18:00.001-07:00

The 30th Annual Great American Beer Festival is almost upon us. This will be my 14th consecutive GABF and somehow I have survived (so far). Last year I started on a GABF Week map. Much like last year I am doing this at the last minute. It is still a work in progress but I have updated and changed it around a little. Hopefully this map will help festival goers make their way around downtown Denver and the surrounding areas.

Here it is:

View Denver, CO Area - GABF Week in a larger map

Click the map link to get a larger view and the map legend. Zoom out to find places in the surrounding cities.

Cheers and enjoy!

BiKETOBEERFEST returns Saturday, Sept. 17

2011-09-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

BiKETOBEERFEST returns on Sept. 17

BiKETOBEERFEST, the world's only bike-in Oktoberfest party featuring bikes, bands and beer returns to Hopworks Urban Brewery on September 17. The event benefits the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Sunday Parkways and features 15 local, organic Hopworks beers; live music; entertainment and games for children; bike building demonstrations; BMX stunt riders and the famous "Huffy Huck" bike toss competition.

BiKETOBEERFEST is held in the back parking lot of Hopworks Urban Brewery, 2944 SE Powell Blvd. from Noon to 10 pm. More info can be found atwww.BiKETOBEERFEST.com.

Event Schedule

We'll have great music and entertainment all day long!

12:00 – House DJ
12:00 – Group Ride Leaves from BikeBar (3947 N. Williams)
2:00 – Flatlanders (BMX stunt riders)
2:00 – Huffy Toss Competition (rolling open entries until 6pm)
2:30 – Brownish Black
3:30 – New Birth Breakdancers
4:00 – Flatlanders (BMX stunt riders)
4:00 – Group Ride Leaves from BikeBar (3947 N. Williams)
4:30 – Oh Darling
5:30 – Jared Mees and The Grown Children
5:45 – Huffy Toss Finals
6:00 – Bouncy House For Kids Closes
6:30 – New Birth Breakdancers mini show
6:45 – Goldsprints (roller races)
7:30 – Ascetic Junkies
8:30 – Wanderlust Circus
9:30 – LAST CALL

BiKETOBEERFEST

Ride Your Bike

BiKETOBEERFEST is a car-free event.

Powell is a busy road. Cross with extreme caution at a light. 26th Ave. has a light and you may ride respectfully up the sidewalk to get there. Check out this cool map that a bike+beer fan put together with suggested routes for getting to Hopworks.

Ample bike parking is provided. Our parking is unattended so be sure to bring your lock. Bike parking closes at 10:00pm.

GROUP RIDES

Portland Bicycle Tours is leading scenic group tours from BikeBar, the new Hopworks location at 3947 N. Williams. These free rides will take a leisurely pace.

12:00 – Slow family-friendly ride. For the Bakfiet, bike trailer, Xtracycle crowd and others too! (intended for riders who have experience riding in traffic)
4:00 – General group ride.

The times listed are the times the ride will DEPART. If you wish to grab a drink first, please ensure you’re out front by the listed times.

[Update - For more great info be sure to check out Ezra's ultimate guide to BiTOBEERFEST over at The New School here.]

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Great American Beer Festival® Toasts 30 Years as North America's Greatest Beer Celebration

2011-08-31T23:08:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah! I can almost hear the bag pipes now! From the Brewers Association press release:

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: The Great American Beer Festival^® Toasts 30 Years as North America's Greatest Beer Celebration

Beer Lovers, Food Lovers, Fun Lovers and Brewers to Attend Brewers Association Festival in Denver, CO

WHAT:

The 30th edition of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The premier U.S. beer festival and competition is expected to serve 2,400 different beers, in one-ounce tasting portions, from an estimated 465 U.S. breweries to the event's 49,000-plus attendees. The entire event sold out in just one week.

WHEN:

Thursday, September 29: 5:30 pm-10:00 pm

Friday, September 30: 5:30 pm-10:00 pm

Saturday, September 31: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm (Brewers Association and American Homebrewers Association members-only session)

Saturday, October 1: 5:30 pm-10:00 pm

WHERE:

Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado

TICKETS:

The 2011 festival is sold out.

WHY:

The largest collection of U.S. beer ever served. This is a public tasting event plus a private competition. GABF brings together the brewers and beers that make the U.S. the world's greatest brewing nation. This event showcases the diverse beers that make craft brewing one of the fastest-growing segments of the beer, wine and spirits industry.

WEBSITE:

GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com

NOTE TO EDITORS

B-roll footage

Photos

STORY IDEAS:

More than 460 breweries! Chances are a brewery in your state or region is participating. A full list of registered breweries is posted onGreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.

Celebrating 30 Years

The Great American Beer Festival has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1982 as an offshoot of the 4th Annual National Homebrew and Microbrewery Conference. Nevertheless, if the name is any indication, its aspirations were great, and over 30 years, the event has grown from 800 attendees to 49,000, and from a 5,000 square foot festival hall to one close to 300,000 square feet.

Download a high resolution image

New for 2011

A special pavilion taking attendees back 30 years to the first Great American Beer Festival, complete with photos, a representation of the beers and breweries from the 1982 event, fun facts, a photo booth, 80's music and costumes and more!
The Farm to Table Pavilion features pairings from an all-new slate of chefs and craft brewers. Adam Dulye of Monk's Kettle assembled the diverse roster of beer-loving chefs, which includes some of the individuals recognized byFood and Wine magazine's "Best New Chefs of 2010." All are committed to the Farm to Table philosophy, sourcing the best ingredients at local farmers markets. The members-only Farm to Table ticket includes four-ounce pours, small plates of a variety of fresh and local food items selected to pair with craft beers. Additional ticket required. SOLD OUT.
All new presentations in the Beer & Food Pavilion and Brewers Studio. A few highlights include:
- Sweet and Smokey Chicago Style
  Join Top Chef winner and owner/chef of the Girl & the Goat, Stephanie Izzard, and Jared Rouben, brewmaster at Goose Island's Clybourn pub, for a glimpse into their collaborative kitchen-to-kettle brewing process. Stephanie and Jared will share insights on brewing beers to complement food and creating food to complement beers.
- The Great American Beer & Food Pairing Challenge-The Homebrew Chef
  The Homebrew Chef, Sean Paxton, cooks up mystery dishes and challenges two brewers to find the perfect beer pairings from one of the 2,400 beers at the GABF. This fast-paced presentation is sure to delight the senses with amazing food and fantastic beer.
- Celebrating 30 Years of the GABF
  Join GABF founder and Brewers Association president Charlie Papazian, as well as Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Jim Koch of Boston Beer Company, for a look at 30 years of the GABF. They will share stories about the origins of the festival and how things have changed over the last three decades. Beers from both breweries will be served along with a special "birthday" cake.
- The U.S.-Italy Craft Beer Connection
  Join Lorenza Dabove, the Italian beer expert and champion of craft beer, as he teams up with American brewers Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Eric Wallace of Left Hand Brewing Co. to talk about the impact of the American craft beer scene on Italian beer culture.

Sustainability Initiatives

By partnering with ZeroHero and others, the GABF's goal is to recycle or compost 70 percent of waste produced at the event.
Compost will be processed by A1 Organics located in Platteville, Colo. Within 90 days of the festival this compost will become a rich soil amendment.
House lights will be kept at 50 percent during the festival.
Bottles used in the competition are recycled and beer in the hall is served in reusable drinkware from kegs or recyclable bottles to reduce the event's footprint.
Flatware and utensils used in concession areas and presentations are recyclable or compostable.
Educational and interactive area showcasing sustainability initiatives within the brewing industry and at GABF, including calls to action for attendees to support the efforts.
Learn more: GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com/about/sustainability.

GABF Competition

In 2011, an estimated 4,000 beers will be judged by 170+ judges hailing from across the globe. New competition categories include:

Fruit Wheat Beer-The soft sweetness of a wheat beer is taken to a new level when combined with the complex flavors of fruit, such as raspberries, blueberries and more.
Chocolate Beer-Once part of the Herb and Spice Beer category, this bold, flavorful beer is a delight for beer and chocolate lovers alike.
American-Style Brett Ale-These tart beers are increasingly found in many craft brewers' line-ups, giving beer enthusiasts a funky, complex beer that challenges perception of how beer can taste as the result of a wild yeast known as brettanomyces.
International-Style Pale Ale-Distinguishing themselves from American- and English-varieties, these beers have a wide range of hop characters, good balance and moderate alcohol, making them great session beers.
In 2011, the top style by number of entrants is American‐Style India Pale Ale (175 entries), and this category has been the top entered at GABF since 2001.

