Christmas has passed but not without allowing us the pleasure of spending time with family and friends over some good beers. After maybe overindulging a little throughout the past couple of weekends, we decided to take it easy over this holiday weekend. That being said,  we still allowed ourselves some pretty awesome beers. The festivities started at my sister’s house for her annual Christmas potluck where family and friends gathered to enjoy holiday cheer. While the beer selection was not actually top notch, we did plan ahead and brought a bottle of the second release of the Nogne, Jolly Pumpkin, and Stone Collaborator Special Holiday Ale. This beer featured an assortment of Holiday inspired ingredients like chestnuts and spices, and was a treat to drink on Christmas, and provided a nice roasty flavor that was followed by the spicy sweet taste of Christmas tree and sage.

After partaking in our first potluck of the evening, we were off to our second potluck at Ezra aka Samurai Artist’s house. Here, the homebrews that were brought for sharing among friends were the highlights. The top mentions of the night included a Chocolate Peanut Butter Imperial Stout that Ezra brewed.  It was like no other beer I have ever experienced before. This rich brew reminded me of a chocolate, peanut butter milkshake and a small pour was of this thick offering went a long way. A Citra hopped Pale ale that our friend (and 2009 S.N.O.B. poster boy) Ritch Marvin brewed was also a treat to sample.  Furthermore, an Orval clone homebrew that Ritch acquired in a trade from someone in the Midwest was the perfect beer for capping off a great night.

On Saturday, after a quiet day of walking around town and enjoying the sunny but chilly air, we wondered over to our local beer shop, The BeerMongers. Remembering the Orval clone we had enjoyed the night before, we had to sit down and quaff the real deal served in appropriate glasswear. The BeerMongers really know how to do it right and the relaxed atmosphere was a great way to unwind on Boxing Day. The BeerMongers offer a great selection of bottle beers and a few on tap for a very reasonable price. If you have not checked the place out, it is an understatement to say that this is something that should be done soon. Being a quiet place to sit and enjoy a brew, you can always chat with the friendly owners, Sean and Craig. We had one more brew before we left the shop. It was Oud Beersel Oude Geuze, decked out with a tart sharpness and all the sourness we were looking for.

Sunday lead us to enjoy more holiday cheer than the previous days. Wanting to have something more in the spirit of the season, we toasted with a hoppy and spiced Pike Auld Acquaintance, a hearty Goose Island Christmas Ale, and a Laurelwood Vinter Varmer (a brew that undoubtedly lives up to its name) that we had squirreled away for a time such as this. Thinking of all those who make the holidays a special time here in Brewpublic, we wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas filled with love, prosperity, and warming cheer.

Posted under beer events

Boxing Day is a bank holiday celebrated in many predominantly Christian countries such as Scotland, England, Australia, Germany, and our neighbors to the north in Canada. Though not an officially recognized holiday in the United States, many people in the northern part of the country celebrate this day after Christmas in the tradition of giving gifts to those less fortunate.

Our friend and Quebecer Brewpublican Marc Demeule has given us new meaning to this special day. Earlier this year, Marc visited Portland and like one particular bearded old man from the north, brought with him a bounty of gifts right up our alley. A box of wonderfully assorted craft beer from his homeland brought warmth to our winter holiday season. Honestly, is there anything like handsomely labeled, delicious out-of-market beer for the holidays?

Here’s a look at some of our favorite brews that Marc delivered to us that served up perfectly for these chilly times.

Le Trou du Diable Buteuse: This spectacular brewery from Shawinigan, Quebec produces some of Canada’s finest ales. The Buteuse is the abbey trippel. At 10% ABV, the alcohol is well masked with lots of fruity notes akin to pineapple and pear. Bubbly, amber bodied, and dry, this delicious beer is one of the best Canadian beers we’ve had the luxury of enjoying. Tres bien!

Charlevoix Flacatoune:  This beer is not trying to over impress but it is well built and spectacularly balanced.With a big white head and a light golden bodied spiciness, this blonde ale offers flares of both woodiness and hoppiness and a snap of cereal grains with a pleasant grassy hop finish. Fresh fruitiness with a world of soft complexity. I would really love to see a beer like this pouring regularly around town.

