Tag: Oregon

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Featured Mocktail Review – Craftwell Peach Mojito and Pineapple Margarita

Readers of the blog will know that I have attempted to enjoy many a Non-Alcoholic beverage. Was quite the fan of both Shirley Temples when out for a fancy dinner with my parents and Lime Rickeys at the now lost to time, Frederick & Nelson department store in Portland.

Preamble over, what would to RTD mocktails from Craftwell Cocktails taste like?

Starting with the Peach Mojito: peachy on the nose, like juice which is a good sign. The mint comes through right after the stonefruit. Has a really tart sparkle to it. A little puckery which I was not expecting. It is very tasty and I would say could be a good mixer start if you wanted to rum it up.

The Margarita has a pineapple chunks from a can taste. Glad it was not candy pineapple. Past that though, there is not much else going on. This one is way more of a mixer candidate. The other flavor notes are too far in the background and the lack of agave is really noticeable here.

Neither are unworthy of drinking as is but both seem more a starting point than an end one. That being said, I would pick the Peach Mojito first.

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Super Nectar

Instead of going dry this month, I am widening my beverages. Not only N/A but ciders and now highlighting meads. Super meads from Nectar Creek Meadery.

Super Cyser: “Back by popular demand, Nectar Creek Meadery and 2 Towns Ciderhouse are proud to reintroduce Super Cyser, a regal mead from 10 years ago, breathing new life into this time honored masterpiece.  This warm, rich cyser is made with Pacific Northwest apples and local blackberry honey. Fermented and aged in white wine barrels, Super Cyser boasts a rich, aromatic profile, perfectly balancing the acidity of crisp apples with the sweetness of honey.”

Super Mure: “With a respectful nod to tradition, Super Mure revives the classic melomel style reminiscent of Medieval times. This royal nectar combines blackberries and blackberry honey fermented in oak barrels. It delivers just the right balance of tannin, oak character and warm honey sweetness. At a commanding 14% alcohol by volume (ABV), this indulgent creation offers a sensory journey that is nothing short of extraordinary.”

Reviews to follow later this month!

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Oregon Beer Trip – Post 3

When I travel and beer is on the agenda, I research new places, places getting buzz, beers that do not come to my neck of the woods. Usually that means driving all over to hit the spots that most interest me.

Or, both breweries could be within 4 blocks of each other on one street.

Both Grand Fir Brewing and Fracture Brewing sit on the north side of East Stark Street and I popped into both and came away impressed by both the beer and the atmosphere.

Grand Fir is two floors with a small amount of outdoor and first floor seating. Upstairs is the bar along with the kitchen so you can get beer and lunch / dinner. Touches of green and wood are everywhere.

I tasted four beers from their line-up and bar one that was fine, the others from brewer Whitney Burnside were great including the Lichen West Coast IPA and the Ember Schwarzbier.

Next door to a small food cart pod is Fracture where the vibe is cocktail bar (which it is) but with great beer.

I tasted two beers both IPA, both oat cream hazy and both simply fantastic. Their Anniversary IPA had a little sharp edge to it but was fruity and soft on the palate. Hype Machine V1 was somehow even more pillowy and more tropical fruity. I didn’t sample the lighter or darker stuff but based on the first two, my expectations are high.

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Oregon Beer Trip – Post 2

Time to pick up where I left off. I visited pFriem again after peeking through at close by Ferment Brewing but finding the food menu a little more to my liking.

There I had the half pours of the Jammy Pale Ale and Coconut IPA. The latter was a toe over the line too much coconut but the jammy pale had a great watermelon note to it that I really enjoyed.

The next day was a jaunt through the orchards that comprise the Hood River Fruit Loop. It was the early end of cherry season but apricots were aplenty as were cideries along the way including at Draper Girls where I had an excellent sampling of eight of their ciders in teeny portions including a French Pear and Lavender one that struck my fancy.

Our last stop was Mt. View Orchards who, in addition to a farmstand have a winery, cidery and brewery in a new building with a grand view of Mount Hood. After a false start getting a pour of the wrong beer, I settled in with the eponymous IPA which was middle of the road but that view more than made up for it.

