Portland needs more great year-round Brown Ales. It’s an often neglected style here, with many breweries opting for the hoppier Red Ale to fill in the color spectrum of styles. In fact, over at Laurelwood, their Free Range Red has long held the title of being their biggest seller. But this did not dissuade them from creating one of the best Brown Ales in town: Hooligan. Rich, malty, complex, available year-round at the brewery, and soon in bottles!

I wish I had more to say about Lompoc Brewing’s 8 Malty Nights, but last year’s inaugural release completely passed me by and I didn’t even get a sip. If you got the chance to sample this the last time around, please post your thoughts in the comments section. I’ve had a lot of beer in my life, but I don’t think I can yet check the box that says Whiskey Barrel Aged Chocolate Rye Porter. Yet. This year, it might be a little easier to get you hands on it when it’s released 22 ounce bottles.

No release dates yet announced by the breweries, but we should be seeing these as we creep toward the winter months.

Related posts:

1. Upcoming Bottle Releases from Deschutes Brewery
2. Old Lompoc Blasts Portland with Six Holiday Seasonal Beers!
3. Paul’s Boutique: Single Hop Red Series at Laurelwood

Summer in Portland, Oregon means a different beer fest every weekend. Usually these festivals are laden with lines that last thirty minutes, tents crowded with shirtless boys whooping every ten seconds and all of the unique beers disappearing on the first day.  Keep in mind, I am not complaining.  I enjoy any event centered around drinking new beer.  I am merely putting my new love for the Hopworks’ BiKETOBEERFEST into context.

While I strolled through the fest, I saw kids and adults mulling about, enjoying the weather, the music, and all of the bike-centered events.  Bands played throughout the day on top of a keg supported stage.  Participants took turns racing in a stationary bike race.  Possibly my favorite and in hindsight the most dangerous event, was the Huffy huck-off, wherein people tried their hand at tossing a Huffy bike as far as possible.  Mind you, this took place a mere few feet from the onlooking crowd.  BMX troupe, The Flatlanders, performed a variety of BMX bike tricks that were astonishing.  Overall, it was a nice change of pace from the usual hectic crowds that show up to beer fests.

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about the beers.  Hopworks has amazed me since they first opened in 2008.  They have a knack for producing beers that are tasty and well-balanced.  They had fifteen beers on draft for the fest and each one was delicious.  Here are a few that I tried for the first time and found to be tasty.

Piledriver

This beer was unveiled at the fest, and it’s hard not to wonder why Hopworks kept this one in hiding.  That is until you learn that it was allowed to age for eighteen months in four different barrels (Heaven Hill Bourbon, Maryhill Sauvignon with sixty pounds of sour cherries, Maryhill Cab Barrel with Brett Bruxellensis and Maryhill Cab Barrel with Brett Lambicus).  This Belgian Ale has all cherries in the aroma, but the first sip brings a tinge of bourbon.  All of this quickly vanishes when the ale itself is allowed to come up front.  The finish is just the right amount of tart.  This ale comes out a deep red color that deserves almost as much attention as the brew itself.  8.5% ABV 18 IBU

Velvet Underground

You don’t see the category of Imperial Black ESB very often, and after trying this beer, I have to ask why not?  The beer pours a deep black with a light brown head.  The aroma hits the back of the nose like a porter.   Coffee and nutty scents come at you even as you take the first sip.  The flavor is light and a little bitter.  This beer reminded me of the recent Cascadian Dark Ales we have been seeing, but this beer was more complex.  This beer finishes smooth.  Be on the lookout for this one this fall.  8.7% ABV 56 IBU

Galactic

This Imperial Red Ale has a light red color with a deep Carmel scent.  The Centennial and Cascade hops contribute a floral, fruity taste that is there from start to finish.  This ale has a great taste for an Imperial Ale.  An all around balanced ale that was a pleasure to drink on such a warm day.  9.3% ABV 100 IBU

Noggin Floggin

I tried this Barleywine late in the day, and as often occurs when most of the beers are over eight percent, my notes are almost indecipherable and my memory is a little fuzzy.  All I can truly tell you, is that this beer was delicious.  I remember that it had a nice Carmel malt flavor, and and it didn’t taste heavy with alcohol.  Highly recommended.  9.7% ABV 70 IBU

Related posts:

1. Hopworks’ BiKETOBEERFEST
2. Portland’s Not-So-Secret Society of Beer Geeks Gathers in Secret
3. Scenes from BiKETOBEERFEST 2010

Any murmurings on Deschutes Brewery’s Jubel Ale release should signify a change of season.  After all, it is their Winter ale.  As the press release below denotes, this beer will be hitting the shelves in October.  In fact, Portlander’s often see these releases even earlier than the printed date, so I’d expect to see these in September around here.  It’s pretty early for a Winer Ale release and I have to wonder if a beer this good will actually live on the store shelves long enough to see December 21st, the official start of Winter.