Charlevoix Vache Folle ESB: Extra Special Bitters may not be in vogue these days, but a well-built bitter is unlike anything else. A nice nutty brownish amber pour with thick off-white, lasting head caps a wold of bitter sweet aromas, a touch of herbal hops and caramel sweetness. La Folle ESB is both creamy and resinous; everything fans of the style could hope for. In a land where hops don’t abound as they do here, the creative brewers at Charlevoix finds a way to be both resourceful and creative. Artist Denis Reid is the man behind this brewery’s spectacular labels.

Bristol Beer Factory BrunAle: Here’s a beer that further exhibits using low hops to the best of one’s ability. A wonderful session-worthy brown ale with a world of nuttiness. It’s the kind of dry, cake-like, softly fruity brew that you wish you could go back for again and again. The fact that it comes in 16 ounce, er.. 473 ml cans makes it pleasing for those of us who appreciate a craft brew in a can. At just 4.8% ABV, it won’t ruin you. Excellente!

Orléans Joseph Bellarmin: This imperial India Pale Ale from Microbrasserie d’Orléans/Pub Le Mitan is a bold autumn seasonal with a light citrus presence and some key floral notes to support a boisterously maltilicious underpinning. A warm upfront alcohol presence is likely designed to cut through the Northeast’s chillier months. An amalgumation of English and Northwest IPA styles, and not the best DIPA ever, but quite good, and the handsome artwork is rather luring.

À l’Abri de la Tempête Terre Ferme: Here’s a beer from one of Canada’s most obscure breweries. Brewed on the small island off Quebec’s eastern coast, this brewery uses all organic and sustainable practices to produce a line-up of phenomenal malt-driven brews. Terre Ferme adds exceptional (for the region) bitterness as well as vegetal notes that come across like a mild ginger. If you ever have the chance to try one of À l’Abri de la Tempête’s excellent beers, get on it.

Bièropholie Calumet Grand Chef:  This now defunct smoked beer is one that might have been mentioned in Brewpublic’s “Smoke and Beer” series. Smoke owns the character of this deep, chewy nectar. Lots of molasses, coffee, toffee, and chocolate notes linger underneath the smoldering malt mayhem. Some say this one is the Lagavulin of beer and as it warms, more in-your-face flavor reveals itself. Not much to look at, this beer has little head to it. The dull dark brown core emits an essence that recalls week long camping trip with a lot of time by the old fire. Some mild lactic hints far off in the distance that gives it some semblance of balance, if not cheesiness. This beer was built to pair with sharp cheddar and salty crackers. All features of this beer bows down to the smoke. What a brew! Tres bien!

So, there you have it…a few of the finest beers from Northeastern Canada. We still have more left in our big box. Thank you Marc for sharing with us, and come back to the Pacific Northwest soon. Joyeux Noel et endemain de Noël!

Posted under beer reviews

Cheers to you and yours for the holiday season. We put our ear to the ground…well, actually, we’ve been on Twitter…and here’s some interesting blurbs we’ve snatched from Cyberspace.

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CraftBrewCast: Maui Brewing Co’s beers now available in OR. Award winning Coconut Porter and more!

FortGeorgeBrewing: Jack is getting done brewing some Coffee Girl Stout for Stout Month in Feb!

TravelOregon: Oregon Beer Scoop: Best beer dinner ever?: The recent Morrison Child and Family Services Chef’s Challenge featured … http://bit.ly/6UbV05

thePelicanPub: The Pelican will be open on Christmas Day from 12pm to 6pm for the Christmas Buffet! Dont forget we have great last minute stocking stuffers

PdxPipeline: Many Portland Christmas & Other Weekend Events + Free Tickets http://tinyurl.com/eventsmas

UprightBrewing:  we are up for the Peoples Choice on Beervana the blog. Vote for our Five!… http://bit.ly/6cgHOs

OLCC: Some liquor stores are open Christmas day. Call ahead for holiday hours. For a complete list of stores: http://tiny.cc/CgsII

Toronado:  For those looking for a holiday beer or three, the T should be open normal-ish hours tomorrow. Say hi to Steve or Stu! Happy Holidays!

DeschutesBeer:  Pubs & Brewery CLOSED Christmas day but will re-open again Saturday for regular hours. Tours all weekend long at 1, 2, 3 & 4pm.

LompocBeer:  Sidebar is closed for Christmas, but open on Saturday from Noon to 5 pm: pouring Bourbon Barrel Fermented LSD,… http://bit.ly/6U92yf

BaileysTaproom:  Reminder: We will be closed December 24th (today), 25th, and 31st. We are open on January 1st (normal hours).

