1988 was apparently a good year to start a craft brewery. Across the country and especially here on the West Coast, a number of new breweries opened this same year. Known as the Class of ’88, breweries such as Deschutes, Rogue, North Coast, Grand Teton, Boulevard, Great Lakes, Goose Island, Vermont Brewery & Pub, and Wynkoop are among the most notables to open for business in 1988.

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Gigantic Brewing of Portland is one of the Northwest’s hottest new craft breweries. Not even a year old, the brewery founded by brewmasters Ben Love (formerly of Hopworks and Pelican) and Van Havig (formerly of Rock Bottom) is turning heads and wowing palates all across Cascadia and beyond. Belmont Station is Portland’s premier craft beer destination featuring more than 1,400 bottled beers and an extensive tap selection in their Bier Cafe. The two businesses are teaming up to release a special craft brew for Belmont’s 16th Anniversary. “Geezers Need Excitement” Chocolate IPA will be unleashed on Saturday March 15, 2013 to the delight of thirsty beer lovers. Here’s the scoop from brewmaster Ben Love: Read More…

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Laurelwood Public House & Brewery is turning twelve and to celebrate this occasion, they are having a 21-day promotion called “12 Beers for 12 Years.” The promotion starts March 1, 2013 and goes through the party on March 21, 2013. Guests have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win two Laurelwood all-access weekend passes to this years Great American Beer Festival and airfare for two to Denver, CO. Patrons qualify for the drawing by visiting Laurelwood’s pub locations eleven times between March 1^st and March 20^th, then visiting on our anniversary, March 21^st. Each guest will get a stamp on their promo card each visit. In partnership with Leatherman’s 30-year anniversary, the first 100 completed entries turned in at our NE Portland location on March 21^st will receive a Leatherman tool. Guests can pick up their stamp cards March 1, 2013 at 11 am.

The “12 Beers for 12 Years” promotion concludes with a Read More…

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It’s hard to believe that Block 15 Brewery has been open for five years. Its seems like it was just yesterday when the Corvallis brewpub opened its doors, but then again, right off the starting blocks, the beer has been better than most. “What a journey it has been” says founder Nick Arzner. “We want to thank our wonderful customers and the Corvallis community for their support. We also want to thank our amazing staff for all of their hard work and dedication.”

Join Block 15 on Saturday March 2, 2013 for a not to miss celebration of their first half-decade with some incredibly mouthwatering offerings including locally sourced food and beer. “We are releasing a couple gems from our wild cellar, featuring an awesome Anniversary burger, dancing to the live music of The Bon Ton Roulet, discounting apparel, and featuring Hoppy Hour all day long!”

Here’s more details on this fun and tasty event, including a special anniversary brunch at Les Caves. Read More…

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Press Release:

HELL’S BELLES Headlines This Year’s Anniversary Party on Saturday, March 16 at the Brewery

It’s that time of year again when we toss up the big tent, fill the taps with all we’ve got and throw a shindig to thank all our friends for another great year. The Double Mountain Anniversary Party has become a Northwest institution, and this year’s 6^th Anniversary gig will carry the fun even higher.

The all-day party will culminate with the awesome musical stylings of Hell’s Belles, the all-girl AC/DC cover band that has torched stages across the nation. HB will be supported by a strong roster of local acts including the rockin’ country of Brewer’s Grade (formerly known as Unwound); surf rockers Audio Amigos; and local acoustic acts Shed Shakers and Sid & Al.

On the beer front, three bars will be dispensing a total of two dozen different Double Mountain ales and lagers, many of them from the brewers’ reserve stash. We will be doing half- as well as full-pours into a souvenir glass mug this year, to enable our fans to sample a wider variety. Pizza by-the-slice (new this year) and sandwiches will also be available. $5 admission for adults includes the souvenir mug; kids are welcome with parent/guardian until 5pm.

Summary of info: Read More…

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Portland, Oregon is a city filled with dozens of noteworthy breweries. In fact there are more breweries in Portland than any other city in the world. This is why the town is known as Beervana to many. One particular brewery is a big part of why Portland is becoming even more of a craft brew travel destination. This is The Commons Brewery. Lead by brewmaster and owner Mike Wright, the brewery recently celebrated their first year anniversary and hosted a two-day party featuring special releases and a “potluck” bottle share. Beer Traveler Charlie Herrin speaks with Wright to garner a bit of insight to The Commons first year as we learn how they come correct with a Read More…

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The big players in the craft beer movement continue to learn a valuable lesson – give the beer geeks what they want. Deschutes Brewery of Bend, Oregon was on board with this sentiment since the beginning and have continued to push forth with new and innovative styles and have kept up with emerging and persisting trends. One such trend that seems to appease the lovers of malty goodness is collaboration beers.

Breweries such as Stone and Dogfish Head have galvanized much respect from the hardcore heads by working alongside each other and several others to put out awesome collaborative releases, even inventing a new beer style or two along the way. 