Those of you enjoying this bit of cool summer weather, may already be looking to shift gears into a darker, more complex offering.  Jubelale has never failed to be a great malty and sweet, but well balanced beer, a beer worthy of being the first beer bottled by Deschutes Brewery way back in 1988.  For a history of the bottle’s artwork, check out the Jubelale retrospective poster here, from the Deschutes Brewery website.

Here is the rest of the info from the official press release:

Deschutes Brewery, one of the nation’s largest craft breweries, will be releasing its annual winter seasonal in early October.  Jubelale was the first beer that the company ever bottled.  Each year, a different regional artist is commissioned to create the label and packaging art for this brew.

This year, Oregon artist Natasha Bacca’s unique “creation of light” adorns the label.  Bacca works in complete darkness, using beams of light with a tool she invented.  By manipulating the color and the intensity of the light onto light sensitive paper, she literally paints with light. This is the first non-traditional, photo-based art medium used for the Jubelale label.

Bacca said, “The piece illustrates a cold winter night in the background with a dynamic warm fire in the foreground.  I wanted the composition of the work to exhibit a balance of cool scenery elements with the warm and energetic celebrations of the season, exemplifying this festive time of year.”

A work of art in more way than one, this memorable seasonal ale is just the right gift to bring to the holiday party host.  Its distinct taste celebrates the winter season, making Jubelale perfect for sharing around the hearth with family and friends.

Jubelale will be available in 6-packs, 12-packs and draft this October through December in the following states: Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Texas and Minnesota.

Stats:

• Alcohol by Volume:  6.7%
• IBUs: 60

Pairings:

• Roasted turkey with rosemary dressing
• Slow-cooked beef brisket with apricot and apple fruit sauce
• Warm pumpkin pie with real cream

About Deschutes Brewery

Located in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Deschutes Brewery is in the business of daring people to expect more from their beer. That’s why we started off in 1988, on the banks of the Deschutes River here in Bend, Oregon, by selling Black Butte Porter at a time when others were sure a dark beer would never catch on. Our brewers love to push the envelope, especially if it makes someone nervous.  But for us, the highest praise is a raised glass and a toast of “Bravely Done!”  For more information about Deschutes Brewery and its courageously crafted beers, please visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com or www.Facebook.com/Deschutes.Brewery.

Related posts:

1. Press Release: Deschutes Brewery Releases Reserve Series Jubel 2010
2. Fermented Photo: Jubel 2010, Deschutes Brewery
3. Beer Release: Hop in the Dark, Deschutes Brewery

Custom bikes, flatland riders, live music, beer, and 70 degrees! Oh, I’ll be back next year. In support of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Portland Sunday Parkways, Hopworks Urban Brewery threw a great party for cycling support and awareness in Portland.

Check out the rest of the photos here.

Related posts:

1. Photos: Behind the Scenes at Hopworks Urban Brewery
2. Hopworks’ BiKETOBEERFEST
3. HUB’s BiKETOBEERFEST: Portland’s Little Secret

So, you live in Portland and it’s a Saturday. How are you going to spend your weekend? Likely, you’ll spend it riding your bike and drinking good beer. Why not do both at the Hopworks Brewery’s BiKETOBEERFEST? On Saturday, August 28th, Hopworks will host the annual celebration that includes bands, bike games and 15 beers on tap. It goes from noon until ten p.m. and only costs two dollars. This is a family friendly event. It would be hard not to go.

