Samuel Smith's: Organically Produced Lager Beer

Samuel Smith's is a British Brewery located in Yorkshire and it's "Organically Produced Lager Beer" is one that I recently gave a try.
Now I have to say right up front that I am not a big lager drinker. I generally find them to be a bit on the light side of my personal scale. But, this was a pretty nice brew. I found it to be lightly fragrant, the flavour was a delicate balance of hops & malt.

The brewery says it is "A full-bodied lager with lots of malt and hop character. A touch hoppier than many lagers yet perfectly balanced." I would have to say it is a bit more hoppy than many lagers....but, "full-bodied" might be a bit of a stretch.

I do like the fact that this is an organic beer! Officially they say that this is a "Lightly kilned organic lager malt grown in the UK is the main ingredient, with a substantial addition of organic UK Vienna malt. Samuel Smith's has begun to source organic hops in England; some of the organic hops used in the recipe come from New Zealand. Certified organic by the USDA-accredited UK Soils Association."

If you enjoy lager style beers, or just want something lighter on a sunny Spring or Summer day, give this one a try!

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%

St Peter's Organic English Ale

Today I decided to try St Peter's Brewery Organic English Ale. This is a really great English ale...great malt flavor with some nice hops. The taste lingers on the tongue in both a soft and subtle earthy malt and the taste of lemon rind and bitter hops. The ABV is 4.5%.

The brewery says: "Water is extracted from our own 300’ deep borehole and combined with Soil Association accredited light malted barley from Norfolk. Organic hops provide the distinctive palate. The yeast used is St. Peter’s own single strand variety. The result is a delicate, clean, crisp, lightly carbonated, traditional English Ale with a full ‘citrus hop’ aftertaste. This lovely beer won the Soil Association’s (organic certifying organization) top prize in 2002 and a silver medal in 2006."

This is a great ale and the fact that it is organic makes it even better and makes me start thinking about the NAOBF! (Is it Summer yet?)

My advice is buy this beer and give it a try soon!

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.

Organic Nation: What's Organic About Organic Beer?

Chocolate Habanero Stout At Roots!

Roots Brewing has just done it again....they have just released a Chocolate Habanero Stout!
The Oregon Brewer's Guild described it as being a "Stout brewed with chocolate malt, chocolate wheat & five pounds of coco nibs in the mash, boiled for two hours during six pounds of organic free trade semi sweet chocolate syrup made by Alma Chocolates is added. After fermentation they dry hopped with 100 chopped Habaneros."
Roots has once again come up with a great brew made with organic elements and supporting free trade products supplied by another local business.
I urge anyone who can go by and sample a pint ot two to do so!

-William

Eel River Brewing: Organic Brew

I normally try and focus on the small very local brewers but, there are times when the brewery that has grown still retains its integrity.

Eel River Brewing is located in Fortuna, CA and is the first Certified Organic brewery in the country and they take that very seriously! However, they aren't all work and no play which is proven out by their motto "Be natural; drink naked."
They have won medals in competition dating back to 1996.

Eel River Brewing are regulars at brewers fests here in Portland with a variety of great beer and they are also available at many stores bottled these days.
One beer that was featured at the North American Organic Brewer's Fest in 2009 was the Acai Berry Wheat. This is a light refreshing beer and only 4% alcohol by volume and a gravity of 10.0 P.

The brewer describes it as "A light-bodied wheat ale brewed with organic acai berries from Brazil, and a flavorful mix of four other organic berries. Acai berries boast high antioxidant properties too, so drink on!"

According to WebMD "the acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit. It comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits...

Acai contains several substances called anthocyanins and flavonoids. Anthocyanins and flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life's stressors. They also play a role in the body's cell protection system. Free radicals are harmful byproducts produced by the body. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease process by neutralizing free radicals.  By lessening the destructive power of free radicals, antioxidants may help reduce the risk of some diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."

I finally found this ale in 22 oz. bottles here in the Portland area at the Beaverton Fred Meyer. They have a newly remodeled and expanded selection of micro-brew. It was very impressive for a main stream store. So, credit where credit is due!

The Acai Wheat is a really nice brew for guests this holiday season who maybe aren't into the heavy stouts or the hoppy IPA...or even for a hop lover who just wants a light refreshing beer as a change of pace!

- 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