APEX is a standout craft beer bar in Portland, Oregon, a city with more great brew than it knows what to do with.  -BREWPUBLIC

First, this Friday, May 18th from 5-9 PM we’re having a few of our favorite brewers stop by with some sour and unusual beers. Firestone-Walker‘s “Sour” Jim Crooks will be on hand while pour some of his Agrestic, SLOambic and 100% Velvet Merkin. Joining Firestone will be our local sour brothers from Cascade. Here’s what we’ll be pouring from them:

Agent de l’orange:  10.78% ABV

This live NW style sour is a Blender’s Reserve spiced blond quad that was aged in Makers Mark barrels for 16 months then spiced with orange peel and honey. Orange zest and herbal honey notes present themselves in the nose. Bright, tart orange peel, huge sweet malts and spices of cinnamon and coriander on the palate give way to a crisp orange finish that lingers. This could be just the thing to quench your thirst on that rare sunny day until spring. Servus!

Summer Gose 5.5% ABV
This NW sour beer is a re-creation of a historic German wheat beer style that was nearly lost to time.  This light, slightly soured beer is spiced with coriander and sea salt.   Soft creamy wheat and spice greet you in the nose, while a light spice bite and hint of lemon cross the palate.  It finishes off with a soft lingering sour bite and just a slight dusty lemon note.

Rhubarb Crisp 6.5% ABV

This NW-style sour beer is a crisp, refreshing blend of beers that were barrel aged for seven to 12 months. Bright sweet notes of rhubarb and raspberries greet you in the nose. A light tartness of ripe berries and fruit sweetness intermingle on the palate, giving way to a light sparkling bite of rhubarb and slight nuttiness in the finish. Enjoy!

This should make for a hell of a Friday, but Saturday is going to absolutely blow your mind!

It’s our second anniversary celebration, all day and into the night from 11:30AM to 2:30 AM.  I won’t tell you what I’m going to put on the tap, but if you remember last year’s anniversary, you know that it’s a lineup that’s not to be missed. I’ll be tapping between 30 and 50 rare beers that I’ve been working for the past two years to get for this event.

In addition, it’ll be the worldwide debut of a beer I’m very excited about. Last year I asked my friend Peter Kruger, brewmaster at Bear Republic, if he’d be interested in making me a beer to commemorate our second anniversary. He graciously agreed to do so and I gave him  a few suggestions about what I liked best in my favorite double IPAs. He went to work on a recipe and the result is what he called the hoppiest beer they’ve ever made, Double Apex, a 10.1% Double IPA. An imperial version of their delicious Apex IPA. I can’t wait to taste it!

See you Saturday to celebrate our Terrible 2′s

Posted under beer events, events

APEX is a standout craft beer bar in Portland, Oregon, a city with more great brew than it knows what to do with.  -BREWPUBLIC

First, this Friday, May 18th from 5-9 PM we’re having a few of our favorite brewers stop by with some sour and unusual beers. Firestone-Walker‘s “Sour” Jim Crooks will be on hand while pour some of his Agrestic, SLOambic and 100% Velvet Merkin. Joining Firestone will be our local sour brothers from Cascade. Here’s what we’ll be pouring from them:

Agent de l’orange:  10.78% ABV

This live NW style sour is a Blender’s Reserve spiced blond quad that was aged in Makers Mark barrels for 16 months then spiced with orange peel and honey. Orange zest and herbal honey notes present themselves in the nose. Bright, tart orange peel, huge sweet malts and spices of cinnamon and coriander on the palate give way to a crisp orange finish that lingers. This could be just the thing to quench your thirst on that rare sunny day until spring. Servus!

Summer Gose 5.5% ABV
This NW sour beer is a re-creation of a historic German wheat beer style that was nearly lost to time.  This light, slightly soured beer is spiced with coriander and sea salt.   Soft creamy wheat and spice greet you in the nose, while a light spice bite and hint of lemon cross the palate.  It finishes off with a soft lingering sour bite and just a slight dusty lemon note.

Rhubarb Crisp 6.5% ABV

This NW-style sour beer is a crisp, refreshing blend of beers that were barrel aged for seven to 12 months. Bright sweet notes of rhubarb and raspberries greet you in the nose. A light tartness of ripe berries and fruit sweetness intermingle on the palate, giving way to a light sparkling bite of rhubarb and slight nuttiness in the finish. Enjoy!

This should make for a hell of a Friday, but Saturday is going to absolutely blow your mind!

It’s our second anniversary celebration, all day and into the night from 11:30AM to 2:30 AM.  I won’t tell you what I’m going to put on the tap, but if you remember last year’s anniversary, you know that it’s a lineup that’s not to be missed. I’ll be tapping between 30 and 50 rare beers that I’ve been working for the past two years to get for this event.