Races and Mayhem Schedule:

12 p.m. To 2 p.m. – Ongoing Kids’ bike games

12 p.m. To 6 p.m. – Hand-Built Bike Showcase

1 p.m. To 4 p.m. – Kids’ Activities (Face Painting, Tattoos, and Balloon Animals)

2 p.m. – Flatlanders (BMX Trick Riders)

3:30 p.m. – Huffy Toss (Open Competition)

5 p.m. – Group Ride (From Downtown Waterfront to Bike to Beer Fest)

5 p.m. – Huffy Toss (Open Competition)

5:45 p.m. – Goldsprints Roller Races

8.p.m. – Huffy Toss (Open Competition)

9:30 p.m. – Last Call

Music Schedule (Bands will play on a keg supported stage)

12 p.m. To 2 p.m. – DJ Xacto (Music Mix)

2:30 p.m. To 3:15 p.m. – Quiet Life (Folk Rock/Americana

3:45 to 4:30 p.m. – Ravishers (Guitar Pop)

5 p.m. To 5:45 p.m. – Boy Eats Drum Machine (Turntablist)

6:30 p.m. To 7:30 p.m. – Morning Teleportation (Electro Roots)

8 p.m. To 9:30 p.m. – Hillstomp (Bucket and Slide Rock ‘N Roll)

Related posts:

1. HUB’s BiKETOBEERFEST: Portland’s Little Secret
2. Scenes from BiKETOBEERFEST 2010
3. Hopworks Urban Brewery Beers Land In Seattle and B.C.

When Full Sail claims that this beer ages well, it’s an understatement.  At my last family tasting, I brought out a 3 year old Full Sail Old Boardhead.  While it’s not surprising that this beer was great, it was a huge surprise that this beer got top honors at a table of people who never drink barleywine outside of our tastings.  This beer transcended all style barriers and was a show stopper as everyone slowed down even more to savor every bit of this beer.  Okay, transcendence might be a little melodramatic, but if you want ot come up with your own words, squirrel some of these away for a few years and get back to me.  Here’s the full press release:

Hood River, Or – Some beers are meant to be enjoyed right away and others reward your patience by evolving and improving with age. Full Sail’s Old Boardhead Barleywine gives a good name to delayed gratification.  While ready to drink now, Old Boardhead cellars exceptionally well.  Full Sail’s Brewmaster, Jamie Emmerson, suggests you store a few bottles in a dark, cool place and be patient.  The newly designed label highlights the reserve year making it easier to keep track.  Whether you wait or not, Old Boardhead is a deliciously rich brew with a spectacular depth and complexity of flavor.  Deep and robust, it’s a luscious brew to sip in any weather.

“We have been brewing “Old Boardhead” since 1990.  It is a beer that celebrates the passage of time and amazingly enough it has been twenty years since our first annual release,” commented Jamie Emmerson.  “Old Boardhead is part of our rotating selection of Brewmaster Reserve beers, and every few months, we come out with a different beer that showcases the art of brewing.  We began the Brewmaster Reserve series back in 1998 to celebrate our independence and creativity.”

Old Boardhead has been kegged and bottled in 22 oz bottles and is on its way to specialty beer stores and pubs throughout the Pacific Northwest (ABV 9%  IBU 91).  The next beer in Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve lineup is Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale that will be released in early September followed by Wreck the Halls that will be released in November.  For a full list of Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve beers please visit http://fullsailbrewing.com/brewmaster-reserve.cfm

The independent and employee-owned Full Sail Brewery is perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the most epic wind and kite surfing spot in the world.  At this very moment 47 specialists in the liquid refreshment arts are crafting barley and hops into your next beer.   Among the company’s most popular brews are Full Sail Amber, IPA, Pale, LTD, Session and Session Black Premium lager.  Founded in 1987, the Full Sail crew has been fermenting godlike nectar for 22 years.  Committed to brewing great beer and sustainable practices their award winning brews are now available in twenty one states.  The Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub is open seven days a week.  Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery, or just soak up the view. www.fullsailbrewing.com

Related posts:

1. Press Release: Full Sail Brewing Company Releases Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter
2. Beer Release: Full Sail Spotless IPA
3. Full Sail Brewing Celebrates 21 Years with “21″ A Special Anniversary Brew

I’ll put up another post about last week’s Deschutes Brewery Street Fare when we get some hard numbers: attendance, money raised, etc.   For now, enjoy some photos from what ended up being one of my favorite events this year: Deschutes beer, delicious food, great music, and an energetic crowd!

Check out the rest of the photos here.