Business Angle

In 2010, beer sales totaled $101 billion (Brewers Association). The number of U.S. breweries is at its highest level (1,790) since before Prohibition.

Craft Brewer Success

America's craft brewers continue to gain in sales and popularity. Passion and exploration continue to grow as America's beer drinkers enjoy unrivaled quality and diversity of craft brewed beer. The craft brewing industry (small and independent) grew 14 percent by volume and 15 percent by dollars in the first half of 2011, and that growth appears to be accelerating. Of the 1,790 breweries in the U.S., 1,740 are considered craft brewers.

Beer & Food

Last year, the National Restaurant Association Chef Survey (PDF) found beer and food pairings to be the number five alcohol and cocktails trend to watch. Zagat has also noted the groundswell of support for beer-centric restaurants, naming beer as a top-five dining trend in 2011. They note that, "Beer + food = so hot right now." The Farm to Table Pavilion is returning for a third year as one of GABF's most innovative features and one of the best ways to explore food and craft beer pairings. Participating breweries will serve craft beers not available in the festival hall, but even outside of Farm to Table, attendees can enjoy demonstrations and discussions at the Beer & Food Pavilion. This area provides festival-goers the opportunity to taste the best that food and beer pairings have to offer, by featuring well-known chefs and craft brewers who provide insight on the creative process.

More InformationPlease consult our 2006- 2011 GABF Statistics.

2011 Festival Sponsors

(As of 8/29/11)

Official Sponsors

DRAFT Magazine, Microstar Keg Management, KBCO 97.3, 103.5 The FOX, AM760, CraftBeer.com

Associate Sponsors

Highland Tap and Burger, O-I, Snyder's of Hanover, TurboTap USA, WAHL 'Let It Grow Tour', Westword

Featured Brewery Sponsors

Alaskan Brewing Co., Anchor Brewing Company, Backcountry Brewery, BJ's Brewery & Restaurants, Black Star (Great Northern Brewing Co.), Blue Moon, Boulder Beer, Boulevard Brewing Co., Brewery Ommegang, Budweiser, Cigar City, Deschutes Brewery, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Genesee Brewing Company, Great Divide Brewing Co., Great Lakes Brewing Co., Kentucky Ale, Leinenkugel's, New Belgium Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Brewing Co., Pyramid Breweries, Samuel Adams, Shock Top, Short's Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Victory Brewing Company.

Local/Industry Level Sponsors

Ball Corporation, Beer Clothing Company, LLC, Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado, Beer Meister, BottleHood, Brew Caddy, The Brew Dogs of Colorado, Brewers Supply Group, Briess Malt & Ingredients Co., Cheeky Monk, Cicerone Certification Program, Colorado State University: Beverage Business Institute, Columbine Label Company, Inc., The Country Malt Group, Crazy Shirts, CTI (Chromatic Technologies, Inc.), Davidsons Liquors, Deal Pepper, Ecosyte.ms Consulting, Falling Rock Tap House, Graphic 22, Hopunion LLC, Innovative Labeling Solutions, KeyKeg (Scholle Packaging), Microbrew Water, Midwest Supplies, Muntons Malted Ingredients, Northern Brewer, PartyPons, Rehrig Pacific Company, SportsFans.org, STARR (Brown Manufacuring Company), Verallia, White Labs, Wyeast Laboratories, Yard House Restaurants.

Contact

Barbara Fusco, Marketing Director

303.447.0816 x152, barbara@brewersassociation.org

###

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today's craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA's American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

PDX Beer Week presents: Beer & Sushi Pairings at Roscoe's (8/22

2011-08-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Monday August 22nd 6-9pm
Roscoe's
8105 SE Stark
Portland, OR

Taplister, Behind the Pint and Roscoe's- Montavilla neighborhoods famous beer bar have teamed up with neighboring Miyamoto Sushi to design 8 different Beer and Sushi pairings just forPortland Beer Week.

Combining the arts of Sushi and Craft Beer are not easy but after tasting and testing dozens of combinations organizers have came up with what guarantees to be one of the most unique and tasty food and drink pairing events you will have all year. Designed by a panel of beer and sushi tasting experts adventuresome diners/drinkers are likely to find some combos they could never have imagined and using beers rarely available including special offerings from Breakside Brewery and Caldera Brewing. Each pairing is available and priced individually in this casual tasting event. Attendees can choose between having a taster or a full pint of the selected pairing beer along with the Miyamoto Sushi menu item.

Guests are welcome to show up anytime between 6 and 9pm for this special pairing menu.

Brought to you by the first annual Portland Beer Week (August 19-28).
More events and details at: http://pdxbeerweek.com/
Follow beer week on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/pdxbeerweek
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/PDXBeerWeek

Block 15 Releases La Ferme de la Ville Bottles Friday, August 12th at The BeerMongers

2011-08-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

This Friday, from 5-8PM, The BeerMongers will be hosting Nick Arzner of Block 15 for the official Portland release of their latest bottling. La Ferme de la Ville Provision is a blend of young and old farmhouse ales aged in Pinot Noir barrels with brettanomyces, set to mimic the early farmhouse ales which we're open air fermented, allowing various microbes into the beer. We'll have nine cases total available, with a two per person limit.

We're also going to tap the following beers from Block 15's cellar and core lineup:

2010 Demon's Farm - Black Saison aged in Pinot, Oregon Oak and Bourbon barrels, with Oregon Tart Cherries and various microbes. 2010 People's Choice at Portland Cheers to Belgian beers, this will also be their next bottle release

2010 Hypnosis - Barleywine aged in Bourbon barrels

Alpha IPA - Hopped with Magnum, Golding, Cluster, Columbus and Chinook, from first-wort additions to dry-hopping

Wandelpad - Belgian Blond brewed with Pilsner malt, Saaz Hops and Trappist yeast

--
www.thebeermongers.com

SE Division &amp; 12th Portland, OR

503-234-6012

Portland Beer Week Celebrates the World’s Most Vibrant Beer Community

2011-08-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Portland Beer Week Celebrates the World’s Most Vibrant Beer Community

Inaugural event will be held August 19-28 in Beervana

Portland Beer Week, a city-wide celebration of the vibrant local craft beer community in Portland, Oregon, will take place Aug. 19-28. The week-long event will highlight the breweries, businesses, people and, most importantly, the beer that have earned Portland its well-deserved reputation as Beervana.
In its inaugural year, Portland Beer Week will include a series of events hosted throughout the week at beer-centric establishments all around town. Featured events include beer festivals, tastings, out-of-the-ordinary pairings, special tappings, gastronomical experiences and the world premier of “The Love of Beer,” a documentary about the region’s women of craft beer.
Widmer Brothers Brewing, one of Portland’s oldest and most-celebrated local craft breweries, has even brewed a special beer for Portland Beer Week. The beer, a golden ale brewed with rose hips, unnoficially dubbed Rose City Hipster will first be available at the PDX Beer Week kickoff party on Friday, Aug. 19 at the Horse Brass Pub. Other events include:

Hopworks & Double Mountain Beer Brunch at Spirit of 77 (8/20) Brewers behind two of Oregon’s best breweries Hopworks Urban Brewery and Double Mountain have teamed up with Spirit of 77 chef and PDX Beer Week to concoct an epic individually priced beer brunch pairing menu available for one day only.

Beer Ice Cream’s at Salt & Straw (Daily Monday-Friday) Albera street’s acclaimed ice cream auteurs have teamed up with PDX Beer Week to design 5 different Ice Cream’s.

“The Love of Beer” Premier at the Bagdad Theater (8/20) A documentary celebrating women in the craft beer industry. Featuring $3 beer specials from Deschutes Brewery and Bend Brewing and a panel of some of the most prominent women in Oregon craft beer speaking before the film.

Coaliton Brewing’s One Year Anniversary Party (8/20) This all day celebration extravaganza has all the hallmarks of what Coalition Brewing is all about: Cheap Happy Hour priced beers, Cornhole Tournament, Live Music and specials from the Grilled Cheese Grill. To top it off they will be releasing a special small batch Cascadian Dark Ale.

