Lagunitas Brewing: Beer Circus?

I just stumbled across this video....and it made me love Launitas Brewing even more then I already do....if that is possible.....
I know it is from 2009....but, it is fun to watch! - I want to party with these guys!
Woot! Woot!


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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!!)

Kingpin: A GREAT Brew!

"KINGPIN (Bridgeport Brewing) is a full-flavored, red-colored ale that uses a rarely-grown Willamette Valley Hop varietal known as Liberty Hops from fourth generation hop farmer John Annen of Annen Bros. Farm in Silverton, Oregon. Jeff and his team of brewers also used rye and caramel malt leading to a unique flavor profile; triple-hopped for bitter aroma and a unique dry-hopped character."

---- I have personally sampled (a few) and found it to be a great well balanced beer...great hops & malt!!

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Spring Beer & Wine fest in PDX!

Dogfish Head "90 Minute Imperial IPA"

Esquire Magazine named Dogfish's 90 Minute IPA, "perhaps the best I.P.A. in America." This is a big beer with a great malt flavour and a good hopping rate with an IBU of 90.
90 Minute IPA was their first continually-hopped beer, which is a method of hopping that allows for a pungent, but not crushing hop flavor. I don't mind being crushed...but, this was nice.This is a very drinkable brew. It is available year round but, in my opinion is a nice Winter IPA with its heavier warming flavor and higher 9% alcohol by volume.

This would not be a top choice of IPA's for a true IPA hop lover...but, on a snowy day...warming up with something nice....this is nice!

This IPA also took honors at the 2007 Mondial De La Biere in Montreal, Canada where it won a gold medal...in fact it was the only American brewer to take gold!

Cheers!
~William

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

Portland's Own - MacTarnahan's...

MacTarnahan's...a confusing yet satisfying brewer. Formerly under the Portland Brewing umbrella now they have assumed the leadership role and main identity for the brewery which is also linked to Pyramid Brewing!

They turn out a basic and satisfying Amber Ale that is a staple. They also feature such other brews as Sling Shot Pale Ale (a clean tasting pale), Summer Grifter IPA (a lighter but, descent IPA), Lip Stinger Farmhouse Ale (the claim to fame here is that it is fermented with peppercorns...which makes me curious...and hungry for steak. But, I have missed this one.).

The latest is their holiday Porter "Winter Hum Bug'r" which was released on October 28, 2009. They describe it as having a "dark malt body and rich roasted flavor". "Malts: Caramel, Black Roast, Wheat and Oats - Hops: Northern Brewer and Willamette - Bitterness: 27 IBU Alcohol By Volume: 5.3%"

I would have to say it is a very drinkable and friendly brew. Not as heavy and flavorful as a serious Porter drinker would expect...maybe a bit more carbonated then one would expect...but, over all a good beer that will appeal to a wide range of people at those holiday gatherings coming up!

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

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