McMenamins 25th Annual Hillsdale Brewfest
This Saturday, February 24, the oldest of McMenamins beer festivals, the Hillsdale Brewfest, returns for its milestone 25th year. This particular brewfest features 22 different McMenamins breweries with their specialty one-offs, with a massive people’s choice voting competition to determine the winner of the coveted Belt. (Used to be in past years, the winning beer was also the one selected to represent McMenamins at the Oregon Brewers Festival as well.)
For this 25th anniversary of the event, they are setting up a big heated tent and offering up live music for the first time. Here’s a bit from the press release:
Feeling like booking a ticket to Tokyo for the 2020 games? Wait up! How about heading out to the Battle of the Brews at the Hillsdale Brewfest on Feb. 24 first? The Fest offers spectators/drinkers the chance to directly influence the results by judging each’s brewer’s ale-leticism in the form of taster trays. After sampling the 22 McMenamins-made varieties, fans cast their ballots for winners as brewers compete for the coveted title and
gold medalbelt.Hazy IPA’s and fruity beers are the trend this year, and were made specifically for the brewfest. Other one-off beers range in styles from Pale Ales, Pilsners, Porters and more. New this year to the festival is live music! The Coastline will jam from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Patrons will order trays of samples—and with 22 beers pouring, there are a lot of samples—that are arranged from lightest to darkest. Once finished they select their top three choices.
The top three winning beers will be announced at a ceremony at the 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop on Thursday, March 1.
If you’re planning on attending, here is the full beer list they have posted—this is quite a spread for the various breweries, so plan accordingly:
McMenamins Anderson School Brewery
Total Yodel Winter Ale
Rye and toasted malts create a unique blend of spice and hints of malty sweetness to make you feel like yodelin’.
Malts: Maris Otter, Munich, Rye, Brown, Midnight Wheat
Hops: Chinook, US Golding
OG: 1.075 TG: 1.013 ABV: 8.00 IBU: 26 SRM: 18
McMenamins Concordia Brewery
Shady’s Back Whiskey Stout
Loving care went into the crafting of Shady’s Back Whiskey Stout. It’s packed with flavor, boasting deep chocolate notes from four select Chocolate Malts. This brilliant Stout was then aged in Billy Rye Whiskey barrels from McMenamins’ Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Distillery, creating hints of whiskey and oak.
Special Techniques: McMenamins Billy Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged
Special Ingredients: Scottish Ale Yeast
Malts: Pale, Wheat, Rolled Oats, Munich, Victory, Crystal 40, Chocolate Malt, Dark Chocolate Malt, Kiln Coffee, Black
Hops: Chinook, US Golding
OG: 1.087 TG: 1.017 ABV: 9.03 IBU: 13 SRM: 51
McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Brewery
Hop Blossom Lager
Pungent citrus and aromas of blooming flowers invite you to drink deeply. When you do, you’ll find Northwest hops dancing around a crisp, refreshing malt body with just a touch of bittering for balance. Experience the bloom of hops over the oh-so-clean Lager Yeast and raise your glass to the joys of summer.
Special Techniques: Dry-Hopped
Malts: Pilsen
Hops: Simcoe, Cascade
OG: 1.052 TG: 1.008 ABV: 5.68 IBU: 29 SRM: 3
McMenamins Crystal Brewery
Johnny Flipflops Tropical Sour
This brew is made for those who wear flipflops in February. Our Tropical Sour features a tart bite, balanced by flavors of pineapple and mango.
Special Techniques: Kettle Soured
Special Ingredients: Yogurt
Malts: Pilsen, Acidulated, Wheat
Hops: Chinook
OG: 1.054 TG: 1.010 ABV: 5.68 IBU: 9 SRM: 4
McMenamins East Vancouver Brewery
Barrel-Aged Tegatron Coffee Porter
Tegatron is here to transform your taste buds, one pint at a time! Bold and rich flavors of coffee, chocolate and roast dominate this brew with dark forces of the universe. Honey Malt provides a hint of sweetness, and the light body highlights a dry, crisp finish, complete with flavors of oak and light spirit.
Special Techniques: McMenamins Hogshead Whiskey Barrel-Aged
Special Ingredients: Chocolate Extract, McMenamins Coffee Beans
Malts: Pilsen, Victory, Chocolate Malt, Roast, Brown, Honey Malt
Hops: US Golding, Bullion
OG: 1.056 TG: 1.012 ABV: 5.90 IBU: 15 SRM: 32
McMenamins Edgefield Brewery
Cascadia Haze New England IPA
Hazy, dank, and excessively dry-hopped, Cascadia Haze is Edgefield Brewery’s take on the incredibly popular New England-style IPA. Cascadia Haze was made with Unmalted Wheat and Flaked Barley to assist with haze formation, dry-hopped with huge amounts of Cascade Hops, and the water chemistry was tweaked to lessen bitterness and let hop flavor shine.
