Ken Kane

Ken Kane
Ken Kane

Ken Kane is a freelance beer journalist who has traveled around the world in pursuit of new and interesting beer styles. His journeys have taken him from his home in Beervana to places like Germany and even South Africa. Kane is also an avid homebrewer who has been making his own beer for over twenty years. This is about the time he moved to Oregon. In recent years Kane has turned his attention to the retailing and designing of “beeraphenalia” – souvenirs related to Oregon in general and its distinctive wines and beers in particular. Such beeraphenalia can be found at his websites woodbloom.com and PortlandSouvenirs.com. His recent writing about beer culture can be found in Portland Tribune’s Guest On Tap column.

Here’s our little Q & A with him:

What sparked your interest in craft beer?

Variety of flavor, particularly malt.

If trapped on a dessert island with just one tap line, what beer would you choose to drink (yeah that’s a tough one)?
Everyday: Sam Smith’s Oatmeal Stout
Special occasion: JW Lee’s Special Harvest Ale

Similarly, if you could have just one last beer, what would that be?

Deus … after all, “nearer my god to thee!”

Name five of your favorite brews (won’t hold you to these).

Scaldis
Full Sail Old Boardhead
Portland Brewing Bourbon Barrel Blackwatch Cream Stout (may it rest in peace)
Tripel Karmeliet
Sam Smith’s Oatmeal Stout
JW Lee’s Special Harvest Ale
Fred from the Wood
Trogenator Doppelbock

(sorry, I figured you wouldn’t hold me to five!)

Are there any beers out there that you would like to try that you haven’t yet?

Whatever’s being poured this week in Brussels and Antwerp!

Name one or more of your favorite food pairings?

Turkey and a vintage Bridgeport Old Knucklehead … but injecting the barleywine into the bird!