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Fred Fest 2008 Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:58:00 +0000

Fred Eckhardt making the rounds.

Well, Fred Fest 2008 has come and gone--except for what's left in my liver. If you are in Portland and consider yourself a beer enthusiast, this is the place for you.

This gathering is much more like a party than a formal event, complete with home cooked food, sporadic cheers, and verses of happy birthday sung throughout the day. Amidst the Hair of the Dog brewing equipment, there were four beers stations supplying the party with 16 different beers. Many beers were barrel-aged varieties on some familiar Portland standards and seasonals, with the bourbon barrel aged Old Boilermaker dating back ten years! Since my fridge doubles as my beer cellar, the beers that I age usually only reach the 2 week mark before I rip the cap off (though one or two were aged for a month because my girlfriend hid them in the crisper). It was a nice change to try some of these beers that were brewed and cellared by professionals!

Alan Sprints, Brewmaster at Hair of the Dog, preparing food for guests.

Not only are the beers great, but at Fred Fest, you also get celebrities. Of course Fred Eckhardt was there, happily making the rounds, talking, and taking photos with any of the guests who crowded around to meet him. If you know who to look for (or if they filled out their "Brewer" name tags at the door), you'll also see a bunch of other Portland brewers at the event. At Fred Fest, there are no booths with shirts and brewery swag, and no one is trying to sell you anything. Everyone attending was only there to enjoy the beer and support the Parkinson's Resources of Oregon.

So, happy birthday Fred! We'll see you again next year for Fred Fest 2009!

Photos - Fred Fest 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:30:00 +0000

Photos from the FredFest 2008. The whole set is available here on Flickr.

FredFest 2008 Beer Lineup

noreply@blogger.com (zak@portlandbeer.org) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:50:00 +0000

I would be remiss if I were the only beer blogger in Portland that neglected to post the ridiculously awesome beer lineup for FredFest 2008:

BridgePort Brewing: Bourbon Barrel aged Old Knucklehead Firkin
Laurelwood Brewing: Bourbon Barrel Aged Olde Reliable Barleywine
Widmer Brewing : Altbier!!!
Lompoc Brewing : Oak aged LSD
Deschutes Brewing: Br. Abe Belgian ale
Rockbottom Brewing : Oak aged IIPA
Cascade Brewing: 2006 Wild Blackberry ale ( Flanders red style)
Lucky Lab: Brewing Double Alt
Hopworks Urban Brewery: 2007 Kentucky Christmas
Hair of the Dog: Cask Fred from the Wood
Full Sail Brewing: Bourbon BBL aged 1998 Old Boilermaker
Rogue Brewing : Brewer Ale
Roots Brewing: 2006 Pinot Noir Oak aged Epic
Ninkasi Brewing: Dry Hopped Cask Tricerahops
Firestone: ?????
Jim 2007 Holiday Ale Fest Collaboration with HOTD

Not only will there be a great tap lineup, but some killer food as well -- rumors of "HOTD Fred-cured pastrami" was enough for me to sign up.

This year's FredFest is a fundraiser for Parkinson's Resources of Oregon, an affiliate of the National Parkinson Foundation. It runs from 2 - 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 (Fred Eckhardt's birthday) at Hair of the Dog Brewing, 4509 SE 23rd Avenue in Portland. I'm not sure if there's any tickets left, but you can try begging and pleading with Preston here.

There's also a simultaneous online auction at Liquid Solutions with rare beers like HOTD Adam #1, a cool lot of Lost Abbey beers, and the ever-elusive Westvleteren 12. It starts 3 p.m. PDT Friday, May 9 and finishes up by 3 p.m. PDT Sunday, May 11. And if this works anything like eBay, it'll be interesting to watch the price wars when there's :30 seconds left on the auction. Definitely worth checking out.

...just don't blame me when you blow your whole stimulus package on rare brews.

Photos - Hair of the Dog Brewing Company

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Photos from the Hair of the Dog Brewing Company. The whole set is available here on Flickr.

Photos - The Lucky Labrador Brewing Company [Quimby]

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:41:00 +0000

Photos from the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company on Quimby. The whole set is available here on Flickr.

Gerritt's Official Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:42:00 +0000

Gerritt, our feet on the street.

Many of you enjoy the beer section of our site. And why wouldn't you? We've been keeping track of beer in this city for a couple of years now and have accumulated over 200 listings! Yep, 200. But don't thank us, thank the brewers. OK, you can thank us a little, now you know where to find these new seasonal releases and fresh taps across the city.

But it takes work to get this done. A lot of freakin' work. A lot of drinking, but here at the site, we take it very seriously, so we call it work. Seriously, walking the streets of Portland and drinking beer for you good people is a tough job and requires a lot of "research", but it's worth it.

