Each year since Brewpublic began in 2008, we’ve taken special pleasure in rounding up the best-of-the-year lists. Most often you’ve witnessed these year-end inventories in the form of top 5′s. And, to not let down, we’ve rounded up this year’s superlatives in a multi-part series we will bring you throughout the rest of the year.

For 2012, much like we did last year, asking craft beer experts, industry workers, enthusiasts, and friends to conjure up their fondest beer memories of 2012 as well as sharing what they eagerly anticipate for the future in the coming year. We’ve also asked these folks to attest to top trends witnessed in the craft beer scene over the past year as well as some favorite events of 2012.

While we realize that such lists are next to impossible to formulate with any real certainty, the process of thinking back on all of the remarkable brews tested and tasted is a fun and nostalgic process. We will not hold these reputable individuals to their beer choices with absoluteness, because we realize, as mentioned in the past, that choosing just one beer, or even only five for that matter, as a favorite, can be as constrictive and limiting as choosing a favorite song, work of art, or even friend. Variety is the spice of life, just as hops is readily that of Northwest craft brews. So, without further adieu, let’s hear what the people have to say. Read More…

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

The madness begins. 10 days of Killer Beer has kicked off, and if you missed the opening KillerBeerSummit / MikeFest at Roscoe’s, there’s still plenty of great beer to experience throughout the week / weekend.

KillerBeerWeek kicked off early on Saturday as we celebrated Saraveza’s 4th Anniversary with the grand opening of their Bad Habit room next door. Great beer, as is to be expected, and a special Saraveza deer cake made by Lori Adams Clinton aka the Sugar Pimp.

At Roscoe’s on Sunday night, Jeremy Lewis and Quyen Ly worked with us to lock in 16 taps of amazing limited edition brew including several Mike beers brewed by and for Mikes / Michaels / Micahs of the beer community.

-Buckman Botanical Brewery Michaelob Ultra 
-Stout brewed with cherries, hazelnuts & nutmeg. (Mike “Shoes” Higgins)
-Fort George Brewing Polish’s Dry Hopped Amber Ale (Mike “Polish” Frankowicz)
-Vertigo Brewing Friar Mike’s IPA (Mike Haines & Michael Kinion)
-The Commons Menkel Belgian Single with Rye and Spelt (Mike Wright)
-Laurelwood Micah’s Firkin Workhorse IPA (Micah Bell and Mike DeKalb)
-Migration Mike-gration Scottish Ale (Michael Branes)

It was great to see so many Mikes under one roof. Now we are conditioning our livers for KillerPumpkinFest at The Green Dragon which looks to tap about 40 gourd-eous brews. For a full list of events happening during KillerBeerWeek, go to http://brewpublic.com/events. 

Here’s some photos from the Saraveza’s 4th Anniversary party and KillerBeerSummit / MikeFest at Roscoe’s Pub: Read More…

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

…And on we forge with another big weekend of prosts and toasts in the books. On Saturday October 15, 2011, Saraveza Bottleshop & Pasty Tavern witnessed friends and family alike for a heartwarming salute to the craft beer industry. For this year’s celebration, general manager Jonathan Carmean spoke to an attentive audience about the importance of a genuine public house atmosphere, and how the patrons of the pub have been an integral part of the pubs growth. He also pointed to the interpersonal growth of the staff at owner Sarah Pederson‘s bar over the past year. Carmean said “Our staff is nothing short of exemplary”, adding, “We’ve all seen new life brought into the world and have all adopted Sarah and Ryan’s daughter Roxanna as our own.” The beloved Carmean punctuated the sentiments of the evening by saying “This is more than a job, this is a way of life”, to which he was answered with cheers. Following some thoughtful comments and showing of appreciation, Carmean’s final toast was a Oaxacan adage in light of the forthcoming Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to which several small snifters of Russian River Consecration were lifted. Then he stated “No estamos aquí por un largo tiempo que estamos aquí por un buen tiempo”, which in English translates to “We’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time.”

The beer selection on this night was outstanding as would be expected. A three year vertical (2009-2011) of Consecration poured on tap as well as other notables such as Barley Brown’s Awesome Imperial Cascadian Dark Ale, Logsdon Farmhouse Fresh Hop Seizoen, 2010 The Bruery Autumn Maple, and Haandbryggeriet “Odin’s Tipple” Imperial Dark Norse Ale, to name a few. Sugar Pimp’s Lori Clinton Adams, put forth a beautiful Schilitz finger cake with three digits raised. The offering, made with Southern Tier Mocha, was shared and paired with the tart currant-laden Consecration. Several notable brewers and industry folks were in attendance for Saraveza’s big night and it was evident that a great time was had by all.

Brewpublic Kicks off KillerBeerWeek at Roscoe’s

Sunday October 16, 2011 was a struggle. The remnants of abused and tormented livers made it over to Roscoe’s Pub to kickoff Brewpublic’s KillerBeerWeek. Like Saraveza, our craft beer blog celebrates a threepeat this week with an eight day showing of interesting and unique, if not great beers at some of our favorite local haunts. Roscoe’s offered flights, glasses, and pints of a vast variety of brews from near and far. Some highlights included the release of Upright’s 2011 Late Harvest sour ale, Oakshire’s ramped up Very Ill Tempered Gnome, Lompoc’s California Steamin’ Common Ale, the debut of Boneyard’s latest Experimental IPA, and  a mouthwateringly tart gem known as Red Label Scotch from Cascade Brewing. Big thanks to Jeremy, Quyen, and the entire staff at Roscoe’s for getting things kicked off with a bang. We look forward to seeing you throughout the week at our other events that we are confident will be a lot of fun and quite delicious. Cheers!

Posted under beer events, beer reviews, Oregon beer, places to drink beer, weekend in review

It is already August and this means that Oregon Craft Beer Month has at last come to a conclusion. Another year, and more growth all around in the industry – more breweries, more volume, more events. For many August signifies that summer is in full swing and about a third of the way through, but for those who live for craft beer, this means that the busiest and most eventful month of July is now behind us. With quivering livers and many memories of what July meant – from the Oregon Craft Beer Month kickoff at Jeld Wen, to the finally roaring tent at the Oregon Brewers Guild – it has been undeniable to us that this past July was the biggest and most festive month yet. Here’s a look at some highlights that we experienced during July 2011: Read More…

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

While we are getting geared up for next weekend’s Ladies of Lagers and Ales tastival, next weekend at Saraveza, we look back over the past weekend and remember an amazing flavorsome celebration of another group of females – hops.

You see, hops are the female flower clusters, or strobiles, of the hop species, Humulus lupulus. At this time of year, the herbaceous perennials are reaching to high heaven, and just recently, if you’ve observed your bines, you may have noticed the flowering finger-like fruits beginning to form spicy cones.

Saraveza’s 2nd Annual IIPA Fest took place on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17, and was a celebration of the most regal, magisterial, and potent of all hoppy beers. Ah, the Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA) – bigger and bolder, and often more bitter than its already amplified parent. Read More…

Posted under beer events, Oregon beer, places to drink beer, weekend in review