Pike Brewing Company presents Pints for Prostates, a charitable fundraiser to help fight prostate cancer. The entire day, beginning at 11 am, will be dedicated to the Pints for Prostates cause. Twenty percent of the proceeds of every beverage sold that day will be given to the Pints for Prostates campaign and Us TOO International. Highlighting the  day is a special evening event  from 6-9 P.M. in the Museum Room at The Pike Pub.  Representatives from Pints for Prostates, Us TOO International, Cancer Care Alliance, and Dendreon Corporation who are helping support the event, will be on hand to answer questions about detection, diagnosis and treatment.  Additionally, a silent auction  will  be held during  the evening event  with items generously donated by: Beecher’s Cheese, Hotel Max, Columbia Tower Club, TASTE at SAM, Tom Douglas Restaurants, Ponti Seafood Grill, 106 Pine, Woodland Park Zoo, Museum of Flight, Wines of Washington, Click Wholesale Distributing, ACT Theater, Noble Wines, Savor Tours, Washington Brewers Guild, and more. Pike will raffle off some of their handsome memorabilia and breweriana while Pints for Prostates will be offering the opportunity to enter to win a trip for two to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver during September. The trip for two includes roundtrip airline tickets, three nights at the Sheraton Downtown Denver, tickets for three nights at the GABF, tickets to the Denver Rare Beer Tasting, a hosted pub crawl, and admission to special beer insider events.

Pike would like to thank Square Tomato LLC, an award winning Seattle advertising agency, who generously donated their time and creative talents in support of the Pints for Prostates cause.

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WEDNESDAY – JUNE 16, 2010 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. PIKE BREWING COMPANY – MUSEUM ROOM 1415 1ST AVENUE, SEATTLE, WA 98101 Creative and Graphic Design by Square Tomato LLC

Posted under beer events, events

This year’s Fred Fest was quite interesting to say the least. Not only was it an excuse to drink special beers while supporting a noble charity and celebrating the birthday of an American and Portland beer icon, but it was an opportunity to get a look at Alan Sprint’s new Hair of the Dog Brewing location.

Beneath the Morrison Bridge, not far from the Eastside Waterfront, and nestled into an unsuspecting neighborhood of industry and warehouses,  Hair of the Dog lives on. After joining a queue of craft beer enthusiasts that spanned around the block from the south side entrance, we passed our time in line chatting it up with others who were just as geared up to see what was to come.

Finally to the front of the line and in through the doorway where open garage doors let setting sun shine in, we entered, received our taster cup, food and raffle ticket, and quickly caught wind of this year’s buzz beer. Word was out that a special 2002 Wild Duck Barleywine was drawing quite a line around the corner and toward the back. We raced over to where this beer brewed by the late Glen Hay Falconer was located. Back into another long line.

Apparently the keg was pouring rather foamy, causing the line to take longer than expected. Still, when you hear of a beer like this, you must endure to ensure not missing out on a once in a lifetime tasting. And, happily, the mighty brew was well worth the wait. Picking up the age in an expected and pleasant mild oxidation, the notes of honey, caramel, and surprisingly sharp hops dazzled in this mighty brew that was not even included in the pre-game list of beer to be poured. Before we knew it, this beer was gone, and it made us quite pleased to get in on it.

The two jockey boxes adjacent to the Wild Duck tap were virtually empty of people. It was as if the buzz beer had drawn all attention away from anything within a ten foot radius (sans for the line). This was a perfect opportunity to pony up to the Rogue John John Juniper Pale Ale aged in Spruce Gin barrels. A unique and rather interesting beer, John John was a nice balance of light flowery notes and a subtle woody, almost minty twang. The other tap on this island was Rock Bottom’s Maude Flanders. While a few people really seemed to enjoy this, like we enjoy sours ourselves, the cutting acetic nail polish remover fumes were a little overwhelming four our preference. Still, a rather interesting specimen.

As great as the beers were, it really was the ambiance created by elated and enthusiastic beer lovers sharing in a passion that the man of the hour, Fred Eckhardt helped to create. Not just in Portland, Oregon, but on the West Coast and throughout the land where good beer is brewed, served and/or adored. Hair of the Dog founder and brewer Alan Sprints and a team of happy-to-serve volunteers did a spectacular job. Considering the mayhem of opening his new brewery and restaurant coupled with the pressure to organize this charity event for folks with high expectation from brew, Sprints did a great job putting the pieces together and churning out one hell of a fun time. Even if the festival didn’t pan out the way anyone had hoped, though it did live up to our expectations, the bottom line was that it was a success in providing 100% of the proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Other beer highlights from Fred Fest:

