One of the most anticipated craft beer events on the West Coast is undoubtedly the annual Boonville Beer Fest. This past weekend marked the 17th annual return of this event centered around the pioneering brewery that is Anderson Valley Brewing.

Located within the serene rolling hills and oak groves in the secluded town of Boonville, about 25 miles west beyond a winding mountainous pass from Ukiah in Mendocino County, Anderson Valley’s yearly pilgrimage witnesses a great deal of brewers, brewery representatives, industry folks and beer enthusiasts from all points north, south and east. With a large contingency of the turnout representing California, the festival showcased both popular and obscure, regional and journeyed companies for this unparalleled undertaking. Read More…

Posted under Beer & Music, beer and food, beer events, beer reviews, Beer Travel, California Beer, places to drink beer

After saturating yourself in any regional beer scene for some time, you come to know many of the personalities who are integral components of its vibrancy. In Portland, Oregon one person you are likely to cross paths with if you attend a beer festival is Preston Weesner. 

A veteran to the Oregon beer scene, Weesner also serves as a barrel tender and beer blender at the  illustrious Cascade Brewing Barrel House. Weesner can be found running the kegs that he helps to round up at the Holiday Ale Festival (HAF), as well as at several other popular craft beer events such as the Oregon Brewers Festival  and Hair of the Dog Fred Fest.

Now in its 17th year, the famous Holiday Ale Festival, located in heated tents in the heart of downtown Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square, has grown from “The 12 Ales of Christmas” to a five-day extravaganza featuring more than 40 one-of-a-kind feature beers and an additional 20 specialty tappings.

As we like to do every year, we caught up with Preston Weesner to learn more about the 2012 Holiday Ale Festival. For a complete listing of beers as well as times and details, click here. Read More…

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

August 2, 2012 marks the second annual International #IPADay in which beer lovers from around the planet unite to toast one of craft beer’s most iconic styles. The most entered beer style in many major craft beer competitions, the American India Pale Ale is a beer with a unique history that has evolved from a means of preservation during beers’ arduous travels to that of desire. Today many new hop varietals have been discovered and developed to provide a range of subtle to bold spicing notes.

With IPAs, harnessing the bold character of a heavy hop bill is an art and a science that is continually being understood as the modern palate continues to be redefined. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with access to about 20-percent of the world’s hop supply, with varietals unlike any others grown abroad. Here’s a look at some wonderful IPAs from the West Coast available in bottles/cans that we think you’ll enjoy on this hoppy day. Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, beer reviews, California Beer, Oregon beer

OVER 50 IIPAs in 2 days!

SAT. July 21: 1-10pm
SUN. July 22: 1-9pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Ticket packages can be purchased in advance with a credit card through our Beer Boutique or at the Fest with cash only. (There is an ATM right down the street.)

$20: 8 tickets & glass
$35: 16 tickets & 2 glasses

FEST LIST

• Dogfish Head, 120 Minute
• Sierra Nevada, Hoptimum
• Green Flash, Palate Wrecker
• H.U.B., Galactic
• H.U.B., Ace of Spades
• Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid
• Ninkasi, Babylon
• Bear Republic, Hop Rod Rye
• Firestone Walker, Wookey Jack
• Firestone Walker, Double Jack
• Everybody’s, Big Brother
• Midnight Sun, Meltdown
• Victory, Hop Wallop
• Mad River, Steelhead
• Lazy Boy, Double Trouble
• Moylan’s, Moylander
• Epic,, Imperial IPA
• Urthel, Hop-It
• Oskar Blues, Gubna
• Oskar Blues, Deviant Dale’s
• Uinta, Detour
• Uinta, Dubhe
• Stone, Ruination 10th Anniversary
• Hop Valley, Infinite Hoppiness
• Laurelwood, Green Mammoth
• Laurelwood, Deranger
• Rock Bottom, Thunderdome
• Burnside, Double Dry-Hopped Alter Ego
• Good Life, Comatose
• Beer Valley, Leafer Madness
• Boneyard, Hop Venom
• Boneyard, Armored Fist
• Van Viven, Viven
• Southern Oregon Brewing, Big Rack
• Oakshire, Perfect Storm
• Old Town, RRR
• Natian, Old Grogham
• Alameda, Green Wolf
• Walking Man, Homo Erectus
• Pizza Port, Poorman’s
• Pizza Port, Killer Dana
• He’Brew, Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
• Boulevard, Double Wide
• Southern Tier, Unearthly
• Amnesia, Dopeacetic
• Deschutes, JedIPA
• Block 15, Block Head
• Fort George, Bad Juju
• Vertigo, Friar Gone Wild
• Russian River, Pliny the Elder
• Mt. Tabor, Finsky
• Gigantic, IIPA

and more……..