But it's a big city and we've got a limited number of feet. Luckily for us, we just gained two more. These two new feet are attached to Gerritt I., our new correspondent covering new releases in the North Portland area at such places as New Old Lompoc's Fifth Quadrant and Amnesia. He's even been known to break out of the North and make it all the way to the Southeast of the city--just to cover the beer scene for you. Gerritt came to Portland in 2002 by way of New Jersey and like many of us, Portland is where he discovered great beer.

So, welcome aboard Gerritt! Thanks for your help and please keep drinking beer--er, uh, researching--for us!

Hair of the Dog Earth Day Dock Sale > Dark Lord Day

noreply@blogger.com (zak@portlandbeer.org) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:03:00 +0000

Here's what HOTD's Earth Day Dock sale line looked like at 9:50am today:

Totally respectable, considering the madness that is going on right now in Muenster IN. I say forget Dark Lord Day -- it's overhyped and overcrowded, not to mention half a continent away.

A table set up with cheese, meats, doughnut holes, plus several bottles of beer was all the breakfast I needed on this bright, warm April morning. Meeting fellow beer geeks in a strange industrial park and waiting for the HOTD garage door to fly open was a really nice way to start the day. Then came the samples for people waiting in line -- this is hospitality! Don't call me a localvore, but a less crowded HOTD Earth Day sale is where it's at.*

Walking into the actual brewery, beer prices were a bit high, but fair. HOTD isn't known for its budget brews -- it's famous for high quality, high octane beer, and in those categories, the brewery didn't disappoint. Add to that the fact that you could go in the tasting room and sample all the styles before (and after) you committed to a full case, and the price ends up being well worth the experience. And really, what else are you gonna do on a Saturday? Mow the lawn?

Fred, Adam, Ruth, Fred from the Wood, and Blue Dot by the case, and some rarities like Adam Batch #1 and some .375s of Dave from 1995 which were gone by 10:15am. All of the above were on tap, minus the rarities and Ruth, add Doggie Claws and Greg (a squash beer made exclusively for Higgin's). I grabbed a case of Blue Dot and a magnum of Adam -- a kindly gentleman traded me in the parking lot for a few bottles of Fred from the Wood & an Adam, so I walked away with a nice diversity of beers for... well I'll just let you do the math.

It was obvious that the entire family was involved in this event, from mom and pop handing out beer samples, to the kids ringing up the credit cards. I found it really endearing that everyone works together for a big event like this. Always makes me feel good to patronize a family business. Cheers to HOTD staff for a great event!

*Admittedly, Dark Lord Day is one of the most fun beer events I've ever been to. No offense meant. Respect to FFF.

Elephant in a bottle?

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Was it real, or just a dream?

True story? I'm pretty sure. I've got a witness. Unfortunately, neither her nor I were given permission to break the silence. But, on the other hand, we weren't told not to break the silence. So, in the spirit of ambiguity, I've got a tale to tell. But, good journalists don't expose their sources and good journalists don't sit on important stories either. Luckily, I'm not a good journalist. So here we go. What I'm about to tell you did not happen and the photographs accompanying this story are faked. Really.

In an alley in Portland last night, there was a knock at my window. Normally, I don't roll down my window in these type of situations, but I recognized the shadowy figure. Without a word, he dropped something in my lap, hopped back in his car, and sped away down Sandy. As my girlfriend said "What kinds of people do you hang out with...", I turned on the interior light in the car and discovered a bottle of mythical proportions. Sitting in my lap, was a 22oz bottle labeled "Organic Green Elephant". I looked out the windshield in time to see the mysterious taillights fading into the distance. Could it be? While my source was reliable, this was a bit too hard to stomach (well, until I got home and cracked it open).

Laurelwood's Organic Green Elephant IPA

Those of you in town know that this is one of the most sought after beers in town. Last year a seven-barrel batch--draft only--was demolished within 3 days of it's release. This year, several hundred cases of 22oz bottles will be available at undisclosed locations. As with other limited Laurelwood bottle releases, my guess is that they will be available for purchase at the restaurants and breweries and some retail outlets in town.

So, if this story is indeed true, and if I did indeed drink the contents of the bottle pictured here, then you should be seeing these bottles popping up (and then disappearing) around town. Grab them while you can!

Oregon Brewers Break Record Production Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:19:00 +0000

Portland, Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (April 24, 2008) – Figures released today by the Oregon Brewers Guild show 2007 was a banner year for Oregon's craft brewing industry as production across the state grew at a rate of 8.1 percent. Total beer production for the state was approximately 860,000 barrels, or 285 million bottles of beer. That is an increase of more than 64,000 barrels, up from 796,000 barrels in 2006.

