How this beer makes me feel: in pictures

Myspace Glitter Graphics

Brief Beer Update from PDX

We tried to get to Walking Man Brewing Co after our hike but it was closed. SO, Yesterday we took a trip to Amnesia Brewing Co, a local brewery we had heard was one of the region's finest. It truly did not disappoint. Desolation & Copacetic IPAs were delicious, but the Desolation was a bit sweet and not a typical IPA. Too much malty and a little weird dark color. But an enjoyable pint, nonetheless.

The Copacetic though...heavenly. Perhaps one of the best we have had. All the words apply: piney, citrus, balanced, perfect. We'll have two.

The Dusty Trail Pale ale and the Slow Train Porter were yummy yummy too...But this is IPA country!

We enjoyed the outside ambience (Ben called it a car port) with the lovely sun and gentle breeze...ahh this is heaven!

On our list next up: Full Sail Scottish Ale, Caldera Brewing Pale Ale, Hub IPA, Hopworks IPA.

If only it were a Duck-Rabbit truck...

Beervana

[Minutes from our recent meeting featuring the illustrious and honored guest Jeff Holland, Creative Loafing's own beer guru, will soon be featured. In the mean time, enjoy this post!]

Greetings earthlings from Beervana, that is, Portland Oregon. Yes, it is everything Ben and I dreamed it would be--good food, glorious city, wonderful principles that are echoed in the people and the land, and most certainly, good beer! Add to that some good friends and kick a$$ good weather and we are well into enjoying our vacation here.

Well, we haven't been here too long. Err, not even two full days. But I arrived on Fri night and waited for Ben to get in at the Rogue Ale House wedged right in between our gates (D5 and D7--he was coming in from DC, myself from ATL). Had the delicious Sesquicentennial Ale, which I'm pretty sure I'd had before, but I still enjoyed it in its tall glass. I was not exactly in quite a "reviewer mode" so I'll leave it at that.

Saturday took us to Kenny & Zuke's, a Jewish style deli, where I first tried the Ninkasi IPA. BeerAdvocate gives it a B+ overall but I don't agree. It was a quintessential West-coast piney citrusy delicious floral amazing fruity IPA. So far my favorite in Oregon (well, of 2)

Next up, Deschutes Brewery. The one in Portland, that is. I'd been told this pub/brewery wasn't too special (though the beer we can all agree is excellent) but I beg to differ. Even from an asthetic point of view. Gorgeously rennovated garage with exposed beams and rafters, exposed brick walls, etc. Quite loud and large and I wasn't a fan of the TVs on the wall, but we sat outside for my 6 sampler. You can check out the Deschutes beers here. The Green Lakes Organic Ale was surprisingly good. I don't know why I didn't think an organic beer would be good. What prejudice! The Obsidian Stout was a wash, weak, watery, tasteless, like a bad porter, in my humble (or not so) opinion. The Inversion IPA was a real solid IPA, but not quite as tasty as the Ninkasi. The Red Chair IPA was delicious. While I couldn't drink a whole cup of it, I think my favorite was the Black Butte XXI, a yummy barrel aged beer with strong flavors of espresso and chocolate. I can't remember the last one. Eh.

So far...so good. Had another Ninkasi at dinner and a sip of a Widmer (might as well while here) at the Portland Bike Festival where we saw Tall Bike Jousting (yes) and a dance-bike troup (yes).

Any other hints or recommendations will be taken seriously. Planning forward includes:
-afternoon (today) at Bridgeport
-Amnesia (we hear the best place)
-Deschutes Brewery in Bend, along with Bend Brewing Co
-Ninkasi in Eugene
-Full Sail in Hood River

On our quest to find the world's best IPA.

Of God and Beer and People

Beer played a major role in my recent trip to Utah. I had a lot to learn about all the strange rules around beer there. For example beers on tap have lower alcohol and so 'full strength' beers only come in bottles. There are, however, quite a few breweries. I even picked up a couple growlers at Moab Brewery but dropped and shattered it on the way to the airport. I did successfully get a few bottles home, including the Devastator from Wasatch. It's a double bock with over 8% alcohol putting the fear of God and beer in the hearts of man throughout the state. Check out the label with the big horn sheep demolishing the staples of Mormon architecture in flames.

But speaking of beer and God I wanted to share with you another gem I discovered while figuratively panning near the Colorado. This found by Dave on a local country station Sunday morning. Yes, Billy Currington, people are crazy (for God and beer).

Beer-Club-In-Extensia

While you all are enjoying Beer Club, agent Catherine and I visited Alexandria's own Rustico, a pizza joint with a killer beer selection. I had several beers, since you could order ponies. Of note: Hitachino Nest XH (a dark ale matured in sake barrels, the one with the cute little owl on it), which is completely delicious and needs to be consumed by you, whoever you are, immediately (look out for the plum taste in there), Southern Tier Iniquity, who continues to impress me with one of the most amazing and genre-bending beers I've ever had (a jet-black imperial IPA, with the deeply complex dry roasted coffee/chocolate quality of a stout but everything you expect from the Avery Maharajah in terms of hops), and the Founders Dirty Bastard (a terrific Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, didn't leave out the hops like some scottish do), I'd give this two thumbs up, along with both the others. Wish we were there to have some Saisons, but I figured I'd try some rare and out-of-state beers on tap while I could. Cheers!

Sweetwater Donkey Punch

Sweetwater's 4th release from teh expeimentla 'dank tank' series is a new batch of Donkey Punch and is out very soon. This was on the brewery's Twitter page (5 hours ago):

"the DP Barleywine is being bottled today. Draft is flowing now and the 22oz bottles should be in stores on monday"

Look forward to sampling. They also have photos on their page of the DP being packaged on their bottling line.

P.S. great time at BSP last night, tried Cask Great Divide Hercules DIPA, Duck-Rabbitor Doppelbock (1st keg in GA), Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, and Avery Maharaja. All great.

BEST TAGLINE EVER FOR A BEER!

A new beer called "S" from Korean brewer Hite is touted as having a "smoother and cleaner taste with more dietary fiber!"

Seriously... That's what I've been missing. I just drank a bottle of Bells Two Hearts Ale, and I was thinking, "it's delicious, but I have not had enough leafy greens today." Well, look no farther.

The ad copy says:

"Dietary fiber is so popular these days it has been dubbed the 6th nutrient. Dietary fiber is known to enhance intestine movement to help people keep in shape...S is an icon for the new style leader."

Best Father's Day Idea Ever

England just gets some things right. (Though, according to Katie, they may have been handing out terrible beer. Either way, though...) Here's the key quote:

"Posies of flowers are given to mums on Mothering Sunday and we wanted to give a laddish, blokeish gift to the men. A bottle of beer hits the mark."

Challenging Coors for Best Beer Technology

Want to have that post-beer run during the run itself?

Look no farther: Beer Pouch is here.