Latest print article: Profiling Initiative Brewing (by way of two lagers)

Growler of Initiative Brewing Oh Bother Honey Lager

This week’s article for The Bulletin covered Initiative Brewing of Redmond, profiling the brewery through the lens of two of its lagers, Oh Bother Honey Lager and Issue With Authority Smoked Lager.

Oh Bother has the classic golden appearance of a helles lager, and is 7.5% alcohol by volume with 20 IBUs. According to Brumley, 25 pounds of honey are added to the whirlpool per 10-barrel batch. “We use honey from Flying Bee Ranch in Salem. I don’t know why, but their honey has a really intense flavor,” [brewer Chris Brumley] said.

Brumley settled on the recipe after experimenting with several homebrew batches “and really liked the way things tasted.”

Issue With Authority is 7.9% ABV with 29 IBUs, and “is one of my favorite beers,” according to Brumley. The smoked malt component makes up half of the grain bill. “Of that, half is commercial, cherrywood smoked malt, and half is applewood smoked malt which we smoked ourselves,” he said. This gives the beer an artisanal touch.

There are a number of other styles available as well, with 16 on tap overall. Both of these lagers that I reviewed are good, so I’d expect good things from the other beers too.

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