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The Brew Site

• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week events, Friday, May 25

  Posted: May 25th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  Central Oregon Beer Week continues, with more great events lined up for today, Friday the 25th. TGIF!

  Specials

  • Bend Ale Trail special all week long
    Anyone who completes the Bend Ale Trail during the Week will get a special, limited edition Bend Ale Trail koozie!
  • Specials at Cascade West
    Cascade West will have 12 of their 32 tap handles dedicated to the local breweries and sell drafts for $3.00 all week open to close (11am to midnight).
  • Beer Cocktails & Small Plate Menu at 10 Below
    10 Below Restaurant in the Oxford Hotel boasts 6 taps, always stocked with Central Oregon’s finest brews. They will be serving Beer Cocktails and will also have a Small Plate menu, paired with local beer. The menu and beer cocktails will be available May 21- May 26 after 4 pm, in the lounge in the bottom floor of the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.

  Events

  • 10 Barrel Tasting at Whole Foods
    Join Whole Foods for a tasting of beers from 10 Barrel Brewing from 3 to 5pm
  • Three Creeks Beer Tasting
    Join Three Creeks for a beer tasting at Ray’s Food Place in Sisters from 3 to 6pm.
  • Cascade Lakes Beer Tasting at Bend’s South Albertson’s
    Join Cascade Lakes Brewing at Bend’s south Albertson’s to sample their new releases from 3 to 6pm.
  • Cascade Lakes Beer Tasting at Bend Ray’s
    Join Cascade Lakes Brewing at Ray’s in Bend to sample their new six packs of India Red Ale, Project X Pale Ale, Blonde Bombshell and Cyclops IPA. They’ll be there from 3 to 6 both today and tomorrow.
  • Beer tasting at Newport Avenue Market
    Join Newport Avenue Market for a beer tasting featuring each of the Central Oregon brewers they carry from 3:30 to 5:30pm!
  • GoodLife Sweet As Pacific Ale Release Party and Biergarten Grand Opening
    Join GoodLife for Music, Food, Games, Fire Pit….and of course the release of Sweet As Pacific Ale at the Biergarten Grand Opening! From 4 to 10pm
  • Phat Matt’s Tasting at The Wine Shop
    Join Phat Matt’s for a beer tasting at The Wine Shop downtown, from 4:30 to 8, to taste some of the great beers from one of Central Oregon’s newest breweries! They will be pouring their Red Ale, IPA, and the new Kolsch.
  • BREWS & BANDS at Broken Top Bottle Shop featuring Boneyard Beer
    From 5 to 7pm come meet one of the founders and owners of Boneyard Beer, Tony Lawrence. Enjoy some of Boneyard’s tasty brews while rocking out to the live tunes of Central Oregon’s feistiest acoustic attack (and one of BTBS’s favorites)… The Pitchfork Revolution!!
  • Boneyard Beer 2 Year Anniversary Party at JC’s Bar and Grill
    Boneyard Beer’s 2 year anniversary party is featuring a tap takeover, food made with beer, and more! All taking place Friday evening at JC’s Bar & Grill in downtown Bend, from 9pm until closing.

  And of course if you want to participate (even if it’s a tasting, beer specials, or something else you might otherwise think is minor), feel free to submit an event anytime!

  
• 

  Flat Tail Brewing

  Posted: May 25th, 2012, 6:42am CEST by Jon

  After visiting Block 15 Brewery during our day trip to Corvallis last weekend, my wife and I meandered over to check out Flat Tail Brewing, a scant walk of three blocks. Since we’d already had lunch and a full tour at the previous brewery, this was more of a scouting trip to sample some beers (and maybe an appetizer or two): but we hadn’t necessarily scheduled a lot of time as we didn’t know what our overall day was going to look like (and we still had two and a half hours to drive back to Bend).

  Located one block north and two blocks east of Block 15, Flat Tail occupies a corner building nearly right up to the Willamette River, separated only by a street and a stretch of riverfront park. It’s a nice languid setting that they’ve taken well advantage of with ample outdoor seating wrapping around the corner and several half-barrels of hop vines by the main door that are just starting to climb.

  Continue reading “Flat Tail Brewing” »

  
• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week events, Thursday, May 24

  Posted: May 24th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  Central Oregon Beer Week continues, with more great events lined up for today, Thursday the 24th.

  And in addition to the events below, the GETIT Shuttle will be running a special service from 4 to 9pm tonight between breweries and venues for a fantastic deal:

  To help keep the party groove moving right along throughout the evening, GETIT Shuttle will be offering shuttle services between CO Beer Week breweries and event sites. $5.00 per rider gets you a pass for as many rides as you need between spots during shuttle hours. Shuttle riders can also enter a raffle via Facebook/Twitter for a “beer-tastical” mystery prize!  Please give a little lead time when you call for a ride so your pilot can keep everyone moving the best he can during the busy night. To order up your ride, call or text GETIT Shuttle at 541-610-6103.

  Specials

  • Bend Ale Trail special all week long
    Anyone who completes the Bend Ale Trail during the Week will get a special, limited edition Bend Ale Trail koozie!
  • Specials at Cascade West
    Cascade West will have 12 of their 32 tap handles dedicated to the local breweries and sell drafts for $3.00 all week open to close (11am to midnight).
  • Beer Cocktails & Small Plate Menu at 10 Below
    10 Below Restaurant in the Oxford Hotel boasts 6 taps, always stocked with Central Oregon’s finest brews. They will be serving Beer Cocktails and will also have a Small Plate menu, paired with local beer. The menu and beer cocktails will be available May 21- May 26 after 4 pm, in the lounge in the bottom floor of the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.

  Events

  • Open House at Old St. Francis School
    Brewery open house at McMenamins Old St. Francis School, featuring a tasting of My Sunshine Pilsner which will be released this weekend! From noon to 4pm.
  • Silver Moon tasting at Whole Foods
    Join Whole Foods for a tasting from 3 to 5 featuring beers from Silver Moon Brewing, where they’ll be sampling HopNob IPA, Bridge Creek Pilsner (yes, newly bottled!), and Snake Bite Porter.
  • Cascade Lakes Beer Tasting at Bend Ray’s
    Join Cascade Lakes Brewing at Ray’s in Bend to sample their new six packs of India Red Ale, Project X Pale Ale, Blonde Bombshell and Cyclops IPA. They’ll be there from 3 to 6 both today and tomorrow.
  • BREWS & BANDS at Broken Top Bottle Shop featuring Bend Brewing
    From 5 to 7pm come meet Ian Larkin, Head Brewer at Bend Brewing Co. and recent World Beer Cup GOLD medal winner, chat with him, and taste some of his amazing beers while enjoying live music by Mai of the Moon Mountain Ramblers, who’s unique and soulful voice has become a long-standing Bend favorite.
  • Deschutes Brewery Tasting at the Summit Saloon
    Deschutes Brewery will be bringing some unreleased beers for tasting and a crew of brewers to discuss all things beer from 6 to 8pm.
  • GoodLife tasting at The Wine Shop
    Join GoodLife Brewing Company for a tasting at The Wine Shop from 6 to 8pm and chat with Ty Barnett about his leading brewery on the west side.

  And of course if you want to participate (even if it’s a tasting, beer specials, or something else you might otherwise think is minor), feel free to submit an event anytime!

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Baladin – a taste of Italy

  Posted: May 24th, 2012, 4:36pm CEST by knutalbert

  As regular readers will know, when I started this blog, I was a fairly regular visitor to Italy, giving me a unique opportunity to get som glimpses into the developments of the Italian craft beer scene. Since then, I have observed more from the outside, particularly noting the great things happening in Rome. From the first craft [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Win Beer for a Year (with the Bend Ale Trail)

  Posted: May 23rd, 2012, 9:30pm CEST by Jon

  The Bend Ale Trail is putting this contest on, which is very cool—and to be clear, the beer that you’ll win is from the Central Oregon breweries on the Ale Trail. So you will have to come here to enjoy it (oh darn, right?).

  There’s no need to pinch yourself, because it’s no dream. The Beer for a Year sweepstakes kicks off on May 8, 2012, and one lucky winner will take home a collection of gift certificates totaling approximately $2,400 for Bend’s craft breweries along the Bend Ale Trail.

  Beer fans will be able to purchase raffle tickets for $10 each online here or at the Bend Visitor Center in downtown Bend starting May 8. Each ticket serves as one entry into a sweepstakes drawing, and the grand prize winner will be drawn at the inaugural Fermentation Celebration event July 12, 2012 at the Old Mill District. The total retail value of the gift certificates is the approximate equivalent of one free beer, plus tip, every day of the year. Certificates will be redeemable only by the winner, and will be valid for 12 months beginning in July 2012.

  All proceeds from the “Beer for a Year Sweepstakes” will go to the Central Oregon chapter of the Oregon Brewers Guild. The winner is not required to be present to win. You must be at least 21 years of age to win.

  This is a fantastic contest and yes, I’ll be buying a raffle ticket or two!

  
• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week events, Wednesday, May 23

  Posted: May 23rd, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  Central Oregon Beer Week continues, with more great events lined up for today, Wednesday the 23rd. Unfortunately though, the Wanderlust Backstage Beer Tour didn’t get enough numbers to make it a go, so they were not able to do that tour this time around, which is a shame because that sounded really cool.

  Specials

  • Bend Ale Trail special all week long
    Anyone who completes the Bend Ale Trail during the Week will get a special, limited edition Bend Ale Trail koozie!
  • Specials at Cascade West
    Cascade West will have 12 of their 32 tap handles dedicated to the local breweries and sell drafts for $3.00 all week open to close (11am to midnight).
  • Beer Cocktails & Small Plate Menu at 10 Below
    10 Below Restaurant in the Oxford Hotel boasts 6 taps, always stocked with Central Oregon’s finest brews. They will be serving Beer Cocktails and will also have a Small Plate menu, paired with local beer. The menu and beer cocktails will be available May 21- May 26 after 4 pm, in the lounge in the bottom floor of the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.
  • Local brewery draft specials at Amalia’s
    Amalia’s will feature all their draft beers for $2 a pint, including Deshutes Brewery Twlight Ale, Ninkasi Spring Reign, and more!

  Events

  • Cascade Lakes Tasting at Whole Foods
    Join Whole Foods for a tasting featuring beers from one of Central Oregon’s oldest breweries, Redmond’s Cascade Lakes Brewing, from 3 to 5pm.
  • Phat Matt’s Tasting at The Wine Shop
    Join Phat Matt’s for a beer tasting at The Wine Shop downtown, from 4:30 to 8, to taste some of the great beers from one of Central Oregon’s newest breweries! They will be pouring their Red Ale, IPA, and the new Kolsch.
  • BREWS & BANDS at Broken Top Bottle Shop featuring Deschutes Brewery
    From 5 to 7pm come meet Brewer John “Abe” Abraham from Deschutes Brewery and enjoy some wonderful beer while listening to the live tunes and splendid voice of local favorite Greg Botsford!
  • Cascade Lakes Tasting at the Summit Saloon
    Join Cascade Lakes Brewery at The Summit Saloon for special brews and some Cascade Lakes sausages from 6 to 8pm.
  • Brew Werks Beer Dinner
    Chef Rudy has worked out an outstanding menu for Old Mill Brew Wërks first ever beer-pairing meal. It’s a five course, hand-crafted menu of items chosen to work in cohort with the excellence of Brew Wërks Brewing’s current lineup of beer. Brewmaster Michael McMahon will be on-hand to field questions and comments about his recent creations and the next steps in the life of this little brewery in Bend. The event is set for Wednesday, May 23 from 6:30-8:30. To reserve a spot at this limited engagement, please call the pub at 541-633-7670. Cost is $50 per person for the full five courses plus the beer (of course!).

  And of course if you want to participate (even if it’s a tasting, beer specials, or something else you might otherwise think is minor), feel free to submit an event anytime!

  
• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week in the media

  Posted: May 23rd, 2012, 1:47am CEST by Jon

  Since getting this whole Central Oregon Beer Week started, there’s been good attention paid from various media sources, which is awesome. Here’s a roundup of what I know about (so far):

  • Cascade Business News: They published a good article about both the Beer Week and the Central Oregon Brewers Guild (including a listing of some of the Week’s events).
  • Beer O’Clock radio: I was on Lisa Morrison’s excellent radio show last Saturday, talking about the Beer Week. That was fun!
  • Bend Bulletin: They posted a couple ofshort articles highlighting the week and pointing to the site.
  • NewsChannel 21: Our local station did a story yesterday in which I spoke briefly (though I’m not finding it online).
  • The Source Weekly: They posted a full-page ad for the week as well as highlighting the Week in their weekly picks.
  • Good Morning Central Oregon: Garrett Wales of 10 Barrel Brewing appeared on the local morning show to talk about the Central Oregon Brewers Guild and the Beer Week.

  I’ll update if there are any more. Some nice local traction for sure!

  
• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week events, Tuesday, May 22

  Posted: May 22nd, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  Central Oregon Beer Week continues, with more great events lined up for today:

  Specials

  • Bend Ale Trail special all week long
    Anyone who completes the Bend Ale Trail during the Week will get a special, limited edition Bend Ale Trail koozie!
  • Specials at Cascade West
    Cascade West will have 12 of their 32 tap handles dedicated to the local breweries and sell drafts for $3.00 all week open to close (11am to midnight).
  • Beer Cocktails & Small Plate Menu at 10 Below
    10 Below Restaurant in the Oxford Hotel boasts 6 taps, always stocked with Central Oregon’s finest brews. They will be serving Beer Cocktails and will also have a Small Plate menu, paired with local beer. The menu and beer cocktails will be available May 21- May 26 after 4 pm, in the lounge in the bottom floor of the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.
  • $2 local microbrew pints all day at Common Table
    Common Table in downtown Bend will be offering a selection of local micro brews for only $2 for a great chilled pint mug all day long on Tuesday! There will also happy hour food options for only $5 each 4 to 6 pm.

  Events

  • Special Limited-release Keg at Old St. Francis School
    Join McMenamins Old St. Francis School for a limited-release keg of double dry hopped Badger IRA, starting at 11, and lasting until the keg is tapped! Get there early to make sure you try some of this special beer!
  • Phat Matt’s Tasting at Whole Foods
    Join Whole Foods for a tasting featuring beers from one of Central Oregon’s newest breweries, Redmond’s Phat Matt’s Brewing, from 3 to 5pm.
  • BREWS & BANDS at Broken Top Bottle Shop featuring 10 Barrel Brewing
    From 5 to 7pm come meet Jimmy Seifrit, Brewmaster at 10 Barrel Brewing Co., drink and discuss his delicious creations, and enjoy great tunes, live, by local favorite Matt Murphy.
  • Three Creeks tasting at The Wine Shop
    Join Three Creeks Brewmaster Patio (Pat O’Shea) for a pouring and “meet and greet” at The Wine Shop and Beer Tasting Bar, Tuesday from 6 to 8pm.
  • GoodLife tasting at The Platypus Pub
    From 6 to 8pm The Brew Shop and Platypus Pub is hosting a tasting with GoodLife Brewing, one of Bend’s newest breweries!

  And of course if you want to participate (even if it’s a tasting, beer specials, or something else you might otherwise think is minor), feel free to submit an event anytime!

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Torvehallerne, Copenhagen – Every town should have one

  Posted: May 22nd, 2012, 5:01pm CEST by knutalbert

  When I travel, I do not always set up a tight schedule to see all the sights. I prefer to spend some time getting the feel of the place, and as a foodie, this means that I often end up at a food market. There are lovely old markets in Florence and in Stockholm, there is [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Block 15 Brewery

  Posted: May 22nd, 2012, 7:06am CEST by Jon

  As I’d mentioned previously, my wife and I took a day trip over to Corvallis on Saturday to visit some of the local breweries and check out the growing beer scene. It turns out that Corvallis is a relatively easy jaunt that works well for day trips, being about a 2.5 hour drive away (joining the ranks of other less-than-3-hour trips like Eugene, Hood River, and Oakridge), so I can easily see more trips in the future.

  Block 15 Brewery was the primary brewery I was interested in visiting for this trip (though we were lucky to also visit Flat Tail and Oregon Trail, which will be their own blog posts), so I’d emailed ahead to owner/founder Nick Arzner to find out if he would be around and if I could get a tour of the brewery and famed barrel room(s). Nick is out of the country right now but was kind enough to email back and get me in touch with Erik Salmi, who also works in the brewery, to make arrangements for that tour.

  We got to town around 12:45, just in time for lunch, so headed straight to Block 15 at 1:00 to check in with Erik and grab a bite to eat (plus beer, of course!).

