By Jen Sotolongo

Beer production requires a lot of water. In fact, 90% of beer is water. And this figure doesn’t even include the water required for cleaning, running a brewery or brewpub, or growing hops and barley.

According to the Water Footprint Network, the Netherlands organization that pioneered measuring water footprints, one gallon of beer requires 689 gallons of water to produce. The majority of water used in the production comes from growing and fermenting barley and other grains used during the brewing process. The industry average is 6-10 gallons of water per gallon of beer produced in the brewery, according to Executive Brewmaster at Full Sail, Jamie Emmerson.

Of the top 100 water users in Portland during the FY09-FY10 year, Widmer Brothers ranked #27 and Pyramid Brewing #77. A recent study conducted by consulting firm McKinstry & Co. and the World Bank estimates that by 2030, more than one third of the world’s population will face major water shortages if we continue business as usual. This is a cause for concern in an industry whose product relies heavily on water, especially in states like Colorado and California, with abundant breweries, and severely depleted rivers.

Luckily, many breweries realize the importance of Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, Washington Beer, beer me

On April 7, 1933, 13 years of Prohibition officially ended in the United States with the repeal of the 18th Amendment. The 21st Amendment re-legalized alcohol here, and to celebrate on this day, the 79th anniversary of our victory, with a session beer. You see, at the time of repeal, legally allowable beer weighed in at 4%ABV or below. Who doesn’t enjoy multiple quaffs of delicious low alcohol brew? Well respected beer blogger Lew Bryson of Seen Through a Glass has started a grass roots movement to celebrate this day with large glasses of low ABV brew (4.5% and under). Says Bryson: “We thought we could ask for session beers at our favorite bars, and brewpubs, and suchlike, invite people to try them, gin up plenty of social media whoopee, and all dat.”

So to celebrate this great day, here are a few suggestions of truly sessionable craft beers to enjoy. Raise a glass! Cheers to Session Beer Day! Read More…

Posted under beer history, beer me, beer reviews

Two years ago I spoke out against the horrid energy drink-esque labels of Pyramid Brewerand the Mountain Dew-like look of Mac’s Amber. For so long it seemed that Pyramid/Macs/Magic Hat/North American Brewers etc dating back to Portland Brewing and the beers umbrellaed under these brands (Nor’Wester, Saxer, etc) were obviously suffering from a major identity crisis. In countless pathetic attempts to rebrand themselves, the greater interest of a regional beer geek audience was frequently turned away by overthinking and playing catch up with other larger craft brands rather than trailblazing and innovating.

This lack of Read More…

Posted under beer me, beer news

We wish you a safe and satisfying Thanksgiving. What beer will you be enjoying on this fine day? We’re thinking of some treats from our cellar like a 2006 St. Bernardus 60th Anniversary, a Deschutes Black Butte XXI Imperial Porter, 2007 Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, some Ninkasi Sleigh’r, Pyramid Snowcap, Sierra Nevada Celebration, and a two year vertical of Odell Friek wild Framboise-Kriek. There will likely be a couple dozen other great craft brews at the table. Keep it safe out there and never drink and drive. Cheers!

Posted under beer me, beer to do list

Look for twenty bomb-ass beers pouring at Brewpublic’s KILLERBEERFEST 2011. It is he third year of this event and it’s no surprise that the brews to be featured will killer! Look for at least five beers brewed with Rooibos in honor of Brewpublic’s favorite brewer Alexander Legume. More details to come soon.

Posted under Brewpublic Events, Oregon beer, beer events, beer me, events, places to drink beer

Migration will be hosting our second annual Fall Fest.  This year’s Fall Fest will be Portland’s chance to taste 2 amazing new beers, and a ¼ barrel of a crowd favorite barrel aged imperial stout, hear extraordinary local music, and close the night with some soul enhancing beats from DJ Mach 1 closing out the night.

-Our crowd pleasing 1 year anniversary beer, the “Yearling Stout” was aged for 3 months in a whiskey barrel, sits at 8.6% ABV and has 72 IBU’s.

