When Upright Brewing opened in 2009, there was a a lot of buzz surrounding the Northeast Portland brewery. As many beer geeks like us were anticipatory of the French and Belgian farmhouse-inspired beers that former BJ’s brewer and Ommegang apprentice Alex Ganum would make, others expressed skepticism regarding the viability of a brewery that didn’t march to the beaten drum. Brewing in an open barrel fermenter might have lead many to think the guy was just crazy, but this never deterred our man.

Since the bold undertaking of Ganum three years ago and his apparent success, a number of other daring regional craft beer adventures have broken ground. These include Cascade Brewing’s Barrel House, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Block 15, Breakside Brewery, The Commons Brewery, and more. To say that Ganum is a visionary of what craft beer in our region could sustain, seems in retrospect a bit of an understatement.

Upright’s core lineup of numerological named beers that include his sessionable wheaten Four, a more aggressively hopped Five, a rich dark rye Six, and his boldest and most assertive Saison, Seven, exemplify just how originative Upright is. But, these are just the tip of the iceberg, and in someways, seemingly pedestrian when considering the risks Ganum has been willing to take when devising and executing many of his beers over the past three years. Delving into barrel-aging and blending of wild ales, Ganum’s vision for beer is more than just a quaff for the average dude, it involves a mindful approach to the culinary arts and ties in elements of history and science. As a parter in the restaurant and bar, The Grain & Gristle, Ganum continually illustrates his appreciation for a vast range of flavors in beers that he achieves by a variety of means. Whether it is unfolding new flavor profiles with beers like his Flora Rustica Saison which employs the addition of calendula flower and yarrow, or revamping historic styles like the Oyster Stout or the German-inspired Gose, it is evident that Ganum refuses to let himself get complacent, therefor, his audience is seldom bored.

As an example of Upright’s constant evolution, Ganum has altered its house strain of yeast for the Number Series three times since the brewery’s inception.  “Five is also hoppier now and the aroma is more pronounced” says Ganum. “With our new yeast, the Four, Five, and Six are now coming across as more French Biere de Garde styles.” he adds. “This allows them to come across as more ingredients-driven and way less floral and fruity.” Ganum says the boisterous Seven is perhaps the only beer of the regular lineup that has remained mostly the same.

Over the past month, Upright Brewing has brewed a handful of noteworthy beers that are sure to inspire salivation in the mouths of beer lovers and foodies alike. Not playing on the popularity and hype of barrel-aging, Ganum’s reserved and humble demeanor channel an inclusive vibe to his trade. Further, Upright’s beers when compared to many other daring brewers bottling in 750ml champagne bottles, is considerably affordable.

Here is a look at more than a handful specialty beers that you can expect to find in bottles and on tap from Upright. Get them while you can because they may disappear soon. Read More…

Posted under Beer personalities, Oregon beer, beer news, beer releases, places to drink beer

Laurelwood Brewing Co. is holding a one of a kind collaboration brewer’s dinner on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. The dinner will feature collaboration beers brewed by Vasilios Gletsos of Laurelwood Brewing Co., Alex Ganum of Upright Brewing, Van Havig of Gigantic Brewing Co., and Tom Bleigh of Hopworks Urban Brewery. These exclusive handcrafted ales will be served with a five-course dinner prepared by Laurelwood’s Executive Chef Aaron Nichols. Tickets are $50 per person and available at the NE Portland and Battle Ground, WA Laurelwood locations. The menu is as follows:

Amuse: Chicken coronets with preserved lemon

Beer: Cascadian Pilsner brewed by Van Havig and Vasili Gletsos

Appetizer: Mussel and shrimp soup with lemon grass, kafir lime leaf, fish stock, chilies, garlic, shallot, and Thai spices

Beer: Thai Wit brewed by Tom Bleigh and Vasili Gletsos

Salad: Blood orange and arugula with red onions, Castelvetrano olives, and parsley

Beer: Sour Red blended by Alex Ganum, Tom Bleigh, Van Havig, and Vasili Gletsos

Entrée: Smoked pork belly and pomegranate barbequed brisket with potato-chard gratin, and pomegranate demi glaze jus

Beer: Scottish Ale brewed by Alex Ganum and Vasili Gletsos

Dessert: Grapefruit tart with pecan brittle and Chantilly cream

Beer: Milk Stout brewed by the Laurelwood Brew Team

The food for this dinner is locally sourced from Draper Valley Farms, Sweet Briar Farms, and Country Natural Beef. Laurelwood will also donate 10% of the collaboration dinner sales to the Oregon Food Bank. Join us for a night of special one of a kind beers and a wonderfully prepared dinner.

