Category: Monthly Features

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In the Tap Lines for August 2023

August is filled with lots of, shall we say, interesting posts coming from me. Stay tuned in for the two daily posts for monthly features like where I pair beer with books, podcasts and eve sports stories.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from around the United States

~ special featured reviews of beers from around the country

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads The Sullivanians by Alexander Stille

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Who Shat at the Wedding

~ Sports & A Beer returns with bad Womens World Cup vibes

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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The Firkin for July 2023

I mentioned in a post earlier this month that I went to a brewery that was open per their website, per Facebook and per the sign on the window but when I opened the door to Gorges Beer Co. in Cascade Lock, it was indeed locked.

An employee hastily brought out a sign saying closed for the day and quickly explained that an employee had chosen to spend another day in Las Vegas. Either a streak at roulette was underway or they were trying to win back losses.

Now I get it. Keeping staff is hard while trying to keep costs in line but Gorges is a large space and for the life of me, I can’t see how one missing employee was the make it or break it piece.

Was the brewery closed the other days this person was in Sin City too? I joke that I can make or break a brewery or joke even further that they should know who I am but any traveler beer or otherwise would be let down by a shut taproom.

You need to find a way to open for to-go only or open just for a small amount of guests for limited hours because the show must go on.

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Best Beers of July 2023

Well, even though i spent three weeks in Los Angeles and only one in Portland / Hood River, my best of is basically a list of what I drank up northwest.

Though I do give Pure Project’s Shake the Ground Murky Triple IPA an honorable mention that in most months would be good for at least 2nd place.

But the winner is Fracture Brewing’s Hype Machine Vol. 1 – Oat Cream Hazy.

Tied for second is Von Ebert’s Volatile Substance IPA which is worthy of the awards it has received. I also nod to Lichen West Coast IPA from Grand Fir Brewing. The last beer I want to mention is Jammy Pale Ale from pFriem Family Brewers as Hood River fandom.

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A Book & A Beer – The Trackers by Charles Frazier

Charles Frazier is best known for the hit Cold Mountain, his latest book is also set in a rugged past with a bit of a plain name to it, The Trackers.

The plot centers on a muralist for the Works Progress Administration sent to Wyoming to add art to the post office in the small town of Dawes.

That artist, Valentine Welch, has a rich benefactor in John Long who has recently married and is pondering politics as a next move. That wife, Eve, is mysterious and fresh off being a singer that travels the country. Another mysterious Eastwoodian character is Faro, the head ranch hand.

This was a bit of a split book. The front half is about the various people and the town and the mural. Then Eve disappears and it becomes a Chandler / Hammett mystery. Neither really worked for me because the lead, Val, is plain and uncomplicated so the others have to raise the interest level. And they do so in a very rote way. The troubled singer, the world wise ranch hand and the land baron who seems upright but is hiding a certain rot underneath. The Trackers has a written for the screen feel to it.

I would have Ranch Water as the first pick even though I have only had 2nd generation not really a Ranch Water. Since this is a beer and a book post, I would select an often overlooked pair of styles. The brown ale and the amber ale. This book is kind of pedestrian and you need a beer with some heft and malt to it.

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A Podcast & A Beer – Drifting Off with Joe Pera

Drifting Off With Joe Pera is an odd duck of a podcast but that is part of its charm.  Labeled as an “evening comedy podcast”. Hosted by comedian Joe Pera along with the composer Ryan Dann. 

It has a very calming narration and moody music that allows you to do what the title says, drift off.  A recent of the monthly episodes was in Ireland and it was a tiny travelogue of weird associations that was very cool. This might not be for everyone but if you listen carefully it might just hook you.

For beer, I would look for a beer from your favorite brewery that you know when you order it, you will drop the stress and worry of the day.  For me that could be a beer from my hometown of Portland like Wayfinder or pFriem or Heater Allen.  It could also be that soul food style of beer like a British pub ale to me.

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Sports & A Beer – Bad Owners

If you are a sports fan, your favorite team just might be owned by an asshole.  Not saying that all people who own teams are but there does seem to be a preponderance of assholes amongst the super-rich who can swallow clubs whole.

