Casual Encounter with a New Growler

I came across one of these bad boys at the Hopworks Bike Bar on a recent trip to fill up my standard, glass Growler.

WIMPY!

HEFTY!

I was wondering what someone was doing filling up a giant water bottle with beer, so I asked if I could see it.  It said ‘Laurelwood’ on the bottle.  Was this a new type of Growler?!  It certainly was, and it was the best thing I have seen since my first encounter with sliced bread.  The Growler’s owner said they picked it up not long ago and really liked it.  They said they even gave it a test by accidentally leaving it in the trunk of their car on a hot sunny day for 8 hours.  The result: The beer was just as cold as when it left the tap.  This high-tech, double wall vacuum insulated beer transportation device is manufactured by Hydro Flask, which is located in Bend, OR.  You can find them in Portland at the Laurelwood Public House & Brewery for $49.99, which includes a beer fill of your choice, or on the Hydro Flask web site for the same price, plus $10.95 for shipping and handling.  Initially, I thought the price was a little steep, but after mulling it over I think it is a great investment, especially  if you like to take your beer to the beach, the disc golf course, hiking, etc.  Also, it will be something that you will have forever and I am sure will certainly cherish.

Standard 64oz Hydro Flask

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.

The 2011 North American Organic Brewers Festival: Photo Recap

Home Base

The early bird beer herd .

The best idea since sliced bread.

The BREWCYCLEPORTLAND mastermind.

Jocelyn and her squeeze from the Homebrew Exchange using
solar power to whip up a batch of delicious beer.

Metrofiets Beer+Bike; an engineering marvel.

The traveling tap room.

Our very nice neighbor recycling beer caps into
high quality ear rings.  Email BEER RINGS now!

My favorite organic beer lover!

Saturday's bathroom line was a sight. 

Shitter's full!

Love a good tee!

Best dressed!

Beer festival or Dead show?

Best dog we met:  Chewbacca

Another sweet shirt!

The gals at Foody Blues BBQ done brought it!

One happy customer at a time.

Winner of  the "Best Purse" award.

The last band and the best band of the fest.  Of course
I can't recall their name.

Feel the love!

Drummers rule!

Lame Ass Misses The 1st Annual Fruit Beer Festival

This is a long overdue post that has been patiently waiting for me in my ‘My Documents’ folder.  Sorry my loyal (7) followers.  My simple life is just slightly more important than this blog. So without further delay, I leave you with this:

Well, I did not make it to the 1^st annual Fruit Beer Festival at Burnside Brewing.  I actually rode by it on my bike on Sunday after stopping at the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race to see my friend’s wife kick some booty on the Willamette.  It was my first time ever going to see a Dragon Boat race and I was impressed. I think there were about 90+ teams racing for glory.  All the teams deserve a round of praise, as it takes a lot of dedication and practice to do what they do.  I could actually feel my arms becoming weaker and weaker as I watched them paddle an intense sprint from the Marquam to the Hawthorne bridge.

Lame ass that did not go to the Fruit Beer Festival
(Shown here at the Dragon Boat Races)

Okay, so why am I writing about crap that is not beer related?  Well it is beer related.  I think most of the recreational things I do correlate with beer in some respect.  I did at least ride by the Fruit Beer Festival, right.  I was going to head in, but I was beer-ed out from the past (2) nights.  Occasionally it does happen to the best of us. 

Here is a brief recap of  those (2) nights.  AKA, my lame excuse for not going to the Fruit Beer Festival:

Friday was spent a few blocks from my house with friends at the new Hopworks Bike Bar and Old Lompoc’s Side Bar.  A nice combo by the way.  The Side Bar was a welcomed change after the hustle and bustle of HUB.  The Side Bar is a quiet and warm space to enjoy fine beers and conversation.  It reminds me of a wine bar, but with beer. Saturday, I was out in the Montavilla neighborhood at Thatchers watching the Timbers play.  Thatchers is not a brew pub, but it does have some good taps, plus it has that great neighborhood tavern feel.  According to my friend, they make a great burger as well. So on Sunday I was not game for more beer.  I was a little worried about myself, as this seldom occurs.  I guess my ass is getting old.  Anyway…from what I read, the Fruit Beer Festival was a huge success. I am looking forward to being in attendance next year.