After the Wild Duck Barleywine, Cascade’s 2010 The Vine was perhaps the most talked about brew of the night. This Northwest Style Sour Ale is a blend of soured Triple, Blonde Quad and Golden ales that have been refermented with the fresh pressed juice of white wine grapes. The beer spent many months in lactic fermentation and aging in small oak barrels. Firestone Walker’s Parabola was another brew that is always special to taste. The abysmally dark black brew has been a major component of past anniversary blends and is one of our most aggressive offerings from the Paso Robles, California brewery. Featuring bold bourbon and tobacco aromas and a rich dark chocolate, charred oak flavor, is best enjoyed in moderation and is a perfect beer to pair with those chocolate dessert favorites like Fred’s beerthday cake or his beloved M&M candies. This 13% ABV brew is one of the most intense Russian Imperial Stouts we’ve ever had the pleasure to drink.  Hopworks’ Ben Love mixed some of the Parabola with some Hair of the Dog Cherry Fred From the Wood, for a blend dubbed FireWood (or something like that). One thing we learned on this night, don’t let Hopworks brewers blend beer. HUB’s Organic Radkeller, a mix-up of lemon drink and lager was utterly atrocious. While we’ve enjoyed this radler blend at the brewpub, something about it stewing a keg for a length of time lends to a flavor best described as “grody.” Still, give ‘em points for trying.

Speaking of intensity, Roots’ 2006 Epic Ale might have taken the cake in this category (as well as paired with it pretty decently). Nearly four years of aging later, this big boy employs about 60 pounds smoked malt flavored over cherry wood soaked in glenlivet, cognac and cherry juice that lends wonderful smoked toffee and cherry notes both to the palate and the nose and a warm bitter sweet finish. With over 1,700 pounds of malt and 65 pounds of hops, this beast lives up to its name. The 2006 vintage is weighed in at 13.5% ABV.

Mixed reviews were in for the Oregon Trail SoBoChePo, or Sour Bourbon Cherry Porter, but we simply loved it. Not the kind of beer to consume in large quantities, but certainly nothing we’d want to shy away from, SoBoChePo was a great balance of desirable craft brew complexities that all shined within one glass. Some acetic notes expected for such a boozy brew, but not as cutting as the Maude. The cherry character was nicely balanced, not overly sweet, while the meshing of fruit tartness, creamy tannins, and warm bourbon intermingled spectacularly.

Deschutes Double Black was another beer of interest. Not a particular favorite of the night due to a somewhat overly aggressiveness and some rough off-notes, but bold as all sin, and ready to keep you guessing about what the hell was going on with this mammoth incarnation of Black Butte Porter. Our thought was it was similar to Black Butte XX, but without the taming coffee and cocoa nibs. Still, perhaps another go in the ring with this beer could prove a new opinion. The thing with tastings like this is that there’s so much damn tasty high alcohol brews, that palate fatigue is not uncommon to set in early. Still, being in a fun beer geek atmosphere made us feel right at home and fully contented.

To view more photos from Fred Fest 2010 by Brewpublic, click here.

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

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Starts @ 7pm

Great Beer!

Chat it up with a local Brewer!

Raise a few $$ for Breast Cancer!

All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society and the fight against Breast Cancer

Thanks to Everbody’s Brewing, Hopworks, Laurelwood, Lompoc & Full Sail

for questions please email Cat Kaiser cat@theEastBurn.com

or call the EastBurn 503-236-2876

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

We’ve never much thought of Finnegans as a craft beer drinker’s place, but when they contacted us about this event, we had to pass it along (if not for the video alone).

For Finnegans’ St. Patrick’s Pint-a-Thon, beer drinkers can simply pledging to drink Finnegans throughout the month of March and can help to alleviate poverty in our community with every sip.

Lads and lasses who pledge are entered to win a $100 Finnegans pub party.

About FINNEGANS and the FINNEGANS Community Fund

FINNEGANS Inc. is the only beer company in the world that donates 100 percent of its profits to funding programs for at-risk youth and the working poor. Through its nonprofit arm, the FINNEGANS Community Fund, grants are dispersed in the markets FINNEGANS Irish Amber is sold. FINNEGANS is available in more than 400 restaurants and bars and 570 liquor stores throughout Minnesota and recently expanded to markets in North Dakota and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.finnegans.org

Posted under beer events, beer me, press releases

Brewpublic will be heading south this weekend to visit the beer hot spots in Eugene and Corvallis. As expected, the weekend here in Beervana promises a slew of great tasting opportunities that you might regret missing out on. Even if you don’t happen to find a keg much hyped Russian River Pliny the Younger before it blows, you might want to seriously consider making it out for the following pours:

Upright Brewing’s Oyster Stout Release Party

Visit Upright Brewing’s tasting room on Friday February 26, 2010 for the release of their newest beer – an Oyster Stout! They’ll have one of only a few kegs on draft as well as bottles of this full-bodied and creamy stout available to take home. It was brewed in collaboration with fellow oyster lover Jason McAdam of upcoming Alchemy Brewing. Says founder and brewmaster Alex Ganum “We made the beer using over ten gallons of oyster juice fresh from the Oregon coast and eight dozen whole oysters from Vancouver B.C. For the release party oysters on the half-shell will be available along with some free snacks as well.” This exclusive tasting and release happens between 4:30 and 9 pm and also marks the beginning of Upright’s new Friday tasting room hours. Hope to catch you there!

