Twas The Night Before Christmas

Okay, so last night wasn’t the night before Christmas, but there was a very special occasion at Belmont Station. It was a total surprise to us. It was Carl Singmaster’s Birthday. Carl is the owner of the Station, is a regular guest on Beer O’Clock Radio, a huge Motorhead fan, and an all around great guy. Thanks to Holly, the amiable manager of the Biercafé for making this happen. It was the first time in the 26 years of Carl’s career in retail that he enjoyed some beers instead of working. On hand was a 2005, (3) Liter bottle of Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard that Carl purchased at the Station before becoming the owner, as well as a variety of tasty cupcakes. It was a nice celebration right before the Holidays. Happy Birthday Carl!

Random dude, Beer Goddess, Lisa Morrison and
 the man himself, Carl Singmaster. 

1st Annual Winter Beer Festival at Plew's Brews

The 1^st Annual Winter Beer Festival at Plew’s Brews was a major hit this past weekend.  Key organizers, Greer Martin of NoPo Brews, Trevor Thurston (Plew’s Craft Beer Expert/Event Chair and Competition Co-Chair of NoPo Brews/The Festival's Organizer/Homebrew Exchange employee), and Randy Plew, Owner of Plew’s did an excellent job at making this first time event a huge success, but they couldn't have done it without all the kind volunteers that donated their time to make sure our glasses weren't empty. Excellent promotion significantly helped as well. Words written by beer bloggers, a few radio segments highlighting the event, a ton of posters tacked up around Portland, Facebook, and Twitter helped draw people from all over to wonderful, downtown St. Johns. I actually met a couple from Seattle that came down just for the festival.

Greer Martin of NoPo Brews / Festival Super.  One great gal!

Lee of NoPo Brews and Trevor Thurston of Plew's / Festival
Organizer.  Trevor contributes tons to the Portland beer scene
and we totally appreciate his dedication.

The Man himself! Randy Plew hanging with (2) lovely,
horned ladies.

The house was hoppin’on Friday when the doors opened and a continued steady stream of people kept the festival's momentum going strong until close on Saturday. Sunday afternoon was a little lighter, as to be expected, but Plew’s still saw its fair share of hardcore beer enthusiast. Many came to the 3-day festival to check out the offering being made by a brand-new brewery, Humble Brewing. Humble was serving up a CDA (Cascadian Dark Ale), which according to one of the brewers, Chad Freitag, is something a little different for them. Chad said that Humble’s aim is for a more simple, single-hop type of beer using minimal grain varieties. I’m sure whatever Humble does, it will be great. Their CDA was nicely done and the (2) kegs they brought ended up empty on Saturday.

Action packed evening.

Avid beer fan (name unknown), Jocelyn from The Homebrew
Exchange and Chad from Humble Brewing.

It was great to see some of Portland’s finest in attendance at Plew’s. The entire crew from The Homebrew Exchange popped in to partake in the action. Angelo, from renowned, Brewpublic made it by as well and volunteered his superior beer pouring skills behind the bar. I’ve know Angelo from his KPSU days. He always has something interesting to say that is worth lending an ear to, and if you have a question about beer, he’s the man. Bottles owner, Brant Kunze made it by too. If you haven’t been to his place on NE Fremont, check it out. They always have an excellent rotating draft selection and coolers stocked with bottles to go. Brant said that their famed outdoor patio is enclosed and heated for the winter months. Lastly, many members of the North Portland Fermentation Association (NoPo Brews) were roaming around. A friendly bunch of lads and gals that brought several homebrew kegs to the festival. Two that really stood out to me were their Sour and Dr. Pepper beer. The Sour was done with Chartreuse, a green liqueur which made the beer, yes you guessed it, green. I thought it was the ultimate Holiday beer! Their Dr. Pepper concoction was a little too sweet for my taste, but I heart Dr. Pepper and had to try it. It’s great to see NoPo Brews pushing the brewing boundaries with their unique creations.

Brant Kunze from Bottles, with his wife and friend.

Grinch approved green beer.  

