(or at least try)

Okay, here’s our second straight post with no pictures.  This is to make up for having two consecutive posts with no words. Prost!

It’s been hotter than a cactus out there in the Pacific Northwest this week and the forecast says it is just gonna keep getting warmer. It’s very important to drink plenty of water, and in between those savory hydration sessions, you might want to consider enjoying these top choices for beer quenchers:

Fort Bragg, California

Brewpublic continues to move forth in pursuit of our goal to seek out more craft beer spots in Northern California.  After spending the night in Fort Bragg, we awoke to discover sunny warm conditions and beautiful ocean views during low tide.  A nice picnic on the beach and a stroll along rolling green oceanic cliffs that made me feel like I was in Ireland, we headed back into town to visit a brewery I had long awaited visiting.

North Coast Brewery

Lorren "Lolo" Lancaster, Green Dragon founder (Morrison)

Brewpublic just spoke with Lorren “Lolo” Lancaster regarding the potential Rogue take over of the Green Dragon Pub and Bistro.  Lancaster, a 1/3 owner of the popular Southeast Portland beer geek hangout is well known and liked by the community of regulars who frequent the Green Dragon.

When I asked Lancaster about the recent news of a potential selling of his beloved bar, he says, “I am great.  I feed off the energy.”  Lancaster says  “I only found out about Ed (Schwartz) and Rogue (planning a deal) ten days ago.  I wondered why (Schwartz) didn’t come to me first.”  Lancaster has retained lawyers to help him keep the Green Dragon’s independent character.  “I got a copy of the agreement Rogue hit Ed with” says Lancaster. “Ed’s going to receive a paper that I intend to purchase within 30 days.”  Currently Lancaster maintains that he is meeting with business investors.  “I expected Ed would have come to me first, but he didn’t” says Lancaster “He said he wanted $225,000 to get out.  That’s way too cheap.   The Dragon made almost half of that in September.  September was our one-year anniversary. No businesses make money in the first year.” Lancaster also claims that the Green Dragon is about two weeks out on permits for the brewhouse to be legally operational. “This is (Schwartz)’s first rodeo. I’ve been in this business for thirteen years” says Lancaster, 39, whose last job was as a brewer with Deschutes in Bend for four years.  Before that, Lancaster spent four-and-a-half years as the lead brewer for Anderson Valley in Boonville, California.  He also brewed briefly with Star Brewing of Portland.  Lancaster served for more than three years as draft technician with F.H. Steinbarts. “I’ve never burned a bridge” says Lancaster, who remains in contact with most of his former employers.