Incurring the Scorn of Beer Geeks - Spring Beer & Wine Fest 2008

Judging Sheet for Spring Beer & Wine Fest 2008

How I was chosen to be a judge at this year's Spring Beer & Wine Fest was serendipitous to say the least. As I was happily browsing through the German beer section of Belmont Station, I was approached by a certain Oregon Brewers Guild member who inquired if I could be bothered to wake up early on Saturday and judge some beers.

...as if I'd say no. Are you kidding?

I arrived early, and helped my OBG friend carry a few items into the hall, whereupon some of the other judges started showing up. Some I recognized, most of them had been at the Fest the day before, and from the looks of their faces, quite a few had been up late celebrating with brewing buddies. But beer waits for no man, and we soon took our seats.

I was assigned the Lager category, and I was lucky to be paired up with some seasoned industry folk who knew their way around a tasting. Dave and Jamie were throwing out tasting notes left and right, while I chose to take notes and stay a little quieter, lest I be looked at funny for not knowing the difference between German and Czech style Pilsners.

Though our experience levels were quite disparate, we all had relatively similar things to say about the beers. We all agreed that the top two beers were the American Light Lager and the Dortmunder. Though not what we'd normally order at our favorite pub, the American Light Lager won out, being spot-on for style and drinkability.

PBR Traveling Art Gallery

So after my breakfast of beer, the sheets were turned in and tallied, and the winners were announced. Much to our surprise, the beer we awarded the gold medal to was...

...Pabst Blue Ribbon?

Yes, you read that right. Hipster beer of choice, PBR. And yes, the other tables booed us.

Now before you begin crying about our how our tastebuds must be malfunctioning, remember that judging is mainly based on specifically defined style points, and the PBR simply met all the criteria, whereas the other beers all had notable detractors.

So read 'em and weep Portland. I love me some locally crafted beer, but there's a blue ribbon on the label for a reason.

Beer Chips & Chicks

...And now, a totally gratuitous shot of the Beer Chips girls, who apparently shop at party outlets for their mylar bodysuits.

21st Annual Oregon Brewers Festival Official Press Release

Scene from last year's Oregon Brewers Festival.

PORTLAND, Ore. - March 26, 2008 - In 1933 the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, which had mandated nationwide Prohibition. Since the Oregon Brewers Festival turns 21 this year, the event finds it fitting to celebrate the ratification of the 21st Amendment during its four-day course. One of the nation's longest-running and best-loved craft beer festivals will take place July 24 through July 27 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. Hours are Noon to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Seventy-two craft breweries from 18 different states will each send one product to serve at the event, hailed by many industry experts and beer fans alike as the premier craft beer festival in the nation. A 73rd beer, Collaborator, is a joint project between members of the Oregon Brew Crew homebrewing club and Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. More than 60,000 beer connoisseurs annually travel from around the world to sample the vast number of beer styles, which highlight the influences that different regions have on the brewing process.

Joining the breweries are industry exhibits by hop growers, homebrewers, breweriana collectors, and national beer writers. Four days of live music showcases the best high-energy talent the Northwest has to offer. Food booths sell meals and alternative beverages, while the Crater Lake Soda Garden provides handcrafted sodas free of charge to minors and designated drivers. Minors are allowed into the event when accompanied by a parent.

Admission to the festival grounds is free; however, a 2008 souvenir mug costing $5 is required for consuming beer. The mug is good for all four days, and mugs from previous years will not be filled. All beer is purchased with tokens, which cost $1 apiece. Patrons pay four tokens for a full mug of beer, or one token for a taste. Sales of mugs and tokens cease 1/2-hour each evening prior to the close of the event.

Alternative modes of transportation are encouraged, with free bicycle parking available each day. The main entrance at SW Oak Street and Naito Parkway is located one block from the MAX Light Rail line.

The Oregon Brewers Festival takes place during Oregon Craft Beer Month, a celebration of craft beer by Oregon's specialty breweries. A variety of special events will take place at craft breweries throughout the state, culminating with the Oregon Brewers Festival.