Besides beer, the event also featured delicious food. Veggie and carne tacos, Philly Cheese Steaks, Silly Cheese Steaks (veggie version), hot dogs and sausages were available to tame hunger. Local vendors were also on-hand. Olive & Vine and Salty Teacup were there showcasing their products. If you still need to complete your Holiday shopping, check them out. Olive & Vine actually supplied spices for the food that everyone enjoyed.

Salty Teacup and Olive & Vine showcasing
their goods.

Hot dog or sausage anyone?

The festival came to a close Sunday evening and it appeared that everyone was pleased with the results. Although we were all a little tired, it was well worth it. If you didn’t attend this year’s Winter Beer Festival at Plew’s, then you should at least stop by their 8409 N Lombard location for a pint. The price is right at $3.50 for 16 ounces of goodness, plus you can get your Growler filled for $7.00! It’s not the prices that make Plew’s attractive though, it’s the people and the atmosphere. You feel at home there. I can’t think of many places in Portland that have that vibe.

Some additional pictures just because - - -

My good friends, Jeff and Kay showed up
Saturday and Sunday!

The girls serving it up.  It was nice to meet you Ruth!

Plew's Brews ceiling entertained me for hours.

Sunday afternoon began with some nice classical
guitar Christmas tunes.

If I wasn't engaged...

Just one of the fantastic Hombrew Exchange posse.

Guys rockin' some ugly Holiday sweaters.

Where the awesome tacos and cheese
steaks were made with love.

Canine craft beer enthusiast are always welcome 

at Plew's too!

Bridgetown Beerhouse Redux

The taps will be a flowin’ soon. Mike of Bridgetown Beerhouse was getting his hands dirty last night working on completing the remodel to his store. Soon, Bridgetown will not only have a great bottle selection, but they will also have awesome draft choices. To top things off, they will be installing a large HD TV to watch Blazer games and other sports. Mike has the Bridgetown Growlers ready to go and we can’t wait to fill one.

Mike getting it done.

Remodel is getting close to completion.

See part one of our story here: Bridgetown Beerhouse will soon have taps!

Everybody's Brewing (Brew-venture in the Gorge, Part 1 of 3)

It’s frickin’ cold outside, so I thought I would reflect on a trip that we made out to the Columbia Gorge over the summer; a trip that involved a concert at Maryhill Winery, but more importantly, visits to three breweries. This is the first installment. When will the other remaining parts be written? That my friend, is a good question.

It was August 5th. The truck was packed to brim as if we were moving across the country. For some reason we always bring way too much crap with us camping. By camping, I mean car camping. It’s the only way to go, and it’s the only way that you can bring the kitchen sink. Anyway, we hit the road mid-morning and planned a stop at Everybody’s Brewing on our way out to Maryhill State Park. Everybody’s Brewing is located in White Salmon, Washington. White Salmon is an attractive, quaint town that sits perched above the Columbia Gorge. It sees it fair share of people passing through on their way to enjoy recreational actives, such as kiteboarding, sailboarding, hiking, camping, and white-water rafting.

White Salmon, WA

When we arrived in White Salmon we had a little trouble finding the brewery even though it’s basically located on the main strip. We parked our rig near a place that was close to Everybody’s street address. We asked a middle aged man who was sitting on a street-side bench where the brewery was. He pointed down the hill and said “right past the opening with the chain link fence”. He also said that he just came from there and how much he likes it. He was a friendly gent and looked to be a local.

We entered Everybody’s bar/restaurant area which was sparsely populated. We figured it just opened for the day and was getting warmed up. The fact that it was quiet inside benefited us though, because we didn't have to wait long for the ordered taster tray to arrive. Our server briefed us on every beer as she handed us a laminated card with beer descriptions that had a number assigned to each one. The number corresponded to one etched into the nicely crafted, wooden vessel that was used to transport our micro-pints. The taster tray design was actually part of the room, meaning it played off of the other attractive wood elements that were used in the interior. Oh, I did fail to mention that in addition to trying Everybody’s (9) standard beers, we also had (1) seasonal that day called Summer Lovin’. Some of that ‘Summer’ part sounds nice right about now.