  Continue reading “Block 15 Brewery” »

  
• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week events, Monday, May 21

  Posted: May 21st, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  Today is the first day of the first-ever Central Oregon Beer Week! All this week I’ll be posting daily about the events for the day, starting with today’s:

  Specials

  • Bend Ale Trail special all week long
    Anyone who completes the Bend Ale Trail during the Week will get a special, limited edition Bend Ale Trail koozie!
  • Specials at Cascade West
    Cascade West will have 12 of their 32 tap handles dedicated to the local breweries and sell drafts for $3.00 all week open to close (11am to midnight).
  • Beer Cocktails & Small Plate Menu at 10 Below
    10 Below Restaurant in the Oxford Hotel boasts 6 taps, always stocked with Central Oregon’s finest brews. They will be serving Beer Cocktails and will also have a Small Plate menu, paired with local beer. The menu and beer cocktails will be available May 21- May 26 after 4 pm, in the lounge in the bottom floor of the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend.

  Events

  • GoodLife tasting at Whole Foods
    Join Whole Foods for a tasting of GoodLife Brewing’s beers from 3 to 5pm.
  • Meet the Brewer and Tour Bend Brewing
    Join Bend Brewing Company from 4 to 6pm for an open-house to meet Brewer, Ian Larkin. They will offer ½-priced appetizers during this time and live music from Mark Ransom from 6:30 to 8:30pm.
  • BREWS & BANDS at Broken Top Bottle Shop featuring Below Grade Brewing
    From 5 to 7pm, come meet Dean Wise, Head Brewer and Managing Member at the new Below Grade Brewing! Chat with him, and taste some of his amazing beers while enjoying live music by Brad Jones (aka Keez), who you probably know as keyboardist for local jam band The Mostest, and as a solo artist, who the Source Weekly says, “could play a rave, your birthday party or with Justin Timberlake.”
  • Scholarship BrewFest & Basket Raffle
    Come to Common Table from 6 to 8pm to help kick off Central Oregon Beer Week with a sampling of local brews while supporting the Bend Youth Collective’s 2012 Urban Immersion Trip to Washington, D.C. Admission is $15 and includes food and 2 drink tickets. Premium Raffle Baskets will be available from the likes of Atelier 6000, Altrec, and others. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.

  And of course if you want to participate (even if it’s a tasting, beer specials, or something else you might otherwise think is minor), feel free to submit an event anytime!

  
• 

  No Oregon Beer News this week

  Posted: May 21st, 2012, 4:32pm CEST by Jon

  No “Oregon Beer News” posts here on the blog this week, because I’ll be focusing on Central Oregon Beer Week instead, with daily event posts and pictures and odd and ends. Meanwhile if you’ve been meaning to come check out Central Oregon’s beer scene, this week is the week to do it!

  
• 

  Promoting Central Oregon Beer Week on Beer O’Clock radio

  Posted: May 21st, 2012, 1:50am CEST by Jon

  I was on Lisa Morrison’s Beer O’Clock radio show yesterday to talk about Central Oregon Beer Week (which starts tomorrow!), the Central Oregon Brewers Guild, and beer in Central Oregon generally. You can listen on the embedded player on that page, and between all my “uhs” and “ums” you might get a sense of what I was talking about!

  Overall it was a fun experience to call in and talk beer, and I definitely have to thank Lisa for having me!

  (And you should listen to the rest of the show regularly too.)

  
• 

  Corvallis!

  Posted: May 20th, 2012, 9:30pm CEST by Jon

  Yesterday my wife and I took a day trip over to Corvallis to check out the beer scene: a long-overdue trip as the only time we ever pass through the area is on our way to the Coast, and Corvallis is now home to four breweries plus a number of other specialty beer stops.

  The main plan was to visit Block 15 Brewery, with a possible stop at Flat Tail Brewing as well; I had emailed ahead of time to Block 15 and was able to get the tour (their barrel program is indeed amazing!), and we were just going to see what are time looked like for the rest.

  It turned out to be a great trip: not only Block 15, but we checked out Les Caves as well (Block 15′s next-door Belgium-inspired beer bar), then stopped in to Flat Tail for the sampler tray and appetizers, and then made it over to Oregon Trail Brewery, Corvallis’ oldest brewery (since 1987) for a bonus stop! These three breweries are all within a couple of blocks of each other in downtown, easy walking between them.

  Over the next few days I’ll be posting my notes and reviews of each. And if you haven’t been to Corvallis lately, what are you waiting for?

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Open a beer bottle with a chainsaw

  Posted: May 19th, 2012, 3:52am CEST by Al

  [youtu.be]

  Yeah…I don’t think I’d recommend that…

  Related Posts:

  • Advertising? Art? Bottle caps!
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  • Beer porn
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Open a beer bottle with a chainsaw is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/18/2012

  Posted: May 18th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Happy Friday! Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Friday the 18th as well as the weekend. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day, so if you have news to share, please contact me so I can get it posted; and check back on this page often to see the latest updates.

  Deschutes Brewery (Bend): Tonight at the Bend Pub is the second of their Collage beer dinners, from 6 to 9pm. This is a six-course meal paired not only with the collaboration Collage beer (co-brewed with Hair of the Dog), but also the four constituent beers that were blended to product Collage: The Dissident, The Stoic, Fred, and Adam. Cost is $85 per ticket (with partial proceeds benefiting NeighborImpact of Central Oregon), and last I checked there were still 19 tickets left—though the ticketing closed at noon. Perhaps if you call Deschutes at (541) 382-9242 you can get one of those remaining tickets.

  APEX Beer Bar (Portland) is having a party for their 2nd anniversary this weekend, starting tonight and lasting through tomorrow! New School has more details here, and it sounds like it’s going to be quite a party; tonight from 5 to 9 there will be a number of sour and unusual beers, and tomorrow: “It’s our second anniversary celebration, all day and into the night from 11:30AM to 2:30 AM.  I won’t tell you what I’m going to put on the tap, but if you remember last year’s anniversary, you know that it’s a lineup that’s not to be missed. I’ll be tapping between 30 and 50 rare beers that I’ve been working for the past two years to get for this event. In addition, it’ll be the worldwide debut of a beer I’m very excited about. Last year I asked my friend Peter Kruger, brewmaster at Bear Republic, if he’d be interested in making me a beer to commemorate our second anniversary. He graciously agreed to do so and I gave him  a few suggestions about what I liked best in my favorite double IPAs. He went to work on a recipe and the result is what he called the hoppiest beer they’ve ever made, Double Apex, a 10.1% Double IPA. An imperial version of their delicious Apex IPA. I can’t wait to taste it!”

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/18/2012” »

  
• 

  Collages

  Posted: May 18th, 2012, 8:31pm CEST by Jon

  I picked up these three at Deschutes Brewery the other night:

  

  Collage, AKA Conflux No.1, the Deschutes/Hair of the Dog collaboration beer. It comes in 12-ounce bottles and costs $11 per bottle(!). I’ll be drinking one, and putting the other two away for awhile.

  
• 

  The next Session: Pale ales

  Posted: May 18th, 2012, 7:04pm CEST by Jon

  The next Session is taking place on Friday, June 1, and it’s being hosted by Carla Companion, The Beer Babe, that month. She’s bringing us back to styles and has selected what may be the most underrated style to write about these days:

  What is the one beer style usually makes up the first position in the sample flight, but yet is usually the one that we never get really excited about? The Pale Ale.

  While this style serves as the foundation to its big-hoppy-brother the India Pale Ale, lately “Pale Ale” has become a throwaway term. I hear bartenders and servers using it to describe everything from Pilsners to unfiltered wheat beers (I wish I was kidding).

  Your mission – if you choose to accept it – it so seek out and taste two different pale ales. Tell us what makes them special, what makes them forgettable, what makes them the same or what makes them different. Then, share it with us. (By writing a comment below on June 1st with a link to your post).

  It’s going to be interesting to see the results of reviewing this overlooked style from everyone.

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/17/2012

  Posted: May 17th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the Oregon beer news for Thursday, May 17. As always I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for updates; and if you have news you’d like to share please contact me so I can get it updated.

  The Green Dragon (Portland) is hosting a meet the brewer tonight featuring Bend’s 10 Barrel Brewing and brewer Shawn Kelso: the beers will be tapped at 5pm, and the meet the brewer portion starts at 6. The beers that Kelso is bringing are Sinistor Black Ale, India Session Ale (ISA), Apocalypse IPA (the new tweaked recipe I believe), Oregon Brown Ale (seasonal), and the new Small Tank series Cynical CDA. Should be a good evening!

  Full Sail Brewing (Hood River): Today is the Hood River brewpub’s release party and meet the brewer for Allman’s All Mild, from 5 to 6:30pm: “Allman’s All Mild is a beautiful light copper colored English Mild Ale, using a blend of 2-row Pale, Munich, English crystal and brown malts that provide a toasty biscuit character and a dry and balanced finish. Golding and Willamette hops impart an herbal aroma and subtle hop finish that complements the malt complexity. The ale’s low carbonation delivers an incredibly refreshing and light beer perfect for summertime enjoyment. ABV 4.1% IBU 25″  The beer was crafted by lead Lab Technician Joshua Allman to help kick off American Craft Beer Week.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/17/2012” »

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/16/2012

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the Oregon beer news for Wednesday, May 16, curated from various sources. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day so check back often for the latest news. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get this post updated.

  Central Oregon Beer Week starts up next week! From May 21 through 27 it’s a week-long celebration of beer for the region—with 13 active breweries and even more on the way, we have a lively and hopping beer culture here! Take a look at the events and come on down anytime next week to Central Oregon to enjoy the beer!

  This weekend the 6th annual Brewer’s Memorial Ale Fest is taking place in Newport, the dog-friendly brewfest held by Rogue “created in memory of Rogue Brewmaster John Maier’s faithful companion Brewer, who passed away on May 20, 2006.” Times and dates: Friday the 18th from 4 to 10pm, Saturday the 19th from noon to 10pm, and Sunday the 20th from noon to 4pm. (Facebook page.) The fest will be held inside Rogue’s Newport brewery and “includes 50+ Microbreweries, Live Music, Doggy Musical Chairs, Dog Wash, Dog Dancing and Celebrity dog look-alikes (Rin-Tin-Tin, Lassie, Benji and of course, Brewer).” Cost is $10 admission which gets you 4 taster tickets (with more available for purchase), and it’s 21+ only (except for the dogs of course).

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/16/2012” »

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Apps to Help You Discover and Appreciate Beer

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 3:59pm CEST by Guest writer

  This a guest article by Ashlee McCullen, a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com

  I like exploring craft beers as much as the next person. Still, I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Paradoxically enough, I also sometimes yearn to try something new and break my routine.

  That’s where beer apps come into play. They’re excellent tools for newbies to finally learn there’s more to malted beverages than Coors Light (apologies for using those words on this blog). [ed: apology accepted] Yet, the best apps are loaded with information that aficionados can use to deepen their appreciation and knowledge of beers.

  Personally, I own an Android-based T-Mobile smartphone , so this list will lean heavily towards offerings for Google’s platform.

  iPhone and Android

  Find Craft Beer: The title alone tells you exactly what this fun app offers. Find bars, breweries, and beer sellers that offer high-quality craft beers. When a cheap lager just won’t do, Find Craft Beer is a handy tool. And it’s most useful when visiting brewery-friendly cities like Portland. It lacks the advanced features of the other apps, but that’s part of its charm. ($0.99) [Google Play Store, iTunes]

  Pintley is a powerful beer recommendation app, with tools for tracking the beers you drink, making notes about them, and sharing your findings with friends (including those on Foursquare, Facebook, and Twitter). Pintley analyses your ratings of beers to suggest new ones to try out; I’ve discovered some wonderful gems between the app’s recommendations and seeing what my friends have been drinking. (Free) [Google Play Store, iTunes]
  
  BeerCloud is a strong all-around app, as it packs just about all the features you could look for. And to boot it’s one of the best looking of the beer apps. Use BeerCloud for everything from finding nearby pubs that serve your favorite beers to learning about beers and finding group outings like pub crawls. I’ve made extensive use of BeerCloud’s “favorites” feature to keep track of both individual beers and their brewers. And if you’re out to eat, this app offers food pairing suggestions. (Free) [Google Play Store, iTunes]

  Android Only

  Beer Map is a simple and useful app for finding bars and breweries. It’s powered by the beer location service beermapping.com, and uses Google Maps to help you find spots. Using it with my Galaxy, I could find great breweries around me and even call them straight from the app. ($0.99)
  [Google Play Store]
  The Beer Expert may just have the largest database of beers (if their marketing is to be believed). Either way, it’s extremely useful when you’re at the grocery store and are staring at dozens of beer options. Speak or type in a beer name to learn what others say about its taste, quality, and more. You can also scan UPCs, helping you make informed decisions. ($1.99) [Google Play Store]

  About the Author: Ashlee McCullen is a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com, a website about fashionable aprons and kitchen style. She is also a wannabe-foodie and craft beer enthusiast.

  Related Posts:

  • Hop Talk Podcast #7 – That’s not a wombat?
  • Save the Wave
  • Untappd
  • Welcome new subscribers!
  • Win a Headcase iPhone case with bottle opener
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Apps to Help You Discover and Appreciate Beer is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Central Oregon Beer Week: The Events

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 5:13am CEST by Jon

  The first-ever Central Oregon Beer Week kicks off on Monday next week (from May 21 through 27) and the events are filling out with a nice lineup of things going on all week. I’m not covering all of them here—go check out the page for the full listing—but here are some highlights:

  • BREWS & BANDS at the Broken Top Bottle Shop all week: BTBS is a major contributor to COBW, and they’ve lined up a week’s worth of meet the brewer events featuring different local brewers each night, paired with live music—all in their brand-new space! They’ve been working hard to get their new expanded space ready for the bottle shop portion of the business and it’s going to be a great venue for music and beer.
  • Whole Foods is likewise doing a week-long series of tastings featuring beers from different local brewers each day which is definitely something to be checking out—not only for the tastings but also for one of the best bottled beer selections in town.
  • An event I’m excited to have on the schedule is an exclusive “Pre-release Backstage Brew Bus Tour” from Wanderlust Tours, taking you on a visit to both The Ale Apothecary and Crux Fermentation Project: “Take a trip up to Bridge Creek to see Bend’s City water source in all its pure, clear glory. The best beers in the world spring forth from this excellent water source. The first brewery downstream is the new Ale Apothecary- our first stop at this behind the scenes tour! Owner and Brewmaster Paul Arney will share his eclectic, yet experimental craft with us in a gorgeous mountain forest setting. The tour will finish up with a stop at Crux Fermentation Project- Bend’s next great brewery in the making. Open fermenters, shiny copper, a true crossroads of traditional and upstart northwest flavors, seeing Crux behind the scenes is a special treat!”  The price is only $45 and they can seat 14 people—and there’s only going to be one! I’d definitely encourage you to sign up for this one—call 541-389-8359 for reservations.
  • GoodLife Brewing has the grand opening of their Biergarten on Friday the 25th, along with the release of this year’s seasonal Sweet As Pacific Ale. There’s going to be music, games, food, a fire pit, and with the beautiful weather we’ve been having the Biergarten is going to be the place to be when they open!
  • Mt. Bachelor’s Brewski Festival caps the week on Memorial Day weekend—it’s the Mountain’s closing weekend and from 12 to 3pm both days you can enjoy beers poured from Central Oregon’s breweries along with live music, skiing, and more. The cost is $10 for a beer stein and three tokens, with additional tokens available for $2 each. A full 14 ounce pour will cost three tokens, while a sample 4 ounce pour will cost one token. Even if you don’t ski, you can head up to the Mountain to enjoy the beer!
  • The Bend Ale Trail during the Week will be giving out a special bonus prize to folks that complete the Trail: special limited-edition BAT koozies! I don’t know if or when these will come around again, so don’t miss out—plus you’ll get to see all our breweries in doing so! Win-win!

  There are of course a lot more events taking place all week, and I’ll be doing my best to hit a good number of them (I’m definitely interested in the beer cocktails at 10 Below restaurant, which are going on all week). It’s going to be a good week!

  

Hop Talk

• 

  NPR tells us how sap beer is making a comeback

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 1:28am CEST by Al

  I heard a story this evening about how beer made from the last “runnings” of maple sap, which were no good for making syrup, used to be used to make a strong beer. It fell out of fashion as farms modernized but, like so many other beer-related traditions, is making a comeback. Check it out and give a listen.