Washington Brewers Night at Bailey’s Taproom (8/21) A special Sunday evening event featuring beers and breweries never available in Oregon before. Meet-the-Brewers and try the beers from Washington’s best: Elysian, Naked City, Odin, Big Al and Sound Brewing.

Beer & Sushi Pairing at Roscoe’s (8/22) Taplister and Behind the Pint have teamed up with Roscoe’s and Miyamoto Sushi to design a special beer and sushi pairing menu.

CDAbe Festival at Belmont Station (8/22) A benefit for beer writer Abram Goldman-Armstrong to help pay medical bills featuring an extensive lineup for the style he helped create: Cascadian Dark Ales.

Brewers Burger Brawl at The Hop and Vine (8/23) 5 of Portland’s best Brewers go head-to-head with their own burger recipes and one of their breweries beers in a battle to see who is the Brewer Burger Champion! Participating breweries: Hopworks, Burnside, Upright, Breakside and Laurelwood.

Barrel-Aging Beer Panel at Hopworks Urban Brewery (8/24) Breakside Brewer Ben Edmunds MC’s a panel of brewmasters skilled at the art of barrel-aging beer. Sit in and listen to the talk and ask your own questions of these masters while being served a selection of their finest barrel-aged brews. Featuring: Ben Love (Hopworks), John Harris (Full Sail) and Nick Arzner (Block 15) and more TBA.

Breakfast Beers Night at Breakside Brewery (8/25) Brewers will tap a Breakfast Stout with coffee and a Whiskey for Breakfast Porter. Additionally a special breakfast menu will be presented for the evening and there may be a few more tricks up brewers sleeves.

California Brewers Night at Apex (8/26) One of Portland’s premiere taphouses plays host to many of the best breweries and beers of California. Try a selection of beers not available in the state of Oregon and meet many brewers and representatives including Stone Brewing Vice President, Sierra Nevada and for the first time in the state Ballast Point, Magnolia, Telegraph, Craftsman and Beachwood BBQ Breweries. Plus many other fan favorites.

Mighty Mites - Session Beer Festival at Coalition Brewing (8/27) Jeff Alworth of popular local beer blog Beervana has teamed up with Coalition Brewing and PDX Beer Week to explore the underrated wealth of creativity and flavor of session beers (beers of 5%abv or less).

Ninkasi Brewers Brunch at East Burn (8/28) Brewers dinners are common but what happens when you take the same concept and apply it to Brunch? Beer Week organizers approached Ninkasi Brewing’s Jamie Floyd and the fantastic team at East Burn to take on just such a challenge and they have came up with 3 outstanding brunch plates and beer pairings. Tickets are $30.

Closing Street Party at Bazi Bierbrasserie (8/28) During the Hawthorne Street Fair PDX Beer Week and new european/belgian inspired bier bar Bazi Bierbrasserie will be closing off 32nd street to set up an outdoor beer garden featuring many of Oregon’s best Belgian-styled beers including offerings from: Double Mountain, Upright Brewing, Beetje Brewing and Full Sail as well as ALL 5 beer ice creams from Salt & Straw and the beers they were made from including: Breakside Brewing’s IPA, Hopworks ESB, Ninkasi’s Oatis, Upright’s Engelberg Pils and Burnside Brewing’s Sweet Heat. All-Aged street party!

The complete list of more than 24 events (and more still being added) can be found at: www.pdxbeerweek.com
Event-goers and participants are encouraged to share their Portland Beer Week experiences using the #pdxbw Twitter hashtag or on the event’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pdxbeerweek.
All of Portland’s breweries, beer bars, restaurants and other beer-focused businesses are invited to participate in Portland Beer Week. For more information about Portland Beer Week or to participate as an event host or sponsor, contact Ezra Johnson-Greenough at info@pdxbeerweek.com or 503-757-6936.

Portland Beer Week would not be possible without these sponsors:

Google Places, the new local recommendation engine that connects people with the places they love.

Yelp: User Reviews and Recommendations of Top Restaurants, Shopping, Nightlife, Entertainment, Services and More at Yelp.

Beer Connoisseur Magazine: Beer Culture Defined. Delve into the world's premier beer magazine as it explores beer culture both in America and abroad.

Columbia Distributing is one of the nation’s largest malt beverage, wine and non-alcoholic distributors. Our success is based on the fact that we never lose sight of delivering what’s really important—quality products, timely service, and a genuine concern for our customers needs.

OBF Day 1

2011-07-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Day 1 of the Oregon Brewers Festival is done. I chose to forgo the media preview and instead I spent a lot of time in the Buzz Tent trying beers and visiting with the brewers at the table they have set up on the north side of the tent which is great way to meet the brewers that brewed the beer you're enjoying.

The rest of my time I focused my attention on trying beers in the South Tent. These were a few of my favorites (beer descriptions by Gary Corbin):

Ninkasi Brewing Co. - Helles Belles - An enjoyable brew with low hop bitterness but plenty of pleasant Spalt and Hallertauer hop flavor, this brew features Rahr Pilsner, Great Western 2-row and Great Western Vienna, fermented by Wyeast's clean, crisp southern German lager yeast. This allows the malt body to come through in the finish for a rich, drinkable flavor.

Oakshire Brewing - Daily Dose Summer Ale - Oakshire draws its malt bill from across the gamut: Rahr 2-row, Castle Pilsner, Briess Carapils and Great Western Munich. By contrast, the hop bill is simple: a light dose of Nuggets in the boil and two shots of Amarillo in the finish. To complement the hops, the brewers added orange, lemon and grapefruit peel and some hibiscus flower and lemongrass for a light, crisp brew with a slightly fruity note.

Upright Brewing - Offen Weisse - This all-organic beer uses Gambrinus Pils and Great Western wheat and Munich malts and a single variety of all-organic hops (can you guess what it is?). It's fermented with a classic Bavarian Hefeweizen yeast strain yielding a spicy and fruity, dry and slightly tart brew that's low in hops and long on thirst-quenching.

FiftyFifty Brewing - This sweet, inky brew will give your palate something different to chew on than the hop monsters next door. Eleven different grains (including hand-toasted oats) and a dose of molasses provide its rich flavor and body. Three shots of hops give it just enough bitterness and hop flavor. If the Donner Party would have had this, there would have been no problem surviving the winter's cold.

Widmer Collaborator - Hopfinium is the union of a relatively dry Pacific Northwest style IPA with the clean fermentation characteristics of a proper German lager yeast - an India Pale Lager - thus allowing the focus to be entirely upon the abundant hops, rather than be muddied by the esters of an ale yeast. Expect a crisp finish and clean bitterness under the dank citrus-tangerine flavor and aromas of Cascade, Summit and Simcoe hops.

Black Diamond Brewing - This beer is mostly about the yeast and spices used - a White Labs Saison Yeast blend allowed to ferment warm in a base of Pilsner, wheat, aromatic, Munich and Crystal malts, with some turbinado sugar to lighten the mouthfeel. Big aromatic spices hail from cardamom seeds and ginger ground at the brewery along with both bitter and sweet orange peel added in the last 10 minutes of the boil.

Now I'm going to head down to the fest and check out the North Tent. Then later treat my wife and myself to the Block 15 Brewer's Dinner at Wildwood.

For more coverage on the fest check out these fine blogs:

Beervana

Brewpublic

The Not So Professional Beer Blog

New School Beer Blog (Behind the Pint Video from last year's OBF)

Brewmance NW

The Beer Here

The Daily Pull

Portland Beer (dot org)

The Brew Site

It's Oregon Brewers Festival Time!

2011-07-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

It's OBF time again and here I am late to post again! I'm also actually running late heading down to the OBF... No parade for me this year. Grrr...

I had a post written up with some useful links and somehow it got deleted! Grrr (one more time, not my day, so far)... No time to redo now so check out the Oregon Brewers Festival website for all the festival details. And follow them on Twitter and their Buzz Tent Twitter feed.

I will be tweeting from the festival with pictures, comments, and beer recommendations and try to sum with a post tonight or in the morning (and hopefully not delete it again)...

Be safe and have fun. See you at the OBF!