As stated by Vasili Gletsos, Brewmaster, Laurelwood Brewing Co., “For this Collaborative Beer Dinner, we have broken the mold and created a unique experience by first asking the Chef to create a seasonal menu and then getting together a great set of brewers to create beers to pair with it.

The selection of the participating brewers has special significance for me since I have chosen to work with brewers who have been my past Brewmasters at my previous breweries here in Portland, and who have all gone on to other breweries, as I have. Part of what working at Laurelwood has given me is the flexibility to make lots of one-off and seasonal beers, as well as to answer the question “when will I ever get to work with those awesome brewers who have taught me so much?” This is a great opportunity for me to have a little reunion of brewers I have a high regard for as well as are good friends of mine. I know everyone else will be really pleased with the unique beers and pairings that we come up with.”

About Laurelwood Brewing Company

Laurelwood is a family owned brewery that creates one of the most recognized regional craft beers. Owners Mike De Kalb & Cathy Woo-De Kalb are dedicated to sustainable and organic practices, and first began producing certified organic beer in 2001. Laurelwood’s product line is known for its creativity and quality therefore winning many national and international beer awards. Laurelwood’s handcrafted beers can be found on draft and in bottles throughout Oregon and Washington. To find out more about Laurelwood Brewing Company go online at www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com.

About Van Havig, Gigantic Brewing Company

Van Havig started his brewing career in 1995 at Minnesota Brewing Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then moved on to work for the Rock Bottom Breweries for the next 16 years.  He was brewmaster at the Bethesda, Maryland and Portland, Oregon Rock Bottoms, as well as the regional brewer in both locations.  From 2004 to 2011 he also ran the QA/QC program for Rock Bottom Breweries.  He is currently starting his own brewery, Gigantic Brewing Company, in Portland, Oregon.

About Thomas Bleigh, Hopworks Urban Brewery

Thomas Bleigh started his career at Portland Brewing Company as an un-paid intern. Prior to joining Hopworks, he held the positions of Brewer, Lead Brewer, Lead Cellar Operator, Head Brewer and Plant Manager at Portland Brewing, Pyramid Breweries, Independent Brewer’s United and North American Breweries. In 2008, he was recognized, along with Pyramid Breweries as Mid Size Brewer/Brewery of the Year at GABF.?He is a graduate from UC Davis and UW-Madison with an MFA in Fine Arts. Born in Augsburg, Germany, he has an appreciation for beer appellation and the “drink local” mentality. When not spending time with his two young children, or playing soccer, he can be found spending his time pursuing charcuterie or fermenting various meats, cheese, fruits or vegetables.

About Alex Ganum, Upright Brewing

Alex Ganum is the owner and head brewer at Upright. He grew up drinking his father’s German pilsners and his older brother’s Bells Porter before moving to Portland in 2002. After meeting several homebrewers he decided to give it a go and never looked back. Seven years later his love of brewing led him to open Upright, a brewery he thinks is as much a part of the community as it is personal. When he doesn’t have beer on his mind Alex is probably thinking about what’s next in the kitchen or on his plate and what digestif to wash it down with.

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

Laurelwood Brewing Co. is holding a one of a kind collaboration brewer’s dinner on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. The dinner will feature collaboration beers brewed by Vasilios Gletsos of Laurelwood Brewing Co., Alex Ganum of Upright Brewing, Van Havig of Gigantic Brewing Co., and Tom Bleigh of Hopworks Urban Brewery. These exclusive handcrafted ales will be served with a five-course dinner prepared by Laurelwood’s Executive Chef Aaron Nichols. Tickets are $50 per person and available at the NE Portland and Battle Ground, WA Laurelwood locations. The menu is as follows: Read More…

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

2011 was a peculiar year. For myself, personally, 2011 was filled with ups and downs. Some notable lows made the summer and fall months particularly difficult, but thanks to a strong finish, lots of wonderful craft beer related festivities, and America’s greatest growth yet in the craft beer boom, 2011 proved to be a year worth remembering.