  Vermont Beer Makers Bring Back Old-Time Maple Sap Brews

  Related Posts:

  • Dogfish Head Immort Ale
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  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  NPR tells us how sap beer is making a comeback is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/15/2012

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Tuesday, the 15th of May (halfway through the month already!). As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it posted.

  Belmont Station (Portland): Today is the premier of the “Three Ring Circus” collaboration beer that Ninkasi‘s Jamie Floyd brewed with the Homebrew Chef Sean Paxton as well as Speakeasy Brewing and Schmaltz Brewing (yesterday I’d reported this as an “event” but it’s really a beer). Jamie Floyd will be on-hand to tap this keg (and reps from Speakeasy and Schmaltz will be there with beers too) from 5 to 8pm. The beer itself is a true “circus” beer, a “nut brown ale brewed with dulce de leche, popped corn and peanuts”!

  Cascade Brewing (Portland): Tonight’s Tap It Tuesday event (starting at 6pm) is Live Red, a “NW style sour red ale that was aged for four months in Bourbon barrels. Dark red wine, raisins and red grape skin aromas are noticed up front. Sweet red grapes and caramel with hints of hazelnuts roll across the palate. Bright red currants and cherries linger in the finish. There is no fruit or spicing in this beer, it’s just a double red aged on oak. 6.5 % ABV, $6 per glass.”

  And, for anyone who was waiting for some special bottle releases from Cascade this week, only Sang Noir will be out; the Figaro isn’t ready to go yet (which is both a risk and a benefit from aging sour beers—they take longer but they’ll be better in the end).

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/15/2012” »

  
• 

  Seven Brides Frankenlou’s IPA

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  Since I had written up my review of Seven Brides Brewing a week ago, it occurred to me that I also have tasting notes for one of their beers—Frankenlou’s IPA. I had written a short note on the brewery review:

  Fruity and a touch of apricot which is a nice touch (it reminds me of Boneyard Beer’s Zwickelmania IPA sample after only 1 day of fermentation). Imperial IPA character with nice tropical fruit notes.

  But earlier this year I had picked up a bottle to try so I can write up a more comprehensive review. Looking over those notes now, it’s apparent I liked the draft version better than the bottled (though the bottled version isn’t bad), but then very often draft (fresh) is better than bottled in most cases.

  Frankenlou’s IPA is their first IPA, and they wanted to make a “hop monster” (hence the play on the name); it turned out to be 7% alcohol by volume and a whopping 105 IBUs (calculated).

  Appearance: Clear, brown-copper color, tan head that has a tint of orange to it.

  Smell: Some green hop character, and lots of crystal malts giving it a sweet toffee nose.

  Taste: Big earthy bitterness that’s woody and grassy, and drowns out the other characters (malts)—it’s not 105 IBUs though, not really. [Often what's calculated doesn't match actual levels, particularly with high amounts of hops and alcohol.] A bit muddled, I can’t distinguish what hops are in here except to say “earthy” ones.

  Mouthfeel: Medium-to-full bodied, with a chewy feel to it (Imperial IPA-ish).

  Overall: I suspect hopheads will like this beer, but I’d look for a cleaner handling of the hops myself. Drinkable!

  Frankenlou’s IPA on Untappd. BeerAdvocate: 78/100. RateBeer: 3.08/5, 52nd percentile.

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Copenhagen Beer Celebration – my opinion

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 4:46pm CEST by knutalbert

  So. This event was announced last autumn, the tickers tickets went on sale – and were snapped up in November. We were promised two magnificent days of great beers and top class food, something way beyond what we have experienced before. I won’t go into any detailed review here, but I feel like summing up [...]

Hop Talk

• 

  Emergency bottle opener: iPad power adapter

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 3:14pm CEST by Al

  

  It’s always good to have a back-up way to get your beer bottle open. Well, if you’re an iPad (or, apparently, Mac) user you’ve got one that you keep everywhere. Your power adapter.

  You’ll want to be careful of course. You wouldn’t want to damage your ability to recharge your device. Ms. Eva Giselle wins the Hop Talk Genius Award. Thank you @EvaZebra!

  (via Lifehacker)

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  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Emergency bottle opener: iPad power adapter is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  
• 

  It’s American Craft Beer Week!

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 2:09am CEST by Al

  Not only is Frederick Beer Week going great gangbusters, but it’s also American Craft Beer Week starting today and running through to Sunday, the 20th.

  CraftBeer.com has the lowdown. There are hundreds of events; surely you can find one near you. Get out there and celebrate craft beer.

  (Oh, it’s also my birthday this week, so…celebrate that too, if you like.)

  Related Posts:

  • American Craft Beer Week 2009
  • Flying Dog American Craft Beer Week events
  • American Craft Beer Week – May 14-20
  • American Craft Beer Week, May 12-18, 2008
  • Maryland Craft Beer Festival – May 12
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  It’s American Craft Beer Week! is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/14/2012

  Posted: May 14th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a good Mother’s Day yesterday, whether you were celebrating FredFest, taking mom out to eat, or whatever! And with another beautiful day on tap, here’s the Oregon beer news for Monday the 14th. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this throughout the day, so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have news to share please contact me so I can get it posted.

  Deschutes Brewery (Portland) has their Collage Beer Dinner in Portland tonight at Wildwood Restaurant: celebrating the release of their first collaboration beer (Conflux #1) with Hair of the Dog Brewing with an amazing menu pairing not only with Collage but also with each of the four constituent beers that make up the Collage blend: The Dissident, The Stoic, Fred, and Adam—each specially aged in different barrels. Tickets are $85 (with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Oregon Food Bank), and there are 10 left—if you want reservations you can contact Special Events Director Shelly Jones at 503.225.0130 or shelly@wildwoodrestaurant.com.

  The Bend Collage Beer Dinner is this Friday the 18th, with a slightly different menu but the beers are the same. Tickets are also $85 (benefitting NeighborImpact of Central Oregon) and there look to be 30 tickets remaining—so don’t wait!

  (And, the general brewery release for Collage is tomorrow, Tuesday the 15th.)

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/14/2012” »

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/11/2012

  Posted: May 11th, 2012, 8:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the Oregon beer news for Friday, May 12 (and the weekend). As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post thoughout the day, so check back often, and if you have news to share please contact me—I’m happy to get that posted!

  Breakside Brewery (Portland) is celebrating their 2nd Anniversary Block Party tomorrow, pretty much all day (from 1 to 7) with live music, food specials, amazing beers, “celebrity” chefs and much more! Cost is $15 for a glass and 5 drink tickets for the outside tent. If you’re in/around Portland, this is on your must-do list for tomorrow!

  And Sunday, the 13th, is FredFest! Your chance to drink with Fred Eckhardt to celebrate his birthday and enjoy some amazing beers—Lisa Morrison has posted an incredible beer list! Tickets are $60 and it looks like there are still some available; and it takes place at Hair of the Dog on Yamhill from  2 to 6pm. Be there!

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/11/2012” »

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Beer judging classes

  Posted: May 11th, 2012, 4:15am CEST by Al

  Are you interested in being a beer judge? Are you considering getting your BJCP certification? Maybe you’re just interested in having a finer appreciation of beer.

  The Beer Judging 101 class held during last year’s Frederick Beer Week turned out to be so popular, they have expanded to three classes, including a new Beer Judging 201 class for more advanced palates. Beer Judging 101 will be held at the Mount Airy Inn (in Mount Airy, Maryland, natch) on Monday, May 14, followed by a Beer Judging 201 class that same evening. Then there will be a second Beer Judging 101 class on Thursday, May 17 at the William R. Tally Recreation Center in Frederick.

  Beer Judging 101: Ever wonder what separates a truly world class brew from a run-of-the-mill beer? This class will open you up to the world of beer judging, and introduce certain basic methods and terminology used by beer judges. We will identify aroma, appearance, flavor, and mouthfeel characteristics of the beer, going over a few specific defects that may occur in beer, and their causes. Weʼll also introduce the Beer Judge Certification Program. All of this while enjoying some great beer! Beginners welcome, no pre-requisite is needed for this class.

  [frederickbeer.com]
  [frederickbeer.com]

  Beer Judging 201: While tasting several beers, we’ll discuss attributes, descriptors, and defects in a little greater depth. We’ll explore some of the finer points of judging, and what makes a great beer judge. Class members will work on a BJCP judging sheet as a group, then perhaps even judge a beer. Learn about advancing within the BJCP. Pre-requisite is the 101 class, some beer judging / tasting background, or a basic knowledge of world beer styles.

  [frederickbeer.com]

  More details can be found at frederickbeer.com.

  Related Posts:

  • Judge not, lest beer be judged
  • Great Frederick Fair Homebrew Competition
  • Frederick Beer Week Events
  • Volunteers needed for FirkinFest – May 19
  • IPA Bake Off
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Beer judging classes is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/10/2012

  Posted: May 10th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the news in beer from around Oregon for Thursday, the 10th of May. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest news. If you have news you’d like to share, please contact me and I can get it posted.

  Oakshire Brewing (Eugene) has a big pub crawl going on tonight for Eugene Beer Week, starting at 6pm and going to… whenever! “Meet the Oakshire Team at Hot Mama’s Wings at 6p- then join us as we bike to Cornucopia’s Maize Lounge (7p), Max’s Tavern (8p), The Webfoot (9p), Rennie’s Landing (10p), and ending at Wild Duck Cafe (11p). See you there!” This would be a blast and you get to hang out with some of the Oakshire folks—win-win!

  This Sunday, May 13th (and Mother’s Day) is FredFest! One of those premier Portland events that celebrates writer Fred Eckhardt. “What started as a small surprise 80th birthday party for world-renowned beer writer Fred Eckhardt is coming back around in its seventh year as one of the most anticipated beer events of the year. Attendees will be treated not only to a rare assortment of hand-selected beers, but also light fare cooked in beer and a birthday cake — complete with a round of “Happy Birthday” — just for Fred. Cheeses, chocolate, candy and even cereal will be offered in abundance so attendees can experience some of Fred’s famed beer-and-food pairings.”  Tickets are $60 and it looks like there are still some available; and it takes place at Hair of the Dog on Yamhill from  2 to 6pm.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/10/2012” »

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Off to Copenhagen

  Posted: May 10th, 2012, 7:34pm CEST by knutalbert

  Up early in the morning for a few days of beer festivals. Meeting people from the international beer scene. Bloggers, drinkers, pourers, brewers. The occasional reader of this blog, too, I hope. No Diaego products will be consumed. Though I plan to have a few from BrewDog. Blog posts to follow next week, but you [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Received: Hop in the Dark (2012)

  Posted: May 10th, 2012, 4:38pm CEST by Jon

  Following up on the Twilight Ale I received recently from Deschutes Brewery, this came yesterday:

  

  This year’s Hop in the Dark CDA. 6.5% abv, 70 IBUs, and if you’re interested they also have a homebrew version of the recipe online: just remember to get the same results they do, you need to cold-steep the black barley overnight to extract the color without the astringency. And you should toast your own oats too.

  
• 

  Central Oregon Brewers Guild officially announced

  Posted: May 10th, 2012, 8:34am CEST by Jon

  This hit the local news yesterday: Central Oregon Brewers Guild Formed. This could be big: Not only has the Bend and Central Oregon brewery scene exploded (look at the list in the the sidebar, which I try to keep up to date, to see how many we have here—and how many have yet to open), but at the same time we’re geographically more isolated than other parts of the state, so having a local guild that sees to the local interests and still works with the main Oregon Brewers Guild makes sense.

  “We want people to think ‘craft beer’ when they hear ‘Central Oregon,’” said Garrett Wales, COBG President and partner of 10 Barrel Brewing Company. “We have this amazing camaraderie and talent among the Central Oregon Brewers, so a local Guild makes perfect sense for our region. We’re creating a craft beer culture because we’ve become one of the industry’s flourishing brewing communities in the United States.”

  According to Wales, The COBG will serve as the Central Oregon voice for the industry, providing local representation, education, promotion and collaboration. The Guild is set up to advocate for local brewers’ needs and establish positive partnerships with industry leaders, community members, retailers and legislators. The brewers of Central Oregon will continue to support the Oregon Brewers Guild while building the local organization to help cultivate and strengthen the region’s craft beer culture.

  The COBG website is here, and is still being fleshed out.

  Long-term implications? I don’t know yet. More events, more advocacy certainly; more beer I’m quite sure!

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/09/2012

  Posted: May 9th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the beer news from around Oregon for Wednesday, May 9. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have news to share please contact me and I can get it posted.

  Gigantic Brewing (Portland): Today is the grand opening day for their new Taproom and Champagne Lounge in southeast Portland! Doors are opening at 3pm until (roughly) 9, and they plan to have their two new house beers on tap as well as the various collaboration beers they’ve been brewing with breweries around the state. Should be an awesome time!

  The Bier Stein (Eugene) has a “Sour Beer Funk Fest” going on for Eugene Beer Week, and today is the second day into it with some really great beers: “If you missed it yesterday, there is still a little Cantillon left! As kegs kick we will have some pretty great back-ups, including Russian River Supplication 2009 and Block 15 ‘Veruca’, a German style Berliner weisse matured 13 months in Syrah Port barrels with Oregon blueberries!”

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/09/2012” »

  
• 

  Barley Brown’s gets TTB approval for new brewery

  Posted: May 9th, 2012, 8:09pm CEST by Jon

  I blogged a month ago in detail about Baker City’s Barley Brown’s Brewpub and their expansion plans, and there’s good news from the TTB (U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau): approval!

  The United States Department Of The Treasury Alcohol And Tobacco Tax And Trade Bureau approved our Brewers Notice to open a second brewery in Baker City. Cheers!

  This is great news, it means Barley Brown’s can (definitely) move forward with opening the 20-bbl brewery directly across the street from their existing brewpub. I don’t know how this impacts the (early) estimate of being up and running by mid-July (if that’s still a valid target), but a summertime trip to Baker City’s sounding pretty good!

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Haandbryggeriet festival – now for the beers

  Posted: May 9th, 2012, 5:01pm CEST by knutalbert

  The Haandbryggeriet beer festival sold 1200 tickets in total on the Friday and Saturday, the budget was 1000. This means a new festival next year, I will keep you posted. But back to this years event. I have praised the setup, but how were the beers? First of all, I was only present at the Friday [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Worthy Brewing construction update (May 2012)

  Posted: May 9th, 2012, 4:43am CEST by Jon

  I’ve been occasionally running pictures of the construction progress over on the Worthy Brewing site here in Bend, and it’s been awhile since the last couple I took. So let’s rectify that.

  Beautiful weather this week, there’s been progress:

  

  Worth Brewing construction, west of lot, facing east

  

  Worth Brewing lot, southwest(ish) corner

  Of course, Worthy has been posting some good-looking construction images over on the Facebook page as well, which are better because they’re “inside access.” I’m definitely more blogger-on-the-street.

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Beer Makes Men Smarter…or does it?

  Posted: May 9th, 2012, 3:50am CEST by Al

  Ron posted a bit of good news recently found in the mainstream media: that beer seems to make you smarter.

  Joe Sixpack (aka Don Russell) punctures that balloon a little bit.

  The “revelation” stemmed from a paper called “Uncorking the Muse: Alcohol intoxication facilitates creative problem solving,” by scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It concluded that test subjects solved certain problems more quickly after reaching a blood-alcohol level of .075 percent.

  Alcohol, the researchers proved, helps the brain access remote areas and develop ideas beyond the confines of typical linear reasoning.

  Naturally, journalists — perhaps because we love research that justifies our own lifestyles — ran with the story. Scores of newspapers, TV stations and blogs picked up on the report, proclaiming that beer makes you smart.

  The attention came as a bit of surprise to one of the researchers, cognitive psychologist Jennifer Wiley, because the research subjects didn’t even drink beer. They were dosed with cranberry juice and vodka. Moreover, Wiley told me that her group had predicted tipsy subjects would test better than sober ones partly because there’s already ample anecdotal evidence that alcohol and creativity go hand in hand.

  Worry not, though. Messr. Sixpack goes on to describe quite a few famous authors who did their best work after a tipple. He quotes Irish poet Thomas Moore:

  If with water you fill up your glasses,

  You’ll never write anything wise,

  For ale is the horse of Parnassus

  Which hurries a bard to the skies.

  While I know that the plural of “anecdote” is not “data”, I know from my own experience that a drink or three is good to loosen up the creativity muscles. I’ve written some of my best code after a couple beers.

  So, while the report didn’t really say what the newspapers said it did, and the researchers got the results they expected, it’s still cool to see that a couple of pints might just let you find your inner bard.