The Oregon Brewers Festival was founded in 1988 as an opportunity to expose the public to microbrews at a time when the craft brewing industry was just getting off the ground. Today, that industry has succeeded, especially in Oregon, and particularly in the city of Portland. There are currently 89 craft brewing facilities in Oregon, and 32 breweries operating within the Portland city limits - more than any other city in the world. The Portland metropolitan area boasts 40 breweries, making it the largest craft brewing market in the United States.

For more information about the Oregon Brewers Festival, visit www.oregonbrewfest.com or call 503-778-5917.

The Local Brew DVD Review - The Stone Brewing Company

The Local Brew

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a show called The Local Brew. Jared Cotton got in touch with me to help spread the word about their new episode. We traded a few emails and got my hands on a copy of their premiere episode featuring Stone Brewing Company. Yeah, I know, not Portland beer related, but they will be filming an episode up here during the summer, so I wanted to help them gain any momentum I could offer. Plus, it would be hard to argue that Stone Brewing isn't doing their share to make the beer world a better place.

Normally, I wouldn't have to state my impartiality, but this is going to be a very positive review. This is not because I got paid to write it (damn!) and I have no affiliation with this company (damn!). The reason that the review is really positive is because the show is that good.

The two aspects that I want to cover about this DVD are content and presentation. These categories do overlap a little, but to me, this is the best way to break this show down. We can measure these areas up to the mission statement on their site:

"In an attempt to put a face on the artistry behind each unique craft brew, we’ve set out to meet the brewers whose passion and skill are setting a new standard for what it means to be a great beer. We'll visit their breweries, hear their stories, and spread the word about craft beer. Along the way, we'll find out what makes local brews local. We'll show viewers new locations (and sometimes familiar ones) through the lens of craft brewing. You can call it an ongoing, purposeful road trip; you can call it passion. One thing is certain: we believe in craft beer."

Let's start with content. The show did a great job of balancing the basic concepts of beer, introducing Stone Brewing, and managing Greg Koch's discourse--all within the 30 minute runtime. When I talked to Jared, he said that they were shopping the show around to get picked up for a television slot. Hence the 30 minute episode. Don't worry, the DVD contains A LOT of extra footage. There some digital cutting room footage, outtakes, and a very cool extra feature called Beer Vs. Wine:

"DVD now includes full episode of the epic Beer vs. Wine dinner at El Bizcocho restaurant, documenting Stone Brewing C.E.O Greg Koch's historic battle on behalf of craft beer against the prevailing popular perception that wine is the only beverage suitable for pairing with fine cuisine."

The show does an intelligent job of knowing what questions to ask and how to ask them. Now, Stone Brewing already has a lot to say. From their CEO to their brewery tour guide, they produce as much information about beer as actual beer. Parsing through the massive amounts of content was probably a lot harder than coming up with content for this episode.

This brings us to presentation. The final show is professional and polished. The delivery of the information is engaging because of the varied mechanisms used to change the pacing and the... Ugh, my tone is getting a bit antiseptic. I think I need a beer.

There we go. [Sound of Stone Russian Imperial Stout Bottle Opening]

Perfect. [Sound of Stone Russian Imperial Stout Pouring]

Much better. [Sound of Stone Russian Imperial Stout Disappearing]

What I mean is, the delivery is not dry and boring. There was a lot of time put into the production and presentation of the DVD. There are many corners that could have been cut to save time and money, but it's obvious from this episode that creativity and quality remained a core value to the creators of the show.

The end result is a great show that gets our stamp of approval. You can get more information and watch the trailer at www.thelocalbrew.com. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for a friend. Do both! It's currently listed at $14.99, and with all of the stuff crammed on the DVD, it's well worth the price.

We're definitely looking forward to their coverage of our scene up here in Portland over the summer. We welcome their perspective on the beer scene here and are happy to have their contribution to the craft brewing industry! Cheers guys, and thanks for the great show!

Portland Beer Tools

Helping you find your perfect beer!

After the redesign of our site, we want to make sure that people are checking out the other areas of our site, and not just the wonderful blog area. Of course, in the blog section, you can find articles, news, events, photos, and almost everything else you need. Almost.