The industry posted strong growth despite increases in hop and barley prices, the two main ingredients in craft beer. Portland, Oregon currently has 32 microbreweries within its city limits, more than any other city in the world. The state of Oregon has 64 brewing companies operating 90 brewing facilities, with strong growth anticipated throughout 2008.

"The impact of the brewing industry stretches far beyond the breweries themselves," said Brian Butenschoen, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. "A strong production year supports a variety of local products including barley, hops, yeast and glass producers as well as providing nearly 5,000 family wage jobs and a draw for tourism across the state."

Oregonians don't just love to make great beer, they love to drink it, too. Of the beer brewed in-state, more than 11.4 percent, or 308,000 barrels, were purchased and consumed in Oregon. For draft beer, that percentage is even higher, with Oregon breweries producing 42 percent of all draft beer consumed in the state. This is the highest percentage of local craft draft beer consumption in the country. 2007 marks the first year that Oregon brewers have sold more than 300,000 barrels in state. A barrel is equal to 31 gallons or 13.77 cases or 331 bottles of beer.

"For years we've been producing some of the best and most unique beers in the world," says Oregon Brewers Guild President Van Havig. "No wonder Oregon is known as Beervana and has become a mecca for craft beer enthusiasts."

Oregon's largest craft beer producer is Widmer Brothers Brewing Company of Portland, which produced 283,000 barrels in 2007. During 2007 one of Oregon's smallest breweries to open, the Heater-Allen Brewery in McMinnville, produced 36 Barrels.

The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon's non-profit trade association for the state's independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 59 brewing companies, 30 associate or supplier members and more than 1,860 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, see www.oregonbeer.org.

World Beer Cup 2008 - Oregon Medal Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Oregon breweries brought back 16 medals from 91 style categories in this year's World Beer Cup.

2008 World Beer Cup

Bend Brewing Co.
Black Diamond Lager
American-Style Dark Lager
Gold

Bend Brewing Co.
Outback X
Strong Ale
Gold

BridgePort Brewery
Beertown Brown
English-Style Brown Ale
Gold

BridgePort Brewery
Blue Heron Pale Ale
Ordinary Bitter
Silver

Deschutes Brewery
Sorghum Beer
Gluten Free Beer
Gold

Hopworks Urban Brewery
Organic IPA
American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Gold

Hopworks Urban Brewery
HUB Organic Lager
Bohemian-Style Pilsener
Silver

Laurelwood Brewing Co.
Organic Deranger
Imperial or Double Red Ale
Silver

Pelican Pub and Brewery
Doryman's Dark Ale
American-Style Brown Ale
Gold

Pelican Pub and Brewery
Kiwanda Cream Ale
Golden or Blonde Ale
Silver

Pelican Pub and Brewery
India Pelican Ale
American-Style India Pale Ale
Bronze

Pelican Pub and Brewery
Tsunami Stout
Foreign (Export)-Style Stout
Bronze

Rogue Ales
Morimoto Soba Ale
Specialty Beer
Gold

Rogue Ales
Morimota Black Obi Soba Ale
Specialty Beer
Bronze

Widmer
Brothers Brewing Co.
Widmer Hefeweizen
American-Style Hefeweizen
Gold

Widmer
Brothers Brewing Co.
Widmer Pale Ale
American-Style Pale Ale
Gold

Champion Brewery and Brewer Awards

World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Large Brewpub
Pelican Pub & Brewery
Darren R. S. Welch

World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Small Brewpub
Bend Brewing Company
Tonya Cornett

For the full results sheet, check out the World Beer Cup website.

Bridgeport Brewing Company WinsTwo Medals at 2008 World Beer Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:33:00 +0000

Bridgeport Brewing Co.

PORTLAND, Ore. – April 22, 2008 – BridgePort Brewing Company, Oregon's oldest craft brewery, recently claimed a gold and silver medal in the Brewers Association (BA) World Beer Cup 2008, a global beer competition that evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers being produced in the world today.

Gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition's 91 beer-style categories were awarded April 19, 2008 during the World Beer Cup Gala Awards Ceremony in San Diego, Calif.

BridgePort Brewery was awarded the gold medal in the English-Style Brown Ale beer style category for its Beertown Brown, a perfectly balanced smooth roasted chocolate and caramel malt flavored ale mixed with the essence of hops and crisp spice. BridgePort was also awarded the silver medal in the Ordinary Bitter beer style category for its Blue Heron Pale Ale, a round soft flavor with a crisp finish created from the blend of Willamette Valley hops and barley grown from the Washington Palouse and the high desert of eastern Oregon.