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

OVER 50 IIPAs in 2 days!

SAT. July 21: 1-10pm
SUN. July 22: 1-9pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Ticket packages can be purchased in advance with a credit card through our Beer Boutique or at the Fest with cash only. (There is an ATM right down the street.)

$20: 8 tickets & glass
$35: 16 tickets & 2 glasses

FEST LIST

• Dogfish Head, 120 Minute
• Sierra Nevada, Hoptimum
• Green Flash, Palate Wrecker
• H.U.B., Galactic
• H.U.B., Ace of Spades
• Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid
• Ninkasi, Babylon
• Bear Republic, Hop Rod Rye
• Firestone Walker, Wookey Jack
• Firestone Walker, Double Jack
• Everybody’s, Big Brother
• Midnight Sun, Meltdown
• Victory, Hop Wallop
• Mad River, Steelhead
• Lazy Boy, Double Trouble
• Moylan’s, Moylander
• Epic,, Imperial IPA
• Urthel, Hop-It
• Oskar Blues, Gubna
• Oskar Blues, Deviant Dale’s
• Uinta, Detour
• Uinta, Dubhe
• Stone, Ruination 10th Anniversary
• Hop Valley, Infinite Hoppiness
• Laurelwood, Green Mammoth
• Laurelwood, Deranger
• Rock Bottom, Thunderdome
• Burnside, Double Dry-Hopped Alter Ego
• Good Life, Comatose
• Beer Valley, Leafer Madness
• Boneyard, Hop Venom
• Boneyard, Armored Fist
• Van Viven, Viven
• Southern Oregon Brewing, Big Rack
• Oakshire, Perfect Storm
• Old Town, RRR
• Natian, Old Grogham
• Alameda, Green Wolf
• Walking Man, Homo Erectus
• Pizza Port, Poorman’s
• Pizza Port, Killer Dana
• He’Brew, Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
• Boulevard, Double Wide
• Southern Tier, Unearthly
• Amnesia, Dopeacetic
• Deschutes, JedIPA
• Block 15, Block Head
• Fort George, Bad Juju
• Vertigo, Friar Gone Wild
• Russian River, Pliny the Elder
• Mt. Tabor, Finsky
• Gigantic, IIPA

and more……..

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

OVER 50 IIPAs in 2 days! Read More…

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

What can one say about Firestone Walker Brewing Co. other than their commitment to excellence appears unparalleled in today’s brewing world. Perennial winners of some of the most prestigious and coveted awards in brewing industry, the Paso Robles brewhouse has asserted itself as a leader in the field since opening in 1996. Located in a region of Central California more known for excellence in artisan winemaking, Firestone Walker has claimed top honors amongst midsized breweries at the World Beer Cup (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012). Lead by chemist and brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker has forged the way of setting a high bar for both consistency and creativity in the American craft beer market. With the reception of craft beer in the North America constantly growing, Firestone Walker, like many other breweries, also continues with expansion efforts to allow them to reach a greater audience. “Our brewery is a cutting-edge facility, right down to the bottling line,” Brynildson says. “This is enabling me to take Firestone Walker beers to the next level.”

As further evidence that Firestone Walker is committed to the appreciation and nurturing of a world replete with a delicious smorgasbord of flavorsome ales and lagers, the brewery recently hosted their first annual Invitational Beer Festival at the California Mid-State Fairgrounds in their hometown. Specific well-respected breweries from around the United States and beyond were invited to participate in this one-of-a-kind event, many of which have never before been distributed in the region or the West Coast for that matter. This included some special Read More…

Posted under Beer & Music, beer events, California Beer, weekend in review

So I’ve landed in The Bay Area of California. Not by any means Beervana as I’ve come to know it, but certainly no slouch for great craft beer. Just a bit to the north of Berkeley where I am currently residing, there resides some of the best breweries on the planet such as Russian River, Lagunitas, and Bear Republic to name a few. Even down here closer to the Bay, there are some amazing treats to be found like the brews of Bison, Drake’s, Anchor, Speakeasy, Pyramid and newbies  Southern Pacific and Elevation 66. Oh, and I certainly can not fail to mention the quintessentially refreshing Trumer Pils brewed right around the corner from where I am now residing.

Upon arriving in the East Bay city of Berkeley, I was welcomed with a stop at Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, beer events, weekend in review

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