Groupon Portland Partners with Glen Hay Falconer Foundation During Portland Beer Day

2011-07-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

Groupon Portland Partners with Glen Hay Falconer Foundation During Portland Beer Day

Portland Page of Groupon.com Will Feature The City’s Best Breweries and More on July 28

Portland, OR (July 22, 2011) -- Groupon (http://www.groupon.com), a shopping website that offers daily deals on the best local goods, services and cultural events in 43 countries around the world announces the partnership with the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation during Portland Beer Day on July 28, 2011 to raise money for scholarships.

On July 28th, in honor of the Oregon Brewers Festival, Groupon is dedicating the Portland, OR page of their website (www.groupon.com/Portland) to deals that spotlight Portland’s brewing community. Groupon will be featuring Portland’s best breweries, restaurants, and beer bars while creating awareness and raising funds for the Glen Hay Falconer Brewing Scholarship. Groupon will donate $1 for each Groupon sold on July 28, 2011 up to $2,000 toward the scholarship fund.

The Glen Hay Falconer Foundation is a non-profit organization created to commemorate and celebrate the life, interests, and good works of Glen Hay, a well-loved and leading Northwest brewer. The mission of the Foundation is to contribute to the Northwest craft brewing community by providing opportunities for professional and aspiring brewers to further their knowledge and expertise. The Foundation is also committed to honoring Glen's broader interests by working with the Northwest Legends Foundation to contribute directly to local Eugene-based organizations that represent his ideals and passions.

In 2011, the Foundation is offering two educational scholarships to the World Academy of Brewing at the Siebel Institute and one to the American Brewer's Guild.

About Groupon

Groupon, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in more than 300 markets around the world. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer unbeatable prices and provide a win-win for businesses and consumers, delivering more than 650 daily deals globally. For more information, visithttp://www.groupon.com.

LOLA Presents - A Celebration of Women in Beer Tomorrow Saturday July 23 From 11 AM - 11 PM

2011-07-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

LOLA Presents - A Celebration of Women in Beer:

Portland, OR - Saturday July 23, 2011 11 AM - 11 PM: The Ladies of Lagers and Ales (LOLA) presents a celebration of Oregon female brewers. All beer on tap at Saraveza the day of the event will have been brewed by female brewers from Deschutes, Oakshire, Bend, Natian, Lucky Lab Brew Pub, Hopworks Urban Brewery and Heater Allen. Expect some special brewed lagers and ales from these ladies. At 7 PM, there will be a special tapping of a Hibiscus IPA brewed by LOLA at Coalition Brewing and Urthel Saison. The lady brewers will also be available at this time to discuss their brewing roots and their beers. There will be beer gear raffles as well as a chance to enjoy the Saraveza menu of handmade pasties, famous deviled eggs and Sugar Pimp cupcakes.

The Beer List:

Deschutes - NW Supercritical (A Bend, OR exclusive Steam beer)

Oakshire - Red Hot Rye Chili Beer (Red Chili infused Line Dry Rye)

Bend - HopHead

Natian - Meooow Blonde Ale (Guava infused Blonde ale made with champagne yeast)

Lucky Lab - Hellesaurus Rex

Hopworks Urban Brewery - Saison du Soleil

Heater Allen - Coastal Common

LOLA/Lucky Lab Collaboration – Kolsch

Breakside Collaboration - Beerscht, Beet Beer

Saraveza 1004 N. Killingsworth, PDX

Saturday, July 23, 2011

11 AM - 11 PM

About LOLA: Ladies of Lagers and Ales (LOLA) is a social drinking group for ladies that love craft beer in the Portland, OR area. Started by a group of friends gathering for an evening of beers, the group has since grown in size to encompass any and all ladies that would like to meet for a pint. LOLA has even occasionally been known to brew beers around town, take brewery tours and run for beer.

LadiesofLagersandAles@gmail.com

@LOLABeer

Coalition Brewing to Release Award Winning Cantaloupe Beer Tomorrow July 14

2011-07-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Coalition Brewing, through their Coalator Program, is releasing an award winning beer called Cantaloupe Wheat Ale by homebrewer Mike Marsh. Mike won Best Light Colored Fruit Beer at the Portland Fruit Beer Fest in June.

I was lucky enough to taste the beer as a judge of the homebrew competition and really enjoyed it. In fact I liked it enough that after the winners were announced I contacted Mike via his Twitter account and set up a meeting to talk about the beer. This is what I found out (Beer Geek Stat Warning):

OG -1.054
SRM - 3.5
IBU - 20
Malts - 2-Row, Wheat Malt, & Flaked Barley
Hopped with Willamette & Centennial Hops
Dry "Hop" with cubed Tuscan Cantaloupe at 1 pound per gallon of beer in after primary.
Then Keg "Hop" with new cantaloupe at the same ratio.
Yeast - Wyeast Kölsch 2565

This is great opportunity for beer lovers to try this wonderful summertime beer. But only 10 gallons of this beer was made so it will go quickly!

So to sum it all up:

What - Release of Mike Marsh's Cantaloupe Wheat Ale

When - Thursday, July 14 at 6 PM. Come early, this one should go pretty quickly.

Why - Chances are you've never had a cantaloupe beer before and you not likely to again. And if it is anything like the one I tasted it's really good!

Hope to see you there!

Saraveza's 2nd Annual IIPA Fest Sponsored by Brewpublic

2011-07-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

If you like Double (or Imperial) IPAs like I do you're going to want to check this out! This event is put on by my good friends at Saraveza and Brewpublic. Last year's IIPA Fest was crazy fun with a great line up of beers. This year's line up looks even better!

Saraveza's 2nd Annual IIPA Fest Sponsored by Brewpublic

PORTLAND, ORE. -- SAT & SUN, July 16-17th, 1-10pm: With over 20 rotating IIPAs on draft including fest special brews and a tapping of our staff’s first beer, team Saraveza and Brewpublic present to you our 2nd Annual IIPA Festival! Join us July 16th & 17th for lots of hops, housemade B.B.L.T.s (yes, that’s Bacon Bacon) and live music. Look for your “free jar” tickets the week before the festival. IIPA FEST entry is $15 for 8 tickets and 1 mug; or $25 for 16 tickets and 2 mugs.

This year's event reveals some one-of-a-kind Imperial IPAs exclusive to this festival, as well as many rare and sought after specialties.
Here's the list so far:

Amnesia "Dopeacetic"*
Upright "Alphaphylactic Hop"*
Fort George "the Resistance"*
Ninkasi special version of "Tricerahops"*
Coalition "Double Dog Dare"*Breakside “Saison De Roxana” Belgo-IIPA (Saraveza Staff Collaboration!)
H.U.B. "Evelyn Sunshine"
Burnside "Alter Ego"
Alameda "Yellow Wolf"
Oakshire "Glen's Hop Vice"
Flat Tail "Some Like It Hop"
Coalition "Double Dog Dare"
Boneyard “Notorious” TRIPA
Migration "Double Dry-Hopped Luscious Lupulin"
Hop Valley/The Bier Stein Collaboration "6th Element"
Block 15 "the Late Gift"
Full Sail “Elevation”
Lompoc Dry-Hopped "Peregrine"
Widmer "Nelson"
Beer Valley "Leafer Madness"
Deschutes "Imperial Hop In the Dark"
Walking Man “Iron Man”
Hale's "Aftermath"
Pike "Double IPA"
Lazy Boy "Anniversary"
Pizza Port "Cho Saikou"#
Pizza Port "Poor Man's"#
Russian River “Pliny the Elder”
Southern Tier “Oaked Unearthly”
Dogfish Head “90 Minute”
Sierra Nevada “Hoptimum”
Lagunitas "Hop Stoopid"
Nogne O “#500”
Avery “Maharaja”
Stone "Ruination"
Great Divide “16^th Anniv.” Wood Aged
Great Divide “17^th Anniv.” Wood Aged
Bear Republic “RyeValry” Belgo-IIPA
Bear Republic "Cafe 15"
Flying Dog “Raging Bitch” Belgo-IIPA
Lenny’s “R.I.P.A.”
Firestone Walker “Double Jack”
Victory “Hop Wallop”

...and more!
* denotes exclusive IIPA Fest release
# denotes special one-time in Oregon release

for more details, contact Angelo (at) Brewpublic (dot) com
or Jonathan (at) Saraveza (dot) com

Saraveza, one of Beervana's top destinations for craft beer, is located at 1004 N. Killingsworth St. in sunny Portland, Oregon.