Related posts:

1. Photos: Deschutes Brewery and Public House (Bond Street, Bend, OR)
2. Upcoming Deschutes Brewery Events
3. Photos: Behind the Scenes at Deschutes Brewery in Portland

Christian Ettinger, owner, Hopworks.

This just in from Hopworks Urban Brewery: the needle points northward for Hopworks as they expand their distribution to our friends in Seattle and British Columbia. Good luck in the new markets!

PORTLAND, Ore. – Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) recently expanded distribution of its beers to British Columbia and Seattle. Kegs and bottles of the company’s organic, sustainably-produced beers can be found in leading taphouses, bottle shops and markets in both regions.

“We wanted to share our beer with these markets to demonstrate great tasting beer can be made in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Christian Ettinger, brewmaster/owner of Hopworks. “Our goal is to grow regionally while raising the high standards of our beer even further.  One of the ways we do this by adding new tanks to maintain our cycle times while increasing capacity.”

Last year, Hopworks expanded its brewing capacity with the addition of two 40-barrel fermenters increasing the brewery’s potential annual output to 10,000 barrels.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) is Portland’s first Eco-Brewpub to offer all organic handcrafted beers, fresh local ingredients and a sustainable building with a relaxed and casual atmosphere. HUB incorporates all aspects of sustainability from composting and rain barrels to pervious pavers and hand dryers. We have made every effort to protect “our” future with a thoughtful alternative.  Hopworks has four distinct areas including a family friendly restaurant with play area, a vibrant bicycle bar, banquet mezzanine and outdoor beer-garden.  Our 20-barrel brewery produced 4,500 barrels in 2009 and provides our restaurant with ten different HUB organic beers on tap and two cask ales at all times.

HUB is located at 2944 SE Powell Blvd. and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. For more information, please visit Hopworks online at www.HopworksBeer.com or follow on Twitter @HopworksBrewery.

Related posts:

1. Hopworks Urban Brewery Official Opening Date!
2. Hopworks Urban Brewery Preview
3. Photos: Behind the Scenes at Hopworks Urban Brewery

What’s more Portland than Bikes, Beer, and Charity?  If you couldn’t come up with an answer, you’re right!  Check out the official press release for the upcoming Tour de Lab (website / twitter):

The dog days of summer aren’t over yet! On September 11, 2010, starting at 10 a.m., hundreds of cyclists will take to the streets of Portland to ride in the third annual Tour de Lab, a bicycle tour of the four local Lucky Lab brewpubs, in support of the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. It’s sure to be the perfect combination of Portland favorites: bikes, beers and four-legged friends.

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS

• Riders can choose from two route options: an 18-mile “Puppy” course (visits three pubs) or a 30-mile “Big Dog” Hill Climb Challenge (visits four pubs).
• Riders will earn their dog gear (collar, nose) at rest stops and enjoy human treats as they make their way to the finish line festival  – the Dog Park at Lucky Lab Northwest.
• All-you-can-eat hot dog bar at the finish line.
• Commemorative Tour de Lab etched pint glass and a complimentary pint of Lucky Lab’s handcrafted ale for all participants.
• Gigantic “Best in Show” costume contest will award prizes for the best costumes in the categories of “dogs” and “things that dogs chase.”

MORE INFORMATION

• Discounted online registration before September 10 is only $35
• Registration fee for children is only $10
• Riders may register on site the day of the event
• Registration and ride details at TourDeLab.com
• Contact: 503.459.4508 (for the general public)

ABOUT DOVELEWIS
Tour de Lab is a benefit for the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, Portland’s only non-profit emergency animal hospital open 24 hours per day and 365 days per year. DoveLewis partners with the area’s leading veterinarians to provide critical care, education and community outreach. More information: DoveLewis.com

Related posts:

1. Photos: BC Hop Farms Tour!
2. Fermented Photo: PDX, Dogs, and Beer

As if Oregon Craft Beer Month didn’t give me enough to do, I decided to enjoy a self-imposed Imperial Birthday Beer Week: on each of the seven days surrounding my birthday, I sought out an Oregon brewed imperial beer.  I didn’t give much preparation to the challenge, I just woke up Sunday and decided to give it a try.  How hard would it be to find (and drink) one imperial beer each day for a week?  Well, it turns out that the difficulty was in only drinking seven.  By the end of the week, I had worked my way through tasting 16 different imperial beers.

