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NW Beer Monkey & The World Action Foundation

NW Beer Monkey supports World Action Foundation, a Portland 501(c)3 charitable organization, in their plans & projects....Check them out at this link!!!

http://wafweb.blogspot.com/2012/04/can-you-help-with-donations-for-our.html

NAOBF 2011 ~ Another Great Year!

I can not get over the fact that another Organic Beer Fest is over....I need to start a countdown on my calendar for next year. It is, by far, my favorite fest of the year!!

This year brought out many old favorite beers and a few new ones...some of my favorites were Upright Brewing's 'Reggae Junkie Gruit', Fort George's 'Spruce Budd Ale', Alameda's 'El Torero IPA' and an old favorite from Laurelwood with its
'Green Elephant Organic IPA' which showed up when another keg blew...which made me smile....

The fest also had some great music this year...my favorite band from the three days was, hands down, a Portland group called 'Fruition'. They blew the stage away with their own brand of hippie inspired blue grass...it was fantastic!

Hopworks Urban Brewery: "DOA" Deluxe Organic Ale

Hopworks Urban Brewery is a fantastic newish brewery here in Portland, Oregon. HUB was founded in  in 2008 by Christian Ettinger and has just exploded!!
They have a huge range of great beers and are VERY connected to to the community.

My Fine Brew!

"DOA" Deluxe Organic Ale was a fine selection on tap in the pub. This brew was a really nice one....it is considered an "American Strong Ale" and is rather orange/red in colour when poured. The hops are on the mild side yet there in a good way and the hoppy after taste is very nice. The malt is moderate.
Hopworks says this brew is "Strong like bull but sweet like your momma."
I would have to say this is a beer worth having! If you haven't make sure you do!
Hopworks Urban Brewery can be found at:
2944 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97202
Tel: 503-232-4677

Stats on this brew are: OG 16, an IBU of 55 and an ABV of 6.9%

Klamath Basin Brewing: Crystal Springs IPA

The Klamath Basin Brewing's Crystal Springs IPA was a beer recommended by Plew's Brews as the "most hoppy thing they had".....I ended up with a growler of this beer somehow....If this is the most hoppy then that is very sad!
This beer is a very mild brew....the hops are almost missing in the big scheme of things...the malt is soft. This is a beer for someone who just started to drink good beer.
It is not here or there in the big picture of things.

Green Flash Brewery: Hophead Red

OK, I was at Plew's Brews in North Portland and sampled a great brew from The Green Flash Brewery! It was their "Hop Head Red" - Now that was a great red!

The official web page says "Resinous hop character and bitterness balance the rich carmel malt base. We took it a step further and Amarillo dry-hopped the brew to 45 ibu's, creating refreshing and savory hop flavors and aromas. Is it red IPA? That's your call."
Is it an IPA? No. But, would an IPA lover enjoy this one? - Yes.
I have to say it was a favorite! Nothing that will change the world yet...great.
Stats are: ABV of 6% and an IBU of 45

The Spring Beer & Wine Fest in PDX! - April 22nd & 23rd

The Spring Beer and Wine Fest here in Portland, Oregon will be held Friday and Saturday April 22 & 23, 2011!!
The Festival is not only Beer & Wine! It also includes the "Tour de Cheese", distillers, gourmet foods, arts, interesting products, a chef's stage and great live music!

The official web page says:
"While you're sipping on fine craft beer, wine, spirits and cocktails, do a little shopping! Our arts and craft vendors and exhibitors offer unique treasures and interesting items. Or chill out in the attached heated outdoor smoker's tent. And don't forget: Admission is free to the first 1000 each day.
The Spring Beer & Wine Fest may be about education, but school has never been this much fun!
The Spring Beer & Wine Fest encourages responsible consumption. Minors accompanied by an adult are permitted until 7:00pm each day. Children 12 & under are free."

The Late Great Don Younger at the Fest 2010

The festival is held at the Oregon Convention Center and can be reached by TriMet with a MAX stop right in front on the center!



WAF



The NW Beer Monkey is a proud sponsor of the World Action Foundation booth this year. We encourage you to stop by the booth and check them out!



 Hope to see you there!!

Full Sail: "Bump in the Night" Dark Ale

Full Sail Brewing's lead brewer, Barney Brennan, came up with this wonderful Cascadian Dark Ale and the brewery brought it to life.

