Here is some information about an upcoming event this Friday, April 12, 2013 at Bazi Bierbrasserie in Portland. Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom of Hood River will bring their new series of Belgian beers known as “The Four Horsemen” to town. This lineup has been available at the taproom for some time, but this particular event marks the first time that they can all be enjoyed together in Portland. Here is what Double Mountain Brewmaster Matt Swihart has to say about his grand project:

The Four Horsemen beers is the latest resurrection of my interest in working with the LaChouffe yeast from Ardennes, Belgium. This particular yeast throws a very nice fruity/estery character without the big phenolic hit I get off many of the other Belgium yeasts used in their strong beers. Most winter seasons, I like to pick a

Belgian yeast and build a variety of beers to display the characteristics of the fermentation. While planning out this year, originally just 3 strong Belgian beers (blond, red, and a dark) the brewers were touring a few breweries and pubs in Portland and we were Read More…

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

by Marc Demeule

A new beer event came to the world within the basement of the Saint-Enfant-Jésus Church in Montréal. La Cuvée D’Hiver was part of the 10th edition of the Montréal En Lumière Festival.

I heard of this new beer event through social media sites that proposed an event with beer, food and music with a list of beers selected for a large pool of beer consumers. Some not yet tasted products sparked my interest, and free hours in my schedule helped me to decide to drive to Montréal. My first feeling wasn’t good at all. This church basement, with grey terrazzo flooring and walls painted with colors that would give a headache to a coulour-blind person reminds me the basement of our local church where I did attempt to attend 4H and scouts meetings in my youth. I however have to admit that the 50′s music and growing crowd did convince me that this cheesy environment would be fine for the first edition of La Cuvée D’Hiver.

Close to 73 beers from 27 breweries were presented. Five breweries got their own booth while the rest of the selection was separated in two standard booths and a cream bar that offers six nitrogen taps hidden in an old barrel–an original idea to complete the ambiance. Here is a little review to some of the greatest I had while listening to Chérie Cherry music. Read More…

Posted under Beer & Music, beer and food, beer events, Beer Travel, places to drink beer

Posted under beer events, places to drink beer

It has been said quite often amongst those in the craft beer circuits across America “The Belgians are coming!” Well, in Oregon, with events like Portland’s Cheers To Belgian Beers pubs like Bazi Bierbrasserie, that the Belgians are already here. In American’s top craft beer destination, Portlanders have embracea many a-style of zesty, piquant, and effervescent beers unlike what those who witnessed the early years of the modern day craft beer revolution were accustomed to enjoying. Spicy, tart, and prickly on the tongue; unbridled imaginations employed and largely extricated from the doldrums of the bitters of England, the massively hopped IPAs nearby, and the restrictive Reinheitsgebot-mandated lagers of Bavaria… Belgian and French Farmhouse-style ales are now a thriving segment of beer that a large constituency of American craft brewers are realizing deserve the attention of their respected brewhouses.

Sure they’re not for everyone, but these wondrous and often wild offerings inspired by rural brewers from across the pond have certainly been embraced by some West Coast palates to the point that entire breweries such as Upright, Commons, and Logsdon (read about Brewpublic’s Farmhouse Brewers Night event at BeerMongers in 2011) find these styles at the core of their ingenuity. On Saturday March 30 and Sunday March 31, 2013, our friends at Saraveza are sharing an evening dedicated to the rustic farmhouse traditions of France and Belgium with their Portland Farmhouse & Wild Ale Festival. More than 20 breweries will participate in this sure to be memorable event. Here are the details: Read More…

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

KENT, Wash. (February 20, 2013) – On Saturday, March 9, Airways Brewing will celebrate three exciting years of growth and expansion with a celebration – and several new releases – not to be missed. 

Adding on another first for the Kent-based brewery, Airways’ third anniversary will mark the release of the brewery’s first cans to market. Offering a distinct new look and feel, the 16-ounce cans will house two new brews – Oatmeal PSA™ (Pale Session Ale) and Pre-Flight Pilsner™ – adding to the brewery’s growing year round line up. From 2-7pm, craft beer enthusiasts can pick these cans up for the first time – the week before they are released to market – as well as enjoy giveaways, cask releases, food from Lumpia World, the release of Airways Third Anniversary Belgian Dark Strong (available in 22-ounce bottles) and more! 