We asked a number of craft beer minds to share with us some of the most memorable brews and brew events of the year as well as what they perceived as emerging trends in our industry. In picking the brains of many prominent characters who greatly impact the craft beer scene both locally and nationally, we seek to unfold what 2012 might have in store for us. Thanks to all who chimed in, and if you didn’t get your two cents in, feel free to comment with yours. Cheers! -Angelo Read More…

Posted under Beer personalities

It’s been a wild week. Five of the eight KillerBeerWeek events are in the books. Each night has been a great success with lots of people in attendance. It has been so great to see friends and family and those who support craft beer out each night. So far three individuals have that we know of have made it out to each event. Thank you, Dean, Axel, and DJ! Last night’s Killer Washington Beer Night at By The Bottle in Vancouver was off the chain! Dave and Arlene Nunez poured some of the best beers from our neighboring state to the north. Black Raven Trickster IIPA, Fremont Harvest Ale, Naked City Fleur D’ Elise Saison, Iron Horse Brewing Mocha Quilter’s Irish Death, Diamond Knot 666 Industrial Bavarian, Chuckanut Helles (GABF gold), Ice Harbor Fresh Hop IPA (1st Place at 2011 Yakima Fresh Hop Fest), and a surprise keg of Elysian Idiot Sauvin IPA. It was so great to see so many Portlanders make the trek across the river, too!

Here’s what you can look forward to at our last three events: Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, beer news, beer releases, places to drink beer

Something we’re trying to start here at Portland U-Brew is a “Brewers Collective.” We’re hoping for a different vibe than the traditional homebrew club. Judging others, and their beer will not be our main objective. We’re looking to build a community of like minded brewers passionate about their craft, that are willing to help others learn, and learn from others. We want professional brewers, homebrewers, and those interested in brewing to be able to get together, and learn from one another while doing what we love to do: BREW BEER! The idea is to get together once a month, and brew a beer together here at P.U.B. with our collective knowledge. The beer will then be tapped at the next months meeting. It’s free to attend, and its definitely lots of fun. Please e-mail Aaron Gillham at pdxubrew@gmail.com with any questions you have. Cheers!

Posted under Beer Education, Beer personalities, Oregon beer, beer events, brewpubs, events, places to drink beer

Join us for a fun night of food and beer. On October 19^th we’ll be hosting Logsdon Farmhouse Ales and Upright Brewery for a special beer-pairing dinner. Chef Justin Woodward and Sommelier Jack Hott have planned a multicourse meal inspired by the beers of David Logsdon and Alex Ganum. This will be a one of a kind event and seating is limited, so call now for reservations.

WHEN:

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

6:30 pm

Reservations available now 503.231.7373

4courses, plus snacks   $65 per person

WHERE:

1752 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Corner of 18^th Ave
Portland, Oregon 97214
503.231.7373

MENU:Snacks:Buttermilk puff with herb aioli and trout roeRye cracker with chicken liver moussePotato chip with crème fraîche and chivesPork jowl with molassesLogsdon Farmhouse Ales, Seizoen Tomatoes with mustard seeds, herbs from the garden and cured beefLogsdon Farmhouse Ales, Seizoen Bretta

Chinook salmon with cream, eggplant, amaranth, toasted nuts and seeds

Upright Brewery Five

Aged beef fed on beer with cipollini and hops

Upright Brewery Six

Oak ice cream embers with caramel

Oakshire Overcast Stout

Posted under Oregon beer, beer and food, beer events, events, places to drink beer

Join Alex Ganum and Gerritt Ill as we tap four of their German style drafts: Offenweisse,  Gose, and two versions of Gunslinging Helles, a rauch helles with house-smoked malts: one brewed with lager yeast and one with the Weissbier yeast used on the Offenweisse.

Posted under Oregon beer, beer events, events, places to drink beer

By Ben Edmunds

There is no rest for the weary in the craft beer world these days! After a busy and successful Oregon Craft Beer Month, Breakside Brewery (820 NE Dekum, Portland, Oregon) is taking on August with even greater gusto and will be releasing ten new brews over the course of the next four weeks.

To kick off the month, brewers Ben Edmunds and Sam Barber tapped a special version of their Read More…

Posted under Beer personalities, Oregon beer, beer events, beer news, beer releases, brewpubs, places to drink beer

It is already August and this means that Oregon Craft Beer Month has at last come to a conclusion. Another year, and more growth all around in the industry – more breweries, more volume, more events. For many August signifies that summer is in full swing and about a third of the way through, but for those who live for craft beer, this means that the busiest and most eventful month of July is now behind us. With quivering livers and many memories of what July meant – from the Oregon Craft Beer Month kickoff at Jeld Wen, to the finally roaring tent at the Oregon Brewers Guild – it has been undeniable to us that this past July was the biggest and most festive month yet. Here’s a look at some highlights that we experienced during July 2011: Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, beer events, beer reviews, places to drink beer