PNW Brewery # 2 – Hammer & Stitch

South to Portland for some classic ales from Widmer vet Ben Dobler at Hammer & Stitch.

Let’s put together a taster tray, starting with…

Choice – “our new Blackberry Hazy IPA is a fundraiser supporting Oregon Planned Parenthood.  This beer is important to us.  Incredibly important.  A portion of every pint sold goes directly to healthcare services and education.”

The Weizen – “Our American interpretation of a German classic. We crafted this brew with all North American ingredients and yeast to give this beer Northwest roots. The beer drinks light on the pallet, and yet is very satiating. The mild citrus from the hops melds with the wheat malt to quench any thirst.  Unlike the German inspiration,  this beer has a mild yeast character. This allows all the flavors to harmonize into this refreshing beer.”

The Amber – “2-Row, Caramel malts provide a subtle, sweet flavor and a beautiful, rich, red-amber hue. We balance the malt-forward nature of this beer with our PNW-grown hop blend that contributes hints of pine aromas along with brilliant floral flavoristics.”

Altbier – “A traditional German ale inspired by our Brewmaster’s origins.”

Sip NW Best of Brewery # 1 – Jellyfish Brewing

This month I am traveling to three breweries that received multiple awards in the Best Of issue of Sip NW magazine. My first selection is Jellyfish Brewing.

Let’s get right to the (possible) tasters:
Hydra Pils – “a classic pilsner with a clean malt body and a crisp hoppy finish. An all-German grain bill, and additions of Czech, French and German hops give this lager a truly continental lineage!”

Planktonic Red – “a very bright NW Red with 8 hop varietals, a whisper of hibiscus and a vibrantly clean finish.”

Smack IPA – “Smack is the term for a group of Jellyfish (factoid). This IPA is balanced at its core. It’ll greet you with peaches, pine and bright citrus.”

Saison Memoir – “This light ale is very dry, and is blended with our barrel-aged, wild-yeast fermented Saison. It brings soft peppercorn, bright lemon, and funk to the party.”

In the Tap Lines for February 2018

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We are back around the horn to birthday month! Time to decide what beer I want to imbibe as a special treat to me. While I do that, the blog will keep going with…

~ e-visits to three breweries from Canada
~ special featured reviews of beers NOT IPA’s (except for one)
~ 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 Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your February started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) February 6th – Bruery, Bruery Terruex & Offshoot Beer Co at Tony’s Darts Away
2) February 10th – L.A. Ale Works 1st Anniversary