By D.J. Paul

As the saying goes you can judge a person by the company that he keeps. Well I can confidently say that Van Havig and Ben Love are doing just fine. Yesterday Van and Ben celebrated their 1^st year in business and what an outpouring of appreciation they received. For the entire evening the beer line extended out past the door and for a significant time all the way back to the bike racks.  The duo is obviously doing something right.

And for this milestone in being in business for one year was their first foray into barleywines. Massive! is what it’s called and it has no challenges in living up to its name. Word around the pub was how surprisingly mellow it is for being so young. Nothing overtly sweet with this one! They poured their only keg of this throughout the evening and released their pub only bottle sales. The artist of the label, AJ Fosik, has his sculpture, which was the inspiration to the beer label on display inside the taproom for the next few weeks. Make sure to stop by; it’s an amazing piece.

Now lets bring it back to Van and Ben’s company they keep. Tonight is one very special night at APEX. A few friends of Van and Ben from Chicago have sent one stellar lineup of beer Read More…

Posted under beer awards, Beer Brewing, beer events, beer history, beer news, Beer personalities, beer releases, brewpubs, places to drink beer, Uncategorized

Posted under beer awards, Beer Travel

Burnside Brewing and crosstown rivals Breakside Brewery have been in a squabble of their similar names. According to a trusted undisclosed blogger source, Breakside founder Scott Lawrence hit the owners of Burnside Brewing with a cease and desist for the use of a similiar name. According to Burnside insider Jay “Glazer” Gilbert, “Apparently that guy thinks he’s Art Lawrance (sic), like he has some power over our medal-winning wizardry.”

Breakside Brewmaster Ben Edmunds responded simply with “Pfft!” as he pointed to two GABF medallions hanging around his neck. Then, less than an hour after talking with both parties, we found out from barmaster and libation specialist Tom “Tom Cat” Fischer that the two breweries are now one thanks to a shotgun merger. According to Mr. Fischer, the new brewhouse collective will be dubbed B-Side Brewers Alliance.

With the new merger almost complete, Lawrance has Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer humor, beer news, Oregon beer

Press Release:

Portland, OR – Laurelwood Brewing Co. is proud to announce its victory in the 6^th annual Brewing News National Imperial IPA Championship, with Megafauna Imperial IPA. Championship round was Saturday, March 9^th. Laurelwood had some tough competition throughout the four round bracket system showdown. In the end Megafauna prevailed. Brewmaster Vasili Gletsos was inspired to brew this imperial IPA by the availability of new hop varietals and keeping that big West Coast IIPA in mind. When asked about where the name came from, Gletsos’ said it is his affinity to dinosaur documentaries, “one scene in particular in which a great ground sloth clobbers two saber toothed cats at the same time.”

This beer was produced in conjunction with Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer releases, Oregon beer

February 25 through March 3, 2013 marks the dates for Concordia Ale House‘s biggest event of the year. The sixth annual Beer Brawl squares off breweries from Oregon, Washington, California, and Colorado to determine one champion. Washington state has taken three of the last Beer Brawls and four or the five thus far. Home team Oregon has taken but one crown in the half decade of brawling at the pub, a blind tasting tray that customers decide upon to determine the annual champ.

For this year’s Beer Brawl, Colorado has been added to the fold. The first Beer Brawl was a head-to-head between Oregon and Washington. It wasn’t until the second year that California was added. New Belgium Brewing’s Jamie Masten will serve as captain for Colorado, choosing beers from three categories including pale ale, IPA, and a brewer’s choice wild card. New Belgium gets to captain the squad after the brewery took first place at the Colorado Cup at Concordia last month with their 1554 Black beer.

For Beer Brawl 6, twelve beers will be Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer events, California Beer, Oregon beer, Washington Beer

Finally, it has come to be! Oakshire Brewing of Eugene has announced the release of their most anticipated beer to date. Hellshire III is the 3rd barrel-aged bottle release from the Eugene brewhouse. The date is set for February 16, 2013 and this new white whale with the esteemed accolade of gold medal at the December’s Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beers in Chicago is set to launch.

Hellshire III is a two-year-aged Heaven Hill Kentucky Whiskey barrel aged Foreign Style Stout. Here’s the full details from Oakshire on this important matter: Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer events, beer news, beer releases, Oregon beer

So, before we go to lengths to over-think this one, we are offering a number of “Best ofs” for 2012. Agree or disagree, we feel strongly that these beers are indisputably delicious and worthy of world class esteem. This is a fleeting list, so expect it to change on a monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, or even minutely basis. Cheers! Read More…

Posted under beer awards

Posted under beer awards, beer news, Beer personalities, press releases

Oakshire Brewing Brewmaster Matt Van Wyk is no stranger to the Illinois craft beer scene. Before stepping into his current role orchestrating the Eugene brewery’s artisan products, Van Wyk put in time brewing at Flossmoor Station (2003-2009) outside of Chicago. An Iowa native, Van Wyk recently returned to the Midwest to attend the 10th Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers (FOBAB) in Chicago where he entered beer alongside a number of other nationally acclaimed breweries such as Goose Island, Lost Abbey, New Belgium, New Holland, Bear Republic, and Sun King.

FOBAB is run by the Illinois Craft Brewer’s Guild and was held this year at Chicago’s Bridgeport Art Center – Skyline Loft. 32 awards were presented at the 2012 FABOB which took place on November 17, 2012. These included three in each of ten categories (gold, silver, and bronze) and two best of show awards.

Oakshire and Van Wyk took home a prestigious gold medal in Category 1: Classic Porter/Stout. Of 12 entries, Oakshire’s Bourbon Stout was awarded top honors.

“It was pretty awesome to come back (to Chicago) and have my beer validated at a professional event.” says Van Wyk who helped with organizing earlier FOBAB events through the Illinois Guild.  “(FOBAB) is not as large GABF (Great American Beer Festival) or the World Beer Cup in scope but just as prestigious. It’s pretty rewarding.” says the Oakshire brewmaster who won a handful medals at FOBAB in the past while with Flossmoor Station. Read More…

Posted under beer awards, Beer personalities, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

Art Larrance Honored as Oregon Restaurateur of the Year

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Names Hospitality Industry Award Recipients

By Chris Crabb

Art Larrance has been named Restaurateur of the Year as part of the 2012 Hospitality Industry Awards, as announced by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). Larrance, who represents Cascade Brewing and the Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub, was one of three recipients. He was joined by Richard Boyles (InnSight Hotel Management Group), named Innkeeper of the Year; and Curtis Restaurant Equipment (represented by Dan Curtis and Mike Curtis), named Vendor of the Year.

“These award winners represent not only some of our industry’s most dedicated leaders and advocates, but also the exemplary service and professionalism that set the high standards for the entire industry to achieve,” said Steve McCoid, president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association.

The statewide awards will be presented at the Hospitality Industry Awards Dinner, September 23, during ORLA’s Annual Convention in Eugene. Award recipients will be recognized for their outstanding achievements and commitment to the hospitality industry, demonstrating the important role restaurants and lodging properties play as a cornerstone of Oregon’s economy.

With a legacy perpetuating from 1985, Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer news, Beer personalities, Oregon beer