  And let’s not forget this wisdom from Cliff Clavin:

  Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.

  Related Posts:

  • Beer Makes Men Smarter
  • What alcohol does to you
  • Drinking to forget may not work after all
  • Drinking in moderation makes you smarter
  • The beer belly is a myth
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Beer Makes Men Smarter…or does it? is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/08/2012

  Posted: May 8th, 2012, 9:25pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Tuesday, May 8. I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day so if you have some news to share, please contact me so I can get it updated! And check back often for the latest updates too.

  Gigantic Brewing (Portland): The grand opening of their new Taproom and Champagne Lounge is tomorrow, Wednesday the 9th! The doors will open at 3pm and stay open until 9ish; they’re located at 5224 SE 26th Avenue in Portland. They should have two house beers on tap (their IPA and Imperial Black Saison I think) along with their various collaboration beers they’ve been brewing recently on tap as well. This should be a lot of fun!

  Deschutes Brewery (Portland): Apparently yesterday I got the date of the Portland Pub’s Toast to Twilight Ale & Hop in the Dark wrong, it’s actually today! The toast will be at twilight (8:15-ish) and in addition to a special menu there will be swag and six-packs of Twilight Summer Ale available.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/08/2012” »

  
• 

  Received: Redhook Long Hammer IPA, in cans

  Posted: May 8th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  I received these on Friday:

  

  Redhook’s Long Hammer IPA in cans. The accompanying paperwork is amusing; there’s a photo of a crushed Long Hammer can stuck to a… wall of gum I guess. And the release says:

  Where do you crush Redhook?
  Redhook’s Long Hammer IPA cans were specially designed to weigh much less being packed out than packed in, which means beer drinkers can enjoy Redhook in lots of new places – especially those where bottles aren’t allowed. In recent weeks, Redhook has been making his way to some of those places, crushing Long Hammer cans, and sharing photos with Facebook fans along the way. Sure, not all of those places are ordained by city officials for beer drinking, but it’s a lot easier to hide the sound of cans clanking together than bottles. And hey, while Redhook isn’t looking for trouble, he’s not opposed to it either.

  Clever and just subversive enough to catch the eye.

  I reviewed Long Hammer IPA five years ago, but of course now that I have cans you know that means a side-by-side review with the bottled version! And interestingly, the stats on this have changed: five years ago it was 6.51% abv and 38.5 IBUs; now, it is 6.2% abv and 44 IBUs. Interesting.

  

Hop Talk

• 

  “Official” Unofficial events for Frederick Beer Week

  Posted: May 8th, 2012, 3:39am CEST by Al

  (I got this missive in my mailbox today.)

  We are five short days away from the official kickoff of Frederick Beer Week! Putting the stress on the term “official.”

  However, there are some great unofficial events this week to whet your appetites for Maryland beer!

  Pints & the Past
  Thursday, May 10, 7:00 p.m.
  Mayor’s Office at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant
  124 North Market Street

  Join us in the Mayor’s Office at Brewer’s Alley for “Pints & the Past,” a new series for anyone interested in getting together to chat about history. The program will start with a discussion on Freemasonry’s many different stances toward the consumption of liquor and beer, from the earliest recorded meetings in British taverns, to dry lodges during the American Temperance Movement, and varied policies on the use of alcohol by North American Grand Lodges today. Chris Butler, a Ph.D. candidate in cultural anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will discuss the varied ways in which Masonic bodies have dealt with the question of alcohol and fraternalism.. This program is FREE, with a cash bar featuring Brewer’s Alley’s “1634 Ale,” which was created following research on recipes and raw materials from early Colonial Maryland. Special thanks to Frederick Beer week and our sponsor, Brewer’s Alley.

  The FBW Mash-In
  Friday, May 11, 5:00 PM
  The Roasthouse Pub
  5700 Urbana Pike

  THE Unofficial Frederick Beer Week kick-off event. Stop off at the Roasthouse this Friday night for a variety of Maryland beers on tap – pick from everyone from Barley and Hops to DuClaw. Celebrate Maryland with your friends beer by having one on tap at Frederick’s newest craft beer destination! No cover, just good beer.

  ‘Meet the Brewer’ Session 1
  Friday 11 May, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
  Frederick Wine House
  1005 West 7th Street

  The first of three Meet the Brewer/Tastings – Tom Flores, Brewmaster with Brewer’s Alley/Monocacy Brewing Company, invites craft beer enthusiasts to join in the discussion at the first of three ‘Meet the Brewer’ sessions scheduled for Frederick Beer Week. Leading into the kickoff of Frederick Beer Week at the Maryland Craft Beer Festival on Saturday 12 May, this discussion and Q&A session will provide a basis for the desire to celebrate the brewing industry and, of course, BEER. Topics covered in this session will include a crash-course on beer, tasting the history of brewing in Maryland and Frederick and using quality local ingredients. Please join the conversation and ask the questions about beer you have always hoped to have answered. Complimentary samples of Brewer’s Alley bottled beer will be available for attendees to taste.

  Heavy Seas Tasting
  Friday May 11, 4:30 – 7:30
  Ye Old Spirit Shop

  Stop by FBW sponsor Ye Old Spirit Shop just off Route 15 on 7th and sample Heavy Seas’ award winning beers. Get there early and then move onto one of the other great unofficial kick-off events during the FBW Mash-in Night!

   

  In the meantime, get your tickets to the Firkin Fest, Beer Judging 101 & 102, and register for both the Tour de Brew and the FBW Scavenger Hunt! Spaces are limited and filling up!

  Related Posts:

  • Frederick Beer Week Events
  • Hop Talk Podcast #2 – The other Kevin Smith
  • Maryland Craft Beer Festival – May 12
  • July 26 Event at the Flying Barrel, Frederick, Maryland
  • It’s American Craft Beer Week!
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  “Official” Unofficial events for Frederick Beer Week is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/07/2012

  Posted: May 7th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the beer news from around Oregon for Monday, May 7. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day so check back often for the latest. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it posted.

  The World Beer Cup results were posted this weekend, and Oregon’s breweries brought home 12 medals for their beer, and Pelican Pub & Brewery won “Champion Brewery and Brewmaster Large Brewpub”—good showing all around!

  • Bronze in Category 1: American-Style Wheat Beer: DD Blonde, Hop Valley Brewing, Springfield
  • Silver in Category 8: Coffee Beer: Drunken Elf Stout, Columbia River Brewing, Portland
  • Bronze in Category 15: Indigenous Beer: Oyster Stout, Upright Brewing, Portland
  • Gold in Category 18: American-Style Sour Ale: Ching Ching, Bend Brewing, Bend
  • Gold in Category 19: American-Style Brett Ale: Peche ‘n Brett, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Hood River
  • Bronze in Category 56: French- & Belgian-Style Saison: Urban Farmhouse Ale, The Commons Brewery, Portland
  • Bronze in Category 66: English-Style Summer Ale: Mother Lode Golden Ale, Laurelwood Brewing, Portland
  • Bronze in Category 67: Classic English-Style Pale Ale: Caldera Ashland Amber, Caldera Brewing, Ashland
  • Gold in Category 71: Scottish-Style Ale: MacPelican’s Scottish Style Ale, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City
  • Silver in Category 77: Oatmeal Stout: Stumblers Stout, Columbia River Brewing, Portland
  • Gold in Category 81: Barley Wine-Style Ale: Stormwatcher’s Winterfest, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City
  • Bronze in Category 83: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout: Breakside Dry Stout, Breakside Brewery, Portland

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/07/2012” »

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Getting a beer festival right at the first try

  Posted: May 7th, 2012, 6:06pm CEST by knutalbert

  I am very happy to report that the Haandbryggeriet festival last weekend was a success – and it looked to me that this applied to everyone involved. Some parts of the concept seemed to work particularly well: Getting to meet the brewers. For most of the dozen breweries attending, there were you actually got to [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Seven Brides Brewing

  Posted: May 7th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  While in Silverton for the Oregon Garden Brewfest last weekend, one of my goals was to visit Seven Brides Brewing, Silverton’s lone brewery that has been brewing beer since 2008, to check out their brewery and Tap Room and to sample the range of their brews. I’ve tried a few of their beers that have made their way over the mountains here to Bend, but nothing definitive so I was excited for the opportunity to check them out.

  I had emailed ahead of time to see about a brewery tour during our visit, and co-founder Jeff DeSantis was kind and generous enough to spare some time to chat during our visit, but regretfully with the Brewfest going on that weekend we were all busy and didn’t get time to do the tour. However we were at least able to visit the Tap Room and try all the beers (though it was right before the Brewer’s Tasting Dinner so we didn’t eat anything to spoil our appetites for later).

  Continue reading “Seven Brides Brewing” »

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Barrel Aged Beards

  Posted: May 6th, 2012, 1:46am CEST by Matt

  

  Related Posts:

  • Barrel-Aging
  • My Friday Night in Photos
  • Some Bull
  • Growing Up
  • Training for SF Beer Week
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Barrel Aged Beards is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  The Session #63: The Beer Moment

  Posted: May 5th, 2012, 8:35am CEST by Jon

  Today is Star Wars Day: May 4, or May the Fourth—as in, May the Fourth Be With You.

  It’s also the first Friday of the month, which means today is also The Session—group beer blogging day. British beer writer Pete Brown is hosting this month’s edition of The Session, and has chosen for us to write about a topic that is possibly one of the most subjective I’ve yet seen: The Beer Moment.

  My approach to beer writing is by no means the only approach, but I write to try to encourage other people to share the simple joy of beer as much as I do, to switch on people who drink beer but don’t particularly care about it that much, to suggest to them that there’s so much more they might enjoy.  No one says you have to do it this way, and no one ever made me the spokesperson for beer.  It’s just how I decided to write, in the same way others decided to write in an opinionated way about what they love, and what they hate.

  So in that spirit, my choice of topic – with 62 topics already covered – is this: simply, the Beer Moment.

  What is it?

  Well, what is it to you?  What does that phrase evoke for you?

  That’s the most important thing here.  Switch off and float downstream, what comes to mind?  Don’t analyse it – what are the feelings, the emotions?

  To my mind Pete has picked a very Joycean topic, in the stream-of-consciousness sense, and that’s what he’s invoking intentionally; otherwise, as we do when we drink and review beer, we tend to over-analyze, and over-think the beer. So—

  Excitement. Particularly for trying something new. I can’t help it, I get excited about trying new beers—whether it’s a new beer I picked up and is sitting in my fridge, or a new homebrew that I’ve made, or the latest beer to go on tap at one of the breweries in town. Hell, I get excited about drinking beer I’ve had many times over—knowing there’s a cold bottle of whatever waiting for me when I leave work and get home—that’s a moment.

  Another moment is the social one; visiting with friends over beer, hanging out at the brewpub or on the back patio or whatever, splitting special bottles or laughing over pints, meeting new friends who like good beer—all moments.

  Happiness. I don’t mean that the beer by itself makes me happy—well, drink enough and everyone gets happy—but that it’s these types of moments that I associate with beer than make me happy: the chance to try something new, to see good friends, to relax, to laugh, to give me something to write about, to be a part of something like The Session. That sounds corny maybe. But there it is.

  The “moment” is defined by all of these things to varying degrees for me. And each moment is unique, because each day is unique, and each beer is unique. What could be better than that?

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Session 63: Just A Moment If You Please

  Posted: May 5th, 2012, 1:26am CEST by Alan McLeod

  Further to my recent admission of an understanding gap, Pete Brown has been given the keys to today's Session #63, The Beer Moment:

  I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot recently, because I’ve been talking about it to various people who are working hard to try to improve the image of beer in the UK. Because whether we articulate it or not, whether we drink vile, sunstruck Corona or barrel aged imperial stout brewed with weasel shit, it’s about the moment far more than the liquid itself. The only people who disagree with me on this are people I wouldn’t want to share a beer with.

  See, that is just silly. The beer moment is no more profound than the ciggie moment. "Smoke Break!" was a proclamation a pal made decades ago at a summer job. Time for tools down. Time for tea. A good cup of tea. Or... what? A bag of chip? Feet up? That's what makes a moment. Whatever you need at the time.

  There is no beer moment. There are moments. In life. In your life. Beer does not change the moment even when it is present within it. Any number of other things could be there instead. Don't let the ad men fool you.

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  A sophisticated smuggler

  Posted: May 4th, 2012, 5:30pm CEST by knutalbert

  With the new influx of beers in Norway, there are also occasional promotional tastings. With more mundane brews, this is all right, you get a general feeling of the quality level and the flavours. At the same time this speed dating does not do justice to more sophisticated brews. At the launch of new specialist [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/03/2012

  Posted: May 3rd, 2012, 8:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the beer news from around Oregon for Thursday, May 3. I will be periodically updating this post throughout the day so check back for the latest news. If you have some news you’d like to share, please contact me and I will get it posted.

  Actually news might be kind of light since half the state is down at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego this week, which lasts through Saturday. The World Beer Cup took place there as well, as part of the CBC kickoff, and I’ve been looking for results to see if any Oregon breweries brought home any medals but nothing appears to be online yet. (Though you know I’ll be posting when they are!)

  The Green Dragon (Portland) is holding a meet the brewer tonight featuring Firestone Walker, starting at 5pm. Travis Widdifield of FW will be on hand and Wookey Jack Rye IPA, Union Jack Double IPA, and Pale 31 will all be tapped for the event.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/03/2012” »

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  To Be "Shelted" Is Not To Pay A Premium Price

  Posted: May 3rd, 2012, 1:36am CEST by Alan McLeod

  With respect, Lew in this case is wrong:

  "Shelted" is a word Canadian blogger Alan "A Good Beer Blog" McLeod made up three years ago, and from the context, I'm guessing it means "being asked to pay a premium price for a beer imported by Shelton Brothers." (Alan's a bit obsessive on price/value in beer, and the Shelton line is not noted for being underpriced.) Or maybe something similar, but vaguely more crude; you can do the interpretation.

  Sharing: I used "shelted" long before three years ago if only in my heart of hearts and, in particular, long before I knew that the particular bunch in question were so oddly comfortable in being abusive like any one of that certain sort of moron who have built a successful niche in a small market. That is not what drove the creation of the verb. It was created because when I started buying imported good beers in the States I saw that the prices did not always make sense. Here in Canada you can get Orval for under four bucks while it is pushing or over six south of the nearby border. See, I can buy that beer in at least three jurisdictions and be back for lunch. I enjoy a competitive marketplace of sorts. Lew calls that obsessive. Go figure. But it's neither here nor there. To be shelted is far from what Lew supposes. It means to be stuck paying too much because someone has exclusive control of the importing or other aspects of supply. It is to recognize the monopolist, the tyrant of the marketplace. See, perhaps unlike that lawyer Shelton, I am actually a practicing lawyer who buys a lot of things - from buildings to pencils. I don't consider lawyers arseholes unless they came to law school as arseholes. But I do understand how prices, markets, law and taxation interact. So I naturally hate the monopolist, even the tiny ones... and especially the ones who are arseholes, too.

  Which get us to the context of the need to consider "shelt"-ing this week. From my point of view, if you want to disagree with someone or something, you create a body of knowledge that contradicts the assumptions you are taking on. You build respect by learning how to respect the work and opinions of others. By way of comparison, when you refer to "ill-informed and emotionally fraught bloggers" or otherwise take a position of complaining tantrum-esque weakness you don't do anything but point out your own failings. And entitlement. I love to see bad lawyers like that across the table. Their arguments are your playground. See, in yesterday's statement, Shelton Brothers is very careful to play the victim card. They are "ridiculously small guys" and "the little guys" who represent "cute little foreign brewers" when in fact they are market corner-ers who have exclusivity over a large number of brands who the needy beer nerds are trained to covet. Some of the brewers they represent are truly wonderful and worth every penny. Some are not. Yet all seem to demand premium price in the US which I just don't see being asked of us in Canada - though admittedly the selection is not as rich up here. We don't have three-tier. And we also seem not to have those exclusive importer deals as Shelton Brothers might enjoy - along with many others - which see unnaturally inflated prices on the shelves. We have less of that "I just got took" feeling after opening another overpriced beer though, more than admittedly, we have it from time to time.

