High Gravity Extravaganza – Go Big or Go Home

For those of you in Central Oregon there’s a new beer festival on the horizon. McMenamins Old St. Francis School is hosting their first High Gravity Extravaganza – Go Big of Go Home beer event. This beer festival is not for those looking for a session beer, this one is all about big, robust high gravity beers.

Taking place in the heart of downtown Bend, OR at McMenamins historic Old St. Francis School on Saturday, January 18th, this High Gravity Extravaganza is one not to miss. Central Oregonians will be able to celebrate the wonders of winter with some big, bold beers and taking in the crisp cool winter air.

This first-time event brings together high gravity ales from some of Central Oregon’s top breweries and McMenamins around the Northwest. Come take in a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, outdoor fire pits, rich comfort food and live music. BBQ specials like brats, pretzels, cornbread and chili will be served to satisfy big appetites, and live music will rock Father Luke’s Room from 3-10 p.m. These bands include Trixy & the Nasties, Urban Sub All Stars. Mosley WOtta, Tony Smiley, and Redwood Son. You can also stop by the brewer’s corner to meet the brewers, discuss technique or just share a couple pints with friends.

When: Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 1-10 p.m.; Meet the Brewers 2-5 p.m.
Where: Old St. Francis School, 700 Bond St., Bend, Ore., 97701
Beer: OSF’s head brewer Mike “Curly” White is joined by McMenamins brewers from around the Northwest, local Central Oregon breweries including Bend Brewing Co., Goodlife Brewing Co., Solstice Brewing Co., Smith Rock Brewing, Three Creeks Brewing Co., and Worthy Brewing Co., and a local home brewer to pour a variety of bold IPAs, Imperial Stouts, ESBs, Barley Wines and more. Complete beer list available here.
Cost: Punch pass with 10 (4 oz.) tastes is $12.50; individual tastes and commemorative pint glasses are available

High Gravity Extravaganza – Go Big or Go Home – 2014 Beerlist (with a bit of humor thrown in):

Aristocrat Imperial IPA
Old St. Francis Brewery – Bend, OR • Brewer: Mike “Curly” White
Beer Style: Double IPA
The Aristocrat may have the name associated with those from high society yet it is brewed for the masses. A delicate floral nose alerts the senses to what fantastic flavors will come. An easy malt build allows the mellow body to swim around the tongue before succumbing to the indulgence of hops. Citrus and fruity characteristics present themselves first and foremost. The drink continues toward a lingering bitterness, not overpowering but still very pronounced, and flows to the somewhat sweet yet dry end. All in all The Aristocrat Imperial IPA takes the helm as the pint for all, royalty or otherwise! Cheers!
Malts: Maris Otter, Pale, Pilsen, Munich, Aromatic
Hops: Simcoe, Nugget, Citra, Centennial, Cascade
OG: 1.080 TG: 1.015 ABV: 8.4 IBU: 90 SRM: 7
Curly’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Playing soccer with my 2-year-old daughter & anything that involves having a cold one at the end of the day.

Double Helix Double IPA
Concordia Brewery – Portland, OR • Brewers: Matt Carter, Dave Kosanke
Beer Style: Double IPA
We decided to go all out and try to craft the perfect pint for all the hop-heads out there and here it is! Loaded with more than three pounds of hops per barrel, this beer is packed with citrus and pine flavors but goes down incredibly smooth. The addition of dextrose helps to lighten the body and make it an easier drinker. Enjoy!
Malts: Oregon Select 2-row, DextraPils, Flaked Barley, Caramel Vienna
Hops: Chinook, Simcoe, Falconer’s 7 C’s
OG: 1.071 TG: 1.006 ABV: 8.38 IBU: 100+ SRM: 5 Brewers’ Favorite Outdoor Fun: Cyclocross & fishing