BelmontStation: Alaskan Icy Bay IPA and Hitachino White Ale on tap now! New cans in stock: Maui CoCoNut Porter, Big Swell IPA, and Bikini Blonde Lager!

Brookston:  1,000-Bottle Xmas Tree (http://cli.gs/pG1JZ)

Beervana:  Christmas gifts from Hopworks and MacTarnahan’s: Kronan, Abominable, and Goose Bump, all three winners. http://tinyurl.com/yd34jbn

Homebrewchef:  Someone turned my Wild Mushroom Dopplebock Gravy into a pasta sauce. http://shar.es/aOItM Sounds pretty tasty. Nice sauce for Prime Rib 2!

BasicBrewing:  RT @BenVH My Dog barfed in my shoe, like really bad.. And my fav pair.. I threw them out.. Carboy with a very dead mouse in it. Chuckit.

Posted under beer news

Well, it’s the holidays and what better time for a holiday version of “You Might Be A Beer SNOB If…”  Here’s 25 telltale signs that the craft malted goodness means a lot to you.

1. You gift wrap beer.

2. Saint Nick can’t make it down your chimney because its filled with sacks of malt for your Schlenkerla clone.

3. At holiday beer exchanges you avoid the oil can shaped gift.

4. You leave cookies and milk stout out for St. Bernardus.

5. You get misty-eyed when a friend gives you an out-of-market vintage brew.

6. The cold weather is a good excuse for you to unplug your keggerator.

7. You converted to Judaism for Lompoc’s 8 Malty Nights.

8. You are devout and visit the Horse Brass each year on Christmas.

9. A Sam Adams Christmas variety pack is always “just your size.”

10. You remember when Jack Frost was nipping.

11. The presents you desire are made by a bearded man with a belly full of jelly and his assistants.

12. You put Fred From the Wood in your nog.

13. You wish Hair of the Dog and Seven Brides would make a collaborator called DeSantis Claws.

14. You have enjoyed Celebrations from different years all in one day.

15. You feel sad for the misrepresentation of Clydesdales.

16. You’ve drunk Yellow snow and liked it.

17. Your concept of a perfect nightcap consists of a snifter of barleywine by the fireplace.

18. You look for Blitzen at Rock Bottom and New Old Lompoc.

19. You’ve traveled to Marin expecting a White Christmas.

20. Your favorite part of New Years Day is that your cellar just got a little more impressive.

21. You’ve replaced the yule log with Yule Smith.

22. When you are in McMinnville you start singing “Oh Tannen Bomb!”

23. You celebrate St. Stephen’s Day with beer from the oldest brewery in the world.

24. You’ve used your tree to make a Sahti.

25. The idea of an elf in a straight jacket makes you thirsty.

Posted under beer me

Can you believe that it is already December?! Seemed like just yesterday we were geeking out on fresh hop brews, and not too long before that, the Oregon Brewers Festival brought a grip of interesting brews to the forefront. Well, time flies when you’re having great craft beer, and here we are again, and as expected, things don’t really ever taper off in Beervana. In fact, this time of year, the bigger, bolder, and more demanding brews light up the long periods of dark and warm the hearts of Northwest palates as the days grow colder.

As you should know, the Holiday Ale Festival kicks of Wednesday December 2 at Portland’s Pioneer Court House Square and is undoubtedly the biggest and best winter beer festival on the West Coast, which basically means it is the best cold season beer festival anywhere in the country. Not only will there be more than 50 beers pouring, but these beers are mindblowing, liver-bending, and utterly ballsy. Under the tented canopy where its warm and spirits are jovial, you can count on getting your ass kicked if you try to drink all the beers in one setting. That is why the organizers (God bless their souls) have extended the weekend to a five day blowout. If you thought thanks giving had your insides challenges, just wait til this wreckin’ ball of malty fun swings through.

