On May 9, 2013 I scored a bottle of Russian River Pliny The Elder IIPA at my local liquor store in Berkeley, CA. It was the freshest bottle of Pliny I’ve ever had the pleasure of opening. You see, the beer was bottled on the same date that I purchased it. In fact, the Russian River Brewing Co. driver arrived just as I was about to leave Pliny-less. Score!

For safe measure, I thought it’d be best to sample a comparable East Coast Imperial India Pale Ale to Pliny. No better offering seemed to fit other than The Alchemist‘s Heady Topper Ale. A bold 8% ABV double Read More…

Posted under beer events, California Beer

Press release:

Portland beer lovers rejoyce (sic): Hop Valley Brewing Company’s popular products will finally be available throughout the metro area.

“We’ve self-distributed on a limited basis within the Portland area for a few years,” says Hop Valley co-owner Jonas Kungys. “We’re excited that our new brewing facility will increase our capacity enough to fully serve the market.”

Hop Valley has entered into new distribution agreements with Portland-based Maletis Beverage and Morgan Distributing for distribution over 10 counties in the greater Portland metro area.

This evening from 5-8pm Hop Valley will host a special event at Belmont Station. Read More…

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

Spring has sprung as so have several new craft beers that are sure to quench the palate of enthusiasts during the warmer days ahead. Here’s a look at several new beer labels from across the Pacific Northwest that we are greatly anticipating getting our hands on: Read More…

Posted under Beer & Art, beer me, beer releases, California Beer, Oregon beer, Washington Beer

By D.J. Paul

Located just east of Portland in Boring, Oregon is home to the new Boring Brewing Co. Founded by John Griffin on his farm on the southeast side of Boring, this recently opened Nano Brewery began operations the first of the year.

Two years ago after 24 years of homebrewing, John decided it was time to pursue his dream and open up his own brewery. Still working a day job in the medical field John decided to go with a brewery on his property in a revamped out building. When it was time to decide on his brewery build out he went with a 4-barrel brewhouse from Glacier Tanks. He poured a sloped concrete floor for his brewhouse and added two fermentation tanks and a brand new walk in cooler where his two brite tanks are located to the space. Once all the paperwork was cleared he began brewing in January.

While driving back from Mt. Hood this past Sunday I decided to stop by and get a first hand look at Boring Brewing Co. I first heard about them back in February while at Belmont Station I had a glass of their Hoppy Blonde. It was a crisp, refreshing lighter bodied ale. On my way there I tried using Read More…

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

Press Release:

Portland, OR – Laurelwood Brewing Co. is proud to announce its victory in the 6^th annual Brewing News National Imperial IPA Championship, with Megafauna Imperial IPA. Championship round was Saturday, March 9^th. Laurelwood had some tough competition throughout the four round bracket system showdown. In the end Megafauna prevailed. Brewmaster Vasili Gletsos was inspired to brew this imperial IPA by the availability of new hop varietals and keeping that big West Coast IIPA in mind. When asked about where the name came from, Gletsos’ said it is his affinity to dinosaur documentaries, “one scene in particular in which a great ground sloth clobbers two saber toothed cats at the same time.”

This beer was produced in conjunction with Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer releases, Oregon beer

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

Press release:

Ninkasi Brewing Company announces the debut of its new Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout, available on shelves in 22oz. bottles starting in March and remaining on shelves year-round throughout the entire Ninkasi distribution footprint. As a new member of the Ninkasi Flagship Series, Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout will offer customers a tasty, more decadent alternative to the favored Oatis Oatmeal Stout.

“Aged on whole natural vanilla beans, Vanilla Oatis is a unique and delicious take on our traditional Oatmeal Stout,” explains Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company co-founder.

To create this brew, whole vanilla beans from Eugene’s Singing Dog Vanilla were added to the fermentation tank, essentially dry-hopping the beer with an intoxicating vanilla flavor.

Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Read More…

Posted under beer news, beer releases, Oregon beer, press releases

Our friends at GoodLife Brewing are known around the Northwest for their delicious craft beer and now these folks are  joining the growing trend of craft breweries to release their goods in cans. Here’s more from the brewery

Press Release:

BEND, OR (Tuesday, March 12^th, 2013)  Being outdoor enthusiasts living in a mountain town, canning beer was a natural fit for GoodLife Brewing.  This week, GoodLife will be the first brewery in Central Oregon to can its beer when it releases Descender IPA in 12oz/6 packs.  

Initially, Descender IPA will be available with limi Read More…

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

by Jana Daisy-Ensign

It is not uncommon to find Fort George Brewery’s El Jefe of Sales and Distribution, Tim Ensign smiling. My husband is the type of guy who really embodies “living the dream.” After recently being invited back to brew a second batch of his, “Powered By Hops Rye IPA” at Fort George Brewery in Astoria, Oregon, he has been ecstatic. Fort George’s 8.5bbl “Sweet Virginia” brew system used to be the brew system that launched Fort George into the Pacific Northwest craft beer scene some 6 years ago. Since then, the brewery’s continued expansion has led to the installation of a 30-barrel production brewhouse, which fills thirsty 16-ounce cans for their five year-round offerings, known as “The Fort George Five” (with a sixth, seasonal can offering to be initially released next week). The brewery’s smaller brew system, is now more of an experimental brew system and the home base for a steady, varied offering of unique one-off beers.

In their new, “brew-share” program launched last July, the Fort George Brew Team have begun the fun project of allowing each brewer to design and brew their own beer from start to finish. Ensign has been lucky enough to be a part of this program, creating something delightful and hoppy. Here’s a description
from the brew master himself: Read More…

Posted under Beer personalities, Oregon beer, press releases

Gigantic Brewing of Portland is one of the Northwest’s hottest new craft breweries. Not even a year old, the brewery founded by brewmasters Ben Love (formerly of Hopworks and Pelican) and Van Havig (formerly of Rock Bottom) is turning heads and wowing palates all across Cascadia and beyond. Belmont Station is Portland’s premier craft beer destination featuring more than 1,400 bottled beers and an extensive tap selection in their Bier Cafe. The two businesses are teaming up to release a special craft brew for Belmont’s 16th Anniversary. “Geezers Need Excitement” Chocolate IPA will be unleashed on Saturday March 15, 2013 to the delight of thirsty beer lovers. Here’s the scoop from brewmaster Ben Love: Read More…

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