Like Jesus turning water into wine, the Widmer Brothers humbly performs a miracle of their own…okay, so that’s a stretch, but it has that sort of context upon a first read after getting into the wax-sealed manifest of the latest Alchemy Ale from the Portland, Oregon brewery.

“We practice alchemy every day turning water, malt, hops and yeast into liquid gold.”

It is no lie that the latest release from Widmer showcasing their patented house hop blend is a thoroughly enjoyable amalgamation of simple ingredients. In standard Craft Brewers Alliance fashion, we were graced with a beautiful orchestrated press kit replete with not just a fresh bottle sample of the beer itself in fancy packaging, but a not quite gimmicky array of separated ingredients: purified water, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (beer yeast), pelletized Humulus Lupulus (hops), and Hodeum Vulgare (malt). This is not only important for non-brewing novices to understand the basic ingredients of Reinheitsgebot-appropo flavor components that go into making beer, but for the geek, it’s a terrific means to get a feel for the specific parts of this sessionable wonder.

Alchemy Ale is Widmer’s latest year-round addition. And here, in a very fresh format. Widmer’s packaging is stunning. Lots of Portland colors: green, gold (the Timbers Football Club Army is sure to accept this at first glance). The beer pours a burnished copper-golden hue with just the right amount of carbonation and a fluffy, pillowy, and cascading whitish head. The nose of flowery Northwest hops is the first indication to the Cascadian ale lover that this is a proper brew. Soft and crisp grains meld with the citrus, piny, and unobtrusively catty piquancy of the pellets. Not sure we’d call this magic like the branding indicates, but it certainly is artisan craftsmanship with beer at its peak, especially considering the magnanimous and somewhat corporate nature of the company pushing it. It’s apparent the folks who designed and executed this beer were inspired and focused, not losing site of their vision for a perfectly balanced craft offering. The yeastiness of the tipple lends a fruity, wet mouthfeel that is less astringent than more heavily front-hopped ales. We are pleased! Now we just need to knock back a 6′er or a 12′er of this stuff to make sure we’re right about it!

Here’s more from Widmer: Read More…

Posted under beer releases, beer reviews, Oregon beer

Press release:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27TH AT 6:00 PM, Saraveza and UINTA Brewing Co. present a five-course food and beer pairing dinner in the Bad Habit Room.

Tickets are on sale now in our Beer Boutique.

Posted under beer and food, beer events, places to drink beer, press releases

February 25 through March 3, 2013 marks the dates for Concordia Ale House‘s biggest event of the year. The sixth annual Beer Brawl squares off breweries from Oregon, Washington, California, and Colorado to determine one champion. Washington state has taken three of the last Beer Brawls and four or the five thus far. Home team Oregon has taken but one crown in the half decade of brawling at the pub, a blind tasting tray that customers decide upon to determine the annual champ.

For this year’s Beer Brawl, Colorado has been added to the fold. The first Beer Brawl was a head-to-head between Oregon and Washington. It wasn’t until the second year that California was added. New Belgium Brewing’s Jamie Masten will serve as captain for Colorado, choosing beers from three categories including pale ale, IPA, and a brewer’s choice wild card. New Belgium gets to captain the squad after the brewery took first place at the Colorado Cup at Concordia last month with their 1554 Black beer.

For Beer Brawl 6, twelve beers will be Read More…

Posted under beer awards, beer events, California Beer, Oregon beer, Washington Beer

One of Oregon’s most renowned breweries, Laurelwood Public House & Brewery has announced their Portland Pale Project to exemplify the skills of their gifted brew staff. Shaking things up in the already more than vibrant Portland craft beer scene, this new undertaking headed by brewmaster Vasilios Gletsos will make room to display the creativity of the company’s talented brewers.

Here’s the details as laid out by a recent press release sent out by Laurelwood: Read More…

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

Fresh Hop Fests will be held across the state between September 29^th and October 20^th, 2012.   Fresh Hop Fests hours vary and can be found at http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/. Most events start at Noon and Souvenir tasting glasses are required to sample beers.  Individual beer samples are $1 each.  Food will also be available for purchase.  Fresh Hop Fests dates and locations include:

• October 6th – Portland Fresh Hops Fest, Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland.  $ 15 for a glass and 5 drink tickets.  $ 20 for a glass and 10 drink tickets.  Cash only – Minors permitted – Glass sales till 7 PM – Drink ticket sales till 7:30 PM.  Free root beer for kids courtesy of Portland U-Brew & Pub.  Homebrewing demonstration by Portland U-Brew & Pub.
• October 20^th—Willamette Valley Fresh Hops Fest, Lane Events Center, Eugene, OR

For more information or to view video of last year’s Fresh Hop Fests, please visit http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/
 
About the Oregon Brewers Guild
The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 90 brewing companies, 63 Associate or supplier members, and nearly 3,300 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, visit www.OregonBeer.org.
 

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

“A beer for sophisticates and flaneurs, The Royal is a golden concoction of fruity and citrusy flavors meant for whiling away one’s time in brasseries, cafes, and pubs, or anywhere friends can be found.” 