Malts: Pilsen, Pale, Unmalted Wheat, Flaked Barley, Light Munich
Hops: Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe
OG: 1.070 TG: 1.018 ABV: 6.71 SRM: 6
McMenamins Fulton Brewery
Achtzehn Dunkelweizen
Malted Wheat makes up fifty percent of the malt bill of this Bavarian-style Dark Wheat Ale, making it as dark and cloudy as a Pacific Northwest winter evening. It is then accented by a fair amount of Chocolate and Munich Malt to lend a bready complexity. Aged Tettnanger Hops in the boil add an earthy spiciness to this balanced delight.
Malts: Superior Pilsen, Wheat, Munich, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Tettnanger
OG: 1.063 TG: 1.012 ABV: 6.58 IBU: 18 SRM: 19
McMenamins High Street Brewery
N.K.O.T.B. IPA
These five fabulous ingredients were found and combined for your fanatical consumption. Marvel as the Mosaic and Ekuanot Hops shimmy and shake and dance about while harmonizing over dulcet tones of Pilsen and Wheat Malts. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the Bad Boy nature of Cascades, bringing a wholesome yet aggressive flavor to the mix. Enjoy the gift to the planet that is N.K.O.T.B.
Malts: Pilsen, Wheat
Hops: Cascade, Ekuanot, Mosaic
OG: 1.059 TG: 1.007 ABV: 6.70 IBU: 75 SRM: 3
McMenamins Highland Brewery
Night Moves Chocolate Stout
This is a dark, malt-forward Chocolate Stout. It’s refreshing and heavy, to help you rock and roll.
Special Ingredients: Cocoa Powder
Malts: 2-Row, Chocolate Malt, Brown, Black, Dextrapils
Hops: Cascade
OG: 1.074 TG: 1.015 ABV: 7.60 IBU: 36 SRM: 32
McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery
Luau Lei Jasmine Ale
In Hawaiian tradition, the Lei is a symbol of celebration and peace, often woven with jasmine flowers and given affectionately to someone as a greeting, or even as a symbol of love. We offer you the Luau Lei Jasmine Ale, which boasts a golden, light malt body and a tropical hop profile, topped off by the seductive aroma and matching flavor of jasmine flowers. Kamau ki`aha.
Special Ingredients: Jasmine Flower Bulbs
Malts: Premium 2-Row, Wheat, Crystal 15
Hops: Chinook, Idaho 7, Mosaic, Ekuanot, Zythos
OG: 1.052 TG: 1.009 ABV: 5.55 IBU: 20 SRM: 4
McMenamins John Barleycorns Brewery
Soppy New England Double IPA
This New England-style Double IPA was brewed with soursop and tangerine puree which adds a bright, tangy flavor with strawberry and pineapple notes. These flavors blend well with a trio of hops to created a juicy aromatic hop aroma. Oat Malt along with Unmalted Wheat were milled into the mash to add to this beers haziness.
Malts: Pilsen, Oat, Unmalted Wheat
Hops: Citra, Ekuanot, Mosaic
OG: 1.086 TG: 1.017 ABV: 8.90 IBU: 45 SRM: 4
McMenamins Lighthouse Brewery
Luck O’ The Irish Red
Luck O’ The Irish is a rich, full-bodied and aromatic Irish Red Ale. The flavor of the Crystal Malts in this full-bodied beer is only riveled by the subtle mildly hoppy finish. Try your luck with a pint or two. You won’t be disappointed.
Malts: Baird’s Pale, Baird’s Munich, Baird’s Brown, Crystal 50/60, Dark Crystal 80/90, Wheat
Hops: Perle, US Golding
OG: 1.058 TG: 1.012 ABV: 5.93 IBU: 23 SRM: 12
McMenamins on the Columbia Brewery
Bulldog Pale Ale
This American Pale Ale starts out crisp and refreshing, delivering hints of citrus and grapefruit. The beer finishes with a bite, complete with flavorful citrus character.
Malts: Premium 2-Row, Pale, Vienna, Crystal 15, Rolled Oats
Hops: Idaho 7, Amarillo, Meridian
OG: 1.050 TG: 1.009 ABV: 5.29 IBU: 79 SRM: 5
McMenamins Mill Creek Brewery
Transcendental Consequence Pilsner
This is a traditional German Pilsner, light and crisp, with a nice golden hue and a big hop kick.
Malts: Pilsen, Vienna
Hops: Ultra, Tettnanger
OG: 1.048 TG: 1.010 ABV: 4.90 IBU: 22 SRM: 4
McMenamins Monroe Brewery
Kieran’s Red
This is a traditional Irish Red Ale made with an Irish Ale yeast. A gentle hop bitterness combines with the sweetness of British Pale Malt to deliver a balanced sessionable brew. Crystal Malts were expensive for Irish Brewers to use, so the color and roast flavors are derived from small additions of roasted grains. Here’s to hoping the luck of the Irish is with you. Slainte!