"The entire brewing team is delighted to get the recognition from the World Beer Cup for our Beertown Brown and Blue Heron,” says Karl Ockert, BridgePort's brew master. "With more than 2,900 entries, it is quite an honor and a privilege to have two of our brews recognized.”

World Beer Cup 2008 winners were selected by an international panel of 129 beer judges from 22 countries. An impressive field of 2,930 entries from 646 breweries in 58 countries made up the competition. More than 3,800 breweries in 100 countries were invited to compete.

Visit www.worldbeercup.org for World Beer Cup 2008 information.

About BridgePort Brewing Company
As Oregon's oldest craft brewery, BridgePort is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year. The brewery has reached this milestone by evolving from a microbrewery to a regional leader in the craft brewing market, while remaining faithful to its commitment to producing high-quality, innovative craft ales. The BridgePort family of ales includes IPA, ESB, Black Strap Stout, Ropewalk Amber Ale, Blue Heron Pale Ale, Old Knucklehead and seasonal beers, Beertown Brown, Haymaker Extra Pale Ale and Ebenezer Ale. BridgePort Brewery is located at 1313 N.W. Marshall St. For more information, call 503-241-7179 or visit www.bridgeportbrew.com.

About the World Beer Cup
The World Beer Cup has been held every other year since 1996 and is presented by the Brewers Association (BA). Based in Boulder, Colo, U.S.A., the BA is the non-for-profit trade and education association for American craft brewers and the community of beer enthusiasts. Visit the website www.beertown.org to learn more. The association's activities include events and publishing. World Beer Cup; Great Beer Festival; Craft Brewers Conference and Brew Expo America; National Homebrewers Conference; National Homebrew Competition; American Craft Beer Week (May); The New Brewer magazine; and books on beer and brewing. The BA has an additional membership division of 15,000+ homebrewers, American Homebrewers Association

The Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway Winners Announced!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:37:00 +0000

The Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway!

Well, the results are finally in. We apologize about the delay, but with over 50 entries the total beer count was well over 300! Sure, there was some overlap between entries, but it was still a lot to go through. Thanks to everyone that entered, we wish we could award everyone who participated!

Brett and I decided that the best way to judge these beer collections was to drink our way through it. Then we did the math and came to the realization that drinking over 300 hundred beers over two weeks between two people turned out to be over 11 beers each day. While not impossible, we concluded that it would not be wise. When I say "we concluded", I mean that my girlfriend found the napkin with the drinking notes on it and stated simply "No way." Sometimes it just takes a little common sense.

So, we got drunk, came up with a complex proprietary mathematical method for choosing the winners, and here they are:

Winning Entry #1 [Joel C.]:

My perfect 6 pack:

I’m a stout man, so that’s going to be the first half of the pack before I get into some hoppier--and lighter--beers.

To start off with, I have to go with an AleSmith Speedway Stout. It’s ridiculously black, heavy, sweet but complex. The coffee flavor pulls everything together nicely. And at 12% and in a 750ml bottle, it just makes for a damn enjoyable evening of drinking. As long as no one else tries to horn in on the bottle. Ideally, it has been aged for a year or two, though I’ll drink it straight off the shelf if necessary.

Second up, a Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout. Oh man, is this one delicious stout. So dark and tasty. This is one of my favorites and a big part of the reason is that it’s not as sweet as so many other imperial stouts right off the shelf. It has a nice bitterness and complexity, yet you still get that heavy alcohol punch. The original is fantastic, but the Oak Aged is even smoother, a bit more mellow in all the right places.

Next, Dogfish Head’s World Wide Stout. This may have to be the finisher since it’s so damn sweet and intricate. This beer borders on port--damn near a desert wine. It’s just so delicious. I’ve only had a few, but they’ve always blown me away. Again, it would be nice to drink one that’s been aged a year or two, just to mellow it out a bit and allow the flavors to percolate.

Okay, that’s it for stouts. Let’s bring in some variety. How about a Walking Man Old Stumblefoot? This is a fantastic barleywine. I’ll admit that I don’t drink a ton of barleywines. I’ve only had a few, and my enjoyment has been hit and miss. And I’m further going to admit that I’m a sucker for the malty beers. Which is where the Old Stumblefoot comes in because--while there are certainly plenty of hops used in the brewing--the malts seem to be the featured attraction. This is a wonderfully malty, delicious brew. Since I get to live my fantasy, this gets bottled and put in my 6 pack.

Bottle #5 is the Double Bastard Ale. I enjoy all the Arrogant Bastard versions, but th Double tops the list. Double Bastard does right by hops. It’s a fascinating, complex, unique taste that really satisfies me. Double Bastard is the perfect high-alcohol summer beer, as far as I’m concerned.