Boneyard IPA Night, Tomorrow July 1st, 6-12PM At The Beer Mongers

2011-06-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

I got this information emailed to me from The Beer Mongers. I don't think I've mentioned The Beer Mongers on this site. It is a nice bottle shop/pub with a cool vibe. I need to get down that way more.

Boneyard Brewing is one of the new breweries out of Bend, OR. Check it out, their beers are really tasty.

Hello Everyone,

Just letting you know that this Friday from 6-12 PM, we're tapping Boneyard's five hoppiest beers. Brewer Tony Lawrence will stop by from 7-9PM.

Bone-A-Fied Pale - Pale Ale? Baby IPA? Session IPA? Either way, it's an IPA worth of hops crammed into a 5% ABV beer.

RPM IPA - West Coast style IPA with loads of flavor additions and dry hopping. One of the most popular beers we've tapped in recent months.

Armored Fist - An Imperial Cascadian Dark Ale brewed in collaboration with the Three Floyds Brewing in Indiana.

Hop Venom - A very limited amount of this West Coast Double IPA has been brewed. It has a low bitterness, but pronounced hop flavor and aroma and was inspired by Firestone Walker's extremely popular Double Jack IPA.

Notorious IPA - We're most excited for this 12% ABV TRIPLE IPA that drinks like a Double IPA. Full flavored, but maintaining the vein of low bittered, aromatic, fruity hop bombs.

--
www.thebeermongers.com

SE Division & 12th Portland, OR

503-234-6012

Roscoe's 2nd Annual Beer Summit Tomorrow, Friday 6/24

2011-06-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Time once again for the monthly beer summit over at Roscoe's. This month the summit will feature Summer beers.

“It’s time to enjoy some lighter, refreshing beers and great summer seasonals,” says co-founder Jeremy Lewis. “We will feature 15 amazing Summer beers on tap.” The event kicks off at 4PM. As usual there will be taster trays available to purchase.

15 summer beers will be tapped. Here is a partial list:

- Amnesia (Cream of the Crop)
- Flat Tail (Top Sticke)
- Fort George (Spruce Bud Ale)
- Scaldis
- Stillwater
- Upright (Reggae Junkie Gruit)
- Caldera
- Oakshire
- Cascade (Summer Gose)
- Laurelwood
- Lompoc
- Hop Valley

... and more!

First Annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival Tomorrow Saturday June 11th & Sunday The 12th

2011-06-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of coverage of this festival and rightfully so. There is not much else I can add but to say this is going to be a very fun and innovative festival! I'm looking forward to enjoying some of the beers on Saturday. And I'm really looking forward to serving some of these cool Rare Fruit Beers on Sunday!

Here is the tap list for both the "Regular" Outdoor Beer Garden and for the Rare Fruit Beer. Highlighted are my picks of beers I'm looking forward to trying or have already tried and recommend.

Outdoor Beer Garden Tap List:

Alameda Brewing: Huckleberry Hound
Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA aged and "dry-hopped" with huckleberries.
ABV: 8.2% IBU's : 103

Beetje Brewing: Zure Krenten
A blend of fresh farmhouse ale, and a pale ale stored in
a Pinot Noir barrel with champagne currants and dosed with lambic
blend. Brewed with Pilsner, 2-row, wheat, crystal malts, and light
touch of noble hops. ABV: 6%

Block 15 Brewing: Psidium
Rustic farmhouse ale matured with guava fruit. Brewed with Belgian Pilsner, French Pale & Wheat malts; Saaz & Citra hops; French farmhouse yeast. 6% alc/vol

Breakside Brewing: Mango IPA
Our flagship IPA brewed with a twist: we tweaked the recipe on our best selling beer to suit it to the flavors of fresh mango. Mango additions in the mash, kettle, hopback, and conditioning tank allow this otherwise-mellow fruit to complement and enhance the Citra, Cascade, and Ahtanum hop profile of this IPA. OG: 1.063 FG: 1.010 ABV: 6.8% IBU: approx. 55

Burnside Brewing: Gooseberry Berliner-Weisse
A slightly tart wheat beer with a mild fruitiness. This brew is lowly hoped ( 2ibu's ) and fermented with a lactic bacteria in addition to the German ale yeast resulting in the slightly sour finish. A percentage of this beer was put into french oak barrels and aged with 50 pounds of Washington grown Gooseberries. ABV: 3.35% IBU'S: 2.1

Dogfish Head: Festina Peche
A refreshing neo-BerlinerWeisse fermented with honest-to-goodness peaches to (get this!) 4.5% abv! Because extreme beers don't have to be extremely boozy!

Fort George Brewing: Badda BOOM! Cherry Stout
Coming in at 6.9% abv, rich and dark as a moonless night in the orchard, Badda BOOM! has 40 pounds of raspberries and Cherries mingling famously with the Belgian yeast esters and black barley bitters.

Hopworks Urban Brewing: Red Delicious Belgian Applebiere
An Abbey Ale crossed with a Cider and fermented with Chimay yeast.
51% Organic Wheat 49% fresh pressed Organic Apple Cider 6+% abv

Laurelwood: TBA
Pale Ale brewed with Southeast Asian Fruit and Spices

Lompoc Brewing: Cherry Wheat
A golden ale fermented with sour cherries.

New Belgium: Ooh La La
Ale brewed with Rasberries 8.5% abv

Ninkasi Brewing: Pinot Barrel-Aged Oatis with Cherries
Oatis Oatmeal stout with cherries aged in Pinot Noir Casks. 7.2 % and 50 ibus.

Oakshire Brewing: Blind Date
An Oat Brown Ale made with Organic Dates
Blind Date is a medium bodied Belgian Brown Ale with a balanced bitterness from Calypso Hops. It is crafted with juicy Organic Dates. It has hints of fruit, a touch of roast and a smooth silky texture from the oats. The beer finishes with a mild sweetness from the dates. 6% Abv

Upright Brewing: Barrel-Aged Pure Wit with Orange
A single cask version of our seasonal Belgian-style wit with a pound of dried sweet orange peel added to the barrel. This tart and hazy wheat beer has a tremendous nose but remains light and snappy on the palate. 4.5%

Widmer Brothers Brewing: Himbeere Gose mit dem Eibisch
Gose with raspberries and hibiscus ABV: 5.3% OG: 11.7P AE: 2.3P

Rare Fruit Beer Taplist:

Oakshire: Gin Barrel Aged Blackberry imperial Stout
Our Imperial Overcast Espresso Stout was aged with for two months in an Old Tom Gin Barrel from Oregon's Ransom Spirits. Oregon grown blackberries were added giving the finished beer hints of Gin botanicals and a mild blackberry fruitiness which balances the sweet chocolate and roast flavors from the beer. 9.5%

Upright: Gin Barrel-Aged Four with Strawberries
Upright's flagship wheat beer aged with Oregon strawberry puree in a Ransom Distillery Old Tom Gin barrel. The otherwise straightforward brew picks up a mix of the fruit character and the unique botanical notes that only come from the one of a kind local gin casks. 5%

Hopworks: Chili infused Survival Seven Grain Stout
Hopworks Head Brewer Ben Love added a unique blend of chili peppers to 3 small kegs of their Survival Seven Grain Stout. Each keg picked up its own flavors off the different peppers isolated. Those kegs were later blended to taste for the ultimate chili pepper infused stout made just for the Portland Fruit Beer Festival.

Lompoc: Cherry Fechter:
Our Fools Golden fermented in a Maryhill Vineyard Cabernet Franc barrel with 35 pounds of sour cherries. It is clean crisp with a bright pink color and a slight sourness in the finish.

Widmer: 2009 Cherry Oak Doppelbock
Cherry Oak Doppelbock is a rich ale, cold-fermented with dark sweet and red tart cherries, then conditioned on new, heavily toasted American oak. The result is a dark lustrous brew with up-front malty sweetness and cherry fruit notes completed by caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted oak undertones. The complex flavor profile balances the impressive 9% ABV and 40 IBUs.

Coalition: Wheat from the Tree
An American style wheat aged 2 months in a St. Josef's chardonnay barrel, this beer has light notes of bartlett pears and wine grape, with a sweet and tangy finish of fresh mandarin and tangelo. Starting at 4.4% abv, this beer spontaneously fermented to ~5.2% with the addition of 60 lbs of fresh fruit.