The proverbial feather in the cap of this week was Concordia Ale House’s Concordia Cup, featuring twelve different Oregon Imperial IPAs.  This obviously helped me put a dent in my goal for the week.  The only drawback to this type of event is palate fatigue.  Imperial IPAs are a palate destroyer and while it is a fun event, after twelve 3 ounce samples, it’s very hard to pick a clear standout.  The first few can be distinct, but then it’s just an enjoyable assault of bitterness and alcohol.

Other highlights included Widmer’s Bourbon Barrel KGB Russian Imperial Stout.  If you think the name is a mouthful, try the beer.  I’ve been waiting for this beer to be re-released for about six years, and it did not disappoint.  This beer also made a short appearance at the Buzz Beer tent at the Oregon Brewers Festival this year.  Rob and Kurt: please don’t make me wait another six years!  The Green Mammoth is a great experience and the Ace of Spades is always a welcome release.  Wait a minute, my whole week was a highlight, so maybe it’s just better to give you a list.  The point is, in Portland, event when you make up your own beer events, they can exceed your expectations.

• Sunday: Laurelwood Brewing’s Green Mammoth (IBU: 68,  Plato: 16, ABV: 6.9%) “The Green Elephant is big, strong, and green- organic that is. A relative of the American IPA, the Green Elephant takes big hop flavor to the next level. Brewed with 100% organic malt, Cascade, Amarillo and Ahtanum hops, this is a unique and beautiful creature. The Green Elephant’s smooth and subtle malt character gives way to a bold, aggressive hop flavor. But be warned, this is one elephant that can sneak up on you.”
• Monday: Widmer Brothers’ Bourbon Barrel KGB Imperial Stout
• Tuesday: Deschutes Brewery’s Black Butte XXII (ABV: 6.9%) “First brewed to celebrate our 20^th anniversary, our extreme cousin of Black Butte Porter is back for a third performance in 2010. Generation XXII melds cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, orange peel, and chilies all aged in bourbon barrels to create a masterpiece of creative brewer whimsy.”  and Hopworks Ace of Spaces Imperial IPA (IBU: 100, Plato: 21.5, ABV: 9.2%) “This hopped out beast had Amarillo, Cascade and Centennial hops, added at every point; mash tun, first wort, kettle, and dry hop. All the green goodness results in a beer with a huge citrus hop aroma, flavor and deep clean bitterness.”
• Wednesday: Concordia Cup
  1. Hopworks Ace of Spades (2nd Place)
  2. Laurelwood Green Mammoth
  3. Deschutes Hop Henge Exp. Batch #8 (1st Place)
  4. Ninkasi Tricerahops (6th place (T))
  5. Cascade’s Imperial IPA
  6. Terminal Gravity Imperial IPA
  7. Rogue’s I2PA (4th Place)
  8. Silver Moon’s Hoptagon
  9. Double Mountain Molten Lava (5th place)
  10. Widmer’s Deadlift (3rd Place)
  11. Caldera’s Hoppertunity Knocks (6th Place (T))
  12. Beer Valley’s Leafer Madness
• Thursday: Lompoc Brewing’s C-Note Imperial Pale Ale (IBU: 100, ABV: 6.9%) “Centennial, Crystal, Cascade, Cluster, Chinook, and Columbus make this double IPA a hophead’s dream.”
• Friday: Deschutes Brewery’s 2009 Abyss “The Abyss has immeasurable depth inviting you to explore and discover its rich, complex profile. Hints of molasses, licorice and other alluring flavors draw you in further and further with each sip. And at 11% alcohol by volume, you will want to slowly savor each and every ounce.”
• Saturday: Widmer Brother’s Deadlift Imperial IPA (IBU: 70, ABV: 8.6%) “It has the strong hop flavor you’d expect from an Imperial IPA, but no heaviness that could weigh down your desire to take another sip. The unique flavor stems in part from the Nelson Sauvin hops imported from New Zealand. These hops have an intense citrus, berry like aroma and flavor not found in any other variety. Deadlift’s simple but fully braced malt backbone muscles up enough malty sweetness and caramel character to spot the incredibly robust hop aroma and flavor.”

Related posts:

1. Concordia Cup 2010 Results
2. The Biggest and Baddest Oregon Imperial IPAs: The Concordia Cup
3. Deadlifting Imperial IPAs