Finally, I really enjoy a good Imperial Red and one that I’ve liked quite a bit in the past is the Lagunitas Imperial Red. Therefore, I’m going to have to throw one of those in there. It doesn’t change my world, but it’s consistently satisfying. It’s a great balance of hoppy and malty, with a lean toward the malty and some excellent caramel action going on. I just really enjoy this beer, and it would be nice to break up the heaviness of the stouts.

So there you have it. That’s my dream 6 pack. Maybe not perfectfor everyone, but it sounds pretty damn fantastic to me. So good, in fact, that I just may have to make a run to Belmont Station right now.

Winning Entry #2 [Rich M.]:

List of a perfect six-pack of beer. Hmm.

1) Hoegaarden. Something light and tasty to get into the spirits of this whole thing. Good taste for when I still want taste to be really important.

2) Ninkasi Believer Red. Hands down, my favorite red ever, and that’s where I want to spend the second of six portions of my evening.

3) Laurelwood’s Vanilla Porter. Ok, time to get serious about this whole drinking thing. I felt a sense of loss when this seasonal vanished last week.

4) Lagunitas’ Brown Shugga’. My favorite bar was the one with this on tap. When it vanished, I slowly migrated...

5) Abita’s Turbodog. It rocks. Also, the name rocks. I will likely be talking a lot about the rocking name by this point, and how I want to name my child Turbodog.

6) Rogue’s Natty Red. It tastes great, and has one of those outstanding percentages at the end of the description, which makes it a key final beer in the pack.

7) Not actually part of the six-pack, but I would pick up an IPA to give to other people so they wouldn’t touch the beers I had lovingly handpicked.

Winning Entry #3 [Jeff C.]:

In the unfortunate event that I was only allowed 6 beers for the rest of my life, I could get by on these (please don’t make me pick just 6, though).

Full Sail Wassail:
My favorite seasonal beer. Full Sail has somehow figured out a way
to put winter in a bottle and it’s wonderful. You might pick out
flavors like chocolate, nutmeg, bread, fruit and leather. You’ll
definitely taste the wonderful malt/hop balance, and you’ll
definitely enjoy it. I always save at least a sixer of this one so I
can have “Christmas in July”.

Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws:
I love barleywines and this one’s my favorite. Great now, great in
a year, great in 5 years. Great by the fire, great in the backyard,
or I could just skip to the short version: great!

Moylan’s Hopsickle Imperial IPA:
A perfectly constructed beer is a thing of beauty, but sometimes what
I really want is to go toe-to-toe with a totally unbalanced hop
monster. Hopsickle does the trick for me; it’s an eye-watering,
lip-curling assault on your taste buds.

Amnesia Copacetic IPA:
An outstanding IPA in a city/state/region full of them. The
distinctive blast of Amarillo hops separates Copacetic from the pack
for me. Note- Amnesia doesn’t bottle at this time, but you can get
growler fills at the brewery and a growler’s a bottle, right? Hey,
it’s MY ultimate 6-pack!

Rogue Shakespeare Stout:
Shakespeare is sweet, bitter, roasty, chewy, hearty and satisfying.
In other words, everything I’m looking for in a stout.
Saison DuPont:
Saison DuPont is my “if you were stranded on a desert island and
could only have one beer” beer. It’s incredible on it’s own, and
even better with food (seriously, you can match it up with almost
anything). No two bottles are alike, and each one is a wonderful
journey for the senses. Inhale and you’ll smell more distinct aromas
than you thought were possible in a single beer. Take that first sip
and know perfection.

Is it 5:00 yet?!? Thanks for reading.

Pins, plates, and broken bones

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:37:00 +0000

Pins, plates, and broken bones

As most of you know, almost one year ago, I was in a motorcycle accident. Not my fault, but that didn't seem to matter to my leg--which kept me couch and bed ridden for 2 straight months. My tibia was split down the middle--kind of like you would chop a piece of firewood--and it required surgery, plates and pins. As seen below, I also got a cool 9" of surgical staples to hold the skin around my leg.

It's funny, all of the pain and suffering wasn't even the worst part. During the second week of my incapacitation, my wonderful girlfriend left for work and accidentally left the TV on and the remote control out of my reach. At this point in my recovery, I was unable to move without help and had to lay on the couch, helplessly watching what was left on the television: "Legally Blonde 2" followed by "Tuck Everlasting". It was the most excruciating day of my ordeal.

It's now almost a year later and I'm about 95% healed. A lot of people got in touch with me through portlandbeer.org to wish me well and I wanted to say thanks! Thanks! To return the favor, I've posted some new photos for you to "enjoy". Cheers!

