A couple of beers came into my possession this week from Bend breweries: Deschutes Brewery Swivelhead Red and 10 Barrel Brewing Pyka.

This is the second year Deschutes has released Swivelhead Red, their India Red Ale that “gets its herbal hop character from European varietals added in American quantities” (and also includes Australian hops as well). It’s available through the spring.

Bryon Pyka, sour/barrel house brewer at 10 Barrel (who started out as a homebrewer, brewing really good sours at home) gave me this bottle as part of an interview I did with him (future coming article). This pub release bottle (it will only be available at their pubs) is a blackberry and apricot wine-barrel aged Berlinerweisse. I’ve had some of it already and it is quite tasty. Keep an eye out for the article.