-Our ALT “Red Bier” sits at 5.7% ABV with 45 IBU’s has cherry and cola notes with a beautiful Munich malt backbone.

-And of course the much anticipated “69 Pound Perle” Fresh Hop sitting at 4% ABV with a simple clean malt profile that lends to the orange color of this NW classic Fresh Hop beer made with 69 pounds of Oregon grown Perle hops.

Posted under Beer & Music, Oregon beer, beer and food, beer events, beer me, beer releases, brewpubs, events, places to drink beer

September 5, the day that The BeerMongers first opened their doors in 2009. On this day in 2011, barbecue and beers beckon as summer hits its climax on a hot Labor Day.

Raise it up for two bloody beer-laden years for The BeerMongers. In Southeast Portland’s best corner for craft beer, this quaint and unassuming spot has quietly carved a niche for themselves as one of the city’s elite destinations for a wide rang of brew. On this day, the ‘Mongers serve up a chill (not on the outside of the shop) barbecue toast to having survived two years in a crappy economy.

Founders Sean Campbell and Craig Gulla have injected a spirit of community and Cheers-esque “Everybody knows your name” vibe without really even trying. Having met up during years of service to McMenamins (Campbell still works as a cook and bartender at The Fullton Pub and Gulla put in 13 years with the McBrewery, most of which were involved with brewing beer at the Crystal Ballroom with notable brewers such as Jason McAdam now of Burnside Brewing and Jeff Cooley, who still works at Crystal as a brewer, and who formerly brewed at Mad River in Blue Lake, California. ‹How do you like that run-on sentence and digression, Alworth?›).The BeerMongers are essentially as much defined by their customers as they are by the publicans running the joint. Josh Grgas manager of the bottleshop/taproom has added a lot to the business since coming on. Many of the special events and harder to come by kegs and bottles are a result of Grgas’ work. Also, much can be attributed to bartender Sam Pecoraro who is frequently found running things at ‘Mongers. Many other beer lovin’ people have volunteered at the shop to help with a number of fun festivities including live music and “yardwork.”

On Labor Day, Monday September 5, 2011, The BeerMongers will toast it up with their patron-friends and family. See you there, and Hoppy Beerthday, ‘Mongers.

Join The BeerMongers for a fortnight of festivities(Sept 3-17, 2011)  including their much anticipated Beer Fest taking place in their front parking lot on September 10 and 11, 2011.  More details can be found here.

The BeerMongers is located at 1125 SE Division Street in the Banana Building.

Posted under Beer personalities, Oregon beer, beer and food, beer events, beer me, beer releases, places to drink beer

Today is my birthday and this made me happy. Go Red Sox!

Posted under beer me

When it comes to great summer beers, or just great brews in general, a top destination to fulfill your warm weather wishlist is The Bier Stein in Eugene, Oregon. Crowned by Beer West Magazine as having the best bottle selection on the West Coast, it’s hard to argue with the fact that The Stein has remained a solid resource for some of the region’s best brews since opening in 2005. The shop not far from the University of Oregon campus houses more than 1,000 different bottles of craft beer and ten unique rotating offerings on tap. Further, The Stein’s owner in Chip Hardy not only sells the good stuff – he brews it.

A huge part of the vibe at The Bier Stein can be attributed to Dave Stockhausen, the manager of the joint who is as knowledgeable and passionate about craft beer as anyone in the business. Stockhausen runs much of the daily operations at The Stein and is to thank for the execution of much of Hardy’s wonderful vision. We pulled Stockhausen aside from his duties for a moment to get a recommendation on a splendid mixed sixer of brews he has recently shelved at The Bier Stein. Here’s six beauts approved by Stockhausen that you might want to snag before they’re gone: Read More…

Posted under beer me, beer to do list, beer tools

Enjoy your three-day weekend if you’ve been allowed one. Memorial Day weekend should mean that summer is right around the corner (by the looks of things it may never arrive). Whatever you end up doing, make sure it involves a great beer. Be safe, and have fun. Cheers!

Posted under beer me