FredFest 2008 Honors Memory of Michael Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:14:00 +0000

Fred Eckhardt at the 2007 Oregon Brewers Festival

PORTLAND, Ore. — What started as a surprise 80th birthday party for
world-renowned beer writer Fred Eckhardt is coming back around in its
third year as a fundraiser in the memory of fellow beer scribe,
Michael Jackson, also known as the Beer Hunter.

More than 15 rare and unique beers created by some of Oregon's most
celebrated breweries will be on tap at FredFest 2008. The event will
take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 -- the actual
date of Eckhardt's 82nd birthday -- at Hair of the Dog Brewing, 4509
SE 23rd Avenue in Portland.

The beer menu is still being firmed up, but brewers are promising to
pony up something special for the event. The number of beers for
FredFest will increase from last year, according to co-organizer and
chief beer wrangler Preston Weesner. Some of the breweries that
already have committed to the event include: Hair of the Dog (with a
special keg of Jim 07), BridgePort, Deschutes, Widmer, Hopworks Urban
Brewery, Rogue and Firestone Walker.

Attendees will be treated not only to a rare assortment of
hand-selected beers, but also light fare including pastrami cured with
Hair of the Dog Fred ale and a birthday cake -- complete with a round
of "Happy Birthday" -- for Eckhardt. Cheeses, chocolate, candy and
even cereal will be offered in abundance so attendees can experience
some of Eckhardt's famed beer-and-food pairings.
Cost for the event is $50 in advance and includes a souvenir glass,
free ticket for a raffle of bottled specialty beers and four hours'
of sampling, sipping and story-telling with Eckhardt.

Admission is limited to 200 attendees. Judging from previous years,
the event is expected to sell out quickly. Tickets are available
through Pay-Pal. E-mail fredfest@comcast.net to purchase tickets.

Additionally, this year, a silent auction featuring bottles of rare
beers running in conjunction with FredFest, allowing Fred fans across
the country to be a part of Eckhardt's birthday and the FredFest
celebration and fundraiser.

As always, proceeds from FredFest and the related online auction will
go to a charity of Eckhardt's choice. This year, Eckhardt named
Parkinson's Resources of Oregon, the local affiliate chapter of the
National Parkinson Foundation, as the featured charity in memory of
his longtime friend and fellow beer writer Michael Jackson, who died
in 2007 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Our Faithful Departed, Remy

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:02:00 +0000

Remy, reminding us to go outside and play!

Well, many of you know that we are a small group here at portlandbeer.org. My brother and I started this site a few years back and it has grown, and grown, and grown. Though we've gone through many changes over the years, both in style and content, one thing has remained constant through it all: Mine and Becky's faithful dog, Remy. Many of you know her through our contact page, where she has always been listed as a founding member (and 'drinker of spilled beer'). A few of you have even contacted her through her email address, and while she hasn't always been extremely prompt, she has always answered her emails.

Remy and Becky, getting ready for the Bend Brewfest.

As of this past weekend, due to complications with cancer, Remy is no longer with us. Though she will be here in spirit, we will miss her around the office. She was always a welcome excuse to peel ourselves away from the monitors and go for a walk.

So, raise your glass this weekend and say a toast to Remy, the most reliable one of us here on the portlandbeer.org team.

Cheers Remy, we'll miss you!

Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway Entries

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:26:00 +0000

The Ultimate 6-Pack Giveaway!

Well, although the contest is over, you can check out all of the entries on our forum post. The 40+ entries span the globe to fill up their ultimate 6-pack. Sure, there were many hop-headed local beer entries, but also many dreams of German, English, and Belgian beers. Check it out and take a peek into the secret beer thoughts of your friends, neighbors, and enemies.

Some entrants simply listed their ultimate 6-packs and hit submit, while others took their time to tell their story through their beer choices. It's interesting not only to see which beers were chosen, but also the reasons behind these picks. Read and enjoy!

We'll be announcing the winning entries in about a week or so. Good luck!

Waffles and Stout Breakfast @ Besaw's

noreply@blogger.com (zak@portlandbeer.org) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:09:00 +0000

Waffles and Stout Breakfast

Last week, a job interview brought me to the Northwest side of Portland. The discovery of a nail in my front left tire causing slow leak kept me there for a few hours. After dropping the car off at Mr. Schwab's, I wandered the neighborhood for a while, hunting for early-morning sustenance. I walked by both the New Old Lompoc and the Tavern & Pool McMenamins -- neither was open yet, but Besaw's was!

Besaw's was hopping with a moderately full dining room, so I did what I normally do in an unfamiliar place -- I found a seat at the bar. It's a small place, but not cramped, with a beautiful wood bar, and I believe they had a little patio in the back for dining when the weather gets nicer.