In addition, it’ll be the worldwide debut of a beer I’m very excited about. Last year I asked my friend Peter Kruger, brewmaster at Bear Republic, if he’d be interested in making me a beer to commemorate our second anniversary. He graciously agreed to do so and I gave him  a few suggestions about what I liked best in my favorite double IPAs. He went to work on a recipe and the result is what he called the hoppiest beer they’ve ever made, Double Apex, a 10.1% Double IPA. An imperial version of their delicious Apex IPA. I can’t wait to taste it!

See you Saturday to celebrate our Terrible 2′s

Posted under beer events, events

APEX is a standout craft beer bar in Portland, Oregon, a city with more great brew than it knows what to do with. Publican Jesse McCann celebrates two years of serving up great beer this weekend with some not to be missed beauties. Seriously, it’s epic. Here’s what Jesse tells us: Read More…

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This Friday, April 6th at 6PM we’re turning it up to 11.  We’ll be tapping our first firkin for your quaffing pleasure. We’ve got our hands on a nice barrel of New Belgium and Elysian’s eleventh collaboration in the Trip series. Called Nigel, it’s an 8.5% saison with a couple of unusual ingredients to complement the pale malt and Target hops. They threw some rosemary in the mash and again afterward during rest, and then post fermentation it chilled out on some sage. It should be delicious.

Posted under beer events, events, places to drink beer

Known as the “Hell of the North”, the Queen of the one day spring classics, we have the legendary Paris-Roubaix. First run in 1896, this punishing race sends the best in professional cycling over 160 miles of French back roads, including 27 separate sectors of brutal cobblestones covering 32 miles throughout the race. Since the course winds along the border with Belgium, we thought it’d be appropriate to bust out a really special keg for the occasion. We’ll be tapping an exceedingly rare keg of T’ Gaverhopke Koerseklakske to kick off the race.

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The second event, salted for Saturday March 24, 2012 from 2:00 until 5:00PM will go down at APEX (1216 SE Division Street, Portland, OR).  According to the brewery, Whiny the Complainer and Wheatapaug Groove will again pour along with Powderfinger Rye Ale and Scarlet Fire IPA. There also will be a washoe tournament for beer industry teams at APEX as the brewers meet and greet wraps up. Cluley says “Please come on out, try some Big Time ales and cheer team Icculus (Bradley and Drew) on.”

Whiny is a delicious triple India Pale Ale that features an abundant amount of bitterness, hop flavor and aroma from over 3 lbs of hops per barrel.  Hops include, Cascade; Centennial, Chinook; Columbus; Magnum; Amarillo; and Simcoe.  WtC was dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand.  Original gravity 1.088; Terminal gravity 1.019; 9.1% abv.  The name Whiny the Complainer was thought up by former head brewer Bill Jenkins – it is in homage to Russian River’s Pliny the Younger – and the patrons who whine because they missed out on their coveted few ounces of PtY.  Whiny was the 2,300th batch brewed at the Big Time since batch #1 was brewed on November 10th 1988.

Wheatapaug Groove is a hoppy American wheat ale with lots of Cascade, Chinook and Amarillo hops. The addition of orange juice concentrate to the boil adds to the citrusy goodness of this beer. Original gravity 1.054; Terminal gravity 1.012 5.5% abv.

Powderfinger is a pale spicy ale with 18% rye malt supporting a decent bitterness and floral note from the plentiful use of Liberty hops.  Original gravity 1.067; Terminal gravity 1.015; 6.8% abv.

Scarlet Fire IPA became our fifth year round beer at the Big Time in 1996 joining Bhagwan’s Best IPA,  Prime Time Pale Ale, Atlas Amber, and Coal Creek Porter as the only beers always available in our pub. These five ales are augmented by 25 to 30 seasonal beers throughout the year.  Scarlet Fire features Cascade, Columbus, Chinook and Centennial hops. Original gravity 1.066; Terminal gravity 1.017; 6.4% abv.

The Big Time is the oldest brewpub in Washington State having opened its doors on December 7th 1988.  Drew Cluley is the 5th head brewer to take the helm on the brew deck at the Big Time having moved over from Pike Brewing Company in April 2011.  The Big Time is celebrating 24 years of serving quality craft beer to beer aficionados in the University District of Seattle.  4133 University Way, Seattle 98105

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

The first event will be held at Saraveza Bottleshop & Pasty Tavern (1004 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR) Friday night, March 23, 2012 from 6:00 until 8:00PM. Featured beers will include Whiny the Complainer, a massively hopped triple IPA, and Wheatapaug Groove, a healthfully hopped pale wheaten ale.

Whiny is a delicious triple India Pale Ale that features an abundant amount of bitterness, hop flavor and aroma from over 3 lbs of hops per barrel.  Hops include, Cascade; Centennial, Chinook; Columbus; Magnum; Amarillo; and Simcoe.  WtC was dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand.  Original gravity 1.088; Terminal gravity 1.019; 9.1% abv.  The name Whiny the Complainer was thought up by former head brewer Bill Jenkins – it is in homage to Russian River’s Pliny the Younger – and the patrons who whine because they missed out on their coveted few ounces of PtY.  Whiny was the 2,300th batch brewed at the Big Time since batch #1 was brewed on November 10th 1988.

