Widmer Brothers To Build Beer Garden!

This is article was obtained from: http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com
The beer garden will be a much welcomed addition indeed!


Land Use Approvals
Widmer Brothers To Build Beer Garden

Red marks the location of the approved Widmer Bros. beer garden.
Photo: Google Maps

Eliot 
BDS has approved the Widmer Brothers Brewing Company's plan to construct a beer garden in the unoccupied northwest corner of their site at N Russell Street and N Interstate Avenue. The garden will be lined with pavers and will be planted with trees both inside the garden and outside the garden's proposed perimeter wall along the street. (LU 10-188018 HDZ)

The Oregon Brewers Festival’s, Chris Crabb

The Oregon Brewers Festival kicks-off in Portland in a week.  This will be the 24^th installment of the festival and it is estimated to attract 80,000 beers lovers throughout its four day run.  It takes a lot of effort from the employees, brewers, vendors and dedicated volunteers to make the event happen.  As a vendor, one person that I have had the pleasure of meeting and corresponding with is Chris Crabb.  She has been the head of media relations for the Oregon Brewers Festival for the past 16 years, and also is heavily involved with the North American Organic Brewers Festival and The Holiday Ale Festival.   Chris is an expert at what she does.  She always responds promptly to whatever question I may have, is always on-site at events to make sure everything is running accordingly, and will always lend a helping hand where needed.  As professional as Chris is, she is also very personable, as you typically find with many craft beer enthusiast.  You may not know Chris, but when you are at the this years Oregon Brewers Festival, please raise your mug in her honor as she well deserves it, as do the many other ‘unknowns’ that make the Oregon Brewers Festival such a success year after year.

Chris in action at The Oregon Brewers Festival

Chris with beer writer extraordinaire, John Foyston

10th Annual Roadhouse Brewfest Review

I will have to say, I was surprisingly impressed with the beers at the10th Annual Roadhouse Brewfest.  The eight participating McMenamins Breweries and ten Brewers done brought it.  Each brewery provided a different style of beer that excelled in its class.   Below is a list of the beers we sampled along with their detailed description:

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge part II

My Saturday afternoon spent at the Cornelius Roadhouse & Imbrie Hall was fantastic; great setting, no rain, good entertainment and quality time with my lady and her wonderful parents that were here on a visit.  Without further delay, I leave you with this:

McMenamins employee showing off the 
official sign

Outside taps

The beer Cicerones

Came across another happy customer!

The boys of Hillstomp:  Lord Johnny Buckets and 

Hurricane Henry tearing it up!

The beer line grew throughout the day,
but the wait was never long.

Souvenir mugs 

All I want for Christmas!

Joe Mishkin "The Balloon Guy" was on hand to entertain. 

These guys really dressed up for the Brewfest!

First Annual Cans Fest Review

We thought we were going to be late for our volunteer shift at the first annual Cans Fest from unintentionally staying too long at The Mississippi Street Fair, but our lightning fast 3 and 5 speed bikes combined with fuel from The Whole Bowl and a pint of beer got us there with time to spare.  We arrived to be greeted by Jim Austin, the Cans Fest volunteer coordinator.  Jim took us inside the Guild Public House and gave us the 411.  Our task sounded easy enough and as it turned out it was.  We had to check for wrist bands and crack open cans. I will have to say, my right index finger is frickin’ huge now.  It received a great workout and now my other digits envy its size.  Opening cans can be dangerous work too as my lovely Eyeluvbeer assistant found out.  She received a minor cut from the mouth hole of 21^st Amendment’s, Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer. Maybe this guy was to blame?

The biggest feat that I personally accomplished while volunteering at the Cans Fest, was being able to refrain from drinking the beers that sit open in front of me.  Man was that hard.   The most enjoyable aspect of volunteering; the conversation with fellow beer fanatics.

My sexy beer wench serving it up!

Angelo from Brewbuplic enjoying Maui Brewing's, Flyin' HI.P.Hay

After our shift ended, we were rewarded with a tasting mug, (10) tickets and a Public Guild House can koozie.  Not bad I thought for pouring beers for a few hours.  As we headed out to taste, we crossed paths with the Natian Brew crew:  Ian, Natalia and their good friend Pete.  Ian and Natalia always make an appearance wherever their beer is flowing; whether at a festival or at a local pub.  I thought Natian made the Cans Fest even more entertaining by being the only brewery that offered a challenge. They had their lovely La Luz Summer Ale in both cans and in a keg.  For two dollars you got to partake in the taste-off challenge; a challenge that I failed.  I was not successful in determining the keg beer from the can beer.  However, as Ian said, as long as both beers went in my mouth, I was a winner.  Agreed!  My hot pants, supervisor passed the test with no problem…damn her!

The Fab 4: Pete, Wendy and Natian Brewers, Natalia and Ian

We also had the pleasure of meeting Spencer Gotter who is the head brewer at Fort George in Astoria (See our write up on Fort George here).  His dog Sasha actually introduced us.  Sasha is so darn cute.  I think we liked the dog better than Spencer!  Just kidding folks!  Spencer was awesome and we hope to see him and Sasha at future beer events.

Spencer, head brewer from Fort George and his
beautiful companion, Sasha

I was going to present you with a list of beers that I sampled, but that is pretty darn boring, plus I am beginning to realize that no beer is undrinkable (please do not mark my words).  Yes, some beers are better than others, but it all comes down to what one enjoys.

Overall, I think Jesse Cornett and the rest of the gang at the Guild Public House did an excellent job at hosting the Cans Festival.  I expected to see more people in attendance, but Portland’s summer weekends are always bustling with plenty of events. If you were not at the Cans Festival last Saturday, I highly recommend you stop by for what I am sure will be a regular July, Craft Beer Month event.

What to look for if cruising on Burnside.

Can display by:
The Cascade Breweriana Association
Beer Collectibles Club, Est. 1978

As I have said before, drummers rule! I think these guys
were The Eventuals

My view well relieving my bladder.