Migrating Towards A Cure

I’m always one for backing a good cause, but this weekend finds me out of town. What does this mean? It means you can still attend and show your support. Migration Brewing will be hosting their second annual ‘Migrating Towards A Cure’ event this Saturday, June 29^th. The beneficiary for his year’s affair, CHAP (Children’s Healing Art Project).

Below, please find the particulars from Migration's press release:

Saturday June 29^th 2013 12PM to close will mark Migration’s 2nd annual Migrating Towards A Cure. This annual event is an effort to assist local families and organizations that are working towards curing and working with those who have been diagnosed with severe illnesses and disabilities.

2nd Annual Buckman-Kerns Brewfest at EastBurn

Do you have plans for this Sunday?  Do you like beer?  If you answered NO to the first question and YES to the second question, then you should scurry your butt over to EastBurn for the ‘2ND Annual Buckman-Kerns Brewfest’. The festival is taking place this Sunday, January 15 from 12pm until 8pm and celebrates the breweries that are contained within the Buckman and Kern neighborhoods in Portland, OR.  See the map I made below using my mad GIS skills.  It shows the neighborhoods, breweries and where EastBurn is located. Enjoy if you attend this beerepic event!

Click me to enlarge.

A Microhopic Saturday!

Saturday!  What a day!  The sun was out and it was surprisingly temperate.  Not only that, but the Trail Blazers won their second home game of the finals.  GO BLAZERS!!!  As nice as the day was, I was looking forward to the evening.   We were going out with great friends for dinner and for an event taking place at Migration Brewing called Microhopic.  Microhopic is Brewpublic’s baby.  This would be their third installment of the ongoing series and it was fantastic.  The affair showcases new and interesting breweries and beer styles from around Oregon.  Brewpublic did an excellent job at hosting the event and the breweries represented all brought something different to tantalize the taste buds.

The evening began early; around the 4^th quarter of the Blazers game.  My friend showed up with a case of 22’s of his latest homebrew; a super hopped IPA that is to die for.  I think he said it was around 108 IBUs.  Yowza!  He has been brewing beer for over a year now and has it dialed in.  It would be great to see him advance to nano brewery status.

A delicious homebrewed beverage

After a few pints of scrumdiddlyumptious home brewed IPA, the nail biting Blazer game wrapped up in our favor and lifted our already good spirits even higher.  It was now time to take the jaunt to Ken’s Artisan Pizza for dinner.  We waited for a table for about an hour, but it was well worth it as always.  Our friends had never been and thought it was delicious.  A must visit if you like pizza, just do not get in the way.

Our hour wait at Ken's was soothed with
a variety of fine beers

Where's my pizza!

With our bellies full of pie and pints, it was time to hit the main event:  Microhopic at Migration Brewing.  We arrived to find it not as busy as we had anticipated.  There were some staples from the beer community present, including Angelo and crew from Brewpublic, Carl from Belmont Station and several brewers.  Ashley’s Brewvana bus, Angel was parked street side with a dog in the driver’s seat.  I asked the dog if it knew Ashley’s whereabouts, but the furry little fellow was too busy trying to figure out how to get the bus started so he could hit the nearest Petco.

Hop on the bus Gus

Brewpublic's mastermind, Angelo and
some random guy

We seated ourselves at a table in Migration and my hop goddess ordered us a taster tray of the (5) beers being represented.  Breakside Brewery furnished a Rye Kolsch and used their famed randall filter to give us a special treat; a beer infused with juniper berries and cucumbers.  Our neighborhood favorite, Amnesia, provided a fine dry-hopped ale called Red Handed.  Burnside Brewing presented their Stock Ale, which I tasted at their headquarters a few weeks ago.  The Stock Ale is a nice ESB that is rich in copper color and goes down smooth.  My favorite of the evening was Migration’s baby dubbed PDX.  It was similar to a Kolsch, but had a hoppy bit and well balanced flavor.  I have only been to Migration a few times before this evening’s event and had never taken a strong hold to any of their beers, but this one had me at hello.  Beetje, a nano brewery that operates out of their garage and relatively new to my vocabulary was also in the house.  They brought forth a Belgian Inspired Ale that was favored by the patrons.

The crew at Migration

This was my first Microhopic event and it was a good one.  I am looking forward to the next one Brewpublic graces us with.  Thanks guys!