  Which gets to the last point. Lew is also quite right. The new New York tax interpretation will lead to paying only a few pennies more per glass. And as New York state is in need of revenue that is a good thing. Time to pay the piper. Being shelted, however, has nothing to do with that. Being shelted is being asked to take your hard earned money and give it to support an importer who thinks you the beer buyer and this the beer buying discourse are unworthy... a crock... a dupe... or whatever an arsehole would call it. So, I have no issue with the call for a boycott for those that feel that way but just don't do it over this tax ruling, over just Shelton Brothers and don't go overboard. Get smart and do whenever you feel you have been shelted - whether by this importer or anyone else. And don't worry if someone might call it obsessive especially when only you care about your own wallet. It' doesn't take much. Sure, find the lambics they don't represent and enjoy that often they are a buck less and as good or better. But also notice how that self proclaimed craft beer guru in your own neighbourhood inflates their price through a swing top bottle with specially embossed glass or through jacking prices two bucks for the joy of having three cents worth of a rare ingredient added. Find the alternatives to the loud proclaimers, the self-defined, the brand conscious. Make a habit of not being shelted. But not because of any tax ruling or because Shelton Brothers have justly protected their interests. You should do it to protect those interests of your own against anyone.

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 05/02/2012

  Posted: May 2nd, 2012, 7:00pm CEST by Jon

  Yes, I skipped a day on the Oregon Beer News posts; my day just got away from me yesterday (lots of things going on!) so I figure the OBN took a “May Day”! But it’s back today and as usual I’ll be updating it periodically throughout the day with the latest news as I come across it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I will get it posted.

  Eugene Beer Week starts in less that a week, on Monday May 7, and they’re lining up a nice slate of events to last through the 13th, including the annual Sasquatch Brewfest on Saturday the 12th. This is the second year for the EBW, of many more to come, and you should try to get over there to check out some of the events for the Week!

  The Green Dragon (Portland) has a Green Dragon Brew Crew release today starting at 5pm, featuring Dangerous Blonde Belgian Ale: “1st place winner in the Belgian Strong category at the 2012 Slurp & Burp competition, this Belgian Blonde Ale boasts a nice golden color with a big white lacey head and has aromas of the fruity Ardennes yeast along with hints of coriander, coconut, and some bubble gum as it warms. Added to the kettle was coriander, bitter orange peel, grains of paradise, Saaz hops, and Thai palm sugar.” It’s 7.5% abv.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 05/02/2012” »

  
• 

  Oregon Garden Brewfest wrap-up review

  Posted: May 1st, 2012, 7:30pm CEST by Jon

  Yesterday I posted my thoughts and notes about the Brewer’s Tasting Dinner for the Oregon Garden Brewfest, so today is the rest of it: my review of the Brewfest (from attending on Friday). Interestingly the press release just came out yesterday highlighting the record attendance for this year’s Brewfest (6000 vs. 3200 last year which seems pretty respectable for Silverton) and the People’s Choice beer of the Fest—more on that in a bit.

  First off, the Oregon Garden itself is a pretty amazing place. It opened in 2001 and consists of some 80 developed acres, with 40 more acres planned, and among its features are an artificial wetland (part of a deal with the city of Silverton to help cool and process their treated water), an old-growth oak grove (including a 400-year-old oak tree), market garden for growing food (all of which is donated to local food banks), a rose garden, tropical greenhouse (closed during the Brewfest unfortunately), children’s garden, “Northwest” garden (featuring every plant native to the Pacific Northwest), the Gordon House (the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in the state of Oregon), and much more. If you get the chance to visit the Oregon Garden just for its own sake, I highly recommend you do that, it’s pretty spectacular what they’ve accomplished in just a dozen years.

  Continue reading “Oregon Garden Brewfest wrap-up review” »

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  What Are The Corporate Values Of Beer?

  Posted: May 1st, 2012, 1:47pm CEST by Alan McLeod

  I found this at Forbes entitled "Why More CEOs Should Drink Beer", a column about about that guy who said he had too much beer a bit, odd or at least unusual:

  Mason is 31 years old and running a hot tech company in Chicago. Hot tech companies are filled with smart, young people like Mason who work hard and play hard. This is a generation that has grown up under an avalanche of rules and supervision laid down upon them by their boomer-era parents, many who believe that it was fine for them to smoke dope and protest authority but would never let their children do the same. Because now they’re the authority. How does a guy like Mason, and all the employees of his generation, show their “rebellious” side? They have a beer at a company meeting. Big deal. It’s cool. It safely demonstrates their defiance. I’m sure his insurance broker was having a heart attack. But it’s not over-the-top crazy. Which is why drinking beer and then joking about it at a company meeting to build camaraderie with his employees makes perfect sense. Only a 31 year old CEO could know this.

  Really? I can't think of a time in my working life where I have not had a beer with the bosses once in a while. Tends to be because the bosses all pretty much like beer. The real twist in this story is not that the guy is 31 or that it is a tech company or that the "generation" of folk who have been involved with IT for, let's count fingers, at least 30 years according to my circle of experience are especially cool. They actually represent a group which is less inclined to drink to any great degree if I think about it. A long time ago a pal who was a drummer put it that he did not have much interest in drinking because he didn't need to. The drumming filled that place for him. Some interests are just like that. IT guys. Hockey goalies come to mind. They are focused.

  It strikes me that maybe what the CEO was expressing as much was a loss of something. Absolute control of his company given the need to kiss up to investors and other business folk? The separation from familiar others with whom the rapidly growing had been built? Maybe just silent slinking realization that being 31 isn't being 23. These things can distract the focused mind. Or maybe he's just a little clumsy socially. As in he doesn't have all that much time for beer. Maybe he actually just had a bit too much.

The Brew Site

• 

  Received: This year’s Twilight Ale

  Posted: May 1st, 2012, 6:52am CEST by Jon

  I’ve noticed a pattern lately: when I go out of town for the weekend (vacation, Brewfest, whatever), a shipment of beer shows up at my door.

  This weekend it was Deschutes Brewery‘s 2012 edition of Twilight Summer Ale, a perennial favorite.

  

  I should have opened one up this weekend (after getting back from the Brewfest), it was so nice out. But there are more nice days coming.

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/30/2012

  Posted: April 30th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the final Oregon beer news for April 2012 (already!). This weekend saw the Oregon Garden Brewfest which had me otherwise occupied, but we’re back into the swing of things now and looking ahead to May. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have some news to share, please contact me and I will get it updated.

  GoodLife Brewing (Bend) released the latest beer in their expanding lineup, Comatose Imperial IPA, over the weekend. This beer is 9.5% abv and 95 IBUs and should make hopheads happy, as well as being an interesting new addition to the local beer scene!

  Breakside Brewery (Portland) is going to be celebrating their 2nd anniversary on Saturday, May 12! “We are throwing a huge party for our second anniversary on Saturday, May 12 from 1 until 7. (The restaurant will be open regular hours, but the special events are for the designated times). The party will feature live music, special release beers, and guest ‘celebrity’ chefs at the outside grill. To celebrate the big day, we’ll be pouring from all the draught lines inside plus an addition 8-10 beers outside.” Brewpublic has all the details including the beer list that will be pouring.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/30/2012” »

  
• 

  Oregon Garden Brewfest: Brewer’s Tasting Dinner

  Posted: April 30th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  On Thursday night, the Oregon Garden Resort hosted the Brewer’s Tasting Dinner precursor to the weekend’s Oregon Garden Brewfest: the first year they’ve done a beer-pairing dinner I believe. I’d been invited to attend (along with a number of other regional bloggers), both the Dinner and the OGBF the next day (see my disclosure at the bottom of this post), so naturally doing what I do I took a number of pictures and wrote down notes.

  I thoroughly enjoyed the Dinner, both for the company (blogger friends, most of whom I hadn’t seen since last year) and for the food and beer. I will right up front say that not all the beer worked for me, and while I enjoyed the food for the most part, I heard from some folks who weren’t as impressed. As with anything along these lines, you mileage will vary of course. Me, I enjoyed it and had a good time.

  The dinner itself consisted of six courses each paired with a special beer from various Oregon breweries, and afterwards guests were invited to retire to the Fireside Lounge to enjoy a drink (with a special coupon discount) and mingle with the featured brewers.

  Continue reading “Oregon Garden Brewfest: Brewer’s Tasting Dinner” »

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  A Great Example of A Good Review Of A Poor Beer

  Posted: April 29th, 2012, 10:50pm CEST by Alan McLeod

  Have a look at this review over at Ding's:

  Almost immediately it feels as though one is drinking a sickly sweet, sugar solution that has been infused with honey and molasses. There are very brief glimpses of a little liquor/barrel notes and even a hint of acid funk, but within fractions of a second these are completely overwhelmed with sugar. It seems like underneath this glucose, fructose, sucrose attack, there may be some bitter licorice, but again the sugar is so violent it abuses any subtlety. The alcohol is actually conspicuous by its absence. Under different circumstances one might say ‘well hidden’, but actually in this case it’s a question of eating 10 lbs of pure sugar masking almost any other possible taste sensation. There really is absolutely NOTHING else here apart from a devastating sugar presence – literally nothing.

  While I appreciate the point that Zak is making about the personal nature of favorite beers, I am coming to think that the reluctance of beer fans to criticize poor craft beers¹ is leading to a general perception that the identification and discussion of poorly thought out beers by reputable craft brewers is also a matter of personal opinion. It's not. We've all had them. Overly boozy ales. Beers made to highlight a certain odd barreling technique. Imperial pilsners. Beers that probably should not have seen the light of day or at least not a retail shelf. Don't get me wrong. I have no problem with experimentation. I just don't care to pay for the experiments of others. What is worse is when the experiment is an obvious failure but it is released - presumably to recoup expenses given the hit to its reputation the brewery can only know it would take if drinkers actually reported on the experience. I think Ding's review fairly raises suspicions in that direction.

  Have craft breweries gone out of business due to their repeated failings as brewers of good beer? Probably - but maybe not enough of them. Not being mean. I have one in particular in mind which goes nameless as I prefer not to taint my blog with their name. Short of that, there have not to my mind been enough fairly minded calling out of a poorly made beer with the facts to back it up. Too often, criticisms are layered with attacks on the PR slant of the marketing, assumptions about intentions or frustrations with measuring stick debates about style. A proper review of a really poorly made beer is not about that. It's just about how poor the beer actually is.

  ¹aka bad good beer... as opposed to good bad beer.

• 

  Ontario: Robust Porter, Great Lakes, Etobicoke

  Posted: April 28th, 2012, 4:14am CEST by Alan McLeod

  I was handed this beer at last week's beer event. I just would like to mention that this is one of the best Ontario-made beers I have ever had. Part of their Project X series, it's on limited release and, sadly, limited production. Too bad. Thick sheeting mocha cream head over deep dark ale. Thick aroma, too. Cocoa and mint. Pumpernickel and cream. If I had thought of a beer future back in the 90s, it might have been this. Before hop mania. Before sour. When malt and roast reigned. This has it. Masses of dark malt with dry roast coffee as well as sticky date and raisin notes all carried along with a rich light sour even yogurty yeastiness. It is heavy. In the best sense. As heavy as you wished your coffee in the morning could be.

  I think I recall Troy telling me as he passed the bottle that this was named after Burt Reynolds. Can't recall why.

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Beers old and new

  Posted: April 27th, 2012, 6:25pm CEST by knutalbert

    I enjoy getting the newsletters from BarleyWine in Copenhagen. This is a no nonsense beer shop that has been around for a number of years, before all things beery became hip or trendy. The shop owner Jan Filipe does not only introduce his new beers, he also has some words of advice for his customers. He [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Some OGBF Dinner pics

  Posted: April 27th, 2012, 6:22pm CEST by Jon

  There will longer posts coming (of course) but I thought I’d run a few pictures from last night’s Brewer’s Dinner at the Oregon Garden Brewfest.

  

  

  

  

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Two Beer Folk Lists With Two Different Purposes

  Posted: April 27th, 2012, 3:18am CEST by Alan McLeod

  I was scratching my head a little over two lists that floated by upon the beer-o-sphere ether this week. Jeff was mildly curious about one spammy PR list that popped into his inbox and extracted out the beer people. Ashley, on the other hand, created her own list of "very important women who have already and continue to make a huge impact on the beautiful world of craft beer..." What got me scratching my head was the thought that I would never imagine writing about such a thing, put together a list like that. But then I wondered why... and scratched my head again.

  Here is the thing. I like beer people just fine. But I like most people. In the proper proportion and the proper time. But should that be the measure of all things? There are a few folk in beer that I like a lot and what I have noticed they tend not necessarily to be the person running the show, not the face of the operation. It might be the beer rep who shares the quite word, the smart beer store clerk, the patient bouncer or the well spoken well read bar fly. People who don't push themselves forward but often have the killer line about those that do. Maybe I am just an old gossip. Write a list with those names on it? My fun dries up.

  Of those two lists above, clearly Ashley's is the more welcome because it declares the bias that drew it together? The PR spammers list? Pretty much useless, perhaps only smacking of some vaguely depressing thing that those listed may have in common. But that is the thing about lists of people. They reflect the lister as much or more than the listed. As I wrote in a comment at Jeff's, I think it is more interesting how beer creates few or no people of any real influence or even recognition. Which may be one of its charms.

The Brew Site

• 

  No Oregon Beer News for the rest of the week

  Posted: April 26th, 2012, 7:59pm CEST by Jon

  Sorry folks, between getting ready for the Oregon Garden Brewfest and other pressing matters, I won’t be getting an Oregon Beer News post out today or tomorrow. But hopefully I’ll be doing some blogging from the OGBF!

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Book Review: But Are These Really Beer Books?

  Posted: April 26th, 2012, 1:42am CEST by Alan McLeod

  

  Beer books. I have read enough of them but they are not the whole extent of the books I read related to my interest in beer. One of the most interesting things for me about my interest in beer is how is it woven though the community and through time. On top up there is my recently acquired copy of 1969's breakout best seller The Gansevoorts of Albany: Dutch Patricians in the Upper Hudson Valley. It does appear on Google books but not much of the text is available. Below that book us the second edition of The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte. I am hoping each will be, in its way, a book about beer or at least a book that explains how we can think about beer.

  First, the Gansevoorts. The most amazing thing about this family for our present purposes is that they gave up brewing in the early 1800s after the best part of two centuries of brewing... in North America. There is a lot to learn about the context of how brewing began and has continued for around 380 years in the capital city of New York state but the main thing to understand is that when the British finally took over the Dutch colony in 1674, it did not remove the population. In a way, it is like a mini-Quebec in that, through the Dongan Charter of 1686, the people of Albany were allowed a level of self-government that continued its Dutch political culture. In roads into that were only made after the French and Indian War of the later 1750s which led to the fall of New France. Interestingly, the indications I have seen of a indigenous strong Dutch wheat beer seem to fade along with that political culture replaced in the first decade of the 1800s with the ranges of small to XXXX ales more in line with the Yankees of neighbouring and expanding New England culture that lived on until swamped in turn by later German immigrants and the advent of large scale lager production. Earlier, under that cultural protection, the Gansevoorts can be traced back to the 1650s when a brewer had a daughter whose husband took up the brewing trade himself, passing the business on to their son, whose beer based position and wealth allowed his sons to prosper and lead the Revolution... and to run the brewery until it was demolished in 1807.

  We have data. So much data. But it is out there in jangled family trees, in newspaper ads and in boxes on archive shelves which have remained unopened for years. How to find it all and how to put it into some order? I have an idea for an interactive timeline that effectively displays what otherwise could sit on a wiki like this. But I need help. Hence Tufte. I am thinking of his commentary on the 1869 graphically illustrated map of Napoleon's doomed march into and out of Russia. Except it would be the Hudson River Valley and it would be about almost four centuries of of beer rather that one really poor military campaign. Something of a cross between that and the schematic diagram of the London Underground might work. Maybe.

  Beer books? Two wonderful books and each can tell me plenty about beer or about thinking about beer at least.

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/25/2012

  Posted: April 25th, 2012, 9:51pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Wednesday, the 25th of April. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please let me know and I can get it updated as well.

  16 Tons Taphouse and Café (Eugene) is currently in the middle of their “Week of Wild” celebration that is leading up to their Wild Ale Fest and 2nd Anniversary Celebration taking place this weekend, the 28th and 29th. 30 different wild ales are on tap all week, including some specialty beers brewed just for 16 Tons, and for their Fest they’ll have some 70(!) wild ales on tap, including the special ”El Coloquio de Cervantes” barrel aged Sour Imperial Rye Saison with Raspberries, made by Upright Brewing just for this event. This should be a great time, and if you’re a wild ale fan then this is something you should be checking out!