New Belgium: Peach Love
Love is the base beer used for New Belgium’s sour series of beer like La Folie. This super sour single barrel beer was aged in Whiskey Barrels with Peaches. 8.5%Abv. Ultra rare!

Block 15: 2010 La Ferme’ de Demons (the Demon’s Farm)
Black farmhouse ale brewed with Belgian Pilsner, French Wheat, Candi Sugar, roast malt and farmhouse yeast. Aged for over 8 months in three barrel types; Pinot Noir, Oregon Oak, and Bourbon with Brettanomyces. After barrel aging and blending, this dark ruby black ale is further matured with a touch of Oregon Tart Cherry. A demonic brew to quench only the most sinister thirst. 8.75%alc/vol 31 IBU’s.

LOLA/Lucky Lab: Cherry Kolsch
This brew is a first for the Ladies of Lagers and Ales (LOLA) crew with no less than a dozen women breaking a sweat on a sunny day in April at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall on NW Quimby. Under the watchful eye of Lab Brewdog Ben Flerchinger, this beer was originally brewed with Golden Promise and flavored with Munich, Wheat & Honey malt. Then CTZ hops were added for bitterness and Fuggles for aromatics. A Kölsch yeast was used to give it a bready, lemony, and mildly dank character.

Cherry LOLA is the side project of the LOLA Kolsch. Five gallons of LOLA Kolsch were kegged off and conditioned with black cherry juice for a delightfully sweet and mildly tart flavor.
This beer was brewed by the ladies to be enjoyed by everyone!

Cascade: Apricot
Our Apricot has the intense aroma of Goldrich and Rival apricots, slow-ripened before being introduced to the beer. Based on a Belgian Tripel, this beer went through 16 months lactic fermentation and aging in French oak wine barrels, then rested on the fruit for four months before finishing. 8.5% ABV

Cascade: Kriek
Our Kriek spends over six months in lactic fermentation and aging in oak barrels. This NW style sour red ale is fermented for eight months with fresh whole Bing and sour pie cherries. 7.3% ABV

Double Mountain: Devil’s Kriek
It is with great pleasure that we brew Devil's Kriek once a year at cherry harvest, and let it develop its intensity for a full twelve months, until it's time to do it again. This year's batch is intensely dark and fruity, thanks to over 70 lbs. per barrel of Bings (twice what we used last year) from Matt's orchard in Odell. The light sourness comes not from sour cherries, but from Brettanomyces "wild yeast", which slowly add the tang and a host of other funky flavors. A brown ale base provides a tasty counterpart to the fruit. 8.3% ABV

Breakside: Brewer’s Bramble
Inspired by the classic bramble cocktail, this beer was aged in an Old Tom Gin barrel with blackberries, lemon peel, and juniper berry.

Breakside: Whiskey Ginger
This beer finds its origins in a cocktail called Six Lengths Ahead, which was on the original drink menu at Portland’s cocktail hotspot Beaker and Flask. This beer also aged in a Whippersnapper barrel and has blueberries, fresh ginger, lime peel, and a touch of grenadine.

He’ Brew: Origin Pomegranate Ale
Brewed with the juice of over 10,000 luscious pomegranates, ORIGIN is a complex, rich and balanced Imperial Amber Ale with a truly unique character. The pomegranate juice is added during fermentation, leaving only the residual sugars, which serve to balance the hop bitterness. 8% Abv

Here is a rough tapping schedule of the Rare Fruit Beer kegs as posted yesterday evening on the festival's Facebook page:
Ok here is the very rough rare beer tapping schedule. How fast we go through these is another story so we may get ahead of our sched or behind it but this is the tapping order. We will have 2 on tap at a time unless another jockey box frees up to tap more. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the live updates on taplist changes:

Tapping at 11am on Saturday 6/11:

Coalition Brewing: Wheat from the Tree (Chardonnay Barrel-Aged with Bartlett Pears and Tangelo)

Breakside Brewery: Whiskey Ginger (Whiskey barrel-aged with Blueberries, Lime Peel, Ginger and Grenadine)

Next Up:

Burnside: Marionberry Berliner-Weisse

Cascade: Apricot Ale

Hopworks: Chupacabra Chili Stout

Lompoc: Cherry Fechter

Double Mountain: Devil's Kriek

Cascade: Kriek

Fort George: Hellcat (Belgian Pepper Ale)

Oakshire: Gin Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Blackberries

Tapping at 11am on Sunday 6/12:

LOLA & Lucky Lab: Cherry Kolsch

Next Up:

Upright: Gin-Barrel-Aged Four with Strawberries

Breakside: Brewers Bramble

New Belgium: Peach Love

Widmer: 09' Cherry Oak Doppelbock

Block 15: La Ferme de Demons

He' Brew: Origin Pomegranate Ale

Go to http://burnsidebrewco.com/FruitBeerFest.php for more details on the festival.

Here are some great posts on the subject with some great information from other Portland Bloggers:

It's Pub Night
Brewpublic
portlandbeer.org
Beervana
Not So Pro Beer Blog
Portland Beer and Music
And of course the organizer's guide to the fest:
The New School

Hats of to Ezra Johnson-Greenough and the folks at Burnside Brewing for pulling all this together. Judging by what I've seen (and tasted), it's going to one a hell of festival!

I hope to see you there. I'll be pouring the Rare Fruit Beers 1st shift on Sunday. Come by and say hi.

LOLA Kölsch Release Party Tonight at Lucky Lab Beer Hall

2011-06-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post about the LOLA Kölsch Release Party tonight at the Lucky Lab Beer Hall at 1945 NW Quimby starting at 4:30pm.

Here are some details on the beer and LOLA as written by LOLA founding member Margaret Lut:

This brew is a first for the Ladies of Lagers and Ales (LOLA) crew with no less than a dozen women breaking a sweat on a sunny day in April at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall on NW Quimby. Under the watchful eye of Lab Brewdog Ben Flerchinger, this beer was brewed with Golden Promise and flavored with Munich, Wheat & Honey malt. Then CTZ hops were added for bitterness and Fuggles for aromatics. A Kölsch yeast was used to give it a bready, lemony, and mildly dank character. This beer was brewed by the ladies to be enjoyed by everyone!

About LOLA: Started by Margaret Lut in 2010, when she got together with friends and realized other ladies may want to joing them. LOLA is a social group made up of females that enjoy craft beer, including people working in the industry, homebrewers and craft beer drinkers.

Check out some of the great pictures Margaret posted on Brewpublic of the brewing of this beer.

Hope to see you there!

Texas Beer Tasting '11

2011-06-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Anybody who knows me (or has read older post in this blog's archives) knows my wife and I are originally from Texas. We moved here almost 3 years ago and finally had our first tasting in our Portland home last Saturday. We decided to have a Texas tasting after our friend Margaret Lut of Brewpublic and Ladies of Lagers and Ales (LOLA) fame spent a week in Texas for work. She brought back some beers from some of the newer breweries in the state and had mentioned the idea of having a Texas tasting. My wife Teresa, a fellow LOLA member, offered to have the tasting at our house. This gave us an opportunity to raid our cellar of some of our aged Texas beers we had amassed over years like several vintages of Real Ale Brewing Sisyphus Barley Wine and Saint Arnold's Brewing Divine series.

Below is a collage and a slide show of pictures we managed to get throughout and after the party.

Angelo over at Brewpublic has more details of the beers we tasted in his Weekend Review post. Check it out!

Thanks to everybody who came and brought beer and food. A special thanks to Bill of It's Pub Night (who also moved to Portland from Texas) for the great homemade salsa and to Wildwood Sous Chef Paul Kasten for cooking up some kick-ass smoked pepper vegan chili!

Hopworks Releases Galactic Imperial Red

2011-06-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Our friends over at Hopworks Urban Brewery are releasing Galactic Imperial Red tonight at a party at Ground Kontrol at 551 NW Couch St. here in Portland from 7 to 9 p.m. This year marks the first year Galactic will be also available in bottles! Here are a few the details:

$6 for a pour of Galactic and you keep the glass. $5 Galactic 12 oz. pours and $4 Lager pints.
(Update: Every guest gets a $2 Wooden Token off a HUB beer at the Powell Blvd location + first four quarters are on HUB.)

