Some beers are meant to be enjoyed right away and others reward your patience by evolving and improving with age. Full Sail’s Old Boardhead Barleywine gives a good name to delayed gratification. While ready to drink now, Old Boardhead cellars exceptionally well. Full Sail’s Brewmaster, Jamie Emmerson, suggests you store a few bottles in a dark, cool place and be patient. The newly designed label highlights the reserve year making it easier to keep track. Whether you wait or not, Old Boardhead is a deliciously rich brew with a spectacular depth and complexity of flavor. Deep and robust, it’s a luscious brew to sip in any weather.

“We have been brewing “Old Boardhead” since 1990. It is a beer that celebrates the passage of time and amazingly enough it has been twenty years since our first annual release,” commented Jamie Emmerson. “Old Boardhead is part of our rotating selection of Brewmaster Reserve beers, and every few months, we come out with a different beer that showcases the art of brewing. We began the Brewmaster Reserve series back in 1998 to celebrate our independence and creativity.”

Old Boardhead has been kegged and bottled in 22 oz bottles and is on its way to specialty beer stores and pubs throughout the Pacific Northwest. (ABV 9%  IBU 91.) The next beer in Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve lineup is Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale that will be released in early September followed by Wreck the Halls that will be released in November. For a full list of Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve beers please visit http://fullsailbrewing.com/brewmaster-reserve.cfm

Posted under Oregon beer, beer releases, press releases

The dog days of summer aren’t over yet! On September 11, 2010, starting at 10 AM, hundreds of cyclists will take to the streets of Portland to ride in the third annual Tour de Lab, a bicycle tour of the four local Lucky Lab brewpubs, in support of the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. It’s sure to be the perfect combination of Portland favorites: bikes, beers and four-legged friends.

Ride Highlights

* Riders can choose from two route options: an 18-mile “Puppy” course (visits three pubs) or a 30-mile “Big Dog” Hill Climb Challenge (visits four pubs).

* Riders will earn their dog gear (collar, nose) at rest stops and enjoy human treats as they make their way to the finish line festival – the Dog Park at Lucky Lab Northwest.

* All-you-can-eat hot dog bar at the finish line.

* Commemorative Tour de Lab etched pint glass and a complimentary pint of Lucky Lab’s handcrafted ale for all participants.

* Gigantic “Best in Show” costume contest will award prizes for the best costumes in the categories of “dogs” and “things that dogs chase.”

More Information

* Discounted online registration before September 10 is only $35

* Registration fee for children is only $10

* Riders may register on site the day of the event

* Registration and ride details at TourDeLab.com

* Contact: 503.459.4508 (for the general public)

About DoveLewis

Tour de Lab is a benefit for the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, Portland’s only non-profit emergency animal hospital open 24 hours per day and 365 days per year. DoveLewis partners with the area’s leading veterinarians to provide critical care, education and community outreach. More information: DoveLewis.com

Posted under Oregon beer, beer awards, brewpubs, places to drink beer, press releases

Inspired by the great Belgian Trappist and Monastic beers, Full Sail Brewing has put their heart and soul into Sanctuary Dubbel, the newest beer in their Brewmaster Reserve line-up.  For centuries, the Trappist monks of Belgium have earned their daily bread by making “liquid bread” or beer. In the early years, the monks brewed lower alcohol or “table beers” primarily for their brethren to drink with their meals. As their brewing tradition grew the abbeys began producing stronger dubbel (double) style ales to serve to their guests and eventually for sale.

Full Sail’s Sanctuary is a dubbel modeled after the abbey style beers of Belgium complete with a flavor profile that invites calm and quiet reflection. Contemplate the soothing rich malt aromas as they fill the nose, followed by the flavors of biscuit and roast that are softly rounded on the tongue by a rich sweet malt character. With a light blessing of hops, Sanctuary finishes with a Belgian yeast spice notes and a chewy finish.  ABV: 7% IBU: 20

“Sanctuary is part of our rotating selection of Brewmaster Reserve beers. Every eight to ten weeks we come out with a different beer that show cases the brewer’s art.  We began the program back in 1998 as a way of celebrating our independence and creativity,” said Full Sail’s Founder and CEO, Irene Firmat.

