Since getting back recently into the Oregon and Washington, I have had the privilege of expBEERiencing so many great new breweries, pubs, and craft brew haunts. While the nation continues to see across-the-board growth in craft brewing, our little corner of the world is witnessing something of an almost incomprehensible magnitude. One of the best new spots I’ve had the pleasure of hitting up has been Loowit Brewing in downtown Vancouver, Washington.

America’s Vancouver, sometimes referred to as simply “The Couve” or even “Vantucky” has a much different vibe and culture than Portland, Oregon just across the river. With a lot less craft beer culture than the Rose City, The Couve is starting to finally get some traction in this department with a number of interesting events and openings that are sure to at last carve out a niche for Clark County’s largest city.

Loowit Brewing, founded by once homebrew champions and friends Devon Bray and Thomas Poffenroth, has been operating their 10-barrel brewery on Columbia Street near the I-5 Bridge since mid autumn and are now beginning to hit their stride. There has been a lot of learning and some growing pains according to the brewers who are delving into their first business venture of this magnitude and their first professional brewing gigs.

Last week, I stopped by the pub before they opened and met with Bray and Poffenroth to sample their wares. Every beer I tasted was spot on, from their lighter Lucid Golden Ale through their emoboldened Jack Daniels barrel-aged Truman’s Goddamn Strong Ale was clean well put together. I was particularly impressed with Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer news, brewpubs, Washington Beer

Vancouver, Washington’s Who’s Your Daddy Beer Fest has just announced the lineup of beers for this year’s event and it’s looking pretty damn delicious! Lots of beers from Washington State that are not commonly found just across the river in Portland will be pouring for the crowd and there will be a wide variety of live music as well. Here’s a look at the lineups:

19 breweries | 17 styles | 27 brews

For additional samples, visit the By the Bottle tent!  Read More…

Posted under Beer & Music, beer events, places to drink beer, Washington Beer

Press release

Vancouver, WA — If you haven’t heard by now, By the Bottle is producing an outdoor beer festival known as Who’s Your Daddy. This is a benefit for CDM Services, a Vancouver-based non profit serving people of all ages with disabilities.

We are so excited for this year’s Who’s Your Daddy Beerfest, we just can’t stand it! More breweries, more beer, more entertainment, more food, more FUN!

Just wait until you see what we have planned.

FOR NOW…we need some help! If you could take a look at the needs listed below and see where you can help, we would truly appreciate it. Call me at 360-696-0012 if you can help, or just drop off your donations at By the Bottle.

Thank you so very much,
Arlene
By the Bottle

Here is what we need: Read More…

Posted under beer events, press releases, Washington Beer

Naked City Taphouse in Seattle hosted this year’s Oregon Brewers Night during Seattle Beer Week. Founder and Brewmaster Don Webb served as emcee for this fun event featuring a nice assortment of beers from some of the Beaver State’s finest breweries.

In addition to six house offerings from Webb and Naked City, Oregon was represented by three different brews from each of the participating breweries including Deschutes, Fort George, Ninkasi, Oakshire, Double Mountain and Burnside Brewing. Brewers from 10 Barrel Brewing made an appearance as well. Notable brewers such as 10 Barrel’s Tonya Cornett, Oakshire’s Matt Van Wyk, and Ninkasi’s Jamie Floyd were in attendance for this fun event. Here’s a look at some photos from this fun and festive night:
Read More…

Posted under beer events, Beer personalities, Oregon beer, places to drink beer, Washington Beer

Read More…

Posted under Beer Education, Beer personalities, Washington Beer

By D.J. Paul

As states start squeezing more and more industries to cough up more taxes to assist in budget shortfalls the brewing industry is beginning to feel the pinch. This could happen here in the Pacific Northwest in Washington State. This link provides state by state data on their beer excise tax rate as of January 1, 2013.

The proposed budget that was announced on April 10^th from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will eliminate the $15.50 per barrel tax exemption that smaller Washington breweries (less than 60,000 barrels per year) currently receive.  What this tax proposal will do is increase the tax rate on Washington produced beer from Read More…

Posted under Beer Brewing, beer news, Washington Beer

Spring has sprung as so have several new craft beers that are sure to quench the palate of enthusiasts during the warmer days ahead. Here’s a look at several new beer labels from across the Pacific Northwest that we are greatly anticipating getting our hands on: Read More…

Posted under Beer & Art, beer me, beer releases, California Beer, Oregon beer, Washington Beer

Yes! Walking Man Brewing of Stevenson, WA is slated to invade the taps at Roscoe’s Pub in Portland. Yes, classic big brews such as Barrel-Aged Knuckle Dragger, Big Phat Homo IPA, and the always delicious Homo Erectus IPA will be obvious hits. But there will also be some rarities like a 2010 Old Stumblefoot Barleywine, a Sour Blend, Kriek, and so much more!

Walking Man brewmaster Cory McGuinness will be inhouse to school folks with killer beers like Roscoe’s is hosting a Walking Man tap takeover and meet the brewer on Friday March 15, 2013 beginning at 5pm.  “We will be featuring an array of rare and tasty Walking Man beers and giving you the opportunity to chat with the new head brewer Cory” says Roscoe’s publican Jeremy Lewis.  2010 Ironman IIPA, Chocolate-Orange Black Lager, A little Nippy, Coffee Stout… what do you need? It’s gonna rule! There will be taster trays. Read More…

Posted under beer events, beer news, Oregon beer, places to drink beer, Washington Beer

The burst of new craft beers coming out in the Northwest isn’t losing any steam. In fact there are several new and exciting beers making their way down the pipeline as you read this. Brewers from across the Northwest from Northern California to Alaska, Oregon to Idaho are dropping some mouthwatering treats that give us so much to be fired up about as we head into warmer days.

Several new draught releases will be available soon from Hood River, Oregon’s Pfriem Family Brewers. Brewmaster Josh Pfriem and company are concocting a range of styles from Pilsner to Dark Strong Belgian-style beer. And anyone who has tasted the early releases from Pfriem is undoubtedly excited.

Widmer Brothers Brewing continues to set forth with some new experimental hop IPAs in the “X” series, an effort that assure their audience will remain loyally awaiting more evolutionary releases. There’s a lot to check out here, so have a gander at more than 100 new craft beer labels for bottles and kegs that you might want to check out if you can get ‘em in your neck of the woods: Read More…

Posted under Beer & Art, beer releases, California Beer, Oregon beer, saké, Washington 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