Special Ingredients: Irish Ale Yeast
Malts: Baird’s Pale, Black, Roast, Blackprinz
Hops: Sterling, Tettnanger
OG: 1.043 TG: 1.009 ABV: 4.26 IBU: 17 SRM: 10
McMenamins Oak Hills Brewery
Dragon Feet IPA
This is a classic Northwest IPA. It has a light yellow hue with a white lacy head. At first taste it maintains a mild bitterness, followed with an over-the-top citrus and floral hop aroma and flavor. Premium Pilsner with a touch of Victory Malt provides a good base for loads of Chinook, Amarillo and Centennial Hops.
Malts: Superior Pilsner, Victory
Hops: Chinook, Amarillo, Centennial
OG: 1.064 TG: 1.012 ABV: 6.40 IBU: 88 SRM: 5
McMenamins Old St. Francis School Brewery
Just Peachy
It’s the holiday season, so it’s obviously time for huge banquets followed by delicious desserts. This beer was crafted for all of those waiting in anticipation for the pies and pastries to arrive at the dinner table. Start with a nice, light, malty Cream Ale. Throw in some peaches and lactose, and you have a match made in heaven! Fruity and smooth all the way down, this beer is an easy choice.
Special Ingredients: Lactose Sugar
Malts: Northwest Pale, Flaked Barley, Gambrinus Honey Malt
Hops: Nugget
OG: 1.051 TG: 1.017 ABV: 4.39 IBU: 10 SRM: 5
McMenamins Queen Anne Brewery
Monkey Wrench Imperial Amber
It’s been a couple years, so we thought it was time to bring this old favorite back for a limited release! This full-bodied, probably overly-hopped Imperial Amber has a touch of biscuit flavor, a lot of Chinook Hops, and finishes with just a hint of chocolate aroma. This is a wonderfully complex brew. Enjoy it while you can since it won’t be around for long!
Malts: 2-Row, Crystal 30/37, Victory, Flaked Oats, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Chinook, Amarillo
OG: 1.073 TG: 1.011 ABV: 8.00 IBU: 89 SRM: 13
McMenamins Roseburg Station Brewery
Ten Pin Alley Double IPA
Brewed for bowlers everywhere, Ten Pin Alley hits the mark every time. It first strikes your senses with bold tropical and citrus aromas, then bowls over your tastebuds with delightful hoppy goodness. You won’t want to spare a drop of this delicious Double IPA, but drink it responsibly or you might find yourself waking up in the gutter. Better yet, pick up a spare growler to take home with you.
Special Techniques: Four step approach, bent knees and complete follow-through.
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Superior Pilsen, Vienna
Hops: Amarillo, Idaho 7, Mosaic
OG: 1.077 TG: 1.011 ABV: 8.51 IBU: 57 SRM: 4
McMenamins Thompson Brewery
A Beer Called Death
There’s an interesting coalition between beer and people when collaborating on a recipe. You’re met with a subject and the spark of an idea. The mind starts running with an inspiration fueled fire that leads you to question how you can manifest this in a way that allows both the beer and the subject to meet. A Beer Called Death is the answer. Don’t let the name deter you. Punk fans will know instantly what the name represents. It’s Detroit in the mid-seventies. It’s punk before punk existed, stashed away in attics, only to be discovered some 30 years later. In honor of the band called Death, we present you with an Imperial Coffee Stout. A mild sweetness and an alcohol warmth lay over soft bitter notes of coffee and chocolate. The blend creates a beer worthy of time, but thankfully, it’s here for you to enjoy, here and now.
Special Ingredients: McMenamins Kenya Cold Brew Coffee
Malts: Bairds Pale, Munich, Crystal 60, Chocolate Malt, Roast Malt, Coffee Kiln Malt
Hops: Chinook, Cascade
OG: 1.090 TG: 1.016 ABV: 9.55 IBU: 27 SRM: 43
McMenamins West Linn Brewery
Citranot IPA
This IPA boasts a blend of Citra and Ekuanot Hops. Both varieties contribute notes of tropical fruit, melon, and lime. Citra Hops provide additional flavors of grapefruit and passionfruit while Ekuanot Hops hint at herbal pine. The bitterness is swift! You won’t be doubting this IPA.
Malts: Superior Pilsen
Hops: Citra, Ekuanot
OG: 1.060 TG: 1.011 ABV: 6.32 IBU: 81 SRM: 4
McMenamins Wilsonville Brewery
Darkside of the Raspberry CDA
The Raspberry is strong with this one. Amarillo and Meridian Hops bring a tropical, lemony, mixed berry aroma to the beer. Then we added raspberry puree to give the beer a dark chocolate raspberry profile, with a nice bitter end.
Malts: Pale, Munich, Flaked Barley, Crystal 135/165, Chocolate Malt, Black
Hops: Chinook, Amarillo, Meridian
OG: 1.050 TG: 1.009 ABV: 5.29 IBU: 56 SRM: 25