This ale is a "Brewmaster Reserve for 2011 and will only be available for a short while longer. It is scheduled to be around from January to March of 2011 only...so, seek this one out before it is too late!

Full Sail says...."The array of dark malts present a full bodied beer with notes of cocoa and slight roast. It has a big floral citrus hop flavor and bitterness, reminiscent of an IPA."  I have to agree with this...yet...there is something else. I am having a hard time putting my finger on it.
The finish seems to lift the taste buds to a totally different level rather then just linger. To me it is not so much a "big floral citrus hop flavor" (though that is there) as a slightly sour herbal taste..... Just my opinion.
If you have not tried this wonderful liquid make sure you do!

The stats on this one are an IBU of 65 and an ABV of 6.5%

Rogue: Juniper Pale Ale

This is an interesting Rogue beer....lower IBU then I  usually buy (IBU: 34). - But, this is a very good ale. It is brewed with whole juniper berries. Yet, the flavour is pretty mild and the malt is very balanced with an almost sharp dry finish.

Juniper Pale Ale isn't exactly a mystery beer infact the awards listed for this one are: 2010 World Beer Championships—Gold,  2010 Australian International Beer Awards—Bronze & 2010 US Beer Tasting Championships—PNW Champ!

The Ingredients Rogue provides are:
Crystal, Triumph, C-15 & Rogue Micro Barley Farm Dare & Risk Malts; Styrian Golding, Amarillo & Rogue Micro Hopyard Revolution Hops; Juniper Berries, Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.
(That made me kind of dizzy reading the ingredients....just saying....)

It goes without saying...But, I will anyway....This is a great Beer!

Fish Tale: Organic India Pale Ale

I love this IPA...is it Organic...a lighter yet very satifying beer with wonderful hops and an almost floral (in a manly way!) finish.

This beer always reminds me of fantastic sun filled afternoons at the North American Organic Brewer's Fest up in Overlook Park! - I tend to consume many pints of this IPA over those wonderful Summer days!

Fish Brewing describes this IPA as "...a medium-bodied beer with a rich golden color. The organic pale and crystal malts lay down a firm malt body. This provides the backbone for an assertive hop profile featuring organic Pacific Gem. The moment the Mighty Fish Brewers sampled this pungent and resinous New Zealand hop, they knew it would be perfect for their Organic I.P.A. The result: A Cascadian treasure."
I have to agree it is a treasure!
The stats on this brew are an ABV of 6.7%, an OG of 1.061 and the IBU as 42.

Fort George, Great Beer and the Can?

OK, I have VERY mixed feelings about great beers in cans....

What do you think?

Ninkasi: ReNewAle - Mason's Irish-Style Red Ale

Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon has a Seasonal "Irish-Style Red Ale" appropriately called "ReNewAle"...
Ninkasi says it is "a New Year a New Beer! Each year Renewale will be something new and special to enjoy while winter runs its course.

For 2011 we brewed a delicious Irish-style red ale that’s smooth and refined with a hint of toasted malt and a clean finish. A great beer for a new year...!"
The IBU is 40 and the ABV is 5.2%.

This red avoids the usual over the top malt and sweetness that I have always found plagues the style...and, just as promised, has a crisp clean finish. It is a very drinkable beer...but, in my opinion lacks a uniqueness that I have come to expect from this fantastic brewery.
But, don't get me wrong...it is a really good addition and I think not only would this ale be good now...it would also, maybe more so, be a refreshing beer for a hot Summer afternoon.

Organic Nation: What's Organic About Organic Beer?

Alameda Brewing: Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA

For some reason I have been on an Imperial IPA kick....I have always loved them...but, there are some fine beers floating around the markets this year!

Alameda Brewing's "Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA" is a fantastic creation.
It is balanced all the way around with a more subtle hop flavor then I usually seek out....yet, it leaves the hops in your mouth finishing in a fantastic way. The malt is also balanced and allows the hops to pop - full flavour yet not over powering.
This brew has a complex citrus and tropical flavour. It brings to mind a fresh tangerine and almost faint mango. I only realized the tropical mango aspect after having my son smell the IPA and give me his first impression...and he was right on.
The carbonation is light and crisp and it has an ABV of 8.2%.  As of this posting I have been unable to locate the IBU information...But, I will update the blog when I can get hold of that. I guess I need to make a call!
Overall this brew is a huge FIVE STARS! - Seek it out and give it a try if you haven't done so already!