8 holes, 9 standards and 1 seasonal.  Oh my!

Beer info. front.

Beer info. back.

We had tried Everybody’s Brewing’s beer before on tap at Laughing Planet in Portland, which actually inspired us to make the stop there on our way out to Maryhill. I will admit, being that we visited there over the summer, and the fact that I didn’t take any notes regarding what we drank, I have little to tell you about each beer or what we favored. On that note, my aging memory does recall that every beer we sampled was decent and worth a taste. Everybody’s food also impressed us. The quality of the ingredients and the way they were combined made for some tasty bites. I had the Greek Salad, which was by far the best I’ve had, and my Fiancée had the marinated grilled chicken sandwich that she raved about. Their web site says they “strive to use locally sourced and organic produce and are committed to serving naturally raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken”. I would say that’s not a lie.

We hope you enjoyed the beer, oh, like I mean the movie, eh.

We left Everybody’s Brewing feeling completely satisfied. We enjoyed everything; the service, beer, food, and atmosphere. We didn’t have a chance to visit the brewing facility, but we were able to peer in where all the magic happens from their back deck. The shiny, steel barrels can be seen through windows on the westside. You may miss them though if you’re there on a nice day, because the view south of Mt. Hood will steal your eyes and knock your socks off.

View off the back deck!

Superheros protect the brewery.

Shiny steel.

The facts.

Sasquatch and the taps.

Hops grownin' near the deck.

Vicious VW Bus watch dog

Baja Brewing Co.

My very first trip to Los Cabos was amazing. The people were very hospitable, the food was delicious (loved eating chilaquiles for breakfast everyday) and of course you can’t beat the 80 some degree weather and sunshine. For a majority of the trip my beer loving fiancée and I hydrated our bodies with the standards; Corona, Tecate, Pacifico and Negra Modelo, all of which are decent, day long drinking beers. Apparently it’s the equivalent to H20, as conveyed by our waiter one night who asked if I would like another Mexican water. However, not far from us was artisanal craft brewery that my good friend turned us on to called, Baja Brewing Company. Established in 2007 by Coloradans, Baja Brewing is the first and only one in the state of Baja California Sur. They have three locations that are relatively close to one another. The main brewery and original restaurant reside in San Jose del Cabo. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it there, but we did go to their pub at the Cabo Marina in Cabo San Lucas. Blocks away from us, was Baja Brewing’s third location, which sits perched upon the rooftop of the Cabovillas Resort.

Recognize Baja California Sur!

We entered the pub from the marina side where there was a small Latin style band playing to a captive audience. The room was very airy and had some TV’s hanging on the wall that were broadcasting futbol and futbol Americano universidad. We decided to sit at the bar, and as soon as are bottoms hit, a menu was handed to us by our friendly bartender. We were amazed to see (7) different styles of beer on tap:

1. Blonde
2. Raspberry
3. Black (Swartzbier)
4. Wit
5. Red
6. Pale/IPA
7. Stout

Without hesitation, we ordered a sampler, and the tasting had begun. We both had different beers that we favored, but came to a mutual conclusion that the beer we wanted a pint of, was the Red. The Red was well balanced in terms of hops and malt, plus it had a pleasing caramel aroma. Of disappointment, and something that I forgot to mention, was that they were out of the Pale/IPA. We really heart our IPA’s and wanted to try it. To bypass the missing link, other notables for me were Baja's Stout and Raspberry. The Stout had a mellow coffee scent and went down smooth. The Raspberry, well, was raspberry. It was very similar to Widmer’s, Widberry beer (do they still make that). I thought it would be great on a hot, sunny day. I think Cabo has a surplus!

If 6 was 7.

The innards.

We now had our pint of Red sitting in front of us and we were getting hungry. Our bartender recommended the pizza. We love pizza, so this was a no brainer. It came, and it was pretty darn delicious. They did it right by adding a generous layer of heavy cornmeal on the bottom.

Yummo, as that awkwardly sexy bitch Rachael Ray would say.

