Of all the killer beer events that we had the privilege to attend in 2012, the first annual Firestone Walker Invitation Beer Festival was arguably the best of all.

Showcasing craft breweries from across the country, many of which are not regularly available on the West Coast, FWIBF was was the ultimate treat for beer lovers in California’s Central Coast. Breweries such as Bells and Founders of Michigan, 3 Floyds and Sun King of Indiana, Cigar City of Florida, Allagash of Maine, Dogfish Head of Delaware, and many many many more served to make the Paso Robles Fairgrounds, at least for this weekend, a sort of craft brew Graceland. 

Several noteworthy California breweries such as Alpine, The Bruery, Lost Abbey, Pizza Port, Stone, Moonlight, Russian River, Kern River, and many many more were on hand for this mindblowingly awesome event, too. Firestone Walker Brewery itself is worth the journey to Paso Robles, CA. Under brewmaster Matt Brynildson, FSW perennially puts forth some of the world’s finest year round beers (not to mention their extraordinarily crafted barrel-aged treats).

An oasis of spectacular beer in the heart of a wonderful wine-producing region, Firestone Walker produces the Read More…

Posted under beer and food, beer events, California Beer

On Saturday & Sunday December 15-16, warm up your Winter at 16 Tons Taphouse, in the heart of Eugene. Located smack dab between the University of Oregon and Downtown. 16 Tons at 13th & High Street will serve up more 70 Craft Beers including: Belgian Strong Ales, Barrel Aged Ales, Spiced Ales, Barley Wines, Imperial Stouts, Imperial Browns, Strong Sour Ales, Traditional Old Ales, and Winter Style IPAs. For the Craft Beer lover, this is a not-to-be-missed event.

The Festival provides a unique opportunity to sample seasonal, one off, and rare beers from renowned brewers from Oregon and beyond. A few of the most coveted beers include Boneyard’s Suge Knite Imperial Stout (Bend, OR) and Block 15′s Barrel Aged Figgy Pudding (Corvallis, OR) which, like many of the beers, are extremely limited in release and very highly regarded. For the novice and the experienced beer enthusiast this event is an incredibly fun opportunity to sample and savor some of the most sought after beers in the world. Bring your friends and share some sips.

Headlining breweries: Read More…

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

After saturating yourself in any regional beer scene for some time, you come to know many of the personalities who are integral components of its vibrancy. In Portland, Oregon one person you are likely to cross paths with if you attend a beer festival is Preston Weesner. 

A veteran to the Oregon beer scene, Weesner also serves as a barrel tender and beer blender at the  illustrious Cascade Brewing Barrel House. Weesner can be found running the kegs that he helps to round up at the Holiday Ale Festival (HAF), as well as at several other popular craft beer events such as the Oregon Brewers Festival  and Hair of the Dog Fred Fest.

Now in its 17th year, the famous Holiday Ale Festival, located in heated tents in the heart of downtown Portland at Pioneer Courthouse Square, has grown from “The 12 Ales of Christmas” to a five-day extravaganza featuring more than 40 one-of-a-kind feature beers and an additional 20 specialty tappings.

As we like to do every year, we caught up with Preston Weesner to learn more about the 2012 Holiday Ale Festival. For a complete listing of beers as well as times and details, click here. Read More…

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

Those who know me know that I have been totally obsessed with Trumer Pils since moving to Berkeley, CA where they make the stuff stateside. Since moving here a few months back I’ve consumed Trumer in great numbers. I find the Austrian beer, a German-style Pilsner lager, when fresh, to be the perfect session beer. 4.8% ABV, a crisp filtered golden body…and when you drink it out of the appropriate flute glass, there really is nothing quite as heavenly.

I know this might read like a paid advertisement post for Trumer and their company Gambrinus, but its not. Trumer to me was a destiny that I should have realized months, even, years ago. As I grow older, I find myself gravitating toward lighter more quaffable brews. I’ve found Pilsners to be my speed lately, especially during the Read More…

Posted under Beer personalities, beers on film

OVER 50 IIPAs in 2 days!

SAT. July 21: 1-10pm
SUN. July 22: 1-9pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Ticket packages can be purchased in advance with a credit card through our Beer Boutique or at the Fest with cash only. (There is an ATM right down the street.)

$20: 8 tickets & glass
$35: 16 tickets & 2 glasses

FEST LIST

• Dogfish Head, 120 Minute
• Sierra Nevada, Hoptimum
• Green Flash, Palate Wrecker
• H.U.B., Galactic
• H.U.B., Ace of Spades
• Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid
• Ninkasi, Babylon
• Bear Republic, Hop Rod Rye
• Firestone Walker, Wookey Jack
• Firestone Walker, Double Jack
• Everybody’s, Big Brother
• Midnight Sun, Meltdown
• Victory, Hop Wallop
• Mad River, Steelhead
• Lazy Boy, Double Trouble
• Moylan’s, Moylander
• Epic,, Imperial IPA
• Urthel, Hop-It
• Oskar Blues, Gubna
• Oskar Blues, Deviant Dale’s
• Uinta, Detour
• Uinta, Dubhe
• Stone, Ruination 10th Anniversary
• Hop Valley, Infinite Hoppiness
• Laurelwood, Green Mammoth
• Laurelwood, Deranger
• Rock Bottom, Thunderdome
• Burnside, Double Dry-Hopped Alter Ego
• Good Life, Comatose
• Beer Valley, Leafer Madness
• Boneyard, Hop Venom
• Boneyard, Armored Fist
• Van Viven, Viven
• Southern Oregon Brewing, Big Rack
• Oakshire, Perfect Storm
• Old Town, RRR
• Natian, Old Grogham
• Alameda, Green Wolf
• Walking Man, Homo Erectus
• Pizza Port, Poorman’s
• Pizza Port, Killer Dana
• He’Brew, Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
• Boulevard, Double Wide
• Southern Tier, Unearthly
• Amnesia, Dopeacetic
• Deschutes, JedIPA
• Block 15, Block Head
• Fort George, Bad Juju
• Vertigo, Friar Gone Wild
• Russian River, Pliny the Elder
• Mt. Tabor, Finsky
• Gigantic, IIPA

and more……..