It made sense for us to consolidate a few areas together for the blog, but there are still some great features that exist outside of the blog. For example, did you know that you can print up or save dynamic PDF beer to-do lists, based on our current inventory of 199 beers brewed in Portland? Damn right! 199! In fact, you can customize your lists to include things like: All Pale Ales in Portland, or All Beers from Amnesia Brewing, or All IPAs available at Laurelwood.

Print it up, put it in your pocket, and make a weekend out of it. Check it out in the tools section. Let us know what other tools you'd find handy while exploring Portland's beer scene!

Hopworks Urban Brewery Official Opening Date!

Christian Ettinger, Owner of the HUB

This just in! Official Hopworks Urban Brewery Announcement:

"Hopworks opens for business on Tuesday, March 25th!

Hopworks Urban Brewery is excited to announce that we will be opening our doors on Tuesday, March 25th at 11:00am. Construction is finally complete and the taps are flowing with ten Organic, handcrafted beers.

We look forward to seeing you and your friends at the HUB. Cheers!"

Seriously people, Free Beer in Portland! FREE BEER!

Maybe y'all are drinking too much--maybe not enough. So far, we've had no entries (not a single submission!) to our Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway. We are literally (not figuratively) giving away free beer. Three $15 gift certificates to Belmont Station. Free. Beer. Now. Check the original post for details.

So, if you live in Portland, or visit, and like free beer (again, free beer), please enter the contest. We get thousands of people to this site every month and for no one to even enter, maybe we were unclear about something. So, just to be clear, what this boils down to is free beer. For you. From us. No strings. No mailing lists. For you mathematicians: this = free beer. This is not a Richard Stallman-esque "free as in speech not as in beer" thing, it's really free beer.

Well, if you didn't get it before, you should get it now. Sorry to be so hostile about this, but who thought it was so hard to give away beer?

Deranger 2008 Release

Pictured here in bottle form, but you can get yours on draft now!

Just a quick note to let you know that Laurelwood has their unbelievable Deranger back on tap. Brewed as an entry for the 2008 World Beer Cup, you can get a local taste before it leaves for world domination. I know it's on tap at the Sandy & 51st location, but it may be available at the others as well. As the end of March nears, we're starting to leave Big Beer Season, so grab these while you can!

Photos: Roots Brewing 3rd Anniversary Party

Photos from the Roots Brewing 3rd Anniversary Party.




Check out the rest of the photos here.

2008 Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival Beer List

Previously, I posted my notes and photos on the Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival 2008. I finally got around to typing up the beer list from the event. I know it's a bit late, but at least it's a reference for next year's event.