The breakfast menu runs until 3:00pm, which I really dig. I had a Belgian waffle which was decent, but not crispy enough for a rave review. The three tap handles were all local-ish beers, and I chose the most breakfast friendly brew, Anderson Valley's Oatmeal Stout. It was nice and smooth, easy to drink, and the roasty flavor offset the sweetness of the real maple syrup on my waffle.

I must somehow exude beer-geekiness, because soon, the bar manager chatted me up and enlisted me in an impromptu early-morning beer tasting. She was admittedly "not a huge beer drinker," and wanted me to give her some notes on how to describe the beers to customers, so she set me up with a sample of each. I love it when anyone is eager to learn more about beer, but especially servers, because no matter how much advertising (read: money) a company puts behind their brand, a bartender or waiter is the person who has contact with the customer, and the more they know, the better.

So, it's been a week, and I haven't heard back from the job interview. I still have the nail in my tire because they're too worn to patch, and I don't really don't have the cash flow for four new tires, so I settled for a can of Fix-A-Flat as insurance.

But at least now I know another good place for breakfast and friendly service when I'm on the NW side.

Portland's Cheers to Belgian Beers 2008

noreply@blogger.com (zak@portlandbeer.org) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:50:00 +0000

Walking into the craziness of the "back room" of Roots last Saturday went something like this:

So many Belgian beer fans! And even better: so many Belgian beers!

For those of you not in the know, this year's "Portland's Cheers to Belgian Beers" was a mini beer festival (I dislike the word "tastival") where all the breweries used the same yeast strain (Ardennes/ La Chouffe), but could make any type of beer they liked.

Now, I am a big fan of the Belgian beers -- especially dubbels -- so I was pretty hyped for this event, looking forward to some fruity, estery goodness. I walked up, paid my $10 bucks for a commemorative cup (I think I was one of the last to get the official glass) and five beer tickets. Read on for my unprofessional and highly unscientific reviews.

I started with the HUB El Diablo, which I guessed was supposed to be their interpretation of Duvel. It was fairly sweet and had a deep green hop presence which I found a little too aggressive for the style. Good, but given a choice, I'd rather have the HUB 7-Grain Stout.

Next was Rock Bottom's Floreal, which must have been fairly subtle, because I couldn't taste it at all after the Diablo. After a trip to Roots' self-service water station to cleanse my palate, I got a lot more out of the Rock Bottom beer; very smooth bodied, slightly dry finish, and not as fruity as some of the other entrants.

Next down the line was Laurelwood's Saison d'Arduinna which was absolutely killer. It poured a wonderful clear gold with perfectly sized bubbles. A light citrus tang was the perfect complement to the fruitiness of the Ardennes yeast. Not too fruity, not too malty. I could drink this all day.

Further down the line I found the Full Sail Dubbel, which I found somewhat thin bodied. The aroma and flavor were all there, but it had a strange acidic finish which I found kind of unpleasant.

After that, it was the Roots Bruin, Lompoc's Diablesse, something from Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, but by this time I started forgetting to take notes and some strange ingredient in the beers was affecting my memory. This has never happened before!

Anyways, I enjoyed the majority of the brews, but like Jeff over at Beervana, I got a "squash" character from several of the beers; one I wrote down as tasting like a "pumpkin beer." Though some of the beers didn't quite hit the high notes I thought they would, I highly suggest you put this on your calendar for next year.

:::edit::::

The winners are in!

1st: Lucky Labrador's Malt Bomb

2nd: Laurelwood's Saison du Arduinna and Lucky Devil from Alameda Brewhouse (tie)

3rd: El Diablo from Hopworks Urban Brewery

Honorable Mention: Roots Farmhouse Bruin

Bridgeport Brewing Company Unveils its First Fruit Ale -- Stumptown Tart

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:14:00 +0000

Bridgeport Brewing Company

Pucker Up for the Debut of the Next 22-Ounce Big Brew, an Oregon Marion Berry Belgian Style Infused Ale, at the Stumptown Tart Release Party April 24th

PORTLAND, Ore. – April 7, 2008 – BridgePort Brewing Company, Oregon's oldest craft brewery, is unveiling its next limited-edition 22-ounce Big Brew Stumptown Tart, a Belgian Style Ale infused with Oregon Marion Berries. BridgePort's Stumptown Tart, at 8.3-percent ABV (alcohol by volume) is more than just a pretty face. She's a stong beer with a pink hue and packs a refreshing tart finish!

BridgePort will host a Stumptown Tart release party Thursday, April 24 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the BridgePort brewpub + bakery in the Pearl at 1313 NW Marshall St. Free and open to the public, attendees can be among the first to try free samples of the new brew while supplies last and purchase the limited-edition 22-ounce bottles of Stumptown Tart. Guests will also be given the opportunity to have their bottles signed by the featured bottle model on the label who will be guest appearing at the event.

