Featured Portland Cider Review – Community Cider

I really like the whole community aspect of craft beverages. Maybe because the U.S. seems so easily divided these days so I was very pleased to see that Portland Cider had a Community Cider, using apples and pears from around Portland. To make it even more positive, it’s charity cider too.

CC pours a super light yellow. Nearly shades of seltzer. It has the typical cider aroma of apple and apple skin. Initial taste is bright and sweet. The pear really shines through to add an extra dimension. There is a tiny bit of a spice note but overall, a down the middle cider.

Give and Get

I am a day late but you can be not a dollar short if you do a simple thing from now through December 15th.

In the spirit of giving, this holiday season, the American Homebrewers Association is launching a Give Back program where the organization will donate $5 to one of three nonprofits for every one- or three-year AHA membership purchased. This applies to all new and renewing memberships.

The three nonprofit organizations to choose from this giving season are:

  • Beers 4 Boobs: Beers 4 Boobs collaborates on unique beers and events to further generate awareness and funding for breast cancer and cancer patients. 
  • Soldiers’ Angels Hops for Heroes: Soldiers’ Angels Hops for Heroes™ is an annual campaign that rallies the support of craft breweries to support U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. 
  • Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling: Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling funds scholarship awards for technical education in beer and spirits production for people of color in the brewing and distilling industries.

1/4

Even though Milwaukee is spelled a little oddly to this writer’s eyes since I am from Milwaukie, the cause espoused is in need of attention so I band together for this new collaborative charity beer.

“This October, Third Space Brewing will release an IPA called One In Four to raise funds and awareness for domestic violence prevention.

One in four women and one in nine men have experienced some form of domestic violence, according to the CDC. “We chose this staggering statistic for the name of the beer to help start conversations within local communities about the prevalence of domestic violence” said Matt Cisz, Lead Brewer at Third Space Brewing and creator of One In Four. “When you lose a family member to domestic violence, all you want to do is find a way to prevent it from happening to anyone else,” shared Cisz.

Third Space Brewing is encouraging breweries across the country to join the effort by brewing the One In Four collaboration beer to be released in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Breweries wishing to join the project may sign up HERE. Third Space Brewing will share the recipe and label artwork with participating breweries. Industry partners Malteurop Malting Company, Yakima Chief Hops and Blue Label Packaging will also join the effort by offering discounts on materials for brewing and packaging One In Four.

Participating breweries are encouraged to donate proceeds to the National CoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence (NCADV) or a local organization of their choosing that supports those who have been affected by domestic violence or intimate partner
violence. Third Space Brewing will donate all profits from the sale of its One In Four beer to Sojourner Family Peace Center, the largest nonprofit provider of domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Wisconsin.”

And don’t claim burnout from charity beers, you have the easy job of buying and drinking.

Common Charity

Common Space has not one but two charity beers out in the wild now…

#1 – “Let’s have a Kiki! Cosmic Kiki Hazy IPA has arrived from the mysterious reaches of the cosmos to get the Pride party started. Available today in the taproom, for pickup or home delivery, snag a pint or a 4-pack today and give back to PFLAG Manhattan Beach, an amazing local organization fighting for LGBTQIA youth rights, advocating for equitable education, and providing familial support.”

#2 – “Ogg IPA is officially canned, kegged and ready to pour! A portion of proceeds of this limited release beer will be donated to @socalalzofficial and #TheLongestDay to help in the fight against Alzheimer’s.”

Keep Practicing

Practice is not a bad word, especially when we are practicing to be better. Almanac Beer Co. wants to remind us of that and to be better people towards all groups, including AAPI folks. So practice your hazy tasting of El Dorado, Centennial and Motueka hops.

Help the Butterfly

image from the Five Threads Facebook page

Five Threads Brewing north of L.A. in Westlake Village is “releasing an Organic IPA with a special cause at its core. Vanishing Beauty is our effort to rally support for the critically endangered Western Monarch Butterfly. Numbers of these majestic migrators have fallen from 4.5 million to 2,000 in just the last 40 years. Integral to the pollination of much of our local flora, these creatures must be protected at all costs, and a portion of the sales from Vanishing Beauty will be put to that use.

Vanishing Beauty was brewed with 100% organic ingredients including Bravo, Simcoe, Sultana, Calipso, and Mosaic hops. Expect a light and crisp body buoyed by notes of grapefruit zest and a subtle floral medley. This can with a cause is available today in our tasting room and online, and if you’d like to do even more to help protect the Western Monarch Butterfly please visit our website to find out how you can make a difference.”

The brewery is also releasing a quintuple IPA named 5X as well. A hoppy way to help the earth.

Raffle Some Whales

Since 2015, Whales for Wishes has raised over $215,000 dollars, enough to grant 34 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Head right HERE between now and April 8th to buy your raffle tickets for the spring giveaway and to see the list of beers that will be given away to make some wishes come true. It is a fun, low cost way to help and to see how lucky you are.