Sanctuary will be available in 22oz bottles and on draft in specialty beer stores and pubs throughout the Pacific Northwest from mid-August to November.  Full Sail will be offering Sanctuary at the Great American Beer Festival® in Denver, Colorado this September. The next beer in Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve line up will be Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale and will be released in late September. For a full list of Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve beers please visit http://fullsailbrewing.com/brewmaster-reserve.cfm

Posted under Oregon beer, beer releases, press releases

As a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Kona Brewing Will Remain Hawaii-based, Enhance Distribution and Marketing Capabilities

Portland, Ore. (August 3, 2010) – Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. (CBA) (Nasdaq: HOOK), has entered into a merger agreement that will strengthen a nine-year partnership with Kona Brewing Co. (Kona).  As a result of the merger agreement, Kona will become a wholly owned subsidiary of CBA and have the opportunity to expand its brand and distribution while maintaining its craft brewery operations in Hawaii.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kona Brewing fully into the Craft Brewers Alliance family,” said Terry Michaelson, CEO of CBA. “Over the past nine years, we have worked alongside Kona to help build the brand in Hawaii and on the mainland, and we have been continuously impressed by the quality of Kona’s hand-crafted beers and their reflection of Hawaii’s heritage and culture. We look forward to new opportunities to grow the Kona brand.”

Read More…

Posted under beer news, press releases

3 Great Stone Beers on Tap:

Posted under Beer personalities, beer events, events, press releases

Session Premium Lager from Full Sail Brewing Company was named “America’s Best Premium Lager” at the 2010 World Beer Awards. Following four rounds of judging, the winners were chosen by the international, highly respected judging panel. Judges blind-tasted beers from over five hundred entries in twenty-seven countries and the top winners were announced Wednesday, July 28th, at the World Beer Awards ceremony at The Hurlingham Club is in south west London.

“To be recognized at the World Beer Awards for a second time is a great honor. With both Session and Session Black our brewers at Full Sail have hand crafted world class lagers. Balanced, elegant, and with a smoothness that belies their complexity, Session is really a brand that reaches beyond traditional expectations,” says Jamie Emmerson, Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster.

Since its release in 2005, Session Premium lager has earned six gold medals and was named “The World’s Best Premium Lager, at the 2007 World Beer Awards. Session Premium Lager is a classic all malt continental pilsner, brewed with American and European hops for a wonderful noble hop aroma and two-row barley malt – with a touch of wheat malt – for a pleasant, refreshing finish.

The independent and employee-owned Full Sail Brewery is perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the most epic wind and kite surfing spot in the world. At this very moment 47 specialists in the liquid refreshment arts are crafting barley and hops into your next beer.  Among the company’s most popular brews are Full Sail Amber, IPA, Pale, LTD, Session and Session Black Premium lager. Founded in 1987, the Full Sail crew has been fermenting godlike nectar for 22 years. Committed to brewing great beer and sustainable practices their award winning brews are now available in twenty one states. The Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub is open seven days a week.  Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery, or just soak up the view.  www.fullsailbrewing.com

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

By Ben Kilduff

When is it ever appropriate to pay $9 for a pint of everyday craft beer? When it is part of a bigger experience – like my first Red Sox game.

Despite the Red Sox loss on Saturday (1-5), the overall game-day festivities were amazing! Seattle traffic is infamous in the Pacific Northwest so the best thing to do is ask a local. And the best local is a bartender at Duck Island Ale House. My girlfriend Katherine and I stopped in at Duck Island for a pre game brew. Adam was our heavily tattooed bartender and he couldn’t have been nicer. The beer list was great! I choose a Pike Double IPA and Katherine choose a Lucifer. I asked about the Lucifer tap tower, as I have never seen one before. Adam said that it is one of only three still around, but after Brouwerij Het Anker bought the name, recipe, and rights to Lucifer from Brouwerij Riva S. A. in 2008, nobody knows were two of the three are. Lucifer is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. It is surprisingly creamy and a wonderful beer. You would not know that it is 8.5% ABV.