Highlander
Crystal Brewery – Portland, OR • Brewers: Dan Black, Mark Goodwin Beer Style: Scotch Ale
This Strong Scotch Ale is a malt lover’s dream. Hints of smoked and peated malt were added to bring out the robust character of this ale while the wood aging subdued some of the more aggressive notes. It is dark burnt orange in color with an off-white lacey head and has a bready caramel nose with hints of smoke, dark fruit and a chewy sweetness on the palate. Aged in one of our Hogshead Whiskey barrels for three months, it is sure to warm up the coldest of hearts.
Malts: Maris Otter, Pale Wheat, Pale Munich, Smoked Malt, Peated Malt, Caramel Munich 60L, Black Malt, Victory Malt Hops: US Golding
OG: 1.083 TG: 1.024 ABV: 7.60 IBU: 26 SRM: 19
Brewers’ Favorite Outdoor Fun: Hiking, drinking & disc golfing. On occasion we have been known to stop and smell the roses.

Lord Snow Imperial Stout
Edgefield Brewery – Troutdale, OR • Brewers: Matt Bergfield, Bruce Loux, Nathan Whitney, Drew Phillips, Will Gaither
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
Black as a crow, this strong, dark beer was brewed with wintergreen and peppermint candies to give it a hint of the chill of winter, but its massive, thick body and warming strength help to ward off that chill. A huge supporting cast of dark malts, including 150 pounds of rolled oats to add a smooth mouthfeel, provide a great depth and complexity of flavor accentuated by the herbal, faintly sweet undertones of wintergreen and peppermint. Grab a pint and bundle up.
Malts: 2-Row, Vienna, Rolled Oats, Crystal C120, Extra Special, Roast, Chocolate, Black Hops: US Golding
Adjuncts: Peppermints, Wintergreen leaves
OG: 1.083 TG: 1.023 ABV: 8.26 IBU: 39 SRM: 39
Brewers’ Favorite Outdoor Fun: Skiing, hiking, extreme bungee dogsledding, parasurf biathlon target shooting & crochet

Blast Furnace Double IPA
High Street Brewery – Eugene, OR • Brewer: Hanns Anderson Beer Style: Double IPA
It’s cold out and it’s only gonna get colder! Warm up with this high-gravity, high-octane Double IPA. Copious amounts of Pale and Pearl malts level out the heavy Amarillo hop additions. The Caramel Munich gives this full-bodied, decadent IPA a slightly bready character.
Malts: Pale, Pearl Pale, Caramel Munich, Crystal C15
Hops: Chinook, Amarillo
OG: 1.080 TG: 1.015 ABV: 8.39 IBU: 100+ SRM: 9
Hanns’ Favorite Outdoor Fun: Participating in any sort of sports activity

Hickory-Aged Quit Yer Barley Whinin’
McMenamins on the Columbia – Vancouver, WA • Brewers: Matt Freeland, Craig Gulla
Beer Style: Barley Wine
Big, bold and beautiful, Barley Wines are not for the faint of heart. This monster ale is aggressively hopped, yet rather sweet on the finish, providing balance and drinkability. With only three malts in the grain bill, this ale is surprisingly complex; the interplay of the ferment, alcohol and hops team up to create more than the sum of its parts. This special release has been aged on hickory for two months. Enjoy with caution.
Malts: Golden Promise, Munch, 150L.
Hops: Cascade, Chinook and U.S. Golding
OG: 1.092 TG: 1.022 ABV: 9.05 IBU: 71 SRM: 8 Matt’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Disc golf & soccer

Stone Maul
Monroe Brewery – Corvallis, OR • Brewer: Gary Nance Beer Style: Extra Special Bitter
This a strong, full-bodied and full-flavored ale, kin of an Imperial ESB. A Stone Maul was a tool the early West Coast inhabitants used in everything from food production to house building. This beer is first wort hopped and with multiple additions throughout the boil, it has ample bitterness and flavor. The Crystal and Roasted malts’ sweetness balance the hop bitterness. Malts: 2-row, Gambrinus Pale, Wheat, Flaked Barley, Caramel Munich 40L, Crystal 135/165L, Midnight Wheat
Hops: Chinook, Cascade
OG: 1.075 TG: 1.015 ABV: 7.74 IBU: 100+ SRM: 17
Gary’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Gardening & camping in the high desert