“It’s been a crazy ride, and we could not have done it without support from the local craft beer community,” said Alex Dittmar, cofounder and head brewer at Airways Brewing Company. “When we started in 2010, we never imagined we’d now have two successful Read More…

Posted under beer releases, press releases, Washington Beer

It’s been a long time coming, but at last, Agrarian Ales of Eugene, Oregon is ready to launch their beer to the Portland market on February 23, 2013 at Belmont Station.

“We are stoked to introduce Agrarian Ales for their Portland debut.” says Belmont Station‘s Holly Emery-Walen, adding “This Eugene area brewery is new to the scene, but the people that comprise it are not.” 

Ben Tilley and Tobias Schock, both former brewers with Hop Valley Brewing of Springfield, will be on hand at the event sharing their unique beers .  “Most of us are only familiar with large craft breweries that brew “estate” beers, meaning that the ingredients are harvested on their land and brewed there” says Emery-Walen. “Agrarian Ales breaks this notion down. They are a small brewery that has prioritized quality of ingredients, environmentally conscious practices, and historic styles of beer.” 

Here’s more on Agrarian Ales, this forthcoming event, and a look at the beers to be featured, from an email sent recently out by Belmont Station: Read More…

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

Hood River, Oregon has another reason for craft beer enthusiasts to pay a visit. Not only is the Columbia Gorge town at the foot of the mighty Mount Hood full of breathtaking views, but there are a number of stellar breweries, including the newest, Pfriem Family Brewers with beer by world class brewer Josh Pfriem. Check out this webisode of The Beer Traveler as Charlie Herrin takes on inside the walls and behind the scenes of this wonderful establishment.

Posted under Beer personalities, Beer Travel, beers on film, brewpubs, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

The San Francisco Bay area, much like the rest of the civilized West Coast finds itself smack dab in the middle of the craft beer revolution. With this, we see a great proliferation of craft beer culture manifested in the form of new bottle shops, bars, and breweries, as well as an overall growth in the interest in artisan brewed goods. One such shining example of the region’s ongoing growth is the past weekend’s opening of Beltane Brewing in the town of Novato, CA in the region’s North Bay in Marin County.

Already with two breweries in town in the popular Moylan’s Brewery, which has been serving up handcrafted beer since 1995, and the younger Lucky Town Brewing. But now, more of the region’s nooks and crannies are getting filled with more flavors to attempt to sate the unquenchable thirst of those like us, in pursuit of the next perfect pour. Read More…

Posted under Bay Area beer, brewpubs, California Beer, places to drink beer

The Holiday Ale Festival at Pioneer Courthouse Square will certainly be at the front of every beer lover’s mind this weekend. Each year the event offers a vast array of specialty releases to warm the cockles of your liver while providing an excuse to head into the festive sights and lights of downtown Portland and catch up with family and friends. Here under the heated tents, merriment is shared amongst many, illustrating the collective Cascadian love for great craft beer, a signature element of our region.

For some, the weekend crowds of Holiday Ale Festival may be a bit intimidating, especially if you head out on Friday and Saturday night when things are in full swing. Thankfully, here in Portland, there are plenty of wonderfully enticing satellite events that may offer a bit more intimacy, if not just simply serve as a nice supplement to Holiday Ale Festival itself. In addition to the in-tents fest downtown, here’s a look at where we plan to be quaffing great beer: Read More…

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

By Chris Crabb

Lompoc Brewing, known for releasing a ridiculous amount of holiday seasonals every year, has once again lived up to its reputation. The annual Lompoc Holiday Beer Extravaganza will showcase the draft release of seven different holiday beers, two of which will also be available in bottles. The lineup includes 8 Malty Nights, Portland’s first Hanukkah beer and one of the only Hanukkah beers in the nation. The release party will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 27th from 4 to 10 pm at the Lompoc Sidebar, located at 3901 N Williams Ave.

This year’s offerings include Blitzen Golden Ale, Jolly Bock German Style Bock, Franc’ly Brewdolph Belgian Style Red, C-Sons Greetings Imperial IPA , Old Tavern Rat Barley Wine, 8 Malty Nights Chocolate Rye, and Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy. Both C’sons Greetings and 8 Malty Nights will also be released in 22-ounce bottles.

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