Those of you who have made a point to attend each year have recognized the event’s expansion: more beers, more taps, more room, more fun. This year, in addition to the slough of killer beers on display for your quaffing pleasure, the Holiday Ale Fest crew has dug deep into the cellars to extricate additional rare aged kegs from years past. Starting on Wednesday December 2nd at 2pm, limited release brews will rear their heads for the real geeks periodically throughout the festival. Included in this exclusive list is a 2005 Samichlaus, 2007 and 2008 vintages of Hair of the Dog’s Jim K blends, a 2003 Bridgeport Knucklehead,  2008 Alaskan Smoked Porter, 2006 Allagash Curieux, 2007 Scaldis Noel, 2007 Cascade Baltic Porter,  2006 Walking Man Ho Ho Homo Erectus, and others. This is just the tip of the iceberg!

For those of you who simply can not wait until Wednesday for the Holiday Ale Festivities to begin, the brewer elves at New Old Lompoc have been working diligently for a special release of not one, not two, not three, but six freakin’ different seasonals. All of these winter charmers are dropping at 4pm on Tuesday December 1. Here’s what to expect:

Blitzen Golden Ale

A refreshing, crisp golden ale, Blitzen is dry hopped in the conditioning tank with coriander, orange peel and Crystal hops, which give the beer a floral aroma and a slight spicy flavor. 5% ABV.

Brewdolph Belgian Style Red

This Belgian style red ale features a malty and creamy body. Brewed with the Belgian Ardennes yeast strain, it boasts a mild fruitiness and a spicy clove character. 7.9% ABV.

C-Son’s Greetings  Imperial Pale Ale

This is the popular C-Note’s big brother. It has a caramel malty body with an extremely intense hop profile. Brewed with all seven of the “C” hops – Crystal, Cluster, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus and Challenger – it has a piney, resiny flavor. This is the only Lompoc holiday beer sold in bottles. 8% ABV.

Holiday Cheer  Porter

This porter has a malty body and a soft roastiness in the nose. An addition of vanilla beans was added to the brewing process, giving the flavor a unique finish. 7.5% ABV.

Jolly Bock German Style Bock

A dark, German style Bock with a super malty aroma and flavor, balanced by roastiness and a touch of hops. 7.9% ABV.

Old Tavern Rat Barley Wine

A very intense strong ale with a malty body and plenty of caramel, dried fruit and roast flavors. This is the ideal beer to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night. 9% ABV.

In addition to these half a dozen winter warmers, Lompoc is releasing what they claim is Portland’s first beer brewed for Hanukkah dubbed “8 Malty Nights.” A chocolate rye ale brewed by Sam Orlansky, the libatoin was blessed by Rabbi Bradley Greenstein from the Congregation Neveh Shalom who also blessed the brewers, raised a glass of Manischewitz and toasted “L’chaim!”  This special beer will be released on the first day of Hanukkah, Dec. 11, at the Lompoc Sidebar from 4 to 9 p.m. See you there!

Posted under beer events

The big dogs at Double Mountain never skimp on killer beer. Hell, even their Dapper Dan brown ale is dope. Tonight you can join DM brewmaster Matt Swihart at the best bar on Division Street, Victory. Here, owner and barkeep Yoni and the crew have been pining for a release party, so here it is. Deck the halls, jingle all the way (is it even Thanksgiving yet?), and have a cup of cheer aka Double Mountain’s seasonal hoppy beast known as “Fa La La La La.”

Says DM’s Charlie Devereux in a recent press release “Fa La La La La is our winter ale offering, packed with enough rich malt and Centennial hops to fill Santa’s toy bag.” Though Swihart’s beer and presence are the real presents, t-shirts will be raffled off (“Don we now our gay apparel”). Devereax warns “This one should be packed, so make it over early if you can.”

Deck the halls with kegs on dollies,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

‘Tis the season to be jolly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

DM’s is dope and others sterile,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the Blazers hoop before us,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Many rich beers are here to pour us.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow Matt in merry measure,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

He will unveil a hoppy treasure,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Wassail brews, leave some on asses,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

We’ll even quaff those made with heather,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

There’s even gruit sours with holly,

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

Thank the lord for Matt and Charlie,

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

Fill the mead-cup, drain the barrel,

Fa la la la, fa la la la.

Troll the ancient Christmas story,

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

See the flowing bowl before us,

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

Yoni pours the best beers for us.

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

Follow him in merry measure,

Fa la la la, fa la la la.

While I sing of bottled treasures,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

Raise a brew, ye lads and lasses,

Fa la la la la, fa la la la.

FA LA LA LA LA LA RELEASE AT VICTORY

Victory Bar, 3652 SE Division, Portland

5:30pm start

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