Lately you’ve probably heard a lot about the late Michael Jackson, pop star. But, a new tribute brew by Portland’s Hair of the Dog Brewery slated for release on November 14, 2009 will honor the late beer scribe of the same name. Hair of the Dog brewer and founder Alan Sprints has concocted a special barrel-aged and bottle conditioned Flemish Red Ale simply named “Michael” to pay tribute to the man who Sprints calls “the most influential beer writer and critic who ever lived.” We must admit, those are hard words with which to argue.

Michael will be unveiled this Saturday at the Hair of the Dog Brewery’s annual November dock sale. Sales start at 10 a.m. and as usual, there are expected to be droves of beer geeks awaiting their turn at the Sprints’ cellarable favorites. Specialty brews sought after at the sale include Cherry Adam from the Wood, Fred from the Wood, Doggie Claws Barleywine, and the Matt, a bourbon and apple Eau de Vie barrel-aged sour originally designed to commemorate Bottleworks’ (Seattle) tenth anniversary. Expect long lines and good times once again this year.

Ken Kane

Ken Kane is a freelance beer journalist who has traveled around the world in pursuit of new and interesting beer styles. His journeys have taken him from his home in Beervana to places like Germany and even South Africa. Kane is also an avid homebrewer who has been making his own beer for over twenty years. This is about the time he moved to Oregon. In recent years Kane has turned his attention to the retailing and designing of “beeraphenalia” – souvenirs related to Oregon in general and its distinctive wines and beers in particular. Such beeraphenalia can be found at his websites woodbloom.com and PortlandSouvenirs.com. His recent writing about beer culture can be found in Portland Tribune’s Guest On Tap column.

Here’s our little Q & A with him: