It’s no surprise that this year’s winner at Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers festival is none other than a beer from Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ales. The brewery tied for the win last year with Hopworks Urban Brewery despite not using the required yeast set for the festival by year’s prior winner Block 15, but still won the hearts and palates of the masses in attendance. This year. Logsdon’s Cerasus took home the big win and the Hood River brewery will determine next year’s yeast strain. This could begin to look like the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan years for Logsdon. Stay tuned…  Here’s the official announcement from the Oregon Brewers Guild: Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, beer news

Hopworks Urbans Brewery to release new Belgian-style Abbey Ale

Debuting on draught at Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers on April 21, 2012 this new series of bottle conditioned beers features classic European styles through our own Northwest perspective. The first in this series is an Abbey Ale. The second in the series is a Belgian Pale Ale, launching in July.

Hopworks Organic Belgian-Style Abbey Ale

Made with this year’s PCTBB yeast, Abbey is made with five different organic malts and organic dark brown sugar, resulting in a complex multi-layered aroma.  The flavor is equally rich with a caramel malty sweet, fruity flavor finished with effervescent carbonation and a smooth, warming alcohol finish.

ABV: 6.5%           IBU: 18                  Plato: 20

Bottles available May through June 2012.

Posted under Oregon beer, beer news, beer releases

Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers Festival is Back

April 21st Marks Portland’s Sixth Belgian Focused Beer Fest

What

Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers (PCTBB) is back for its sixth year with nearly 50 Oregon breweries crafting signature Belgian style beers specifically for this annual event. Each participating brewery puts its own creative spin on the selected yeast strain, highlighting the wide variety of flavor profiles possible in Belgian beers. Admission is free but tickets to taste are $15 and include entry to the festival, a commemorative tasting glass and five drink tickets. Food will be available for purchase at the event.

After sampling all the Belgian style ales, attendees will vote for their favorite in the “People’s Choice Awards.” The brewery that wins the most votes earns the right to select next year’s yeast strain. Last year’s co-winners, Hopworks Urban Brewery and Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, have selected Canadian/Belgian Ale and Roeselare Ale Blend yeasts for this year’s competition. Attendees can expect beers made with both yeast strains as well as other Belgian style ales.

When

Saturday, April 21, 2012 from noon to 9 p.m.

Where

Metalcraft Fabrication

723 N Tillamook St., Portland

How

Admission to the event is free. Tastes are $15 and include five drink tickets and a tasting glass – which are required to taste. Additional tastes are $1. Tickets can be purchased at the festival entrance. This is a 21 and over event.

For More Information:

For more information and a list of participating breweries, please visit the OBG’s website at http://oregonbeer.org/pctbb

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

By D.J. Paul

Getting ready for the 6^th Annual Portland’s Cheers To Belgian Beers requires a friendly dart throwing competition. Yes, it’s what you throw that tell which Belgian style beer will be brewed. And this competition featured who’s who in local brewing.

Taking place once again at the world famous Horse Brass Pub, brewers gathered to throw a dart. It is this dart throw that will determine to some extent the style of beer that they’ll brew. If the brewer throws a dart in the inner circle on the dartboard, the beer will be higher in alcohol and a dart thrown outside the inner circle the beer will be lower in alcohol.  And to decide if the beer will be dark or light depends on which radial section the dart hits. A black radial will produce a dark style and the whitish radial will produce a light style of Belgian beer. And for the ringers out there, you hit the bull’s-eye and it’s brewer’s choice. I noticed at least one being hit on this night!

As done in the past, the previous year’s winner gets to choose the yeast strain that will be used. At the 2011 festival there was a tie between Hopworks Urban Brewery and the new kid, Logsdon Farmhouse Brewery. Because of the tie brewers this coming year will get a choice of two different Wyeast yeast strains. Hopworks chose Wyeast Yeast Strain: 37864 – PC Canadian/Belgian Ale Yeast and Logsdon chose Wyeast Yeast Strain: 3763 – Roeselare Ale Blend.

Something new this year is that the dart throwing event took place two months earlier than in prior years. By doing so, this will allow the brewers more ample time to get this special Belgian-style beer into their production schedule. It also will allow for the more creative brewers to possibly barrel age a beer.

Mark your calendars, the 2012 edition of Portland’s Cheers To Belgian Beers event will take place on Saturday, April 21 from Noon-9PM. Continuing from this year’s new location it will once again be hosted at Metalcraft Fabrication at 723 N Tillamook Street in North Portland, Oregon.

All of the dart throwing results can be seen on the Oregon Brewers Guild website.

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

A rising star in Portland’s craft beer scene is Roscoe’s Pub. This Friday, May 27th, 2011, the Montavilla bar kicks off Labor Day Weekend with their 2nd Annual Belgian Beer Summit. The fun starts at 4PM; from here, the great Belgian and Belgian-inspired ales will flow all weekend.

The 2nd Annual Belgian Summit will feature 14 Belgique brews on tap from all over the world. According to Roscoe’s founders Jeremy Lewis and Quyen Li, some of the highlights will include: Read More…

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

Here’s some pictures for this weekend’s Portland’s Cheers To Belgian Beers!

Posted under Oregon beer, weekend in review

Today’s Portland Cheers To Belgian Beers kicks off at noon. From the looks of things at last nights preview dinner, we are feeling pretty confident that this year’s PCTBB will prove to the the best yet. Here’s three key reasons why… Read More…

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

Roscoe’s All-Oregon Belgian Beer Summit will take place on Friday, April 29th beginning at 4PM.  A fitting inclusion in the Portland Cheers To Belgian Beers weekend, the Montavilla neighborhood pub will feature 14 Belgian-Style beers, all brewed by Oregon breweries.

Here you will have the opportunity to try some real gems like Oakshire Frederic’s Lost Arm, Hopworks Muscles from Brussels, Boneyard Whitshack Wit, Upright Rose City Seven, Prodigal Son Neuer Morgan, and many more.   As always, this summit will provide 5-ounce tasters.

Prost!

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

Friday April 29th
Metalcraft Fabrication
723 N Tillamook St.
Portland
5-9pm
$40
21+ only
$40 gets you twelve drink tickets, a stemmed tasting glass, program, and Mussels and Frites from Simpatica Catering.
Tickets must be purchased in advance by using the shopping cart below. Dinner will be served outside under a tent, which you can eat dinner when you like. All tickets will be held at will call.

Get your tickets here

Posted under beer and food, beer events, events

If you’re like us, you’re probably fired up about this coming weekend’s Portland Cheers To Belgian Beers (PCTBB). Now in its fifth year, the annual showcase of a specifically selected yeast strain will serve as both an educational and delicious experiment. In addition the proliferation of interest in Belgian-styled ales is becoming more and more evident. The emergence and popularity of area breweries such as Upright, Beetje, Block 15, Cascade, Double Mountain, and Logsdon Farmhouse illustrates our fascination with Belgian social culture as well as its yeast culture. And, nowadays it seems you can find a Read More…

Posted under beer events