It was now time to move on. As we left, we passed one of the owners, Rob Kelly. I was going to say hello, and probably should have, but Rob was entertaining friends and I didn’t want to intrude. To wrap things up, I think Baja Brewing has definitely brought craft beer to Mexico. I did enjoy my many Mexican waters, but it was a pleasure sit down and challenge my taste buds.

Nice apparel Baja!

Missing this more than ever, but happy to be home.

The Love of Beer

Man, my commute from Hillsboro to Portland Wednesday was horrible. It always seem like this happens when I want to be somewhere at a specific time. Last night, “somewhere” was Saraveza. Alison Grayson was screening her new documentary ‘The Love of Beer’ in their Bad Habit room; a flick celebrating the women in the Pacific NW beer industry.

Some random guy and film creator, Alison Grayson

My fiancée and I arrived at Saraveza a shortly after 6pm. The movie was being shown at 7, but there was a tasting being offered prior for an additional five dollars. The extra five bucks proved to be a wise investment. Sarah, of the Saraveza fame was pouring samples of some incredible beers. Several were from her own personal collection, including a rare beer from Walkingman that was given to her as a Birthday gift a few years ago from Jacob Leonard, Walkingman’s former head brewer who now plays for Widmer. Thanks for sharing Sarah!

Some of our awesome taster friends

The tasting wrapped up a little behind schedule, but all was good, because it appeared that everyone was thoroughly enjoying their beer. In retrospect, we thought it was the perfect prelude to the film. That being said, someone did eventually come forth and say “should we start the movie”. That’s when Alison commanded our attention up front and gave the full house a brief introduction to her film, ‘The Love of Beer’.

The documentary began with brief highlights of different woman in the Pacific NW beer industry and was paired with some unique camera work that captured the eye and drew you in. Alison then profiled each of the women in detail. She did this in a way that kept a flow to the film and the viewer focused. She would let someone tell a portion of their story on how they ended up in the industry and then moved on to another topic or individual profile. So basically, you ended up being exposed to the same person throughout the film, but it was planned in a way that would not allow you to become tiresome of their talk. Alison also did an excellent job with the camera. The hop farm footage took “artistic master piece” to the next level.

As ‘The Love of Beer’ website implies, the movie is not for feminism or equality. The film was done to show us that the craft beer movement is seeing a change. Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head stated in the film that the beer industry has predominantly been a sausage fest, but that he sees women in the field as a welcome change. Some of the key players profiled in the film and that are producing that change included brewer, Tonya Cornett from 10 Barrel, Teri Fahrendorf, Founder of The Pink Boots Society/2^nd female Brewmaster in the United States and Sarah, of Saraveza. Other local notables making appearances were Chris Crabb of The Oregon Brewers festival and Lisa Morrison, a.k.a. The Beer Goddess.

To conclude, I will say seeing this film is a must if you love beer or just want to see a well-made documentary on the subject. It will further expose you to what is happening in our thriving Pacific NW beer culture; a culture that has some pretty talented and intelligent woman making their mark in the industry.

Alison and Sarah feilding questions after the film

The Love of Beer trailer from Lingering Illocutions on Vimeo.

Warning Portland: The Pissed LiBEERian is coming!

In a few weeks all hell is sure to break loose in Portland. From November 18^th thru the 20^th, Tacoma beer blogger, The Pissed LiBEERian has confirmed that she will be descending upon our city. Upon arrival, she will be on a quest to hit as many breweries and pubs in (3) days. This will be her second time visiting the Portland beer scene. Her first visit included stops at Laurelwood, New Old Lompoc, The Lucky Lab, Bridgeport Brewing, Rouge and Deschutes. On her upcoming trip, The Pissed LiBEERian’s tentative plans are to hit the following:

Alameda Brewing
Belmont Station
Burnside Brewing
Cascade Barrel House
Coalition Brewing
HUB
HUB Bike Bar
Hair of The Dog
Horse Brass
The Green Dragon
Plew's Brews

Her squeeze and renowned photographer/world beer connoisseur, MGD will be joining her. The two of them are sure to give the Portland Beer scene a run for its money. If you happen to cross paths with them say hello, or better yet, buy them a pint! In the meantime, please check out her well written and highly delectable blog: http://pissedlibeerian.blogspot.com/

The famed Pissed LiBEERian

MGD and The Pissed LiBEERian
Don't be fooled by their cuteness!