  The 2nd annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival has been officially announced for June, taking place once again at Burnside Brewing, and rolling out a new website to boot. “The Portland Fruit Beer Festival returns bigger and better than before this June 9 and 10, along with a special pre-fest dinner and seminar on June 8. The only festival of its kind, the PFBF celebrates the wonderful, creative, and uniquely crafted fruit beers of the Pacific NW and beyond. Returning for its 2nd year, the Portland Fruit Beer Festival aims to be the most innovative and fun festival around, with not only the most exotic selection of  fruit beers on tap, but also by adding gluten-free fruit beers and locally-made hard ciders. In the wake of last year’s overwhelmingly high attendance, organizers this year have secured the closure of NE 7th Street off of East Burnside to more than double the capacity of Burnside Brewing Co.’s parking lot while still keeping the event friendly for all ages.” This is going to be one of the premier Oregon beer festivals of the year, one you should definitely make an effort to attend. There’s a lot more detail too, so checkout the new website.

  
• 

  Introducing Central Oregon Beer Week: May 21-27

  Posted: April 25th, 2012, 7:30pm CEST by Jon

  Big news for Central Oregon next month as we roll out the inaugural Central Oregon Beer Week, taking place the last full week in May from the 21st through the 27th! This is a project I’ve been working on for a little while now and we recently made it official, and decided to go for it. Here’s the official press release that’s out:

  CELEBRATE CENTRAL OREGON BEER WEEK MAY 21-27

  Bend and Central Oregon has one of the largest per-capita number of breweries of any region around, and on top of that a thriving, exploding beer scene—so it’s only natural that we also have a Central Oregon Beer Week (COBW), a week-long celebration of Central Oregon’s amazing beer culture!

  Central Oregon’s very first Beer Week takes place the last full week in May, leading up to Memorial Day weekend with Mt. Bachelor holding their two-day Brewski festival featuring great beer from Central Oregon’s fantastic breweries.

  Other events are in the works, including tastings, meet the brewers, beer dinners, some special tours, and much more, all in conjunction with the newly-formed Central Oregon Brewers Guild—check out and bookmark the Events page to keep abreast of all the Week’s happenings!

  If you would like to participate in Central Oregon Beer Week, we would welcome your event! You can fill out our event submission form on the COBW website to tell us all about it.

  And, a bit of backstory: This has been an idea I’ve been bouncing around for awhile now, talking with folks about it and early on I was thinking a spring event would work well, trying not to schedule around times when other Oregon beer weeks were taking place but still something that would be good for Central Oregon. As the time ran short, however, there was also talk about the possibility of August (coinciding with the Bend Brewfest), but everybody liked the idea of a May event so we decided to go for it anyway.

  Everyone I’ve talked to about it (the breweries, bottle shops, businesses, restaurants, and so on) has been incredibly receptive and enthusiastic, so my hope is to put on a Week full of smaller, inclusive events (necessary really given the very short lead time) that will generate buzz and highlight and raise awareness of the amazing beer culture Central Oregon has to offer.

  To that end, if you’re in Central Oregon and you’d like to participate by holding an event or have ideas you’d like to share, by all means please fill out the event submission form and let us know—we would love to include you and get you listed on the Central Oregon Beer Week site and events!

  Watch that site and the blog here for a lot more to come about this in the next few weeks!

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/24/2012

  Posted: April 24th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the Oregon beer news for Tuesday, April 24. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day, so if you have some news to share, please contact me. And check back often to see the latest news.

  Double Mountain Brewery (Hood River) and Terminal Gravity Brewing (Enterprise) have joined together to brew a collaboration beer known as “Gravity Mountain IPA,” a 7.2% abv beer that, “combines the breweries’ two house yeasts, their unique base malts, and some of their signature hops to make a strong, blond-colored IPA that’s aggressively hoppy and satisfying. It’s a true marriage of two brewery identities.” The bottled version is being handled by Terminal Gravity, and the draft version by Double Mountain. Early tweets are favorable, so I’m looking forward to trying this one out.

  Widmer Brothers (Portland) has announced their latest beer in their Brothers Reserve series, and it sounds like a killer (pun intended): Kill Devil Brown Ale, which will be available during a special release at the brewery this Saturday the 28th from 9 to 11am. “Aged in Puerto Rican rum barrels, and brewed with Sweet Barbados and Blackstrap molasses, palm sugar, and Calypso hops, Kill Devil’s flavor and name were inspired by the ingredients used by Caribbean distillers. Be among the first to get your hands on bottles of Kill Devil before it hits store shelves in mid-May. Kurt and Rob Widmer will be on hand to share samples, talk about the beer, and sign packages of the limited release. 22oz bottles will be sold for $13 each with a three-bottle limit until 11:00am or until 30 cases are sold.” A rum-inspired beer… definitely one I want to try!

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/24/2012” »

  
• 

  Weekend beer notes: Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, more

  Posted: April 24th, 2012, 7:31pm CEST by Jon

  This weekend we helped our friends Paul and Sandi with moving, and along the way they had uncovered a bottle of Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence that they had been holding onto—apparently for nearly 4 years! They had originally picked up bottles of this back in 2008 and I wrote about sharing one then; this is a 10th anniversary limited edition beer that Ommegang released in 2007.

  Back in November of ’08 I wrote about this:

  Dry, bitter, dark, pure unsweetened chocolate. Everything about the beer screams “chocolate” but don’t look for a candy bar flavor—it’s the real thing. Lighter than I’d expect—I expected a full body, it’s more medium. Long, dry, chocolate finish—very nice.

  Long, drawn-out bitter character—almost like it’s bittered with chocolate instead of hops, as Paul noted. I think the name is totally apt, this is indulgence in the extreme and a superb sipping beer. One I quite enjoyed.

  Now, three and a half years later, I’d have to say the chocolate has mellowed and smoothed out quite a lot, fairly decadent, and it’s (probably) a bit drier. It’s held up incredibly well so if you can find a bottle of this floating around I’d say now is a good time to drink it.

  A couple other notable beers that I remember this weekend:

  BridgePort Stumptown Tart: I enjoyed this on draft at the Broken Top Bottle Shop, this year’s three-berry version,

  Fort George Roses on Roses XVIth Chapel: This five-year anniversary ale—a Double Belgian IPA aged in Four Roses Bourbon barrels—is frankly amazing. One of the best Belgian-style IPAs (not the same as the “White IPA” which is the Belgian-style Witbier/IPA fusion) that I’ve had. Buy up a bunch of this before it’s gone.

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  My New Favorite Drinks Guy Is Fred Dell, Gardener, 94

  Posted: April 24th, 2012, 3:36am CEST by Alan McLeod

  What is not to love about this story?

  A man from Lancashire has been offered free beer for life at the pub where he has been a regular for 76 years. Fred Dell, 94, has been popping round to the Strawberry Gardens on Poulton Road in Fleetwood for a "swift half of mild", since he was 18. Landlord Dave Shaw has now made Mr Dell, a retired gardener, a freeman of the pub, in recognition of his loyalty... Remembering his first pint in 1936, Mr Dell said: "You could get half a mild, five woodbines and a box of matches and a penny change for half a sixpence. "Nowadays for my first drink, I'll get half a mild and a whisky, and then after that I'll have just whisky, they're only wee things so I'll have about eight."

  Freeman of the pub! Now I know the title my life has been working towards. Just hope I don't have to wait to 94. Some of us are chained to a desk and not able to have the physical advantage of a gardening life. Ten units a day, though. That's something for concern. Something Fred will have to watch. Might be at risk as a binge drinker. Could lead to more... gardening and, err, living to a ripe old and fit age.

Hop Talk

• 

  No Bollocks

  Posted: April 23rd, 2012, 9:41pm CEST by Ron

  Drinking a New Castle Brown and watching more creative advertising.Check out their YouTube channel for all of the “No Bolllocks” ads. I like that they admit that they may never finish the series… pretty funny in itself.

  I must admit, their website is unique and attractive – unfortunately it is not very practical. For instance, if I were looking for a list of their current available brews and a description of each I’d be searching for a long time.

  Related Posts:

  • Open a beer bottle with a chainsaw
  • Molson Canadian – New at the office
  • Books for the holidays
  • Expect more viral videos to sell beer
  • Funny Beer Commercials
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  No Bollocks is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/23/2012

  Posted: April 23rd, 2012, 7:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the beer news from around Oregon for Monday, April 23. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it updated.

  The Oregon Garden Brewfest is taking place this week in Silverton this Friday and Saturday the 27th and 28th, with their Brewer’s Tasting Dinner on Thursday evening the 26th. There 46 breweries (and cideries) with 90+ beers represented so I’m expecting a good fest and will be in attendance. One-day tasting packages are $15 (which can buy online), two-day packages are $25, and additional tasting tickets are $1. Should be a fun weekend!

  Lompoc Brewing (Portland) is kicking off their “Lompocalypse: End of Days” week-long event today, commemorating the final days for the New Old Lompoc location on 23rd Avenue. “ Every day of April 23 – 28, enjoy one last bowl of Chef Mike’s award winning clam chowder and a pint of Lompoc standard beer for $7. Plus free appetizers every day beginning at 6pm.” There will be specials and events all week until Saturday the 28th, Lompocalypse day: “Join us for one last pint and enjoy live music, beer specials, and the camaraderie of your local neighborhood watering hole one last time before Resurrection 2013.”

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/23/2012” »

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Listen To "The New Beer Frontier" On BBC 4 Online

  Posted: April 23rd, 2012, 2:07am CEST by Alan McLeod

  Not sure how long this program will remain available to worldwide listeners so you might want to listen in now:

  From barrel ageing beer to sourcing intensely bitter hops, Dan Saladino reports on the latest trends in American brewing that are starting to influence British beer styles. The US "craft beer" scene started to take shape 30 years ago. Prohibition in the 1920s and post-war industrialisation brought an end to one of the world's most diverse brewing cultures. In 1979 President Jimmy Carter made home brewing legal again, and soon after, a network of adventurous brewers started to emerge. Known as craft brewers, they operate on a small scale and use traditional brewing techniques but also place great emphasis on experimentation and innovation. American brewer and editor of The Oxford Companion to Beer, Garrett Oliver puts their quest for new flavours down to the US losing its own brewing culture and so being free to explore all others. Now a young generation of brewers in the UK are looking at these new US styles and discovering techniques like barrel aging as well embarking on experiments with new, intensely flavoured, hop varieties.

  Garrett Oliver and Pete Brown are generously featured in the story but most alarmingly shocking is the reference to beer bloggers not located in a joke or rant. The only quibble I have is the perpetuation of the 1979 Jimmy Carter home brewing law story as primarily foundational to today's good beer. Lew has noted this as well. Good beer was well established in the English speaking world even if in the US you were looking at an import if you wanted another taste. Further, the concept of home brewing and control of what you drank had been well established in the UK. Early US craft brewers were as much trained in the UK as came from home brew circles. The wheels were already turning.

  But... a quibble. You may disagree. Never mind. The radio program is seriously presented and tightly comprehensive in scope. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

• 

  Are Drinks Wholesalers Actually An "Industry"?

  Posted: April 22nd, 2012, 5:44pm CEST by Alan McLeod

  Remember when industry meant, you know, making things. I was reminded of that this morning when I came across this article about the effect of mandatory third party wholesaling on Alabama's wineries and got stuck on the word "industry":

  “When you put three hands in it, there’s nothing left,” she said of the state’s three-tier system involving producers, distributors and retailers. “We have restaurants that want to carry our wine but can’t buy it, and we can’t distribute it.” The ABC Board protects the three-tier system that allows control of alcoholic beverages, considered a controlled substance. The vintners believe if they’re allowed to distribute a few thousand cases of wine each year, the big wineries that distribute hundreds of thousands of cases will ask to be relieved of the middle man. And that could destroy a big industry and possibly the ABC Board that regulates the system.

  For me, there is a simple rule. If you need your role in an economy mandated by law, you are not an industry. You are a courtier, a favoured friend, a pampered oligopolist. But you are not really an "industry" because of the law were changed, the middle tier of the booze trade would erode and fade as fast as the value of a lapsed copyright. Here in Ontario we have a one to two tier system in beer. For big macro beer, the beer is sold by a retail system owned by the big brewers themselves. Most craft is either sold direct to retail by the brewers or sold off shelves through the LCBO system, the government owned booze vendor which is both wholesaler and retainer. There are agents but, as I understand it, that is optional and earn their keep though provisions of efficiencies and special knowledge.

  All booze, including beer, naturally forms a multi-layered economy. Coopers and keg manufacturers, bottle and cap makers are as necessary a part of the system as are the good folk who peak into the mash tun and determine when its done. Each pays their way. But mandatory staging through a distribution system? It's skimming. Whether by the obligatory contract or by committee imposition, the market is skewed by the involuntary payment to a stranger to the actual transaction. All of which is at the expense of you, the consumer.

• 

  Do I Really Want to Show You How Good Beer Can Taste?

  Posted: April 21st, 2012, 2:46am CEST by Alan McLeod

  Really? I mean I am a fan of good beer as much as the next guy but do I really want to show you how good beer can taste as suggested by this article entitled "Craft beer aficionados want to show you how good beer can taste. Trust them."?

  Those friends who sold me on craft beers are now trying to sell the entire Pittsburgh population on them. Today marks the start of Craft Beer Week, organized by the nonprofit Pittsburgh Craft Beer Alliance. Local breweries, distributors, bars and restaurants throughout the North Hills and the metro area are featuring tastings and special events to spread, as they say, "the gospel of all things craft beer."

  The funniest thing, of course, is that if this theory is true all Pittsburgh Pirate fans should become Yankee fans, right? And you will all listen to The Decemberists and you will all know the reference in the band's name and know why you have to be taught Dostoevsky when you are 20 from a guy who knew Pasternak... because of you don't understand things on as many levels as I do you really can't have passion. You won't really be able to suck the marrow out of life and giggle as it drips down you chin. Because you won't have passion. Like me.

  To hell with that. Passion is that employer of the young who saps their joy for life. Passion offers periodic Google ad cheques in return. It asks you to be the unpaid brand ambassador. On Wednesday night, a intelligent and eager young person suggested to me that my interest in good beer was pure passion with a certain honest excitement. I took the time to gently crush that moment like a mouse under my heel. It was information, I said. Information and interest. Passion? I have children for that. I have my future. Most of all, I have awareness that we all face the grave and am informed of that by the smell of the forest or by the way ocean waves entrance you if you just stop and watch. That's passion. I don't buy passion by the six pack and I sure as hell don't run into it at either the gala or during the week's worth of events put on by the local brewers' association.

  Beer? It is tasty. It can even be fun. But let's keep some perspective. Worrying too much about the taste in other peoples' mouths should only really lead to something more sensible like this.

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/20/2012

  Posted: April 20th, 2012, 10:12pm CEST by Jon

  This Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day, and of course today being 4/20 there’s a different earthy connotation altogether. (Ninkasi’s Maiden the Shade comes to mind as a good beer for today—only it’s not out yet!) With those thoughts in mind, here’s the news for Oregon beer for the weekend. As usual I’ll be updating periodically throughout the day, so check back often for updates. If you have news to share, please contact me and I’ll get it posted.

  It’s Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers weekend, with the preview dinner tonight and the fest itself takes place at tomorrow, both at Metalcraft Fabrication in Portland. The dinner tonight is from 5:30 to 8:30pm and costs $40, and the main fest tomorrow is from noon to 9pm and costs $15 to $20 initially (for stemmed glass plus 5 or 10 tasting tickets, respectively), with additional tickets $1 each. Besides getting the chance to taste a wide variety of beer made with the same strain of yeast (a cool beer geek event in and of itself) there will be scheduled “meet the brewer” times and I think food, music, and more. This is definitely one of those events I wish I was in Portland for! Someday I’ll make it though.

  Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City): How did I know know that Pelican teamed up with Ninkasi Brewing to brew a collaboration beer? Well I do now, and so do you: “Darron Welch recently joined forces with Jamie Floyd of Ninkasi Brewing Company to collaborate on a brew in memorial of Danny Williams, who recently passed away. Danny’s Black Gold is one of a series of Danny Williams memorial brews that are being brewed across the country, with the Pelican – Ninkasi collaboration representing the Pacific Northwest. Danny’s Black Gold is a fusion of the signature stouts produced by each brewery, Tsunami Stout from the Pelican and Oatis Stout from Ninkasi. After marrying the two formulations, the beer was boosted to Imperial strength and then fermented with Rochefort Trappist yeast, yielding a unique, inspired beer, an Imperial Oatmeal Belgian-Style Stout!” It should be showing up in May.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/20/2012” »

  
• 

  The Oregon Garden Brewfest is one week from today!