Wheatapaug Groove is a hoppy American wheat ale with lots of Cascade, Chinook and Amarillo hops. The addition of orange juice concentrate to the boil adds to the citrusy goodness of this beer. Original gravity 1.054; Terminal gravity 1.012 5.5% abv.

Powderfinger is a pale spicy ale with 18% rye malt supporting a decent bitterness and floral note from the plentiful use of Liberty hops.  Original gravity 1.067; Terminal gravity 1.015; 6.8% abv.

Scarlet Fire IPA became our fifth year round beer at the Big Time in 1996 joining Bhagwan’s Best IPA,  Prime Time Pale Ale, Atlas Amber, and Coal Creek Porter as the only beers always available in our pub. These five ales are augmented by 25 to 30 seasonal beers throughout the year.  Scarlet Fire features Cascade, Columbus, Chinook and Centennial hops. Original gravity 1.066; Terminal gravity 1.017; 6.4% abv.

The Big Time is the oldest brewpub in Washington State having opened its doors on December 7th 1988.  Drew Cluley is the 5th head brewer to take the helm on the brew deck at the Big Time having moved over from Pike Brewing Company in April 2011.  The Big Time is celebrating 24 years of serving quality craft beer to beer aficionados in the University District of Seattle.  4133 University Way, Seattle 98105

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

The first event will be held at Saraveza Bottleshop & Pasty Tavern (1004 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR) Friday night, March 23, 2012 from 6:00 until 8:00PM. Featured beers will include Whiny the Complainer, a massively hopped triple IPA, and Wheatapaug Groove, a healthfully hopped pale wheaten ale. The second event, salted for Saturday March 24, 2012 from 2:00 until 5:00PM will go down at APEX (1216 SE Division Street, Portland, OR).  According to the brewery, Whiny the Complainer and Wheatapaug Groove will again pour along with Powderfinger Rye Ale and Scarlet Fire IPA. There also will be a washoe tournament for beer industry teams at APEX as the brewers meet and greet wraps up. Cluley says “Please come on out, try some Big Time ales and cheer team Icculus (Bradley and Drew) on.”

Read More…

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

What happens when you take La Trappe Quadrupel and age it in a variety of oak barrels? You get a beer that is complex, beautiful, sophisticated and very, very limited.

The brewers at La Trappe use barrels previously used for wine, port, whiskey, and sherry to impart a broad range of flavors and then blend these beers together at bottling to make a unique expression of Quadrupel, never to be repeated.

Truly there is nothing like it on earth. Trappist. Barrel Aged. We will have 4 different barrel agings of this rare Trappist beer + the un-oaked to compare!

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It’s that time again, get ready to spring forward. Yes, APEX will be doing some tasty tapping to celebrate the changing of the clocks.  This Saturday, March 10th from 11:30 AM onward, we’re going to serve up somewhere around 35!! delicious, seasonally appropriate, quaff-able treats in styles ranging from saisons, singles, bieres de table, bieres de garde, hefeweizens, a sour or two and some that just plain defy category. Don’t miss out as we Lighten Up! your palate this Saturday. -Jesse McCann, publican

Featuring:

• Avec Les Bons Voeux – Dupont
• Avril – Dupont
• Barrel Aged Five – Upright
• Biere de Mars – New Belgium
• Blanche de Paradis – Dieu du Ciel
• Blanche – Mort Subite
• Damnation -Russian River
• Debauched – Stillwater
• Duvel Single – Duvel-Moortgat
• Edelweiss – Schneider
• Ephemere (Apple) – Unibroue
• Existent – Stillwater
• Ghost Chili Golden – El Toro
• Hefeweizen – Franziskaner
• Harvest Saison – Stillwater
• IV – Jandrain-Jendrenouille
• Kristall – Weihenstephen
• Maisel’s Weisse – Gebruder Maisel
• Mothership Wit – New Belgium
• Namaste – Dogfish Head/Birra del Borgo
• Orange Kush – Ale Industries
• Our Side – Mikkeller/Stillwater, Two

Gypsies

• Ovila Saison – Sierra Nevada
• Ron & the Beast Ryan – Evil Twin
• Ryan & the Beaster Bunny – Evil Twin
• Saison – Dupont
• Saison – Urthel
• Spring Gose ’11 – Cascade
• Tartare – Bear Republic
• Temptation – Russian River
• Tripel Karmelite – Bosteels
• Urban Farmhouse – The Commons
• Witkap Pater Singel – Slaghmuylder
• XX Bitter – De Ranke

Posted under beer events, events, places to drink beer