By Jen Sotolongo

Beer production requires a lot of water. In fact, 90% of beer is water. And this figure doesn’t even include the water required for cleaning, running a brewery or brewpub, or growing hops and barley.

According to the Water Footprint Network, the Netherlands organization that pioneered measuring water footprints, one gallon of beer requires 689 gallons of water to produce. The majority of water used in the production comes from growing and fermenting barley and other grains used during the brewing process. The industry average is 6-10 gallons of water per gallon of beer produced in the brewery, according to Executive Brewmaster at Full Sail, Jamie Emmerson.

Of the top 100 water users in Portland during the FY09-FY10 year, Widmer Brothers ranked #27 and Pyramid Brewing #77. A recent study conducted by consulting firm McKinstry & Co. and the World Bank estimates that by 2030, more than one third of the world’s population will face major water shortages if we continue business as usual. This is a cause for concern in an industry whose product relies heavily on water, especially in states like Colorado and California, with abundant breweries, and severely depleted rivers.

Luckily, many breweries realize the importance of Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, Washington Beer, beer me

By D.J. Paul

The day finally arrived for the much-anticipated collaborative beer, “Collage”, from two of Oregon’s most coveted breweries, Deschutes Brewery and Hair of the Dog Brewing Company. As was previously mentioned here on Brewpublic, the official bottle release is took place on May 15, 2012 at both the Bend and Portland Deschutes Brewpubs. After this initial release the bottled beer will be making its way through the Deschutes distribution system but availability will be extremely limited. Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, beer events, beer releases, beer reviews

It’s been two years, but at last, the much awaited collaborative brew between two of Oregon’s most respected breweries nears its release. The first brew in Deschutes Brewery‘s Conflux Series, dubbed “Collage”, was brewed with Portland’s Hair of the Dog Brewing. This inaugural brew in this collaborative series spearheaded by the Bend brewery showcases a barrel aged marriage of four sought after strong ales, Deschutes’ The Stoic Quad and Dissident Oud Bruin, and Hair of the Dog’s Fred and Adam. These beers were aged in a variety of barrels including rye whiskey, cognac, sherry, pinot noir, bourbon, and oak. The final product is guaranteed to be something that beer enthusiasts from around the world will surely seek out with great anticipation. On May 15, Deschutes will release 12-ounce bottles of Collage at their Bend and Portland brewpubs. Here’s the full scoop from the folks at Deschutes: Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, beer releases

Eugene, Oregon hosts its 2nd annual Beer Week May 7-13, 2012. Eugene Beer Week is a celebration of craft beer culture in the Willamette Valley.

Venues and Breweries include Ninkasi, Oakshire, Hop Valley, Falling Sky, 16 Tons, The Bier Stein, Izakaya Meiji, Rogue, Cornucopia, Hot Mama’s Wings, the Eugene Hilton, Cascade Brewers Society, Boneyard Beer, Brewpublic, Sasquatch Brew Fest, Deschutes, Hopworks, and others.

Beer week will feature beer tastings, brewer’s dinners, special bottle releases, a home brew competition, and other events celebrating craft beer. Breweries, retailers, bars, restaurants, and beer writers join together helping bring Read More…

Posted under beer events, beer news

There are a lot more new beers making their way down the pipeline here in the Pacific Northwest. Deschutes Conflux No. 1 Release, a collaboration with  Hair of the Dog called “Collage” is soon to be released in bottles. This 11% ABV beer is a malt beverage aged in distilled spirit and wine oak barrels and has been highly anticipated for more than a year. The label refers to this blend of several sought after brews as an “artistic expression.”

Widmer Brothers continues to wear their collective creative cap and lead the way with more experimental India Pale Ales. Next up, X-443. They’ve also got an oyster stout dubbed “Cloyster”, an 8%ABV draught only selection. The brewhouse continues to impress not only with imagination but with execution. Look for their Rotator Shaddock IPA (brewed with grapefruit), Hibiscus Gose, Raspberry Imperial Stout, and Old Embalmer ’12 Barleywine Ale (featuring Bravo hops) from their Alchemy Project.

Looks like Hopworks Urban Brewery will be kegging up a new series of single hop IPAs known as the IPX India Pale Ale series. Further in the hoppy realm, Pike is not only releasing draught of a new 4.9% Hop Session Ale, their gearing up for their 25th Anniversary with a special bottle release of their Space Needle Golden Anniversary 2012 Vintage IPA, a 6.5% ABV 58 IBU brew with an array of Yakima Valley Hops. Elysian Brewing also  of Seattle is gearing up to release the next brew from their Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, Washington Beer, beer news, beer releases

Here is a look at more craft beers that you will soon be able to enjoy around the Pacific Northwest. A bunch of new India Pale Ales, including three new experimental hops brews from Widmer Bros that you will soon see on tap. Plus, Laurelwood is releasing a promising new Portlandia Pils and there’s much more. Is your mouth watering yet? Check out what is coming down the pipeline… Read More…

Posted under Oregon beer, Washington Beer, beer news, beer releases

In our first installment of our Bend, Oregon Zwickelmania recap, we mentioned our trip around town to many hot spots that are heating up in Central Oregon and getting attention across the West Coast. The forthcoming “Yet To Be Named” Brewery is garnering much buzz amongst beer enthusiasts, especially those with a taste for the bold and unique. Co-founder Dave Wilson, who spent much of his life working in sales and marketing at places like 21st Amendment and Deschutes is eager to unleash a different side of Bend craft brew. “We’ll be focusing on Read More…

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

Roscoe’s 2nd Annual Stout Summit is coming up on Friday Feb 24th beginning at 4PM. Here’s the deets:

We will feature 14 amazing stouts on tap for your tasting pleasure. Some of the breweries (and Stouts) will include: Deschutes (2010 Abyss), Oakshire (Cordial Love-brewed with cocoa nibs and aged on espresso beans and cherries), Great Divide (2010 Chocolate Yeti), Boneyard (Sug Knite), Upright (Bourbon Barrel Stout of Monte Fisto), HaandBryggeriet (Odin’s Tipple), Fort George (Spank Stout), Caldera (Oatmeal Stout), Flattail (Nitro-Eagle Rare barrel aged 6am stout), Mikkeller (red wine barrel aged Black Hole), and more.

5 ounce taster trays will be available, and some brewers are sure to be in attendance.  It will be a fun event and we look forward to seeing you there.

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

ABYSS DAY & NIGHT!
We saved a KEG just for you, bring your Valentine in for a pint or two of THE  ABYSS on Thursday, February 9th, Noon till Gone!  She will love you for it!

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

What: Chocolate is often referred to as a gift from the gods. At Deschutes Brewery, it is no different. Each of the five courses for this seated dinner will include…you guessed it…chocolate! Every course will be paired with a specialty hand-crafted brew. Some delectable items from last year’s menu included cocoa dusted lamb shank and a chocolate gnocchi. The menu for 2012 promises to be even more divine!  What a great way to share an evening with the ones you love!

When: Saturday, February 11^th | Starts at 6 pm

Where: Deschutes Brewery Mountain Room, 901 SW Simpson Avenue, Bend, OR

Cost: $65 – all inclusive

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