  Posted: April 20th, 2012, 8:37pm CEST by Jon

  One week from today the Oregon Garden Brewfest kicks off over in Silverton, offering two days of beer tasting at the Grand Hall of the Oregon Garden, including beer from a number of (western) Oregon breweries that you may not have tried yet.

  I posted the beer list but more importantly, a list of my recommended beers—including the ones that I’m excited about trying since I’m going to be there. (Disclosure: I’ll be there on their dime as media.)

  And, I’ll be at the Brewer’s Tasting Dinner the night before (Thursday) as well, and if you’re interested in attending that ($40 per person) they posted earlier this week on Facebook that there were only 20 tickets left, so don’t wait. It looks like a great menu and of course each of the six courses is paired with amazing-sounding beers (Gigantic Brewing’s Imperial Black Saison?? Yes please).

  So I’ll definitely be there, Thursday night and Friday the first day of the Fest, and I’m definitely looking forward to it. If you’re going and would like to meet up, leave a comment or contact me!

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Stupid robot

  Posted: April 20th, 2012, 6:19pm CEST by Al

  Related Posts:

  • Beer pouring and tasting basics
  • Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA Collaboration
  • Remote beer cannon
  • Opening a Beer… with a Helicopter
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  Stupid robot is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Practice your German – refreshments included…

  Posted: April 20th, 2012, 7:48am CEST by knutalbert

  The first Beer Symposium for Beer Enjoyment and Brewery Culture (it looks more impressive in German) takes place in Bamberg in October.  This is organised by the Franconian Beer Academy, and has a varied program, including brewery visits, discussions on beer tourism, brew pubs, marketing and brewing. A praticularly interesting session will probably be the [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/19/2012

  Posted: April 19th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Thursday, the 19th of April. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this news post throughout the day, so check back often to see the latest. If you have news to share, please contact me and I will get it posted.

  Do you have tickets for tomorrow night’s Preview Dinner for Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers yet? The dinner is from 5:30 to 8:30 at the PCTBB venue of Metalcraft Fabrication, and costs $40 (and is 21 and over only): “$40 gets you twelve drink tickets, a stemmed tasting glass, program, and Mussels and Frites and Beer Braised Brussel Sprouts from Fork, Knife & Spoon Catering . Tickets must be purchased in advance.” You can purchase the tickets directly from the form on the PCTBB site. What are you waiting for?

  Early notice: Coalition Brewing (Portland) is having their 2nd anniversary on June 16, but they’ve put the word out now for a homebrew showcase and competition that they are holding in conjunction with their anniversary: “Competition guidlines: This is a “Session Beer” competition so entries must be 5% ABV or below. The rest is up to you! The entries will be judged by local brewers and industry folk. Awards will be given for “Best Light” “Best Dark” and “Best Overall”. ”Best Light” and “Best Dark” will be awarded a gift certificate to Coalition, while “Best Overall” will brew that recipe in our Brewery. The final product will be showcased at our 2nd Anniversary Party on June 16th.”  Deadline for entries is May 13, and the Best Overall winner must be available during the week of the 18 through the 25 to brew their beer at Coalition. The entry fee is $5 (per entry)—if you have some killer session homebrew, you should be all over this!

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/19/2012” »

  

Knut Albert's beer blog

• 

  Finding words for flavor

  Posted: April 19th, 2012, 8:56pm CEST by knutalbert

  I like to think of beer writing as closely related to food writing, while many food writers probably think of beer writing as the slightly retarded cousin of the family. Those days I hardly have the time to read the beer blogs I would have liked to keep up with, meaning I miss out on [...]

The Brew Site

• 

  Widmer Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout

  Posted: April 19th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  When Widmer sent me the two bottles of their new Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout, there was an additional detail that was a nice touch: a “note tag” that you could write your tasting notes on when you drink the first bottle, and then tie that tag to the second bottle so when you drink that one—a year or so later, per their suggestion—you’d be able to compare notes on the fresh vs. the aged beer. I thought this was a cool idea, and really clever. Of course I filled it out and tied it to the second bottle.

  Anyway, the beer. I’m pretty convinced that this is their KGB Russian Imperial Stout (which they released last year) with raspberries added, even if it’s not been overtly stated. The alcohol is the same, the IBUs are the same, and the malts are mostly the same. Maybe that’s the intent of this Alchemy Project series, to take a previous big beer and amp it up even more? (Like they did with the first beer in this series, the Barrel-aged Brrrbon.)

  That’s okay, because the KGB was a really good beer and this one is too. It’s 9.3% abv and they say:

  An extremely rich and complex beer, the addition of raspberries during the fermentation process results in an almost purplish opaque color with a beautiful brown head. Warm chocolate and roasty notes compliment the hop bitterness.

  Appearance: I don’t know about a purplish color; I see opaque black with a light tan head that leaves really nice lacing on the sides of the glass.

  Smell: Tart berry nose (almost more “sour” to me than fruity) with bittersweet chocolate and fresh ground coffee following it up. As it warms, that tart berry character becomes more prominent.

  Taste: A dry, roasty stout—very dry—with charred notes all over the roasted barley, but still allowing hints of raspberry to come through, light and tart. As it warms it softens up, and the berry flavor starts revealing itself more prominently. Maybe a touch boozy, but it hides the alcohol strength well. And still very dry throughout.

  Mouthfeel: Lighter than you’d expect out of an Imperial Stout, with a dry, dry finish.

  Overall: Take a dry stout and boost the strength to imperial levels yet keep it very dry and lighter in the body; that’s what you get with Widmer’s (KGB) Imperial Stout interpretation. The berries are subtle and tart, but present. Restrained, and really quite good—if you don’t mind this dry style (as opposed to what a lot of people want in a RIS, sticky, chewy, sweet body).

  Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout on Untappd. BeerAdvocate: Only 3 reviews so far, averaging 3.74/5. RateBeer: 8 reviews for 3.15/5.

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Saranac Diet Root Beer

  Posted: April 19th, 2012, 2:49pm CEST by Ron

  

  Somewhere along the line I switched my soft drink preference to diet sodas. Whether the “real” stuff got just too sweet, or my body couldn’t take it anymore (or both), I don’t know

  When it comes to root beer, however, diet root beer generally is awful. I was happy to find that Saranac breaks that rule with their diet root beer. It has some sugar in it (about 35 calories per 12 oz worth of corn syrup) plus some of the fake stuff (aspartame). It definitely stands above the rest of the diet root beesr I have tried. Saranac also makes the real stuff, a ginger beer and a Shirley Temple.

  Of course, if you want something healthier, I recommend Saranac’s High Peak series.

  Related Posts:

  • Saranac Black & Tan
  • Saranac Pumpkin Ale
  • Saranac Brown Ale
  • Saranac Irish Red Ale
  • Saranac Pale Ale
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Saranac Diet Root Beer is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Brewers' Plate 2012 And My Happy Schooling

  Posted: April 19th, 2012, 2:28pm CEST by Alan McLeod

  What a pleasant Wednesday. I ate. I sipped. I asked myself a lot about how people in downtown Toronto spend their Wednesday evenings. I did not think I got swept away in pairing mania but, and it is a subtle but so bear with me, there were many wonderful combinations to be found.

  For example, Beau's Mates with Dates and the cheese made from water buffalo milk from Montefort Dairy was a really interesting side by side but it was not one of the proposed pairings on offer. Similarly, a deftly tucked away bottle of Ten Bitter Years from Black Oak went very well with the dessert crepe being given away in a booth but that was not the beer on offer because the crepe had Ontario black walnuts. The chef and I talked about the weirdness of the texture of the crepe and nuts with a very bombish IPA. But we agreed that there was a twigginess in the hops of the beer that worked with the walnuts which tasted like you face would after an hour of chainsawing hardwood.

  So did I pair? Probably. Was the event a good one. It really was. I am going to just post this now but add some more thoughts as my day's class on contract drafting proceeds. Unless it is riveting. Which it could be. You never know.

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/18/2012

  Posted: April 18th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Here’s the Oregon beer news for Wednesday, April 18. As usual I’ll be updating this post periodically throughout the day with news, so check back often for the latest updates. If you have some news to share, please contact me and I’ll get it updated as well.

  Upright Brewing (Portland) has a special beer in the works for Eugene’s 16 Tons Taphouse‘s anniversary, El Coloquio de Cervantes (via the New School). 16 Tons is having a “Week of Wild” to celebrate next week (more on that later) and Upright accordingly brewed the special one-off just for the event. The beer itself is a “barrel-aged dark rye saison with raspberries. More specifically, it’s “a blend of Upright Six, Upright Eight, and raspberries barrel-aged with wild yeast.” If you’re wondering what Upright “Eight” is, it’s a batch of the Six that was fermented with a different yeast strain that fermented over the top of the open tank, losing wort and finishing at a much higher gravity. Jokingly, it was then added to barrels to ferment out and named Upright Eight.” Look for this and more in Eugene next week.

  McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro) has a Spring Brewers Dinner tonight starting at 7pm: “This feast will center around “Beer through the Ages,” focusing on the history of beers of the world and how they shaped the beers of today.” With Stout matching Ireland, Pilsner matching Germany, and more—five courses paired with beer (by country) which sounds like a really cool idea. Cost is $50 and reservations are required so get in touch with them at (503) 640-6174 to find out more.

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/18/2012” »

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Milwaukee Brewfest – July 28

  Posted: April 18th, 2012, 6:10pm CEST by Al

  Press Release
  Contact: Bill Hoag
  (414) 321-5000
  For Immediate Release:

  Third Annual Milwaukee Brewfest

  MILWAUKEE, WI – After a very successful second year, Inferno Marketing Group is thrilled to announce the date for the Third Annual Milwaukee Brewfest, taking place at the old Coast Guard Pavilion at McKinley Park on Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront July 28, 2012. In the heart of Milwaukee, this great location is within walking distance of the Eastside and Downtown.  Beautiful views and ample space have proven this a great spot for a craft beer tasting event!

  This year we will have unlimited sampling of over 200 craft beers and micro brews from over 60 breweries from across the country.  Back by popular demand, the 2012 Milwaukee Brewfest will also have a special German Row.

  Although everyone comes for the beer, we’ll have a number of on-site activities for added entertainment:

  • Live musical performances
  • Crowning of the 2012 Milwaukee Brewfest Queen
  • A variety of food available for purchase from local restaurants and vendors
  • Food sampling from various Wisconsin-based companies
  • Displays by a number of local artists and craftsmen

  Milwaukee Brewfest will take place from 3pm-7pm with 2pm early admission for all VIP ticket holders.  General admission tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the gate.  VIP tickets are $55 in advance or $60 at the gate.  Ticket sales are limited, be sure to get your tickets while you can.

  Please visit us online at www.milwaukeebrewfest.com for ticket purchases and additional information.  Any questions or comments can be directed to:

  Milwaukee Brewfest
  1910 S. 81st Street
  Milwaukee, WI   53219-1010

  Phone: (414) 321-5000
  Fax: (414) 321-0505

  Related Posts:

  • Brewing up a Milwaukee beer museum
  • Biketoberfest Marin on September 25
  • Milwaukee’s Best
  • The return of Schlitz
  • Beer News Sampler
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Milwaukee Brewfest – July 28 is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  The next Session: the Beer Moment

  Posted: April 18th, 2012, 6:08pm CEST by Jon

  The next edition of The Session (the 63rd) has been announced, and it’s being hosted by British beer writer Pete Brown. The topic Pete is suggesting is a provocative one: the “Beer Moment.”

  My approach to beer writing is by no means the only approach, but I write to try to encourage other people to share the simple joy of beer as much as I do, to switch on people who drink beer but don’t particularly care about it that much, to suggest to them that there’s so much more they might enjoy.  No one says you have to do it this way, and no one ever made me the spokesperson for beer.  It’s just how I decided to write, in the same way others decided to write in an opinionated way about what they love, and what they hate.

  So in that spirit, my choice of topic – with 62 topics already covered – is this: simply, the Beer Moment.

  What is it?

  Well, what is it to you?  What does that phrase evoke for you?

  That’s the most important thing here.  Switch off and float downstream, what comes to mind?  Don’t analyse it – what are the feelings, the emotions?

  I can’t but think of the late Don Younger’s famous line, “It’s not about the beer, it’s about the beer.”

  What’s your Beer Moment? Write about it on Friday, May 4 (“May the Fourth be with you”) and submit your blog post to Pete to be a part of The Session.

  

Hop Talk

• 

  Top Craft Brewers for 2011

  Posted: April 18th, 2012, 3:27am CEST by Al

  The Brewers Association has just released their lists of the Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewers and Top 50 Overall U.S. Brewers for 2011 based on beer sales volume.

  Here are the Top 10 Craft Brewers. No surprises here.

  1. Boston Beer Co. – Boston, Massachusetts
  2. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Chico, California
  3. New Belgium Brewing Co. – Fort Collins, Colorado
  4. The Gambrinus Company – San Antonio, Texas
  5. Deschutes Brewery – Bend, Oregon
  6. Matt Brewing Co. – Utica, New York
  7. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. – Galesburg, Michigan
  8. Harpoon Brewery – Boston, Massachusetts
  9. Lagunitas Brewing Co. – Petaluma, California
  10. Boulevard Brewing Co. – Kansas City, Missouri

  My friends up the road, Flying Dog, came in at #26.

  You can get the full lists at the Brewers Association press release. As is now tradition, Jay Brooks has an annotated list of the Top 50 overall showing last year’s position.

  Related Posts:

  • Top Brewers of 2009
  • Craft beer up 15% so far in 2011
  • Top 50 U.S. Brewing Companies – 2010
  • Brewers Association redefines “small”
  • Top beer brands of 2008
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Top Craft Brewers for 2011 is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/17/2012

  Posted: April 17th, 2012, 9:00pm CEST by Jon

  Happy Tax Day—if you’ve managed to get your taxes done and sent off, enjoy a beer, and if not, enjoy a beer anyway, taxes are stressful! In the meantime, check out the beer news from around Oregon today; I’ll be updating this periodically throughout the day so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it updated.

  The Brewers Association released their top 50 craft breweries list today, based on 2011 beer sales volume, and I’m pleased to note a number of Oregon breweries on the list:

  • Deschutes Brewery at #5
  • Full Sail Brewing at #20
  • Rogue Ales at #25
  • Ninkasi Brewing at #32

  In addition Widmer Brothers and BridgePort Brewing indirectly made this list, being part of the Craft Brew Alliance and The Gambrinus Company, respectively. That’s good news for Oregon beer, and shows off the tremendous growth in craft beer—particularly with Ninkasi, the youngest of this group whose growth has skyrocketed these past few years (and is continuing to climb).

  Breakside Brewery (Portland): They’ve got a Tax Day special for you: “Happy Tax Day! Come into the pub today with the password “Tax my ass” and see what it gets you. It’ll be worth your while.” (via Facebook)

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/17/2012” »

  
• 

  Shock Top Lemon Shandy

  Posted: April 17th, 2012, 6:00pm CEST by Jon

  The Shock Top division of Anheuser-Busch (one of their “craft” beer arms, very similar to Coors’ Blue Moon arm) has been on a roll lately, cranking out new Shock Top variations beyond their original Belgian-style White variety: earlier this year they introduced “Wheat IPA” which is solidly in the Belgian Wit/American IPA category, and for spring they’ve introduced Shock Top Lemon Shandy, of which I received several bottles at the beginning of the month.

  A ”shandy” is (according to Wikipedia) a “beer mixed with citrus-flavored soda, carbonated lemonade, ginger beer, ginger ale, or cider”—basically a half-and-half beer and soft drink of some sort. Myself I usually think half (lighter) beer, half lemonade, so “lemonade” is what I’m looking for.

  Shock Top is (I think) their base Belgian Wit-styled ale, brewed “with lemonade flavor added”—which frankly dashes my hopes a bit for actually having a half-lemonade beer. It’s 4.2% alcohol by volume, easy drinking.

  Appearance: Light golden in color, hazy, fizzy white head that fell quickly.

  Smell: Wheaty, a touch of the “white” coriander aroma, and hints of lemon. Otherwise mellow, understated.

  Taste: Mellow version of the “white” beer with hints of sweet lemon flavor. Not very lemonade-y which I admit I was hoping for. It does have a bit of a soda pop character with bready wheat notes.

  Mouthfeel: Light, crisp, a bit of a sweet finish.

  Overall: Not entirely what I expected, it’s light with hints of lemonade tempering the Belgian-style White character. A little disappointed that it’s not more lemony, but overall not bad and would be a nice hot-weather beer.