Deschutes Brewery, as it continues to grow in production and capacity also expands its creative walls to keep the beer nerds like us coming back for new and interesting releases. A few prime examples of the Bend brewhouse’s imaginative spirit was illustrated when they forged ahead to develop a White IPA with renowned wheaten brewers Boulevard of Kansas City, and also the interesting master blend of high octane and barrel-aged brews that was put forth with Hair of the Dog of Portland in the first of these Conflux Series releases, “Collage.”

Now, one of the Midwest’s finest craft beer producers, Great Lakes Brewing of Cleveland has announced that they will be brewing and releasing a beer with Deschutes to commemorate both breweries 25th anniversary. The beer, according to Great Lakes will be a Smoked Imperial Porter for Deschutes’ “Class of ’88″ Series.

Both Great Lakes and Deschutes will brew its own rendition of the collaborative recipe. This special beer will then be made available for a limited time in 22-ounce bottles and draft in May of 2013. According to a press release from Great Lakes, the idea was inspired by each brewery’s penchant for making award winning porters: Great Lakes’ Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and Deschutes’ Black Butte Porter. The porter is one of four collaborative beers in Deschutes Brewery’s Class of ’88 series, which also includes collaborations with North Coast Brewing Company (Ft. Bragg, CA), Rogue Ales (Newport, OR), and Goose Island Beer Company (Chicago, IL).

Here’s some more details we received from Deschutes on the Class of ’88 Series: Read More…

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Help us celebrate 18 years of beer!  We’ll have cake, 1994 trivia, and of course, pints of Imperial IPA.

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Portland, OR – The Commons Brewery will be recognizing their one year anniversary by celebrating two nights: Thursday, December 6th and Friday December, 7th from 5:00-9:00pm at the brewery.

While the The Commons has roots in Mike Wright’s garage as Beetje Brewery, there was effectively a reset when the venture moved into the new space and started brewing on the new 7bbl system. The doors to the tasting room opened December 3, 2011, “We put a stake in the ground and declared that day one of the new business.” noted Mike Wright.

With the garage only a distant memory, Mike never imagined that a year later the beers that started the brewery would take home two medals with Urban Farmhouse Ale winning bronze at the World Beer Cup and Flemish Kiss winning Silver at the Great American Beer Festival.

The Commons would like to take a moment to recognize all the hard work put forth over the last year and thank their customers for the unbridled support by hosting two events.

Thursday, December 6th from 5-9PM marks the release of Bourbon Little Brother, our Heaven Hill Bourbon barrel aged Belgian Dark Strong. We’ll have 750ml bottles for sale for $11 and $125 per case. To celebrate we are hosting a potluck & bottle share in our brewery. Just show up with a bottle of beer and/or food to share with friends.

On Friday, December 7th from 5-9PM we will tap a few special kegs including the last bit of Plum Bretta and provide appetizers from local friends Lardo, Pacific Pie, 2nd Story, and Cheese Bar. At 7pm we will mark the anniversary with a toast.

The Commons Brewery crafts small batch approachable and balanced European-inspired beers. The tasting room is located at: 1810 SE 10th Ave., Unit E (entrance on SE Stephens between 10th & 11th). The Commons tasting room hours are: Thursday & Friday 5-9pm, Saturday 2-9pm.

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

Portland, OR – The Commons Brewery will be recognizing their one year anniversary by celebrating two nights: Thursday, December 6th and Friday December, 7th from 5:00-9:00pm at the brewery.

While the The Commons has roots in Mike Wright’s garage as Beetje Brewery, there was effectively a reset when the venture moved into the new space and started brewing on the new 7bbl system. The doors to the tasting room opened December 3, 2011, “We put a stake in the ground and declared that day one of the new business.” noted Mike Wright.

With the garage only a distant memory, Mike never imagined that a year later the beers that started the brewery would take home two medals with Urban Farmhouse Ale winning bronze at the World Beer Cup and Flemish Kiss winning Silver at the Great American Beer Festival.

The Commons would like to take a moment to recognize all the hard work put forth over the last year and thank their customers for the unbridled support by hosting two events.

Thursday, December 6th from 5-9PM marks the release of Bourbon Little Brother, our Heaven Hill Bourbon barrel aged Belgian Dark Strong. We’ll have 750ml bottles for sale for $11 and $125 per case. To celebrate we are hosting a potluck & bottle share in our brewery. Just show up with a bottle of beer and/or food to share with friends.

On Friday, December 7th from 5-9PM we will tap a few special kegs including the last bit of Plum Bretta and provide appetizers from local friends Lardo, Pacific Pie, 2nd Story, and Cheese Bar. At 7pm we will mark the anniversary with a toast.

The Commons Brewery crafts small batch approachable and balanced European-inspired beers. The tasting room is located at: 1810 SE 10th Ave., Unit E (entrance on SE Stephens between 10th & 11th). The Commons tasting room hours are: Thursday & Friday 5-9pm, Saturday 2-9pm.

Sorry guys, couldn’t resist posting this priceless picture of y’all. Love you guys! Congrats!

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