Next day, up the hill I went to Timberline Lodge. There at the snug Blue Ox Bar on the ground floor I sipped an Ice Axe IPA from Mt. Hood Brewing while the pizza oven filled the space with wonderful aromas.

There will be future posts on a duo of Stark Street breweries as well as Wilderton N/A Spirits.

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Oregon Beer Trip – Post 1

Sometimes a beer vacation takes you exactly where you planned to go and other times, you scramble to Plan B. Or if you are on vacation you in Oregon, you just walk a little to the next place.

I wanted to stop at Gorges Beer Co. outside Hood River in Cacade Locks. But as I walked to the door, I was told they were closed because an employee didn’t make it back from Las Vegas. So, to nearby Thunder Island I went. And the view of the island and the Columbia River was fantastic on a cold and rainy July day.

The beers were tilted to light and Belgiany which was cool. I had a Belgian IPA and a regular IPA. A saison and Kveik Pale Ale. The Belgians were strong enough to overpower the others. Solid overall if not spectacular.

I should backtrack though. Fresh off the plane from Burbank, the first stop was Belmont Station to grab a 4-pack of new to me Oregon beers.

I picked up Via, Fracture, Hetty Alice and Away Days.

More to come from Oregon.

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Review – Pineapple Party Punch from Rogue

For the final review of June, let’s go a bit Tiki with Rogue Ales Pineapple Party Punch.

No rum involved in this hazy IPA, just pineapple and toasted coconut. The aroma is pineapple smoothie. Not unpleasant but a bit sweet to me even for a fruited hazy. When tasting, is actually works. The hop bitterness and the pineapple play off each other and the mouthfeel is pillowy soft. The coconut is a little less present but that is the way I prefer, a little of it goes a long way for me.

I was worried that this would be too much but Rogue has mixologisted it up in balance.

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Beer Review – A Trio of Oregon Beers

Some great Oregon breweries have been sneaking into the L.A. beer market of late. I have seen a bit of Wayfinder Beer and Heater Allen and lately pFriem Family Brewers too.

So instead of a single review or a duo, it is time for a trilogy of Oregon beers in one post. Three different styles but only one best of show….

Wayfinder Beer Russian Circles Black Pilsner – if you closed your eyes and drank this, at first, you would certainly know it was a pilsner but you would probably then lean towards either German or Czech styled. There is a bit of roast, Malliard reaction in the aroma and taste but overall this is a really nice, hearty pilsner.

Heater Allen Pink Boots Brew – the famous McMinnville lager brewery utilized the 2023 Pink Boots hop blend for this pale ale. Quite a melange of hop notes here. Getting pine and some citrus and even a touch of strawberry as well. A bit slick on the tongue as well.

pFriem Sparkling IPA – pours a dark orange. Initial taste is a bit of marmalade paired with pear as well. Was expecting more bubbles due to the name but there is a swirl of flavors. The label name checks seven fruits including sugar covered strawberry which is quite specific. Just a crazy four dimensional IPA.

My Winner – Due to the complexity, I select the pFriem but this was a close contest for sure.

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Oregon Beer Day – Gold Dot

Two Oregon titans are combining on a new project that will land in my college town of McMinnville.

Lisa Allen, head brewer at Heater Allen known for fantastic pilsners, and Kevin Davey, who as brewmaster at Wayfinder— led the Cold IPA trend are combining forces.

The Heater Allen brewery in McMinnville, Oregon, will also launch a new venture and line of beers at the facility to be called Gold Dot. 

If you are looking for the next hot beer style, it may be born at this new brewery partnership. And Gold Dot is now on the Oregon list the next time I visit.

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Coming to PDX in 2023

In a patented Beer Search Party move, read THIS about 2023 Oregon and SW Washington breweries about to open first, then you can see below my picks and if you agree with my choices as the most interesting newbies.

Oak Union – hey, hey might be landing in my hometown of Milwaukie

Breakside – big plans for three locations including Astoria

Upright – adding a second location in a former corner gas station

Little Hop Brewing – a brewery and a mobile Tiny Hop House truck