Gigantic Brewing‘s forthcoming release, The Royale is a Belgian Pale Ale. 6.3% ABV, the brew uses Weyermann Pils as its base malt, as well as a bit of  Munich and Crystal malt. For spicing and aroma, it is hopped with Cascade, Crystal and Mt Hood. This beer denotes the fifth release in what the brewery calls “the endless series of limited edition of artists and artisan beers.” The striking label art for The Royale is that of Fawn Gehweiler, who currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

“We’ll be brewing (The Royale) through December along with Black Friday, a new Imperial CDA (Cascadian Dark Ale)” says Gigantic Brewing co-founder/brewmaster Ben Love. Read More…

Posted under Beer & Art, beer releases, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

Fresh Hop Fests will be held across the state between September 29^th and October 20^th, 2012.   Fresh Hop Fests hours vary and can be found at http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/. Most events start at Noon and Souvenir tasting glasses are required to sample beers.  Individual beer samples are $1 each.  Food will also be available for purchase.  Fresh Hop Fests dates and locations include:

• October 6th – Portland Fresh Hops Fest, Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland.  $ 15 for a glass and 5 drink tickets.  $ 20 for a glass and 10 drink tickets.  Cash only – Minors permitted – Glass sales till 7 PM – Drink ticket sales till 7:30 PM.  Free root beer for kids courtesy of Portland U-Brew & Pub.  Homebrewing demonstration by Portland U-Brew & Pub.
• October 20^th—Willamette Valley Fresh Hops Fest, Lane Events Center, Eugene, OR

For more information or to view video of last year’s Fresh Hop Fests, please visit http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/
 
About the Oregon Brewers Guild
The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 90 brewing companies, 63 Associate or supplier members, and nearly 3,300 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, visit www.OregonBeer.org.
 

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

 
Fresh Hop Fests will be held across the state between September 29^th and October 20^th, 2012.   Fresh Hop Fests hours vary and can be found at http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/. Most events start at Noon and Souvenir tasting glasses are required to sample beers.  Individual beer samples are $1 each.  Food will also be available for purchase.  Fresh Hop Fests dates and locations include:

• September 29th  – Sisters Fresh Hop Fest, Village Green Park, Sisters, OR

September 29, noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Green. The 2nd annual event! Admission is free and open to all; children are welcome. A taster pint mug is available for $5 and tasting tickets are $1 per 4-oz. taste. With live entertainment. For more information call the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce at 541-549-0251 or e-mail jeri@sisterscountry.com.

For more information or to view video of last year’s Fresh Hop Fests, please visit http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/
 
About the Oregon Brewers Guild
The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 90 brewing companies, 63 Associate or supplier members, and nearly 3,300 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, visit www.OregonBeer.org.
 

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

Fall is coming to the Pacific Northwest and that means the return of fresh hop beers and the Oregon Brewer’s Guild (OBG) Fresh Hop Fests.  Four Fresh Hop Fests – similar to traditional outdoor beer festivals – are scheduled across the state in September and October as part of the Oregon Bounty culinary tourism program.  Each Fresh Hop Fest will feature original limited release fresh hop beers produced by OBG members. Fresh hop beers are only produced during the small window of Oregon’s hop harvest, which typically takes place from mid-August to mid-September.  These once-a-year beers are ready for consumption in September and October and are packed with unique flavors that simply aren’t available the rest of the year.
 
Oregon is home to 120 brewing companies, and nearly 100 fresh hop beers will be made during the hop harvest. “We are lucky to have so many breweries within minutes of the hop fields that supply the aroma and flavor hops to the US craft beer industry,” explains Brian Butenschoen, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild.  “The goal of the Fresh Hop Fests is to gather these limited beers in one location for consumers to try and enjoy – in many regions, this is the only time for consumers to try so many fresh hop beers at the same time.”
 
Fresh hop beers are growing in popularity across the nation, but Oregon’s abundance of hop vineyards and status as the second largest hop-growing region in the United States gives the state a distinct advantage in fresh hop beer production.  Fresh hops are extremely fragile and need to be dried or used within 24 hours, ideal for Oregon, where nearly 140 of the state’s breweries are within 150 miles of a hop field.  Fresh hops are picked straight off the vine, then bypass the hop kiln and are shipped directly to the brewery to be immediately added to the brew kettle. “Oregon’s hop growing community is especially rare,” explains Nancy Frketich of the Oregon Hop Commission. “I can’t think of any other brewing community in the world where you have 100 specialty fresh hop beers made around a single harvest.”
 
Fresh Hop Fests will be held across the state between September 29^th and October 20^th, 2012.   Fresh Hop Fests hours vary and can be found at http://oregonbeer.org/freshhopsfest/. Most events start at Noon and Souvenir tasting glasses are required to sample beers.  Individual beer samples are $1 each.  Food will also be available for purchase.  Fresh Hop Fests dates and locations include: Read More…

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

Posted under beer events, events