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

OVER 50 IIPAs in 2 days!

SAT. July 21: 1-10pm
SUN. July 22: 1-9pm

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Ticket packages can be purchased in advance with a credit card through our Beer Boutique or at the Fest with cash only. (There is an ATM right down the street.)

$20: 8 tickets & glass
$35: 16 tickets & 2 glasses

FEST LIST

• Dogfish Head, 120 Minute
• Sierra Nevada, Hoptimum
• Green Flash, Palate Wrecker
• H.U.B., Galactic
• H.U.B., Ace of Spades
• Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid
• Ninkasi, Babylon
• Bear Republic, Hop Rod Rye
• Firestone Walker, Wookey Jack
• Firestone Walker, Double Jack
• Everybody’s, Big Brother
• Midnight Sun, Meltdown
• Victory, Hop Wallop
• Mad River, Steelhead
• Lazy Boy, Double Trouble
• Moylan’s, Moylander
• Epic,, Imperial IPA
• Urthel, Hop-It
• Oskar Blues, Gubna
• Oskar Blues, Deviant Dale’s
• Uinta, Detour
• Uinta, Dubhe
• Stone, Ruination 10th Anniversary
• Hop Valley, Infinite Hoppiness
• Laurelwood, Green Mammoth
• Laurelwood, Deranger
• Rock Bottom, Thunderdome
• Burnside, Double Dry-Hopped Alter Ego
• Good Life, Comatose
• Beer Valley, Leafer Madness
• Boneyard, Hop Venom
• Boneyard, Armored Fist
• Van Viven, Viven
• Southern Oregon Brewing, Big Rack
• Oakshire, Perfect Storm
• Old Town, RRR
• Natian, Old Grogham
• Alameda, Green Wolf
• Walking Man, Homo Erectus
• Pizza Port, Poorman’s
• Pizza Port, Killer Dana
• He’Brew, Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
• Boulevard, Double Wide
• Southern Tier, Unearthly
• Amnesia, Dopeacetic
• Deschutes, JedIPA
• Block 15, Block Head
• Fort George, Bad Juju
• Vertigo, Friar Gone Wild
• Russian River, Pliny the Elder
• Mt. Tabor, Finsky
• Gigantic, IIPA

and more……..

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

OVER 50 IIPAs in 2 days! Read More…

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

One of America’s (if not the world’s) finest brewery, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. has announced the release of a new beer, Double DBA. This beefed up rendition of their flagship offering, Double Barrel Ale (DBA) is a limited edition imperial special bitter ale aged for a year in oak barrels and old bourbon barrels. And just when you thought your livers and wallets maxed out on beers like Parabola and §ucaba from their Proprietor Reserve Series, this stalwart big brew clocking in at 12% ABV joins the ranks. Here’s the word on the new Double DBA from Firestone Walker: Read More…

Posted under beer releases, California Beer

What can one say about Firestone Walker Brewing Co. other than their commitment to excellence appears unparalleled in today’s brewing world. Perennial winners of some of the most prestigious and coveted awards in brewing industry, the Paso Robles brewhouse has asserted itself as a leader in the field since opening in 1996. Located in a region of Central California more known for excellence in artisan winemaking, Firestone Walker has claimed top honors amongst midsized breweries at the World Beer Cup (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012). Lead by chemist and brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker has forged the way of setting a high bar for both consistency and creativity in the American craft beer market. With the reception of craft beer in the North America constantly growing, Firestone Walker, like many other breweries, also continues with expansion efforts to allow them to reach a greater audience. “Our brewery is a cutting-edge facility, right down to the bottling line,” Brynildson says. “This is enabling me to take Firestone Walker beers to the next level.”

As further evidence that Firestone Walker is committed to the appreciation and nurturing of a world replete with a delicious smorgasbord of flavorsome ales and lagers, the brewery recently hosted their first annual Invitational Beer Festival at the California Mid-State Fairgrounds in their hometown. Specific well-respected breweries from around the United States and beyond were invited to participate in this one-of-a-kind event, many of which have never before been distributed in the region or the West Coast for that matter. This included some special Read More…

Posted under Beer & Music, beer events, California Beer, weekend in review

Portland Beer Week kicks off with the first tapping of the official 2012 beer, India Red Lager with limited edition draft and bottles with a vip schwag bag purchase from 6-10pm at Spirit of 77. Joins us for the festivities with tons of free prizes and beers from Deschutes, Hopworks, Double Mountain, Firestone Walker, Laurelwood, Widmer Brothers and more. More than 16 brewers will be on hand and competing in a pop-a-shot tourney that you can enter into, fill out a bracket and win prizes all MC’d by the Beer Goddess herself Lisa Morrison. Also look for special food and beer pairings for dinner and a booth from Google Places and your pint glass entry is good for discounts at participating bars and breweries!

$25 ticket option includes Schwag bag including a 22oz bottle of the official Portland Beer Week India Red Lager, a Portland Beer Week t-shirt, a beer week pint glass good for discounts at local breweries and taphouses, a coupon for your first pint free at the party, a Spirit of 77 sweatband and more.

$5 ticket option includes the Portland Beer Week pint glass and punch card that gets you discounts on beer and food at participating sponsors locations during beer week.

Get your tickets here!

Posted under beer events, events, Oregon beer