Outburst Imperial IPA!

Outburst Imperial IPA, the "Spring Seasonal" from Pyramid is a fantastic beer!
It is hoppy with a I.B.U. of 80...but, also has a mildly sweet...almost citrus taste.
It is a great moderately priced Imperial IPA! You can drink this any time at all....

But, with an Alcohol by volume of 8.5% it isn't for everyone! (Or is it?!?!)

Pyramid says it availability is February and March so be sure to get yours!!
Plaid Pantry...$1.98 for a 22oz bottle....(what the hell!!)

2009 Holiday Ale Festival PDX

It is hard to believe but, it is time for that great Winter tradition...the Portland Holiday Ale Festival in Pioneer Square!
The festival is December 2nd to the 6th
and is open 2-10PM on December 2nd, 11AM-10PM December 3rd to the 5th and 11AM-7PM December 6th.

For those of you who have never been, the event is held in a huge tent and there is no worry if Jack Frost is nippinig at your nose in the rest of the world outside the tents have a fine heating system.
The website sums up the festival being "more than 50 potent winter ales...all of which are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. (Not)beers you'll find in the supermarket - brewers have put together special recipes just for the Holiday Ale Festival. From Belgians and Barleywines to Porters and Stouts, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors."

My best advice is to show up early! This is a BIG event in a place that is rather too small for a place like Portland. Things get very-very busy as the evening pushes on. Showing up early will insure your chances of trying a number of great beers without the long lines.

The beer list is a massive one and can be checked out fully by clicking here.
But, some of the high points should come from such brewers as Astoria, Oregon's Fort George Brewery & Public House with their "North III" a brew described as being a Belgian Tripel and being "brewed strong, bold and sweet with honey malt and maple syrup, then fermented with our jolliest Belgian yeast, this beer then rests in the bright tank with 60 pounds of finely chopped sugar plums...onyx in hue with hints of oak and spice..."
Other great beers should be Portland's own Hopworks Urban Brewery with their "Kronan the Barbarian" (and not just because it reminds me of a co-worker known by the same name). This beer is said to be a "Baltic Porter" with a "frothy tan head and rich malty aroma with notes of chocolate, caramel, dark fruit and toasted marshmallow. As its garnet color mesmerizes, the rich flavors engulf the senses.... made with bottom fermenting lager yeast."
And last... but, I am certain not least, Hillsboro's Vertigo Brewing with their "Arctic Blast".  This fine selection, from a relative newcomer, is a "Robust Vanilla Porter" and is described as being a "Briess Pale malt balanced with Roast, Dark, Crystal and Munich malts (that) allow for the perfect mix of malted barley for this Robust Porter with Madagascar vanilla bean. Lightly hopped to allow a slight roast, dominant chocolate and vanilla bean character to come through, this beer borders on the low end of the IBU scale and the high side for Original Gravity."

There will also be a variety of "Limited Release" kegs...usually single kegs...that will pop up on a schedule of sorts.

Not only is this just a fun annual tradition but, the festival also supports charity with the Children's Cancer Association! So, remember to support them by checking your coat or having a hand-crafted Crater Lake Rootbeer to help raise funds!!

Cheers!

-William

Ninkasi: Not Just Another Sumerian Goddess

Ninkasi Brewing is located in Eugene, Oregon and has been brewing up wonderful things since Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge started full speed in 2006! They started out small but, are now a brewing with a 30 barrel system!
I found myself pondering the name and thought...Japanese? But, I have now been educated in that Ninkasi was the Sumerian Goddess of fermentation. How did I not know that? I guess I took too many contemporary history classes while at the UofO!
But, I have to agree with what the brewery had to say on the label..."Beer is a staple of civilization. Worship the Goddess!"

The beers produced at Ninkasi are all great...but, the all time classic is the "Total Domination IPA" which is "a true Northwest style IPA, citrus notes, floral and balanced, from ingredients regionally sourced." It is 6.7% alcohol by volume and a respectable 65 IBUs.
However, they also have a wide range of brews from the lighter "Quantum Pale Ale" to the complex "Oatis Oatmeal Stout".

