125. Terminal Gravity Brewing – Single Hop Double IPA Draft
It was time to try another Oregon beer, and nearby was Terminal Gravity Brewing of Enterprise, OR. In addition, I also like trying single hop beers, just to help me isolate and understand what different types of hops taste like in the finished beer. There’s also the fact that I really like double IPA’s, so this had a lot going for it. Besides, I think this one was listed as the second hoppiest beer at the festival...
124. Upright Brewing – Reggae Junkie Gruit Draft
After yesterday, I wanted to make sure I tried beers from Oregon Breweries today (despite starting off with the Alaskan Barleywine). I had heard of Upright Brewing on an episode of Basic Brewing Video a few months ago, and, similar to the Midwest’s Jolly Pumpkin, they did mostly farmhouse style beers. I had also never tried a Gruit – a beer brewed with herbs instead of hops. Given that combination, it was one of my...
123. Alaskan Brewing – 2008 Big Nugget Barleywine Draft
Don’t get me wrong, the regular beers available at the Oregon Brewers Festival are awesome, but after stopping at the “Buzz Tent” for the 13 year old Full Sail Brewing Russian Imperial Stout, I found myself being drawn back to the Buzz Tent to see what cool and interesting beers were popping up. Being in the Midwest, I hadn’t gotten a chance to drink any offerings from Alaskan Brewing (despite having heard of...
122. MacTarnahan’s – Amber Ale
I had a great time at the Oregon Brewers’ Festival yesterday, and today I wanted to explore downtown Portland a bit. This morning, I stopped at Voodoo Doughnut – a well known doughnut place, known for it’s eclectic atmosphere and strange donuts that I’ve seen on several shows on the Travel Channel and Food Network (see my picture on the right, and you absolutely must try their maple bacon bar if you ever make...
121. 10 Barrel Brewing – S1NIST0R Black Ale Draft
It was a long day at the Oregon Brewers Festival, from the brunch and parade and the tapping of the keg, to trying some new beers and sipping on the 13 year old Russian Imperial Stout from Full Sail. Having not eaten since the brunch, it was dinner time, and time to get some food in my stomach. I went to dinner with a few of the marketing folks from Full Sail, and Matt Swihart, the brewmaster from Double Mountain (see picture on the...
120. Full Sail Brewing – ’97 Russian Imperial Stout Draft
As I mentioned, for my Brewmaster Cuisinternship, I brewed at Full Sail in Hood River on Monday and Tuesday, and then traveled into Portland on Wednesday to brew with brewmaster John Harris (seen here in the hat). At the brunch and parade, John told me to come find him around 3 o’clock at the Buzz tent (a tent at the Oregon Brewers Festival that offers unique beers for 2 tokens each). When I arrived, he mentioned that they...
119. Lucky Labrador Brewing – Summit IPA Draft
After having a few non-Oregon beers, none of which had a whole lot of hop flavor, I decided it was time to reverse the trend. So, being somewhat of a hop head, I thought I’d look through the list of beers at the Oregon Brewers Festival and see which claimed to be the hoppiest. The Summit IPA from Lucky Labrador appeared at the top of the list with an estimated 111 IBUs (I believe the human palate can only sense up to 100), and...
118. Sierra Nevada Brewing – Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale Draft
After going with the Sprecher Maibock, I thought I’d just go for some good solid beers, not necessarily those from Oregon – despite the fact that I could probably get these beers back home in Illinois – I’d hit the Oregon beers heavily tomorrow. When it was served, it was a brown color. The plastic mug made it difficult to see if it was clear or hazy, but it appeared to be a bit hazy. It had a nice, creamy,...
117. Sprecher Brewing – Mai Bock Draft
I know what you’re going to say… you went all the way to the Oregon Brewers Festival to have a beer that’s right up the road in Wisconsin? Yes… call it peer pressure from hanging out at the festival with Oregon Folks who were looking for beers they couldn’t often try. However, I will say that I was happy with the selection. When it was served it had a dark amber color, and a somewhat thick, creamy head...
116. The Bruery – 7 Grain Saison Draft
After the morning’s festivities from the brunch and parade to tapping the first keg and sipping on the Super Jube, it was time to start trying some beers I could only get in that part of the country. I had watched a Basic Brewing Video from last year’s GABF, and one of the people had talked about some great beers from The Bruery, so I thought I’d give theirs a try first. They brought their 7 Grain Saison. For each...
115. Deschutes Brewery – Super Jube
This morning was the Oregon Brewers Festival Brunch and Parade. After a great brunch, where I had another Deschutes Miss Spelt with my eggs and bacon, everyone gathered together for the traditional parade through downtown Portland. It was a great time – marching the ceremonial first keg from Deschutes, past City Hall to pick up Portland Mayor Sam Adams (Yes, that’s his real name), and then going to the riverfront park for...
114. Full Sail Brewing – Saison a Pleine Voile Draft
After a long day brewing, and a fun day at the Oregon Brewers Festival Brewmasters Dinner, one of the guys from Full Sail took me to the EastBurn, a pub there in Portland. It was a cool place with some nice Oregon beers on tap, and after trying the Deschutes Miss Spelt, I was brought a Full Sail Saison a Pleine Voile. I was told it meant, Saison of Full Sail in French. Since I thought the Miss Spelt tasted a bit like a Saison, I...