Barleywines
Brewery	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	IBUs
Anchor	2006 Old Foghorn	-	-	9.4%	-
Anchor	2007 Old Foghorn	-	-	8.2%	-
Anderson Valley	2006 Horn of the Beer	-	-	9.5%	-
Bridgeport	2006 Old Knucklehead	22.6	6.8	8.8%	46.2
Bridgeport	2007 Barrel Aged Old Knucklehead	22.8	4.6	10.0%	57.9
Butte Creek	2006 Train Wreck	-	-	10.6%	-
Butte Creek	2007 Train Wreck	-	-	10.6%	-
Deschutes	2005 Mirror Mirror	22.7	6.1	9.2%	-
Fish	2006 Leviathan	21.0	5.8	8.0%	-
Great Divide	2007 Old Ruffian	-	-	10.2%	90
Lagunitas	2007 Gnarleywine	24.0	6.0	9.8%	69
Laht Neppur	2006 Barleywine	24.0	5.6	10.8%	94
Laurelwood	2007 Bourbon Barrel Old Reliable	22.0	2.5	10.0%	90
Lucky Lab	2002 Old Yeller	24.2	4.2	10.5%	100
Lucky Lab	2005 Old Yeller	25.2	4.5	10.8%	100
Lucky Lab	2007 Super Duper Dog	21.0	3.8	9.0%	100+
Mia and Pia's	2007 Blast Off	-	-	10.5%	-
New Old Lompoc	2005 Old Tavern Rat	26.9	6.8	11.6%	85
New Old Lompoc	2007 Old Tavern Rat	26.7	6.1	10.8%	80
Raccoon Lodge	2005 Barrell Aged Old Yarleywine	23.0	5.0	10.0%	85
Sierra Nevada	2004 Bigfoot	23.0	6.0	9.6%	90
Stone	2006 Old Guardian	25.0	4.5	11.3%	95
Terminal Gravity	2005 Barleywine	27.5	2.8	13.1%	95
Tuck's	2005 Glutius Maximus	23.1	4.1	10.7%	80
Walking Man	2007 Old Stumblefoot	21.8	5.8	10.0%	100
Big Beers
Brewery	Beer	OG	FG	ABV	IBUs
BJ's	2006 Barrell Aged Imperial Stout	22.8	5.3	9.1%	62
Caldera	2005 Russian Imperial Stout	-	-	10.3%	75
Fort George	2007 Sistine Chapel Imperial IPA	22.5	5.6	10.5%	100+
Golden Valley	2007 Barrel Aged Black Panther	20.3	5.6	8.5%	55
Hair of the Dog	2006 Adam	-	-	10.0%	50
Lagunitas	2005 Brown Shugga	23.0	5.0	10.0%	52
Lagunitas	2006 Undercover Shutdown	22.0	4.0	9.9%	63
Pelican	2006 Grand Cru	21.8	4.4	9.5%	24
Rock Bottom	2007 Black Peter Satanic Style	18.7	3.0	8.3%	25
Widmer	2007 KGB Imperial Stout	21.0	5.0	9.0%	70
Bend	2007 Outback X Double Old Ale	20.4	4.5	9.2%	6

Abyss & Coffee Girl

Abyss

After the release of my "12 Days of Abyss" posts, I was accused of buying, and then drinking, all of the Abyss in Portland. Sure, I drank a lot. But based on unbiased third-party research, it turns out that I only bought and drank 83% of that fateful 2nd small batch delivered to PDX at the end of January 2008. See?

But it's not over. On Monday, March 17 Belmont Station will be

"tapping two amazing imperial stouts, Deschutes' Abyss and Ft. George's Coffee Girl. More details will follow regarding tapping times, so check back soon."

Now, as much hype as Abyss has has earned, there are some out there who think that Coffee Girl is even better. Now, thanks to this tasting, you can be the judge. Either way, you'll be able to enjoy to huge beers.

The Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway!

The Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway!

!!! THIS OFFER IS NOW CLOSED !!!

Yep, free beer. From us, to you. We've got three $15 gift certificates from Belmont Station to give away on our site.

Here's how it works: You win the gift certificate, head down to Belmont Station, choose $15 worth of beer, redeem your gift certificate, and enjoy. At Belmont Station, you can choose from over 1000 beers (yeah, one thousand). You can grab them to go, or sit, kick back, and relax in their cafe with a bottle or one from the tap.

Here's how you win: All you need to do is send us an email. Just answer this question: what would be in your ultimate 6-pack and why? While there is a limitation on our gift certificates, there are no constraints on your selections, so live the fantasy: 6 beers, no limits. Winning answers will be selected by us, published here, and receive the $15 gift certificate. Now, this contest is open to everyone, but it kind of makes more sense if you live here or are planning to visit and can actually redeem this gift. But, hell, if you live in North Dakota and just like winning stuff, we won't disqualify you.

Please submit entries through our contact form on the site. Be sure to include your full name and city of residence. We'll be in touch!

Game on.

!!! THIS OFFER IS NOW CLOSED !!!

The Spirit of Sam Adams

O Hops, Where Art Thou?

All of us beer geeks have done our best to support the local breweries and rage against the brewing titans. Of course, the big boys aren't all evil, but they make an easy scapegoat by passing off their product as beer, dumbing down America with their advertisements, and laughing at us all the way to the bank.