The Black Hole
Roseburg Brewery – Roseburg, OR • Brewer: Tom Johnson Beer Style: Imperial Stout
Deep, dark, thick and rich: beware the Black Hole. Gravitational forces and a rotating mash paddle work to concentrate this great mass of beer atoms into a glass of beer so strong and so dark that not even light can escape. The Black Hole is an Imperial Stout weighing in at a massive 7.61% alcohol by volume. Dark matter in the form of six different dark malts combine with the lupulin, alpha acids, beta acids and essential oils of two hop varieties, to warp space and time into a singularity of intense strength and flavor that will tear your atoms apart from the inside out.
Malts: 2-Row, NW Pale, 135-165L Crystal, Brown, Chocolate, Blackprinz, Roasted Rye, Roast Barley
Hops: Nugget, US Golding
OG: 1.078 TG: 1.019 ABV: 7.61 IBU: 34 SRM: 40
Tom’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Cross ountry skiing & disc golf

Black Jack Russian Imperial
Thompson Brewery – Salem, OR • Brewer: Jen Kent Beer Style: Russian Imperial Stout
For all you aspiring pirates out there: What better to have with you as you cross the seas of the world than a pint of beautiful Russian Imperial Stout? As you dash about the deck of your mighty ship, you’ll need strength and reward from a beautiful beer. Your black-as-night gift is filled with big warm notes of roast and black malts and flaked barley to smooth out your elixir. But what is this—there’s more? We raided the lower deck that was filled with spices and food for your crew. We added some fresh vanilla bean, coffee and a hint of black peppercorn. A grand pirate such as yourself should never have an average beer, but one that makes you stand at the bow of your ship with pint raised high as you conquer the seas. Cheers!
Malts: Pale, Wheat, Flaked Barley, Crystal C120 & 135/165L, Caramel Munich 60, Chocolate, Black Hops: Chinook, US Golding
OG: 1.085 TG: 1.025 ABV: 7.74 SRM: 39 IBU: 40
Jen’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Sitting around a campfire drinking beer

Angry Reindeer IRA
West Linn Brewery – West Linn, OR • Brewer: Jacob Willson Beer Style: India Red Ale
We’ve all heard the story of a certain reindeer and his red nose, right? But do you know how his nose got red? ‘Cause he was madder than a wet hen sittin’ on a cold egg. You would be, too, if you had to graze on corn while the other reindeer enjoyed a field of delicious mosaic hops. But you don’t have to worry because this beer is packed with hops. Along with a grain bill exclusively of Best Malz Red X, this beer is a perfect mix of light, hoppy, red, and it’s quite festive. So raise a pint for all those deer still stuck eating corn.
Malts: Best Malz Red X
Hops: Chinook, Mosaic
OG: 1.061 TG: 1.010 ABV: 6.58 IBU: 90 + SRM: 13
Jacob’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Golf & watching squirrels waterski

Dasher and Dancer Brown
Homebrewer/Old St. Francis School Collaboration – Bend, OR • Brewers: Vance Wirtz, Mike White Beer Style: English Brown Ale
Dasher and Dancer Brown is the brainchild of local homebrewer Vance Wirtz, concocted to be a flavor-packed brown ale as well as enjoyed during the long winter days of holiday celebrations. Vance brought his recipe to the OSF and we took it from its five gallon beginnings to the six BBL batch. Caramel malt flavors are enhanced by a touch of maple syrup added to each keg, almost like a candied pecan of sorts. The mild hop aroma and flavor give the ale a nice smooth, balanced body. Each sip encompasses what one would drink when bustling around delivering presents and good cheer to friends, just as Dasher and Dancer help out the Big Guy during his ride!
Malts: Maris Otter, Crystal 60L & 120L
Hops: Chinook, US Golding
Special Ingredients: Organic Maple Syrup
OG: 1.057 TG: 1.013 ABV: 5.67 IBU: 25 SRM: 17
Vance’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: All sports & hunting with Jerry Garcia fans