  Shock Top Lemon Shandy on Untappd. BeerAdvocate: only 8 reviews so far, 2.59/5. RateBeer: 2.34/5, 12th percentile overall (33rd for the style).

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Session #63 Is Announced And I Don't Understand

  Posted: April 17th, 2012, 4:37pm CEST by Alan McLeod

  As many, including Stan whose bandwidth I am sucking for that image to the right, have noticed, Pete Brown has announced the topic for Session #63 in May: The Beer Moment. He states:

  I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot recently, because I’ve been talking about it to various people who are working hard to try to improve the image of beer in the UK. Because whether we articulate it or not, whether we drink vile, sunstruck Corona or barrel aged imperial stout brewed with weasel shit, it’s about the moment far more than the liquid itself. The only people who disagree with me on this are people I wouldn’t want to share a beer with.

  I have no idea what this means. Ad man speak? I certainly do not understand the line in the sand about sharing a beer with someone. Or maybe I understand entirely. Somewhere someone said something like beer makes you feel like you wish you felt when you did not have a beer. But so does a timely Manhattan, frankly. Or a lemonade or even cup of tea that is well placed in the day. And an imperial stout makes me feel different than a perfect macro lager moment. So I don't know. But I have until May 4th to figure it out.

Hop Talk

• 

  Volunteers needed for FirkinFest – May 19

  Posted: April 17th, 2012, 1:01am CEST by Al

  How would you like free admission to the Firkin Festival which concludes Frederick Beer Week?

  All you need to do is donate a couple hours of your time working the event.

  Here are the details:

  We are looking for volunteers to help us out with our 2^nd annual Frederick Beer Week Firkin Fest.

  May 19^th  from noon- 6pm located at Still Point Farm in Mt Airy, Maryland will be the setting for this wonderful beer-centric event.

  If you are interested in volunteering please contact Melissa Sines at melissa.sines[at]gmail.com. (Let her know you heard about it on Hop Talk.)

  Volunteers will receive free admission to the festival with 2 beer tokens to be used BEFORE or AFTER your scheduled shift.

  Shift will include

  • Set up- 10am- 12 noon
  • Front Gate (2 shifts)
  • Token booth (2 shifts)
  • Break Down 5pm- 6pm
  • Runners

  Related Posts:

  • Frederick Beer Week Events
  • Maryland Craft Beer Festival – May 12
  • “Official” Unofficial events for Frederick Beer Week
  • Beer judging classes
  • Albany Wing Fest Lost Its Wings
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Volunteers needed for FirkinFest – May 19 is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/16/2012

  Posted: April 16th, 2012, 8:00pm CEST by Jon

  Happy Monday! I was thinking today was Tax Day, since the 15th was yesterday, but it turns out tomorrow the 17th is Tax Day this year—so you have one more day to get those taxes done. As usual I will be updating this news post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it updated as well.

  I missed this one on Friday/Saturday, but Lompoc Brewing in Portland also released (in addition to Heaven’s Helles) a tax-themed beer that’s on tap at the Sidebar: 1060 EZ Taxation Ale, that sounds quite like a cream ale, “made with pale malt and corn, using Noble hops in the kettle. It’s light straw in color with a malty nose and a mildly sweet mid mouth feel provided by the corn. It has a light, dry, crisp finish. This beer is sneaky strong at 6%.” Worth checking out, as long as you finish your taxes on time!

  Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene): Today’s “Pints with a Cause“—for which 25% of all pint sales in their tasting room is donated to a local cause or charity—is supporting the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. “They work to protect community and environmental health and inspire the use of ecologically sound solutions to reduce the use of pesticides. It’s a fun and easy way to help out your community.” Particularly by drinking beer!

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/16/2012” »

  
• 

  Oregon Beer News, 04/16/2012

  Posted: April 16th, 2012, 8:00pm CEST by Jon

  Happy Monday! I was thinking today was Tax Day, since the 15th was yesterday, but it turns out tomorrow the 17th is Tax Day this year—so you have one more day to get those taxes done. As usual I will be updating this news post periodically throughout the day, so check back often for the latest. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it updated as well.

  I missed this one on Friday/Saturday, but Lompoc Brewing in Portland also released (in addition to Heaven’s Helles) a tax-themed beer that’s on tap at the Sidebar: 1060 EZ Taxation Ale, that sounds quite like a cream ale, “made with pale malt and corn, using Noble hops in the kettle. It’s light straw in color with a malty nose and a mildly sweet mid mouth feel provided by the corn. It has a light, dry, crisp finish. This beer is sneaky strong at 6%.” Worth checking out, as long as you finish your taxes on time!

  Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene): Today’s “Pints with a Cause“—for which 25% of all pint sales in their tasting room is donated to a local cause or charity—is supporting the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. “They work to protect community and environmental health and inspire the use of ecologically sound solutions to reduce the use of pesticides. It’s a fun and easy way to help out your community.” Particularly by drinking beer!

  Continue reading “Oregon Beer News, 04/16/2012” »

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  Albany Ale: In 1888 There Were Many Sorts Of Albany Ales

  Posted: April 16th, 2012, 3:40am CEST by Alan McLeod

  

  ... and porters, too, as we read in an interesting reference to the state of brewing in Albany in the 1880s from a book titled The Empire State: its Industries and Wealth sitting over at Google books. At page 120 this is part of the florid description of the brewing business of Quinn & Nolan:

  The Quinn & Nolan Ale Brewing Company brew extensively the famous California Pale ale, Cream Amber XX, XXX ales and porter. The brewery, malt house and other buildings are spacious, and are admirably equipped with all the latest improved apparatus, appliances and machinery known to the trade. Eighty experienced brewers and operatives are employed in the various departments, and the machinery is driven by a splendid steam-engine. The capacity of the brewery is 80,000 barrels of ale and porter per annum, and during the year 1887 the company sold 60,000 barrels, their trade extending throughout all sections of New York, New Jersey and New England, The brewery is a model of neatness and cleanliness, and has no superior in these respects in the country. The best malt and hops that can be purchased are utilized, and these are handled in such a scientific and careful manner as to result in the production of ale and porter which for purity, flavor, excellence and quality are unsurpassed in this or any other market. The storage accommodations of this noted brewery are very extensive, so that the ale is not hurried from the vats to the consumer, but is retained in the cool cellars until of proper age. Since its establishment the business of this famous brewery has been constantly increasing, and it is likewise said with truth that an inferior grade of ale or porter is never permitted to pass its gates, hence in a measure it has obtained its excellent reputation with retailers, families and the general public.

  Scientific principles are an interesting part of the brewing story around Albany. Over sixty years earlier, someone connected to the local Agricultural Society undertook a study published in 1824 of the production of the county and gave recommendations as to how wealth might be expanded. One recommendation was that all rural households be set up to make two barrel batches of strong ale. It is described as an ale strong enough that the "residuary substance" would provide a supply of table beer. The 1888 text provides a description of another brewery also at page 120 with even stronger beer - if the number of "X"s can be believed:

  Albany with her large population, and being the point of supply for such a large area of territory, coupled with the fact of her splendid transportation facilities by rail and water, all render her a favorable location for the brewer to carry on business upon the most extensive scale. The celebrated firm of Messrs. Granger & Story, whose splendid XXX and XXXX Ales and Porter have achieved such an enviable reputation and wide-spread consumption are thorough representatives of the best methods, the most perfect facilities, and the most unremitting attention to keeping up the high standard of their product. It should be recollected by the public that the proprietors, Mr. George F. Granger, and Mr. George Story are both practical brewers of vast experience, and that their outfit is new and of the most improved pattern. They give close personal superintendence, and exercise the greatest care, manufacturing their own malt of the highest grade, and producing beverages of the highest quality, and absolute purity. Their brewery is conveniently located on the corner of Broadway and Fourth Avenue, and is a spacious three story structure, with ice-house, cooper shop and other buildings adjoining. The outfit includes capacious 105 barrel kettles ley vats, mash tubs, etc., upwards of twenty skilled hands being employed...

  XXXX!!! That's more than XXX. Well, it could be. We can work on the basis that it is. Provisionally. For now. You might have noticed that there was no reference to the Taylor brewery - a brewery with a capacity of 250,000 barrels alone - but it burned in 1886. There was a definite explosion of Albany's brewing capacity through the 1800s. The 1824 statistical report stated that the city's production was just 8,500 barrels a year. Amsdel Brothers brewed almost ten times as much in 1887. I probably have a number for the annual production of McKnights shown in 1854 above, too.

  Which is why it is like an itch. It seems incredible to me that so many references exist to the stuff and nothing makes the histories of US brewing. That article on the Times Union's website and discussions with Craig by email over the weekend has got me thinking we need to get this information all in order. Even with a start having been made, I still am not sure how.

Hop Talk

• 

  Maryland Craft Beer Festival – May 12

  Posted: April 15th, 2012, 5:30pm CEST by Al

   

  On Saturday, May 12th from noon – 6:00pm, visit the Eventplex at the Frederick Fairgrounds to kick-off American Craft Beer Week and Frederick Beer Week with this celebration of Maryland Craft Beer, produced by the Brewer’s Association of Maryland (BAM), a non-profit comprised of the brewers of Maryland.  Up to 20 Maryland breweries will be present with over 80 different beers. The event includes on-site brewing demonstrations, rare bottles and kegs, one of a kind casks and VIP craft beer gifts that will blow your mind! This family-friendly festival features live music, fresh foods, kid’s activities, and local exhibitors.

  Tickets to the festival are on sale now.  Admission price: Adults: $17 Advance / $25 at the door; VIP: Advance $32 / $40 at the door; Designated Driver and Youth ages 12-20 $10; Kids under 12 FREE. Regular adult admission includes six tasting tokens and souvenir glass. VIP admission includes ten tasting tokens, a souvenir glass, early entrance for access to rare beers and unique casks, as well as a list of gifts that will make your craft beer friends totally envious!

  BREAKING RUMOR: One extremely lucky VIP winner will receive a tasting of a Maryland Brewery Collaboration Beer by Heavy Seas and Barley and Hops brewed solely for this event.  The winner will also receive plenty more awesome prizes – from home-brew classes and supplies to exclusive entry into ACBWeek events, glassware and all sorts of brewery swag.

  The last day to purchase tickets at the advance ticket price is May 11th at 9:00pm.  This is not your average beer festival, because it’s put on by the brewers themselves – and we’re breaking out the good stuff!  For more information about the Maryland Craft Beer Festival, visit www.mdcraftbeerfestival.com.

  Leave a comment to let us know if you’re going. I expect to be there helping man the Frederick Beer Week booth, so stop by and say hello.

  Related Posts:

  • Maryland Brewers Springfest – May 29, 2010
  • “Official” Unofficial events for Frederick Beer Week
  • Frederick Beer Week Events
  • Volunteers needed for FirkinFest – May 19
  • Maryland Microbrewery Festival
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  Maryland Craft Beer Festival – May 12 is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

The Brew Site

• 

  Three Creeks “IPAPRIL”

  Posted: April 15th, 2012, 8:36am CEST by Jon

  We headed over to Sisters today to visit Three Creeks Brewing for lunch and to partake in their “IPAPRIL” tap takeover: 10 Oregon IPAs available individually or in samples, with a full sampler tray for $15. Of course I went with the full sampler tray!

  

  The beers they’re pouring are:

  • Caldera IPA
  • Ft. George Vortex IPA
  • Boneyard RPM IPA
  • Lompoc Valley of the Hops
  • Double Mountain Hop Lava
  • Laurelwood Gearhead IPA
  • Three Creeks Hoodoo Voodoo
  • 10 Barrel Apocalypse IPA
  • Terminal Gravity IPA
  • Beer Valley Delta 9

  Each came out in a 4-ounce sampler which amounts to 40 ounces—two full imperial pints. Overall it was a really interesting side-by-side sampling, and I will mention the importance of sipping some water (or taking a bite of food) when switching from one IPA to another, as I found they tend to cancel each other out (or at least, cancel out the hoppiness).

  

  All good IPAs too; surprisingly, there were only three that I hadn’t had before: Lompoc Valley of the Hops, Laurelwood Gearhead, and Beer Valley Delta 9. I’m not sure I could pick a favorite, but what I will give you is the opinion that they all complemented my lunch of fish tacos pretty well. (However, take note that this is a lot of beer to be sampling with a meal; I actually boxed up and brought an extra taco home with me which is rare).

  Overall a really cool idea, and Three Creeks is continuing this through Sunday if you get the chance to stop by.

  

Hop Talk

• 

  My Friday Night in Photos

  Posted: April 14th, 2012, 3:34pm CEST by Ron

  

  [my son's skateboarding injury photo intentionally omitted]

  

   

  Related Posts:

  • Growing Up
  • Untapped Beersources- Porky’s Pizza Palace
  • Some Bull
  • Barrel Aged Beards
  • Training for SF Beer Week
  • Powered by Contextual Related Posts

  My Friday Night in Photos is from Hop Talk - Beer. Life. Blog.

  
  

  

A Good Beer Blog

• 

  New York: Freedom Wright's Inn, Denmark

  Posted: April 14th, 2012, 3:34pm CEST by Alan McLeod

  

  Going through old blog posts at the sister station for this here blog, Gen X at 40, to reference something to Craig after yesterday's post, I realized that in 2005 I took photos of Denmark, NY, a village at the north end of Tug Hill. And in those where a couple of images related to Freedom Wright's Inn. Not the most dynamic image, shot from square out front but it does display that sort of symmetry that newly independent American structures can display.

  From the sign out front, you can see that the building is at least from 1804 and was used as a meeting hall. Interestingly, the minutes from the meeting held on 20 November 1804 that led to the formation of the county are online.

  Jonathan Collins of Turin, Walter Martin of Martinsburgh, Jacob Brown of Brownville, and Silas Stow, along with others, for a total of 36 men met in Denmark at Freedom Wright's Inn to decide on a proposal to become a county.

  First meeting 12 towns represented, Leyden not present.
  1st motion - Admit representatives to act.
  2nd motion - Determined that voting would be be ayes and nayes.
  3rd motion - To set off this county from Oneida, carried by 27 to 9.
  4th motion - To adjourn for 1/2 hour unanimously.
  5th motion - To appoint a disinterested committee to set boundaries for new county, decide on spot or spots for the courthouse, carried 25 to 11, and moved that southern boundary be established at the sw corner of Ellisburg, to county of Herkimer and St. Lawrence river, to Lake Ontairo, carried 20 to 16.
  6th motion - Leyden citizens could decide whether to remain with Oneida or not, carried 18 to 18.
  7th motion - Split into two counties, carried 20 to 16
  8th motion - Appoint a committee to draft a petition to legislature and carry same petition to legislature, committee of 5 to be selected from delegates at this meeting and chosen by ballot.
  Adjourned for 15 minutes to prepare ballots. Jonathan Collins, Jacob Brown, Henry Coffeen, Cliff French and Joseph Beals chosen.
  Dissolved meeting.

  I like that they voted on taking a pee break. I hear people now saying "we need a bio break" but I prefer "time for a pee" as my announcement. I wonder what was served for drinks. Hops were grown in the county, though likely later and farther south around West Turin. 5,460 pounds of hops were produced in 1840. The New York Times in 1889 reported on the challenges to hop farmers faced. Looks like there was a brewery and even a maltster nearby over in Adams NY around the same time that Freedom was running his tavern. Local beer was likely on offer.

  Anyway, the antiques shop that had been in the building wound up last summer and someone picked up the original spinning wheel from the operator who passed away last month. Mr. Wright was an early settler in northern NY who was born at Goshen, Litchfield County in Connecticut, lived from 1749 to 1824 and was a Revolutionary War vet as a private when he was 26 or so in in Capt. Seth Smith's Company that marched in "the relief of Boston in the "Lexington Alarm," April 1775." He seems to have moved north nine years after the death of his first wife.

  Interesting that he chose to move close to the border with Canada, his lands at that elevation probably within or near a distant view of the Crowns remaining North American properties.

• 

  Albany Ale: Big News And An Old Tavern

  Posted: April 14th, 2012, 2:23am CEST by Alan McLeod

  

  That's a 1937 photo found at the US Library of Congress online of 1937 entitled "Old Tavern, Feura Bush Vicinity, Houcks Corners, Albany County, NY." Sitting at a crossroad to the south west of Albany, the old tavern was built around 1845. Whatever Albany ale was, it's likely they served it here. Today's big news about Albany ale, however, is not that you could find it at Houcks Corners 167 years ago but that Craig got an interview with one of the Albany Times Union's columnists and told the story as it is known so far.

  Houck would be impressed.