Ninkasi Brew can be found at many stores bottled, at festivals such as the Spring Beer & Wine Fest and yes, even at the brewery located at 272 Van Buren Street in Eugene, OR.


All we can say Ninkasi from those of us who are already fans "keep up the GREAT work!" - And for those who have not yet sampled the goods you should make a point to do so as soon as possible!

Cheers!
-William

Vertigo Brewing: Meeting The Brewers

We had the pleasure of meeting the two Mike's a few days ago at the Green Dragon's "Meet the Brewers" night on October 27th. They are the founding partners and brewers for Vertigo Brewing and two very nice guys.

That night they were featuring "High Dive Rye", "Black Pearl Porter" and "Hop Harvest Pale Ale".

All the beers were really good. The favorite with our crew that night seemed to be the Porter....but, the Hop Harvest Pale Ale seemed to sum up the nature of the brewery for me when they said that the hops all came from their home gardens.

This is truly a small craft brewer that cares about the final product. They are currently a one barrel system...but, looking to expand in time. Right now they manage to turn out eight to ten barrels a month.

Currently, the beer is only available on tap...but, you can also have a corny keg filled at the brewery!

The brewery is in a warehouse in Hillsboro, Oregon. For brewery visits or dock sales you can

call 503-645-6644.

- William

Roots Brewing....How can you go wrong?

Yes, that's right....how can you go wrong!

Roots is Oregon's 1st organic brewery....and one of the very best breweries in the NW! - That can be said without reservation by anyone who has tried the very hoppy and well balanced "Woody IPA".
The brewery describes it as being "IBU 73.3, 6.0% ABV. Not your classic N.W. I.P.A., it’s BETTER! Dry hopped with an abundance of whole magnum hops to get your attention- and hold it."
What we can tell you is that it is hop heaven in an imperial pint glass.
But, for those who want to try other brews there are many different ways to go....the regular tap list includes their "Island Red", "eXXXcalibur Imperial Stout" and "Burghead Heather Ale" among many others - including a wide variety of seasonal brews!
Being a hop lover I lean that way usually....however, the heather ale is exceptional. It is a fresh and unique addition to the special beers available to those of us lucky enough to be here in the North West!

If you didn't feel like we gave you enough reasons to visit Roots Organic Brewery....check out the menu. We recommend the "Mayan Bowl"! But, if that is not reason enough.....every Tuesday Imperial pints are only $2.50....all night!!

As a side note, Roots is the organizer of the North American Organic Brewer's Fest every year right here in Portland!
The NAOBF is not only a great event...with fine organic brew...but, also benefits charitable organizations such as World Action Foundation, Oregon Food Bank, Willamette River Keeper, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Oregon Tilth.

-William

Roots Brewing: 1520 SE 7th Portland, OR
Tel. 503-235-7668

                          

Laurelwood's New Branch In Washington!

The Laurelwood, one of Portland's best, has expanded operations to Battle Ground, WA!
As of October 23rd the newest pub was officially open! It is located at 1401 SE Rasmussen Blvd in Battle Ground, WA.
All I can say is... "Lucky, Lucky Battle Ground!"

The Laurelwood is one of the best the NW has to offer. Not only do they offer some fine organic brew but, their food is fantastic as well. Let me just say "Laurelwood Garlic Fries"....
However, you can not go wrong with anything. The menu is very diverse and tasty!

I have always been very fond of the Laurelwood Green Elephant Organic IPA...found at the Spring Beer Fest and the North American Organic Brewer's Fest (NAOBF)...that is a classic hop masterpiece!
But, Laurelwood has a new and interesting sounding creation "Fresh Nuggs
Fresh Hop Ale" and as of October 16th is being pouring at the Laurelwood Public House & Brewery 5115 NE Sandy Blvd.

The brew is described on their blog as "another great reason to live in the Northwest, harvest time! Using the Nugget hop, this beer is hoppy, start to finish! This unorthodox brew starts with hops in the mash- a place usually reserved only for grain. Next, we added hops to the kettle as it filled- before even beginning a boil. After the boils, we filled our mashtun with nearly 100 lbs of fresh hops, using it as a giant hop back. This is a true example of a fresh hop beer using only freshly picked hops throughout this beer. - O.G. 16 º Plato 6.7% ABV "

All we can say is keep it up!

-William