The other thing that I enjoyed about Duck Island was all of the extra tap handles hanging from the ceiling. Very cool place! After getting directions to the ballpark from Adam, we headed out.

We found great parking and started looking for beers in the ballpark. There were the normal selections of Budweiser, and such, but we were looking for craft. We found the likes of Bridgeport, Redhook, Pyramid, and Dick’s. Nine dollars for these was a little steep. Then I thought how many times have I paid for over-priced candy and soda at the movies? A lot. We don’t get to go to a baseball game very often so this was a treat, and despite the high prices we were going to treat ourselves.

After the game we hit Uber Tavern located right down the street for Duck Island. We found this to be a adequate beer bar with bottles to-go. We could not end the night without saying thanks to Adam and had just one more beer.

There were other beer-centric places in Seattle that I would like to visit, but they will have to wait til next time. This trip was definitely worth the $9 beers, and the Mariners deserved to win the game.

Posted under beer events, beer reviews, press releases

During a recent twelve day Great Belgium Beer Tour, brewers from Green Flash Brewing Co. of San Diego County, California and Brasserie St. Feuillien of Le Roeulx, Belgium teamed up to produce the first-ever collaboration ale between American and Belgian family-owned breweries. The beer will be called Bière De L’Amitié, or Friendship Brew, and will be released in the United States in this month.

Dominique Friart, Administrator Deputy (C.E.O.) of St. Feuillien, visited Green Flash on a 2009 trip to the United States. Green Flash had collaborated with several U.S. breweries on special ales in recent years with great success, brews many Belgian-inspired ales, and has a great admiration for Belgian tradition. Mike Hinkley, Green Flash CEO, jumped at the chance to suggest the collaboration to Ms. Friart. After several conversations, both parties grew excited about the prospect of this brewing adventure.

A brewing date was scheduled for March 9, 2010. Over the months leading up to the brew, Chuck Silva and Alexis Briol, Green Flash and St Feuillien’s brewmasters, set out to create a brew that would bring together five generations of Friart Family traditional Belgian ale and the cutting edge and innovative brewing techniques used at Green Flash. Chuck Silva said, “Brewing with Alexis at St. Feuillien was a great honor, lots of fun, and I think we created a fantastic brew. This is a convergence of great Belgian tradition and Green Flash innovation.”

Bière De L’Amitié is a Blond Belgian Strong Ale, brewed with St. Feuillien’s traditional yeast and secret spices. For a Green Flash-style modern twist, rye and wheat malts were added to the mash and American Amarillo hops used in a late boiling kettle addition. Then the beer was dry-hopped with more Amarillo for even more hop flavor, aroma and zest. The ABV is 9.5%. The beer will be available in 750ml. cork-finished bottles, and on draught.

Posted under beer releases, press releases

SBS Imports of Seattle, Washington and Terrapin Beer Company of Athens, GA are pleased to announce the arrival of Monstre Rouge, the recent De Proef-Terrapin Collaboration.  Terrapin’s Brian “Spike” Buckowski and De Proef Owner-Brewmaster Dirk Naudts brewed Monstre Rouge together this past March at De Proef in Lochristi, Belgium.

Monstre Rouge (Red Monster) is loosely based on Terrapin’s Big Hoppy Monster with a Belgian twist.  It is an Imperial Flanders Red Ale of 8.5%, fermented with brettanomyces and aged with toasted American oak. The malt profile includes a range of Crystal malts, Munich and Terrapin’s signature Rye. It is hopped to 55 ibu’s with a blend of American hops. It is a deep amber-red color capped by rocky off-white foam.  It has a complex flavor profile -
tart, sweet, sour, hoppy and woody. This limited production beer is available in cases of 6/750ml cork-finished bottles and 30L kegs.  Suggested retail price is $15.99 per bottle.

“I am very pleased to welcome Terrapin to the collaboration series,” noted SBS Founder and President Alan Shapiro.  ”I believe Spike & Dirk have created something truly unique that will be enjoyed by discerning Belgian beer consumers.”