Big Bad Russian Imperial Stout
Bend Brewing Co. – Bend, OR • Brewers: Ian Larkin, Tom Gilles Beer Style: Imperial Stout
This bad boy was brewed with guest brewer Tom Gilles to be entered in the Pro-Am Category at the 2013 GABF. The Big Bad Russian has been aged in stainless steel for a full year and is in the prime of its life right now. Our imperial stout has a complex malt character, dominated by chocolate and roast flavors, and underscored by hints of dark dried fruits. The hop bitterness is mild and pleasant, and is followed by the slow warming feel of alcohol. Za Vashe Zdorovye!
Malts: Roast, Black, Victory, Flaked Barley, Crystal 70/80L
Hops: German Magnum
OG: 24.1 Plato TG: 5.8 Plato ABV: 10.5 IBU: 70 SRM: 55
Ian’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Snowboarding, camping & drinking beer, of course

Comatose Imperial IPA
Goodlife Brewing Co. – Bend, OR • Brewer: Curt Plants Beer Style: Double IPA
Mother Nature’s seasons are amazing, where all her creations flux between an existence in winter’s comatose state, spring’s colorful fling, summer’s hot dance and fall’s laid-back swing. The creative juices of musicians jump from an unconscious, winter mindset spurring you to think concerts, road trips and campsites. One sip of this beer will get your blood flowing as you jam to your favorite tunes!
Malts: High Color Pale, Bonlander, Munich, Carafoam
Hops: Bravo, Zythos, Zeus, Chinook, Cascade, Summit
OG: 19.5 Plato ABV: 9.5 IBU: 95
Curt’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Drinking & dreaming of being Eddie Vedder

Winter Schnocker
Solstice Brewing Co. – Prineville, OR • Brewers: Joseph Barker, Tom Hall, Pepper Woolsey Beer Style: ???????
Brewed with six varieties of malt and a lot of personal pride, we’ve crafted this beer to build lasting winter memories. One sip will lead your mouth from flavors of dark fruit to the grain fields of the Midwest and onto a fine malty finish with a hint of dark cocoa. Will your winter warmer be a Schnocker?
ABV: 9.25 IBU: 59
Joseph’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Backcountry travel, desert trekking & gold panning Tom’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Hiking through mountain meadows
Pepper’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Ditch-digging & wind sprints

Sweater Weather Oatmeal Imperial Stout
Smith Rock Brewing – Redmond, OR • Brewer: Natalie Patterson Beer Style: Oatmeal Imperial Stout
This rich, dark stout is easy drinking for a large beer. Its clean malt backbone is balanced by a well-rounded hop profile. Expect hints of chocolate and oak as well as a little alcohol heat. The finish is smooth and delicious in any weather.
Malts: 2-Row, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Midnight Wheat, Carapils, Flaked Oats
Hops: Willamette, Cascade
OG: 1.075 TG: 1.013 ABV: 8.1 IBU: 50 SRM: 45
Natalie’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Hiking with my dogs & shooting photos

Ten-Pine Double Chocolate Porter
Three Creeks Brewing Co. – Sisters, OR • Brewer: Zach Beckwith Beer Style: Porter
A chocoholics dream: this amped-up version of our popular Fivepine Chocolate Porter starts with double the chocolate malt, double the Belgian dark chocolate in the boil and is then conditioned on cacao nibs for an extra chocolate kick.
OG: 1.063 TG: 1.012 ABV: 6.2 IBU: 40
Zach’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Bear wrestling, disc golf & skinny dipping

Dark Muse Imperial Stout
Worthy Brewing Co. – Bend, OR • Brewer: Chad Kennedy
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
Dark Muse is a big, bold, black ale that accentuates the dark, roasty nature of beer. Brewed with five different crystal malts and roasted rye, this is a complex and aromatic beer with hints of toffee, chocolate and coffee.
ABV: 10.1 IBU: 60
Chad’s Favorite Outdoor Fun: Fly fishing, with a cold Worthy in hand, of course