Musical entertainment provided by DJs Ben “The Doctor” Love and Matt “The Speckler” Speckenbach

Galactic Imperial Red Ale - 9.5% ABV 100+ IBU

Robust caramel malt flavors battle NW Centennial and Cascade hops for interstellar supremacy. Throw down your quarters before it’s game over.

I enjoyed this beer quite a bit last year. I'm looking forward to trying it tonight. Hope to see you there!

Anderson Valley's 15th Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Fest (in Pictures)

2011-05-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Loaded up and hitting the road.

First stop: Caldera Brewery in Ashland, OR

Caldera's gleaming brewhouse. The second tank on the right is filled with Hop Hash!

Angelo and the Oakshire crew are ready to roll.

The magnificent Mt. Shasta.

Obligatory stop at In-N-Out in Redding, CA.

The Oregon caravan is almost there!

Time for a beer with the Marin brewers.

Camp Eugene (Oakshire's Missing Link and Ninkasi Double Dry Hopped Tricerahops on tap).

Angelo, Lucas, Matt, King C, Amy, 2 friends, and Paul repping Oregon.

Found a jawbone down by the creek, loving nature.

Playing in the creek, not deep enough for a good swim though.

Travis showed up in his newly modified Element.

The hydraulic grill!

Uncommon Brewers made the trip up from Santa Cruz.

Russian River and Washoes at the campground.

Nice old car in beautiful Anderson Valley.

Time to head to the fest (Double Mountain representing OR again).

Break for some quick holes on the brewery Disc Golf course.

Camp Moonlight.

Matt and Bryan from Oakshire with the Homebrew Chef Sean Paxton.

Triple Rock is pouring beer and loving it!

Troy Potter bolstering excitement for Eugene beer!


I had to run and hide shortly after taking this picture, no mullet for me today!

Saw this guy on the way out enjoying a cigar and corndog.

Clear Lake, CA.

Stopped at Sierra Nevada on the way back for some beer and lunch: Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Bigfoot, and Ghidorah Double IPA

A little snow in May coming back over the CA-OR border pass...


and then a rainbow outside of Eugene, OR, what a trip!

Happy Birthday Fred!

2011-05-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to wish Fred Eckhardt a happy 85th birthday today. Fred is an inspiration to a multitude of beer drinkers and beer writers around the world as well as my inspiration for writing this blog. See you a Fred Fest this Saturday. Cheers!

Birthday cake from Fred Fest '09

A tip of the hat to Jeff at Beervana for reminding me about Fred's Birthday.

Be Excellent to Each Other.

2011-05-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

Sasquatch gets verrry thirsty.

Ty Conner and Quentin Falconer

The Quick and Easy Boys and live art.

Eugene Hilton, where a corny keg makes a great doorstop.

The Eugene Hilton just beyond the Markets

The inaugural Eugene Beer Week was anchored by the 9th annual Sasquatch Brew Fest in Eugene, OR this past weekend. I got an early start and will fill in the details of Eugene Beer Week as they become available but I would like to give this incredible fest it's fair due first. We began the trek from our motel to the Hilton, passing through the famed Saturday Market consisting of handmade crafts and many talented individuals. The Farmer's Market located across the street presented bounties of the spring along with many wonderful aromas. I picked up some dried Cherry Bomb and Smoked Habanero peppers from Crossroads Farms to turn my chili up a notch.

Raise your hands if you are feeling Sassy!

Maritime Pacific sharing space on Hopwork's Jockey Box

Sasquatch was moved from its outdoor location at Kesey Square to the Eugene Hilton last year amid space concerns. The decision allowed the organizers to move the festival up a month to May since weather was not a concern (fortunately). This date is better suited to commemorate the passing of Glen Hay Falconer. At the brewer's dinner this year, Hopunion made a huge announcement as they presented a check for $50,000 to the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation. Many of the beers at this year's festival featured the proprietary Falconer's Flight blend including Maritime Pacific's Decompression Ale, Seattle Beer Week's 2011 Commemorative Beer. This beer was created by Corey Blodgett, a past winner of the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation Brewing Scholarship Program.

Terry Bucher and Kirk Studach

Hops were a central theme at the festival which also featured live music, a silent auction, raffles, food, and a homebrew competition. Best of show for the homebrewers went to Justin Lang and Bill Nave for their Bad Intel IPA. Hopunion showed their generosity again by offering a trip to Hop School as their prize. Randy Scorby seemed to place in every other category and the local homebrew club, Cascade Brewers Society, showed well with Terry Bucher and Kirk Studach placing multiple beers. On the professional side, some favorites included the aforementioned Decompression, Lompoc's Peregrine Imperial IPA, and Block 15's Millenium Falcon (featuring Millenium and Falconer's Flight hops).

This cast was ergonomically designed to fit the Sasquatch sample glass.

Hops (how did Colin and Malachi slip in all the pictures?).

Feeling Sassy!


All night...

Press Release: North American Organic Brewers Festival Announced

2011-05-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

North American Organic Brewers Festival to serve up more than 50 organic beers,

cider and kombucha at the nation's most earth-friendly beer festival

With a motto to "Drink Organic, Save the Planet, One Beer at a Time," the North American Organic Brewers Festival will host its seventh annual event June 24 through 26 at Portland's Overlook Park. More than 18,000 beer lovers are expected to gather at the event, billed as the nation's most earth-friendly beer festival.

Designed to raise awareness about organic beer and sustainable living, the NAOBF serves up more than 50 organic beers from 34 different breweries around the nation. There's also an organic cider and an organic kombucha. Styles run the gamut from Belgian Whites to Cascadian Darks, offering something for every palate. There's also live local music, organic food, sustainability-oriented vendors and non-profits, a soda garden with complimentary Crater Lake Root Beer for minors and designated drivers, and a children's area. The NAOBF is a family friendly event, and minors are welcome with parents.

Festival attendees sample beer from reusable and compostable cornstarch glasses made from domestically grown corn by a zero-waste, solar-powered company. Onsite composting and recycling stations are provided for festival waste and are supervised by recycling czars. Food vendors are required to use compostable cutlery and plates and employ sustainable practices. Electricity needs are met with a combination of biodiesel and solar generators. Volunteers wear organic cotton and hemp t-shirts, and all event signage is reusable.

Event hours are Noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission into the event is free. The purchase of a $6 reusable, compostable cornstarch glass is required for tasting beer, as are tokens, which sell for $1 apiece. A full glass of beer or cider costs four tokens and a four-ounce taste costs one token; select beers cost double tokens. Patrons receive a $1 discount toward the tasting glass with a validated MAX ticket, a ticket from the onsite bike corral, or three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank. The festival benefits the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and the Oregon Food Bank.

Why an organic beer festival? Studies show that the world's population currently consumes 30% more natural resources than the Earth's ecosystems can replenish. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, commercial agriculture is accountable for 70% of the pollution in our country's rivers and streams. Genetically modified ingredients can be found in nearly every grocery store. The NAOBF believes that education and exposure leads to awareness, and awareness can translate to passion. If everyone becomes passionate about sustainability, as a whole we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to habitat. If the conversation starts with an organic beer, that's even better!

For more information visit naobf.org.

A Few Weekend Events

2011-04-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

Another Friday leading into very beery weekend! I almost let the week pass me by again without posting about some of the events happening around the area.

First up Roscoe's is having their monthly Beer Summit today April 29th, beginning a 4 pm. This month will feature 14 different Oregon made Belgian-Style beers. Some of the breweries featured will be: Oakshire Brewing (Frederic's Lost Arm), Hopworks Urban Brewery (Muscles from Brussels), Boneyard Brewing (Whitshack Wit), Upright Brewing (Rose City Seven), Laurelwood Brewing,
Deschutes, Prodigal Son (Neuer Morgan), Fort George, Double Mountain,
Cascade Barrel House, Beetje, and many more.

PCTBB 2010

Speaking of Belgian beers the 5th Annual Portland Cheers To Belgian Beers is being held tomorrow Saturday, April 30 noon to 9 pm. at Metalcraft Fabrication (Metalcraft makes brewing systems and tanks for brewers in Oregon and beyond). Located at 723 N Tillamook St. This year's featured Belgian yeast is Wyeast 3787 Trappist High Gravity. This is usually one of my favorite springtime festivals and I'm really looking forward to this event. Find all the information including the list of the beers and a map to the event at the Oregon Brewer's Guild website. Hope to see you there!

