Oregon Beer News, 01/11/2016

Oregon BeerHappy Monday! Are you ready to tackle a new week? I’ve got news in Oregon beer for you to go along with it! As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland): They have released the latest in their Single Hop IPX series, Organic El Dorado IPX, the ninth release. Every beer in this series is brewed to the same base recipe, allowing the hop used to be showcased. “The latest in the series showcases Organic El Dorado hops from Jackson Hop farm in Caldwell, Idaho. A relative newcomer to the brewing industry, El Dorado hops were developed by CLS Farms in 2008 and released commercially in 2010. Organic El Dorado IPX is a light bodied ale showcasing tropical fruit and pear hop flavors and aromas. We think you’re going to love it.” Bottles are out now.

Belmont Station (Portland) has a special collaboration release party from 5 to 7pm, featuring the team up of Alameda Brewing, Base Camp Brewing, and Coalition Brewing: “The brainchild created during General Distributing’s labor dispute, this collaborative series is meant to showcase the cooperative nature of the craft beer industry and the solidarity of General’s brands. Called “Know your ABC’s” (for Alameda, Base Camp, Coalition), with a beer brewed at each facility, with each beer using a different fruit that starts with the first letter in that brewery’s name: Beer A brewed at Alameda with apricots. Beer B brewed at Base Camp with boysenberries, and Beer C brewed at Coalition with cherries. Come try these three collaborations side by side and speak with the brewers too!” That sounds like fun!

Gilgamesh Brewing (Salem): This Wednesday, January 13, Gilgamesh is holding the release of their new beer, The Terry Porter, brewed in collaboration with former Portland Trail Blazer Terry Porter—and Wednesday’s event will feature Porter on hand signing bottles of Porter. “Gilgamesh Brewing is overjoyed to present Terry Porter, Wednesday to meet the fans and sign some Terry Porter bottles. Proceeds go Doernbechers Childrens Hospital Foundation! Bottle signing will take place in the brewery starting at 5pm, $20 entry fee gets you a bottle signed by Terry and a chance to meet the Legend himself!” The event takes place from 5 to 8pm at the Salem brewery.

This Saturday, January 16, Bend’s McMenamins Old St. Francis School is holding their 3rd annual High Gravity Extravaganza strong ale fest on the historic property from 1 to 10pm—one of my personal favorite winter events of the area! “Huddle around the four blazing fire pits while tasting high-gravity, big, bold ales-and new this year, local ciders. We’ll have live music from 3 p.m. ‘til 10 p.m., which will include Sophistifunk as headliner. Brewers will be on hand to chat with as their beer samples are poured. This brewfest will feature more than 20 beers, some from McMenamins breweries and many from local breweries, all of them to offer cold comfort in the dry desert winter.” The beer (and cider) list is posted now as well. If you’re looking to visit Bend soon, this Saturday would be a great time for it!

Portland Brewing (Portland) has a new beer coming out this month, a new spring seasonal slated to be available from mid-January through March: Raise the Roost Belgian-style Red Ale. From the press release: “Head brewer, Ryan Pappe is no stranger to brewing Belgian ales, and while he and his team continue to use the same Belgian yeast strain that results in strong notes of fruit and spice, the brewery’s newest creation offers a distinct take on this classic style. Brewed using Liberty, Nugget and East Kent Golding hops, along with malts 2-Row Pale, CaraRed, Melanoidin, C-120 and Roast Barley, Raise the Roost Belgian-style Red Ale awakens the palate with a call of spicy, fruity yeast notes and a roasted malt character.”

Boneyard Beer (Bend) will be in Portland tonight at the Concordia Ale House for a tasting and meet the brewer with co-owner Tony Lawrence from 6 to 9pm. They’ll be pouring Bonafide Pale Ale, RPM IPA, Hop Venom IIPA, Skunkape Red, and a couple of other “mystery” beers. It’s always a good time to hear Tony talk about beer and Boneyard, so if you’re in the Portland area you might was to check this out.

Vertigo Brewing (Hillsboro) has a new beer released today that might be relevant to your interests: “Today we release our Coconut Porter that has been aged in a Big Bottom Distilling Rum barrel. Like all of our other barrel aged beers, this one won’t last long. Taproom opens at 4:00. Come give it a try and stay to watch the NCAAF Championship on the big screen (Kick-off at 5:30).”

Double Mountain Brewery (Hood River) has a new beer out today as well: “Veiled Conspiracy 100% Brett Fermented Pale Ale! Brettanomyces (AKA Brett) has long been synonymous with “sour” beers. But, in reality Brettanomyces is a diverse strain of yeast that is not predominantly souring. On its own Brettanomyces can produce a multitude of flavor a and aromas that standard brewing yeasts cannot. Veiled Conspiracy sheds light on the diversity and depth of Brettanomyces as a wonderfully complex, tropical, fruity pale ale that’s approachable and easy to enjoy. This Pale was dry hopped with a small amount of Citra, Summer, and TNT. Let the veil of conspiracy be lifted and the Brett’s true nature revealed. No longer shall it be solely known as a yeast that makes sour beers. Dynamite! 6.6%ABV, 29 BU” That definitely sounds like one to try.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.