“We consider it a great honor to be invited to partner on this beer,” added Terrapin Co-Founder and Brewmaster Spike Buckowski.  ”It is a truly impressive list of brewers who have come before us and it has been a great experience to work with De Proef and SBS.”

Each year SBS invites a noted brewer from different regions to co-design a beer and travel to Belgium to brew at De Proef.  Monstre Rouge is the fourth beer in the De Proef Collaboration Series.  Previous partners included Tomme
Arthur of Port Brewing/Lost Abbey (2007); Jason Perkins of Allagash (2008); and John Mallet of Bell’s (2009).  The 2011 partner (from the Northwest) will be officially announced in September.

The beer will be launched and made available exclusively for two weeks prior to general distribution through The Rare Beer of the Month Club, the country’s most exclusive and prestigious beer club.  ”We’ve featured several past products from Alan’s collaboration series, and each has been an enormous hit with our very discerning customer base.  Monstre Rouge embodies exactly what we’re going after in The Rare Beer Club, limited release, creative, outstanding craft beers.” www.beermonthclub.com.

Highly regarded Belgian brewing engineer and professor, Dirk Naudts, founded the De Proefbrouwerij in 1996.  He crafts each batch in an 11HL (9 U.S.barrel) brewhouse that blends state-of-the-art technology with traditional methods.  Prior to creating DeProef, Naudts was the Brewmaster at Roman Brewery in Oudenaarde, Belgium and Brewmaster at the prestigious St. Lieven brewing program in Gent, Belgium.

Terrapin Beer company of Athens, GA was created by brewers Spike Buckowski and John Cochran in 2002.  They are regarded as perhaps the most creative and adventurous brewer in their region.  Terrapin beers are now available in 9 states.  For more information visit: www.terrapinbeer.com.

SBS Imports is based in Seattle, Washington and was founded by specialy beer industry veteran Alan Shapiro in 2002.  In addition to De Proef, SBS also imports Aspall Cyders from Suffolk, England, Batemans Ales from Lincolnshire, England, and Bellegem’s Bruin from the Bockor Brewery in West Flanders, Belgium.  More information is available at www.sbs-imports.com.

Posted under beer releases, press releases

Pyramid Breweries announces the third offering in the Ignition Series – a line up of unconventional brews that set out to ignite conversation and satisfy the discerning palates of those looking for more beer in their beer – Discord Dark IPA.

A growing style in the Northwest, Dark IPA’s feature all the tasty attributes of a standard IPA, yet juxtaposed against a black malt canvas.  Discord is not short on character, with a prominent malt profile that meets up with the bitterness and hop presence from five different hops.  A variety of roasted malts provide color and flavor, yet this beer has a lighter body reminiscent of an IPA, not heavy like a porter or stout.

“Discord is a phenomenal interpretation of an emerging style, “said Mike Brown, Commissioner of Inspiration and Aspiration.  “The Ignition Series has been great for our brewers to showcase their creativity as we explore a range of styles and new beers that are brewed to turn it on.  Barbed Wire and Outburst were very well received and we’re extremely excited about the release of Discord. It’s a great beer.”

Discord Dark IPA powers in as the third offering in a successful series of draft-only Ignition beers.  Leading the charge with Barbed Wire Imperial Hefeweizen and Outburst Imperial IPA, the Ignition Series continues to impress and surprise the palates of consumers looking for new and challenging tiers of exploration beyond Pyramid’s year-round and seasonal offerings.

Discord will be available from August – October, or until the kegs are gone, whichever comes first.  An additional Ignition Series beer, Super Snow Cap, has been added to the line-up and is scheduled to carry the Series from November throughout the rest of the year.

DISCORD DARK IPA
Availability:        August – October
Style:            Dark IPA
Malts:            2-Row, C-80, Munich, Black, Carafa II
Hops:            Nugget, Centennial, Mt. Hood, Amarillo, Simcoe
ABV:            6.5%
IBU:            69

Production will be limited to 100-barrell batches per Ignition Series release.  These big beers with limited availability can be explored at the Pyramid Alehouses and select better beer bars in Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and San Francisco/Bay Area, CA.

Posted under beer releases, press releases