For awhile, Sam Adams has existed somewhere between the big guys and the local microbrewery: while their production numbers are huge, they do put out a lot of beer styles, and I've used them as a stepping stone for people making the transition from swill to Portland micros. And, stone me if you must, their Imperial Pilsner release this year was pretty tasty.

But, the main catalyst for this article is because over the last few years, Sam Adams has also done a great service to the consumer: they've educated. They've spent a lot of time and money talking about what goes into beer, what these ingredients do, and why they're important. Sure, they're selling a lot of beer because of these ads, but whether or not people purchase Sam Adams, they're a little more knowledgeable about beer at the end of the day. And is this entirely a marketing ploy or is it a transparent look into the company?

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I think it's a bit of both. Take their Hop Sharing Program for example. Sam Adams has stepped up and used their enormous hop buying power to give back to the beer community, especially the new upstarts with no hop contracts. This is the same spirit that is alive and well here in Portland among brewers. In fact, it is this spirit that helps our beer community thrive.

There will always be competition among businesses, but competition in this industry is atypical. The goal seems to be more about furthering the beer, not just stuffing profits in your pockets. Of course, a brewery needs profits and customers, but there is a prevailing sense of camaraderie that drives the industry forward. It is present here in Portland, and all the way across the country in Boston.

Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival 2008

Sample list, and some samples.

Well, it was a Saturday afternoon in Portland and unfortunately, I had to go to work. Yep, I had to go down to the Lucky Lab in NW Portland and check out the Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival: drink strong beers, talk to fellow beer lovers, drink strong beers, take some photos, and finally, drink strong beers. How do I even get out of bed in the morning?

This is the first time I'd gone to this event. After going to this one, I can tell you that it won't be my last. With 36+ beers available, there was no lack of choices. And these weren't you average choices. For $1.75 for a 4oz taster, one purple ticket was your key to great beer.

4:00pm crowd on Saturday.

Most of the time, you might see one barleywine pop up on the seasonal list at your favorite Portland Brewery. Many of the breweries around here release one each year, but rarely do the batches run as big as the rest of the seasonals. Since most barleywines require ample cellaring and aging, something as simple as storage space can limit the batch size. Demand also plays a part, as many folks are afraid of these sweet, malty, sometimes estery or fruity, high-octane concoctions. Because of all of these circumstances--unless you're squirreling these few bottle releases at home--the opportunity to compare these beers seldom arises. At this years Tastival, there were plenty of opportunities.

The tasting room.

To the tough-livered barleywine enthusiast, there were many familiar names such as: Old Foghorn, Old Knucklehead, Old Stumblefoot, and Old Yeller. And others that broke with traditional barleywine naming conventions like Bigfoot, Gnarleywine, Mirror Mirror, and Train Wreck. Whatever the name, they all bring a few things to mind: something big, something aged, and something dangerous. Well, these beers were big, with an average ABV percentage in the high 9's. Aging ranged from last year all the way back to 2002! As far as danger, it's dangerous to assume anything about barleywines as a whole. These beverages are a veritable witches brew of ingredients with the more-than-usual malts and hops, but also things like bourbon and oak from the barreling process, vanilla, jasmine, rose, eye of newt. You get the idea.

This event, hosted by the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company, was a success by all measures: great beer, knowledgeable crowd, and a perfect venue. Another tough day at the office.

Photos: Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival 2008

Photos from the Barleywine and Big Beer Tastival 2008 at The Lucky Lab.




Check out the rest of the photos here.

Roots Three Year Anniversary Party

Roots Organic Brewing Co.

I just received an email from Craig Nicholls over at Roots Brewing Company with the following information:

"Roots Organic Brewing Co. is turning 3 years old! We had a very successful year full of growth and expansion, new food and beers, great art shows and music and we know we couldn't have done it without you!

So Roots would like to show our appreciation to all our loyal customers by offering everything on our menu from, on Sat. 3-15, 6pm till midnight for only $3.00! (EXCLUDING MERCHANDISE) Come join all the fun with live music, great food and the release of our Anniversary/Spring beer, Belgian, Farmhouse Bruin. 6% ABV. Also known as bi'ere du pays, (country beers), farmhouse ales were brewed in between end of winter and early spring.

