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#straightouttabeta

January 1, 2015
Whew. What started out as an idea for a few updates for portlandbeer.org turned into a yearlong quest to figure out the right way to get current, accurate, and useful information about the Portland beer scene into your hands. The way people use websites is also changing due to the proliferation of devices like smartphones, tablets, and everything in between. While desktop and laptop users may take more time digging through the site, mobile users... Read More »

Benefit For Angelo: A Cause for A Worthy Friend

October 15, 2013
Benefit for Angelo De Ieso II Fundly Thursday, October 17th 5pm-10pm The Commons Brewery 1810 SE 10th Avenue Portland, OR Beer is an excellent perk, but I got into this business because of the (mostly) unassuming people and the knowledgeable PDX beer community. Raising a pint with friends—especially Portland beer lovers—is a special experience for me. Instant and lasting friendships can emerge in a brewery or taproom. My site has never turned a profit, and after almost 10 years,... Read More »

Lagerfest 2013

August 18, 2013
Over 40 breweries will participate and each will provide their own sophisticated take on the classic lager beer. The twenty dollar entrance fee includes ten free tastings, a Lagerfest beer drinking mug, and one epicly good time! Killer food provided by Eastside Deli and White Owl Social Club! Go to the Mercury Stranger Tickets online to buy now in advance at a discounted price. Be sure to plan on dancing some of those empty calories... Read More »

Beer and Bikes Make Things So Nice

August 18, 2013
I love beer and I love biking. There are not many more things in my life, aside from family, that I cherish so much.  If I could run off on a world tour by bike, stopping only for sleep, food, and beer, I would (maybe at the sacrifice of being divorced). However, circumstances as they may be, I opt for a beautiful day trip on my bike to one of my many favorite water holes.... Read More »

Beer + Food Carts + Bands = The Awesome Deschutes Street Fare!

It's back, it's awesome, and it kicks off at 5pm tonight! Details from the press release are below, plus some of my favorite images from years past. I'll be there are usual, weighed down with camera gear, so stop by and say hi! A benefit for the Meals on Wheels People, Street Fare will feature some of Portland’s most popular food carts. These well-known vendors will pair their delicious dishes to match perfectly with Deschutes Brewery’s beers,... Read More »

Initial Thoughts: 2013 Oregon Brewers Festival in Review

Rare site at OBF - no line for beer! The first Wednesday ever of the Oregon Brewers Fest is now in full swing and I was able to partake in a portion of it. These tidbits may help others navigate some of the next four days of debauchery (for my preview, check here): Wednesday is no secret: Although I timed my visit after the paraders had most likely cleared out and before the happy hour crowd... Read More »

2013 OBF Week Preview

The biggest brew fest of the Portland season returns this Wednesday for a five day run at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Here are the pertinent details on the 26th Annual Oregon Brewers Festival for those just interested in the facts: Location: Main entrance at S.W. Oak Street and Naito Parkway in downtown Portland Dates: July 24 - 28, 2013 (always the last full weekend in July) Times: Wednesday through Saturday: taps are open from Noon... Read More »

2013 North American Organic Brewers Festival

Photo courtesy of NAOBF This is the second year in a row that I attended my favorite beer festival in Portland. The North American Organic Brewers Festival (NAOBF) is family oriented, small, environmentally conscience, and stocked with some damn fine beer. The NAOBF offered 60 organic beers and ciders from California, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington along with sustainable practices that many other festivals (not just beer festivals) should adopt to lessen the impact... Read More »

Gluten Is My Bitch & Omission

Author April Peveteaux reading from her new book Gluten Is My Bitch to a standing room only crowd at Widmer that included Fred Eckhardt I had the pleasure of being one of the three media members that turned out last Thursday evening to an exclusive roundtable interview with April Peveteaux, author of the new book Gluten Is My Bitch and the blog of the same name. Normally, a gluten-free event probably would not invite beer... Read More »

What Makes a Great Pub?

Hemingway had La Closerie des Lilas Café, his favorite place to write and drink while living in Paris. Orwell provided a detailed description of his ideal public house in “The Moon Under Water.” I may never be the writer both these men were, but they knew what a drinking establishment needed to be great and I think I do too. I do have a favorite watering hole and occasionally I pretend I am seated across... Read More »