The English Premiere League is riddled with fan groups trying to push owners out.  The NBA had the delightful Donald Sterling around for what seemed like forever before he finally became too toxic.  And the NFL’s version was Dan Snyder who will forever be linked to the Washington Redskins and not their new era Commanders name.

There are articles, and probably podcasts aplenty, about Snyder and his mis-management of the Washington Football Club.  His stubborn death grip on the Redskins name being first on the list despite the known fact, that changing the name made any Redskin emblazoned gear more pricey and you would double dip by selling all new gear to diehard fans.

What made it all the more egregious was that he didn’t listen.  Not to fans or even fellow owners.  When you get to a point where your delusion field blocks out your fellow richie rich’s, well that is a red flag.

Which is why it is hilarious that there was an anti-Dan beer brewed.  Makes me wish there were more beers that take on the 1%. 

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The Firkin for June 2023

The 16oz can is the de rigeur format and has been for a few years now taking the packaging crown from the 22oz bomber and the six-pack with it’s 12 ounces. Though the 19.2oz stovepipe can is pushing for the throne currently.

This article in Punch talks briefly about why it is as well as the good and bad about it..

…but I firmly believe (and have expressed on this blog many times) that more sizes should be in the packaging arsenal.  I would like to see more big ABV beers in 10 ounce bottles or heck, 12 ounce cans.  I love the extra large format of some Belgian beers with the corks and one of these days, I will buy one of those jereboams that you sometimes see.

The packaging format should be as creative and unrestricted as the crazy beers that are inside them.

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Best Beers of June 2023

This will be sort of a mini-re-hash of the Firestone Walker Invitational at the start of the month. When you have that many good breweries together, you are going to run across something stellar. But I will highlight one other beer from the rest of the month.

For me, what stood out was the Leeds based brewery Northern Monk. Their Very Stable Genius hoppy lager from their Patrons Archive was just bright and tasty which is saying something because the festival is home to a ton of fantastic pilsners and lagers.

Second was the Wild Pirate tiki-esque sour from the BarrelWorks program at Firestone Walker. It had a nice balance of vanilla sweet and fruit sour to be a hybrid of both.

Lastly, no homer-ism but I really took to the Artifex Beer Paper Pale Ale. Yes, I contribute the odd piece to the beer periodical but the beer itself was flavorful and 3-D.

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Central Coast Brewery # 3 – Night Lizard Brewing

I am not fond of lizards at any time of day, but I am fond of breweries at any time so let’s head to Santa Barbara and Night Lizard Brewing and have a taster flight…

Bushmallow German Blonde – “A refreshing crisp ale. Munich Malt and Pure Idaho 2-row are featured in this ale. Growing in steep canyons of the channel islands, this endangered shrub has pink, lavender, or white flowers in spring.”

Gnatcatcher IPA – “A New England “Hazy” Indian Pale Ale. This fruity, juicy IPA is huge on Mosaic, Citra, and Idaho 7 flavors. Named after the endangered coastal Gnatcatcher, this species was heavily predated on by brown-headed cow birds.”

Yuzu Mijiu DWitt – “Yuzu and house made Mijiu blended into our double Belgian White Ale.”

Lupine Porter – “A traditional English porter with heavy caramel, toffee and toasted nut notes, with a slightly chocolatey sweet finish. This endangered flower is endemic to the dunes of San Luis Obispo. Only 700 plants remain!”

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A Book & A Beer – Lone Women by Victor Lavalle

Old West and secrets, Victor Lavalle has found a good combination in his new book, Lone Women.

Lavalle is a Stephen King fan but this book is completely unlike anything King would write. Setting is one reason. This is post gold rush time in Montana when our protagonist, Adelaide Henry leaving California and a burning family home for a new homestead. She is carrying a large and heavy box which contains multiple secrets that will get you sitting upright real quickly. The book moves along and shows how different people react to Henry. Surprising all the way through and that is all I can really say without spoilers.

I would pair this with either an Anchor Steam or California Common or maybe just a straight up German-styled lager. But for the last few chapters, you might want to find a real hoppy and bitter red ale to get you to the final pages.