Farmhouse ales branch off into two families, Saison and Bi'ere de garde, Saison predominantly from southern Belgium and Bi'ere de garde from northern France. They vary in styles, alcohol, body and color. The nice thing about brewing within either one of these styles is that one can brew out side the box. These beers we're brewed more - less out of necessity, "provision beer", to drink during the rest of the year."

So come out and support one of Portland's best breweries. Hell, it's a party--need I say more?

12 Days of Abyss (Final Installment)

Welcome to the Abyss.

OK. I tried. It was a dare. Actually, it was a bet. But it was a bet without money, and that's pretty much just a dare. The idea was to buy a case of Deschutes' Abyss and drink one a day for 12 days. Simple. Or so it seemed.

In fact, I upped the ante and said, "12 days? I'm not an amateur! I can do this blindfolded by the end of the weekend." It was a Friday. Don't get me wrong, I knew what I was up against. I've had plenty of Imperial Stouts before. I've mixed them with meals, I've mixed them with other beers, and then I've mixed up my words like scrabble squares thrown randomly on the floor where my head was resting. When I called Matt and told him that he was right, that I was not up for this challenge, it came out "wdksjd imperial hsdfkljs iiej jkjdf nksadfn. Know what I'm sayin'?" Or at least that's what the saved voicemail says (Matt, you should probably go ahead and delete that. Seriously).

So, what have I learned? I can't really remember. I do know that The Abyss is worth the hype. It is a superb Imperial Stout that deserves all of the praise in the world. At about $1 for each ABV percentage point per bottle, it's not a cheap session beer (that's about $10 for a 22oz bottle for those of you who haven't been keeping up with the previous articles). That's pretty steep in many circles, but you actually have to look at it more as a bottle of wine when it comes to usage and price. Find a great food pairing, and split a bottle with a friend over dinner. Hell, split it with an enemy over dinner and you'll have a new best friend by the end of the meal.

So that wraps it up. The beer was great. The "12 Days" idea was terrible. Sorry for drinking 12% of the Abyss that made it to Portland. Keep an eye out for my next article entitled: "20 Portland IPAs in 20 Minutes, Bitch". Another bet from another bar...

The Local Brew

The Local Brew

Today, information about beer is on your laptop, on the barstool next to you, and on your television. With the addition of MOJO's Three Sheets series, it's even in HD (though not exclusively about beer). OPB also threw it's hat into the ring last year by airing Oregon Experience's Beervana.

Now on the scene is The Local Brew. Their latest show covers Stone Brewing in California. From the previews on their site, the show looks very polished from a production stand point and very knowledgeable on the beer side. It looks like they have a lot of fun at what they do--and ask the right questions while they're at it. The site states that they'll be in Seattle in August and Portland in July, probably to cover a bit of the Brewers festival. I'm not sure what they're covering out here, but you can submit suggestions on their site, or go ahead and comment here. I've been in touch with one of the show's creators, so I'll pass the info along. Currently, you can order the show on DVD and the creators are working to pitch the show to networks. The obvious problem is trying to sell a show to networks against the money of global players like Budweiser and Coors, whose money funds a lot of programming at many networks. Direct sales always help, so check out what they're offering at their site.

I'll do a full review of the show once I receive my copy in the mail, so I'll quit here. I just wanted to let you know about this new resource. The only thing left is figuring out what beer to pair with this show...

Eugene Invades Portland

OK, it might not be Portland beer related, but it's about beer. And it's still within the Oregon border. Ninkasi Brewing beers from Eugene have been available in Portland for awhile, but until now, just on draft. Three styles are now available in bottles over at Belmont Station.

I don't want to repeat too much of what's said over at Belmont Station's blog, but I would like to say that if you pass up any Ninkasi beers when you see them around town, pack up your bags and get out of this city immediately! You don't belong here. These beers are superb examples of aggressive northwest ales. Find one. Drink it. Find another.

If you're reading this, and you're the mayor of Eugene, get in touch. We've got the power to make Eugene an honorary Portland district in celebration of Ninkasi's success.