The Bräuler!

Another great Growler is on its way and it’s straight out of Portland! The Growler, called the Bräuler (love the name) is Zythos Project’s brilliant invention. As you can see from the photos below this thing has extreme sex appeal. The design was well planned. Here are some of the Bräuler’s unique features that take the Growler to the next level:

• Wide (2.5”) mouth makes it easy to fill and clean
• 100% light proof; deep-thread cap holds carbonation and freshness longer
• Unique threaded collar receives multiple accessories, including basic cap, plus a handle, bail top, and a CO2-chargeable draft cap system.

I believe the CO2-chargeable draft cap system is still in development, but when complete, this will be a huge break though. You will be able to keep your beer as fresh as when it left the tap; that’s if you don’t drink it all at once!

Currently, they are only excepting commercial orders. If you are a brewer or beer seller of any kind contact them for more information: info@zythosproject.com

Thank you Zythos for making your idea reality. I think the Bräuler has a bright future.

Sexy!

Premature Winter Beerulation

What the heck! Is it just me, or are winter beers being released way too early? I’m not ready for winter and I’m sure not ready for winter beer. I haven’t even inked my summer tour of three breweries in the Columbia Gorge. I think I may wait to write it until December or January when it’s cold, dark and rainy; the perfect time to crack open a winter release. I can visualize myself in pajamas all day, sorting through sun ladened Gorge pictures, writing and sipping on a nice winter seasonal. This is the time that warrants the warmth provided by a cheery beer. It comforts the soul, as a bowl of warm chili or a hot cup of cocoa would. So, why are winter beers appearing on our shelves and taps so early? I heart’em, but now is not the time. It’s like seeing Christmas movies, commercials and store decorations appearing before Thanksgiving. For crying out loud, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was on TV the other night. A great holiday movie, but why so soon? What’s the rush?

Store display seen today!

Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale on tap...ran across this last night.

Shiters full!

Portland Fresh Hop Tastival

In Portland, at The Fresh Hop Tastival at Oaks Park, people gathered to celebrate the fact that Oregon is the second largest hop producing state in the United States, most of which are grown right here in The Willamette Valley. To be honest, I am not super fired up on fresh hop beer, but the fore mentioned fact makes me proud knowing that Oregon hop growers play a key role in helping produce one of the things I enjoy entertaining my mouth with, beer.

The Fresh Hop Tastival is an Oregon Brewers Guild event. The Guild’s Director, Brian Butenschoen oversaw the festivities and did an excellent job at coordinating volunteers and making sure everything stayed on track. The breweries in attendance brought a variety of fresh hopped beer styles; some even featured two or more selections. The #1 hit for me was Double Mountain’s, Killer Green, a beer that ran out shortly after the festival began. I am sure some of this was due to the fresh hop preview event that took place the evening before. My favorite non-alcoholic drink of choice was Portland U-Brew’s, Homemade Root Beer. This stuff was amazing, and both the kids and grown-ups kept coming back to get their fix. Unfortunately, it was the 2^nd keg to kick that day. I hope U-Brew realizes that they are sitting on a potential root beer gold mine.

To conclude this post, I leave you with photos. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Oregon Brewers Guild, Brian Butenschoen
headed up the festival.

Glasses and tickets patiently waiting
to be loved.

Thank you sun for hanging out with us all day.

Lots-o-fresh hop beer to choose from. 

The beer lines were not bad at all, which
was nice.

It was a pleasure to have actual restrooms rather
than the standard beer festival porta-potty.

Philadelphia's brought the killer cheese steaks.

Curbside Grill was there to satisfy.

These things kept me alive while working.  I was
pop chipped out at the end of the day.

Festival shirt.  Sweet!