Looks like Widmer is really kicking up their game a notch. So much so that my next Portland visit will most likely include a trip to see what they have on tap.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Rotator series of IPAs so I am banking on these being good too.
Rare Barrel
To work around the big, big start up costs in equipment and material, new breweries have turned to Kickstarter or they have had their beer brewed for them but this is the first time that I have seen a brewery just begin with barrel aging space. Barring Almanac Farmhouse ales (also of the northern part of California) that has a similar working style.
Here is what the press release says about The Rare Barrel, “Northern California is rich in brewing tradition and is home to some of the best breweries in the world. Hoping to add to this proud history, we are pleased to announce that we will be launching an all-sour, all-barrel aged “gypsy” brewery in the San Francisco Bay Area named The Rare Barrel.
What do we mean by “gypsy” brewery? We plan to partner with the great breweries of the Bay Area for our brewing needs, and we will be building our own barrel warehouse for fermentation, packaging and serving our beers to the public.
Our team is made up of people committed to producing the highest quality sour beer. Co-founders Jay Goodwin, former Brewer and Head of Barrel Aging at The Bruery in Orange County, Alex Wallash, homebrewer and Sales Representative in biotechnology, and Brad Goodwin, entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry, make up our crew of passionate craft beer lovers.
We hope to release more details of our plan over the next few months. We look forward to producing beer with experimental methods, a singular focus on quality sours, and a commitment to the craft beer community.”
Oatmeal Pale Ale
Following on the heels of Cavatica Stout and their Stout month, Fort George has started to can up their popular Sunrise OPA (Oatmeal Pale Ale).
Here is what the brewery says about it, “Nice and Creamy session-style American Pale Ale. Good beer for drinking anytime of the day, even when the sun is rising, due to its dry nature with Mild bitterness and lovely hop aroma. This beer is based on the first beer ever produced at the Fort George Brewery, Beer#1, We decided to add 50 lbs of Oatmeal to make it even better. Famous quote: “I’ll have just one more OPA, please.” This beer has become a staff staple.”
Eagle Bay Brewery
I talk of Eagle Rock Brewery here in Los Angeles but now I turn my attention many miles away to Eagle Bay Brewery in Australia.
I would really like to try some of the beers that are oftentimes shunned here in the U.S. like the kolsch, ESB and the English Mild. I think those would work in many a warm weather clime. The low ABVs would be perfect for the hot weather.
And not only do they do beer but they do wine and food as well and if the photos from their website are even close to accurate, this is one seriously beautiful place to sip a beer.
Sacramento Beer Week
Now that San Francisco Beer Week is over, it is time to head to the state’s capital and the Sacramento Beer Week.
There are (2) signature events to attend during the week including: the Sacramento Brewers Showcase and Capital Beerfest on February 25th.
And then there are a lot of other events to hit. So load up the app and see the brewing sites of Sacramento.
As an added bonus the nearby Cordova Restaurant and Casino will be holding many special beer nights ranging from New Belgium to American River to Lost Coast.
Who’s beer week is next?
Open It!
It is time for another round of “OPEN IT!”. For the uninitiated, here are the ground rules from Mark Dredge of Pencil and Spoon…..
“So here’s the idea: let’s create a special occasion. Let’s call this special occasion Open It! and let’s drink the good beers. Let’s find a bottle from the depth of the cellar and open it, drink it and then tell others about it (in blogs, blog comments or twitter or facebook).
Open it alone or open it with others; hold an Open It! party or take it to the pub to see what people think. Most importantly, get that bottle open and drink the thing and then tell everyone about it.”
Yes, it is time to crack open that special (or not so special) bottle that you needed an excuse to open. Funny how it coincides with a month where I am reviewing beers from my cellar.
Last year I cracked a bottle of Monstre Rouge. What will I do this year. Well, you will have to check Twitter and Facebook to find out.
Next year’s Birthday beer (maybe)
Now for most people (including myself), mention Pretty Things Beer and Ale and you get, “yes, please”. But there is another reason why I REALLY want a bottle of this new beer. It has my birth date on it!
Plus it has noted beer historian Ron Pattinson’s name on it and then throw in the fact that it is a mild which is an oft ignored but often great beer style and I am completely sold.
The Ale Trail leads to Bruery Provisions
Tomorrow night, there will be a combination of two of my favorite things at a favorite location of mine. A beer book with a tasting at Bruery Provisions! The tasting flights at the Bruery are great and you will probably end up with a few bottles on the way out along with the book that you should get too.
Here is what you need to know, “On Thursday, February 23 2012, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., the public is invited to join author Christian DeBenedetti at The Bruery Provisions (143 North Glassell Street, 503-232-4677), for a free local beer tasting and reading and signing of his first book, The Great American Ale Trail: The Craft Beer Lover’s Guide to the Best Watering Holes in the Nation (Running Press; Paperback; $20.00 US).
From crab shacks and copper-lined brewpubs to farmhouse startups and elegant New York Restaurants, DeBenedetti leads readers on the ultimate coast-to-coast road trip of craft beer. This is the first definitive guide to the worthiest places to discover and drink craft beer across the entire United States. With over 400 destinations and suggestions for what to order in each one, it also maps out how those beers relate to the local, national, and international beer cultures and profiles the interesting characters behind all the great beers.
A native of the west coast, DeBenedetti will be signing books, reading from his new release, and talking all things beer and road trips. Kendra Birdwell, Assistant Manager of The Bruery Provisions, will be serving up a special flight of local LA beers for guests to enjoy as they get to know the author and his national Ale Trail of craft beers.
The 2012 Birthday beer!
Each year on this very blog on this auspicious day, I make a note, so to speak, of the special beer that I decide to have to celebrate another year in the life.
Last year it was North Coast Old Stock Cellar Ale 2009 which was a great beer but super thick and huge ABV that almost made me wish the bottle was smaller.
This year, even though I am celebrating at Golden Road Brewery. My featured beer is a home brew from my brother in law. It is the enigmatic BP11.
It took my poor, enfeebled with age brain a while to figure out that BP more than likely stands for Baltic Porter. I will add the review to the bottom of this post later, so for now, cheers and may you all have as good a beer on your birthday too!
Pfriem
My idea of heaven would be Hood River. Small town. Beautiful view of the Columbia river. Restaurants aplenty. Fruit orchards. Oh and breweries. Lots of breweries now and when Solera and Pfriem come online.
Pfriem Brewery will (legalities willing) be pouring by Memorial Day. Josh Pfriem (formerly of Chuckanut and Full Sail will be manning the kettles. Belgian-styles and Northwest-style hoppy beers will be the focus at the start. For More information read the interview over at the New School HERE.
And it is pronounced FREEM.