Upright Brewing is located at 240 N Broadway, suite 002 (in the basement of the Left Bank Building), Portland Oregon.

Rare Tapping of BrewDog and Stone “bashah” Collaboration Beer at Victory Bar

One of Portland’s best watering holes Victory Bar has just announced the tapping of a unique new beer known as “bashah.” The beer is a imperial Belgian-style black IPA…er…Cascadian Dark Ale concocted at BrewDog’s facility in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. You may have heard of BrewDog in the news lately. Their “Sink the Bismarck” Quadruple IPA set a world record, weighing in at 41% ABV, and is currently the strongest beer on the planet. Given the esteemed honor of being the voted the best brewery in the world by BeerAdvocate, Stone adds this hearty 8.6% ABV hoppy, spicy monster to their touted line-up of revered brews. We don’t expect this keg to last long, so get over to Victory stat. And while you’re at it, enjoy a flight of their globally acclaimed bourbons!

Victory Bar is located at 2509 SE 37th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

Kerry’s 30th Party and Benefit for The Pixie Project at The Hop & Vine

Taplister CBO (that’s Chief Beer Officer) Kerry Finsand has been an integral part of the Portland beer community with his tireless work to promote craft brewers in the area. His efforts have helped connect beer geeks with their favorite brews not only in Portland, but throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This Saturday, February 27, 2010, at The Hop & Vine, Finsand will celebrate his 30th birthday with a special charity event to benefit The Pixie Project, a not for profit shelter for cats and dogs. Finsand has curated five beers from five exceptional Oregon craft brewers including Oakshire Brewing, Double Mountain Brewery, Laurelwood Brewing, Upright Brewing, and Hopworks Urban Brewery.

Says Finsand “The Hop & Vine for graciously hosting this and giving up the last keg of Upright Fatali Four, my favorite Upright Beer. The Hop & Vine is offering happy hour food and drink specials , but wait there is more. The party is actually a fundraiser for a local dog and cat shelter called the Pixie Project. We are asking a suggested $5 donation for each person attending this event. As a thank you for your donation you will receive a raffle ticket to get the chance to win some sweet beer swag. Need more to do? Then chat with some of the brewers that will be on hand or impress your friends with your beer IQ by playing a round of beer trivia. Hope to see you there.”

Beers at this event will include:

Oakshire Overcast Espresso Stout, Double Mountain Kolsch, Laurelwood Wry Pale Ale, Upright Brewing Fatali Four, and Hopworks Ace of Spades Double IPA.

The Hop & Vine is located at 1914 North Killingsworth Street in Portland, Oregon.

Now that’s what we like to hear: One of a kind brews for a great cause!

MacTarnahan’s Taproom Taps Their New Spine Tingler Triple Ale

A trip to NW Portland’s Industrial District is in order to get a premier taste of MacTarnahan’s new Spine Tingler, a  Belgian-style triple offering a blend of spicy aromatics balanced with a lively malt palate. We asked Mac’s to step it up and they answered with another innovative new brew. In the tradition of Belgian-style Triples, Spine Tingler’s complex, but mild spicy character with an additional hint of clove and esters lends itself to be enjoyed during these emerging brighter days of the spring season. “With Spine Tingler we’re offering an interpretation of a Golden Belgian-Style Triple that combines the use of 2 malts, Northern Brewer and Perle hop varieties, the addition of candied sugar, resulting in a beer meant to reward big beer enthusiasts (having serious backbones!) with a most interesting and memorable drinking experience”, says Mark Carver, Director of Pontification and Tale Telling at MacTarnahan’s Brewing. Tell ‘em Brewpublic sent you!

Malts: Pilsner Malt, and Wheat / Hops: Northern Brewer, and Perle / Other: Candied Sugar / IBU: 23

Spine Tingler is the third offering in a new series of specialty 22oz big bottle beers from MacTarnahan’s Brewing Co. It follows the successful release of both Lip Stinger TM, a farm house ale fermented with peppercorn and Goose Bump TM, an Imperial Stout w/ coffee. Spine Tingler is the third release in a series of four beers that will be released annually and available only in limited quantities of draft and 22 oz. bottles.

MacTarnahan’s Taproom is located at 2730 Northwest 31st Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

For those of you interested in checking out a festival of Oregon’s best microbreweries, check out Nano Brew Fest.

Have an event or beer for us, email us at info@brewpublic.com

Cheers!

Posted under Oregon beer, beer events, beer news, beer releases, beer to do list, brewpubs, places to drink beer