About BridgePort's Stumptown Tart Belgian Style Ale
At 8.3 percent ABV, Stumptown Tart is a lightly hopped ale that is blended then aged in French Oak Pinot Noir Barrels. This Marion Berry Infused Belgian Style Ale created and brewed from Northwest Cascade Hops, is a perfect indication that summer has arrived in the Pacific Northwest. With 1,800 cases being brewed, BridgePort's Stumptown Tart Ale will be sold at BridgePort brewpub + bakery, BridgePort Ale House and at select retail grocery stores throughout Oregon and Washington.

BridgePort's Stumptown Tart Stats:
IBU's: 8
ABV: 8.3%
Color: Pink/Purple
Ingredients: Northwest Pale Barley Malt, Northwest Cascade Hops and Oregon Marion Berries
Description: Belgian Style Ale infused with Oregon Marion Berries. This strong pale ale is blended with berries so it has a tart, sour finish.

About BridgePort Brewing Company
As Oregon's oldest craft brewery, BridgePort is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year. The brewery has reached this milestone by evolving from a microbrewery to a regional leader in the craft brewing market, while remaining faithful to its commitment to producing high-quality, innovative craft ales. The BridgePort family of ales includes IPA, ESB, Black Strap Stout, Ropewalk Amber Ale, Blue Heron Pale Ale, Old Knucklehead and seasonal beers, Beertown Brown, Haymaker Extra Pale Ale and Ebenezer Ale. BridgePort Brewery is located at 1313 N.W. Marshall St. For more information, call 503-241-7179 or visit www.bridgeportbrew.com.

Spring Beer & Wine Fest People's Choice Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Sorry for the delay on this one. Here's the official press release for the People's Choice Awards at this year's Spring Beer and Wine Fest:

Bitter Bitch Makes It A Double (IPA) In Spring Beer & Wine Fest
People's Choice Awards

PORTLAND, OR -- For the second straight year, Astoria Brewing Co.'s Bitter Bitch Double IPA has grabbed the People's Choice Award at the Spring Beer & Wine Fest.

Despite the brew's bitter name, the win is an especially sweet one for owner Steve Allen, who lost his brewer right before the Spring Beer & Wine Fest. Allen was considering having to miss the fest this year after he learned that they didn't have enough of the award-winning beer for the festival. But in true "beer community" spirit, a Portland-based brewer from another brewpub, Vasilios Gletsos, stepped in and brewed up a batch of "the bitch" just in time for the fest!

The competition was a tight one this year, with many beers garnering numerous votes. Bitter Bitch only beat the second-place winner, Hopworks Urban Brewery's Survival Stout, by three votes!

The People's Choice Award is the result of ballots fest-goers submit as they are sampling among the more than 80 beers at the Spring Beer & Wine Fest.

The 15th Annual Spring Beer & Wine Fest is slated for April 10 & 11, 2009 at the Oregon Convention Center -- always Easter weekend.

Barleywine Flight Night, @ Belmont Station Wednesday April 2nd

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:04:00 +0000

"BARLEYWINE FLIGHT NIGHT. 5-10 PM. Enjoy 3 ounce samples of 5 great bottled Barleywines for only $6 (yes, the $6 gets you a 3 oz. sample of all 5). Bison Organic, Butte Creek Trainwreck, Bridgeport Old Knucklehead, Stone Old Guardian, Full Sail Old Boardhead."

Great price, great Barleywines! Is there a better way to spend a Wednesday? Check it out at Belmont Station. Winter is not over!

Beer of the Month - Laurelwood Darkhorse [April 2008]

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:07:00 +0000

Laurelwood Darkhorse [April 2008]

Well, here we are again. And, by "again", I mean: here we are, Beer of the Month, about four months behind schedule. We'll be going back to check out notes and fill in the blanks, but for now, it's April 2008 and we've got a hybrid beer to showcase.

April is a crossover month, sitting between winter and spring. Portland can fluctuate between snow and hot sun and back again as nature tries to make up it's mind. This is also a great time for a crossover beer: the India Dark Ale. OK, it's not a style that's recognized by the BJCP, but it makes sense: a bit of malt for the winter and a bit of IPA for the Spring. Based on their extremely popular Workhorse IPA, the Darkhorse is a reworking of the original recipe, adding a heavier malt bill and balancing it out with a bit more hops.

If you're not ready to give up your darker winter beers and not ready to jump into IPAs, Darkhorse bridges the gap and helps with the seasonal transition. It is currently pouring at the 51st Avenue location in NE Portland.

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

noreply@blogger.com (zak@portlandbeer.org) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:39:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:54:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Matt W.) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:11:00 +0000

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!