Oregon Garden Brewfest 2010

And last but not least, the Oregon Garden Brewfest is also this weekend in Silverton, Oregon Friday, April 29th, 2011 - 4pm - 11pm and Saturday, April 30th, 2011 - noon - 11pm. For more details go to The Oregon Garden website.

My wife and I attended the festival last year and had a really nice time. The festival beer list is mainly Northwest oriented but also features beers from around the country and a few international beers as well. The best part is when you need a break from drinking beer (and the crowd) you can go outside (weather permitting) and enjoy a walk in the beautiful Oregon Garden! It makes for a great time.

And that's just few events this weekend! There are many more events in the coming weeks now that "festival season" is upon us. Have fun and choose wisely.

Brewing up Cocktails Today Featuring All Flip Cocktails and Oakshire Brewing Beers

2011-04-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 24th 5-8pm
Spints Alehouse
401 NE 28th Ave. Portland, OR 97232
503-847-2534
http://spintspdx.com/

For the fourth edition of Brewing up Cocktails, events exploring the interplay of beer and spirits to create new drinks, writers and mixologists Ezra Johnson-Greenough and Jacob Grier have taken on yet another challenging theme. This time they’re focusing on the 'Flip' class of drinks using whole eggs and will be partnering with Eugene, OR based Oakshire Brewing who will be providing the beers as well as farm fresh eggs from the brewery’s own chickens. Join them on a beery Easter egg hunt on April 24 at Spints Alehouse.

Flips are a class of mixed drinks that use raw eggs to create a rich and creamy texture. What many do not know about flips is that their origins are as a beer cocktail. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, sailors first used the term as far back as 1695 to describe a mixture of beer, rum, and sugar heated with a hot iron poker. The first official record of the modern day interpretation of flips was in Jerry Thomas's 1862 How to Mix Drinks; or, The Bon-Vivant's Companion. In this book Thomas states that:

"The essential in flips of all sorts is to produce the smoothness by repeated pouring back and forward between two vessels and beating up the eggs well in the first instance the sweetening and spices according to taste."

While modern day flips have fallen out of popularity and current definitions of what constitutes a flip vary to sometimes include cream, nog, egg whites, etc. for the purposes of defining the class of drinks and bringing it back to historical roots this chapter of Brewing up Cocktails shall use only whole eggs including the yolk along with beer and spirits to help bring along it's much overdue comeback.

This Easter Sunday April 24th from 5-8pm join Brewing up Cocktails mixologists as they ressurect forgotten styles in an exciting new fashion with beers from Oakshire Brewing, including Heart Shaped Box, Moose & Squirrel, Espresso Stout, Schwarz, and Imperial Stout, along with spirits ranging from apple brandy, Arbeg Scotch, dark rums, and Port wine.

About Oakshire Brewing
The name Oakshire represents Strength, Independence, Community and Bioregion, values held by our owners and employees. Begun inOctober 2006 by brothers Jeff and Chris Althouse, Oakshire Brewing operates as a production brewery next to the train yards in Northwest Eugene. We make three year round beers, available in 22oz bottles and on draft found throughout Oregon. Oakshire makes a rotating seasonal beer available in 22oz bottles and on draft as well. And the brewers at Oakshire craft a range of single batch beers only available on draft. The brewery aims to make clean, consistent, high quality beer – humble brewers of delicious beer.

About Brewing up Cocktails

Founded by Ezra Johnson-Greenough, a brewer, writer, artist and event coordinator, Brewing Up Cocktails started as a one-time event for Oregon Craft Beer Month in July 2010 and has turned into something much larger. Johnson-Greenough asked hot local bartender/mixologist and writer Jacob Grier to collaborate with him in crafting some unique beer cocktails in the hope of proving that craft beers can be as good in mixed drinks as they are on their own. The venue they chose had to have great beer and an outstanding selection of fine spirits, and that is where partner Yetta Vorobik's property, North Portland hotspot The Hop & Vine, came in. In addition to a great location for events, Vorobik adds her creative spirit and an adventurous third palate to the mix.
The July 2010 event was met with great interest, but it was not until the partners decided to do a follow-up event in the fall that the critics and public started to catch on. Beervana described one of Brewing Up Cocktails' signature drinks, the Hot Scotchy, as:

"The Greatest Beverage in the World"

Mix Magazine opined:

"Straight-ahead beer fan that I am, I have to agree that beer cocktails open up a brave new world."

And Portland Monthly Magazine said:

"A merger of Portland’s craft beer and quality cocktail cultures could push the next evolution of our increasingly sophisticated drinking scene."
And finally the Associated Press caught on, with a story carried internationally, including on ABC News.

Brewpublic's Microhopic 3 Sat. April 23, 6pm

2011-04-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Our friends over at Brewpublic have put together another Microhopic event. Previous Microhopic events I have attended have been a blast. Always a great opportunity to try some beers that you won't find just anywhere. Hope to see you there!

Hey craft beer lover

BREWPUBLIC is pleased to announce our next event. MICROHOPIC is a series showcasing new and interesting breweries and beer styles from around Oregon. In our third installment of MICROHOPIC, our friends at Migration Brewing Company will host and participate in this unique tasting experience. In addition to Migration's fine house brews, we will also be showcasing newer releases from Amnesia Brewing,Beetje Brewery, Breakside Brewery, and Burnside Brewing. These five Portland craft microbreweries encapsulate the spirit of innovation in brewing amongst Portland's many distinct artisans. Plus, they are a younger, fresher face to the community that we are eager for you to experience first hand, therefor, brewers and brewery representatives will be on hand to discuss their work with folks. Here's the details of the event:

When: April 23, 2011 6PM-midnight
Where: Migration Brewing 2828 NE Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon (click here for map)
Why: Because we are crazy about craft beer.

An Ear For Beer

Recent Trip To Texas In Pictures Part 1

Brewing up Cocktails presents Winter Holiday Special Edition Tonight at The Hop & Vine!

Lompoc Brewing Release Party for C-sons Greetings & Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat Tomorrow

Hopworks Urban Brewery Pig War Release Party Today 5 – 7 pm

The 16th Annual Holiday Ale Festival Dates And Details Announced

GABF Is Almost Here...

BiKETOBEERFEST returns Saturday, Sept. 17

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Great American Beer Festival® Toasts 30 Years as North America's Greatest Beer Celebration

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: The Great American Beer Festival® Toasts 30 Years as North America's Greatest Beer Celebration

Beer Lovers, Food Lovers, Fun Lovers and Brewers to Attend Brewers Association Festival in Denver, CO

Contact

PDX Beer Week presents: Beer & Sushi Pairings at Roscoe's (8/22

Block 15 Releases La Ferme de la Ville Bottles Friday, August 12th at The BeerMongers

Portland Beer Week Celebrates the World’s Most Vibrant Beer Community

OBF Day 1

It's Oregon Brewers Festival Time!

Groupon Portland Partners with Glen Hay Falconer Foundation During Portland Beer Day

LOLA Presents - A Celebration of Women in Beer Tomorrow Saturday July 23 From 11 AM - 11 PM

Coalition Brewing to Release Award Winning Cantaloupe Beer Tomorrow July 14

Saraveza's 2nd Annual IIPA Fest Sponsored by Brewpublic

Boneyard IPA Night, Tomorrow July 1st, 6-12PM At The Beer Mongers

Roscoe's 2nd Annual Beer Summit Tomorrow, Friday 6/24

First Annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival Tomorrow Saturday June 11th & Sunday The 12th

LOLA Kölsch Release Party Tonight at Lucky Lab Beer Hall

Texas Beer Tasting '11

Hopworks Releases Galactic Imperial Red

Anderson Valley's 15th Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Fest (in Pictures)

Happy Birthday Fred!

Be Excellent to Each Other.

Press Release: North American Organic Brewers Festival Announced

A Few Weekend Events

Brewing up Cocktails Today Featuring All Flip Cocktails and Oakshire Brewing Beers

Brewpublic's Microhopic 3 Sat. April 23, 6pm

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: The Great American Beer Festival^® Toasts 30 Years as North America's Greatest Beer Celebration