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.

Re-Cap – Pink Boots Collabrew

Each spring, beer fans see Pink Boots collaboration beers made (sometimes) with that years special hop blend. You would have have to search them out brewery by brewery. But this year Los Angeles got lucky with the first CollaBrew Festival so youcan taste many of the beers all in one spot.

Held next door to Frogtown Brewery in front of a dance studio, Pink Boots LA brought together many local breweries and one in the works cider maker all together under a sunny, spring sky to show off their beers. There were also sessions all afternoon so that you could hear about women in our brewing industry.

And I had two really fantastic beers amongst the tasters. First was an IPA from 14 Cannons Fuck the Patriarchy that tasted just hopped, it was that fresh. Project Barley had one of the best cold IPA’s in their short history named Ice the Nectaron that was perfectly light with just a touch of hop bitterness.

I hope this festival becomes a yearly event. The San Diego chapter has expressed interest and it could become a bigger festival.

Know Yourself

You can’t miss the Frida Kahlo mural at Trademark Brewing but you may not have seen or remember the quote from her that is on it, “I am my own muse, I am the subject I know best.”

Obviously, they needed a Kahlo inspired beer so there now is My Own Muse, a “West Coast Pilsner that features this year’s exciting hop blend of Loral, Ekuanot, and HBC 586.”

CollaBrew Fest

The Los Angeles chapter of The Pink Boots Society is going to throwdown a bunch of women brewed beers on April 15th.  It is a goodly cross-section of LA breweries and should be a super fun beer event for those of us getting back into beer festivals.

Get your tickets HERE.

Pink Boots and the 2023 Collaboration Brew Day

I try to put my spin on beer events and not just copy & paste a press release, but this is important and there is zero need for me to mansplain….

“The Pink Boots Society Los Angeles Chapter is partnering with over 20 breweries across the greater Los Angeles area for 2023 Collaboration Brew Days. Many are taking place on International Women’s Day this Wednesday, March 8 and throughout the month of March in celebration of Women’s History Month. 

The international event, led by the Pink Boots Society, is a fundraising event that supports educational scholarships provided to women and non-binary individuals in the alcohol/fermented beverage industry. Each brewery hosts their own brew day on their chosen date and releases a beer to the public with a portion of proceeds donated to the Los Angeles Chapter. 

This year, the Los Angeles chapter will also host CollaBrew Fest, its first official beer festival, on Saturday, April 15, 2023 to showcase many of these collaboration beers brewed by women and non-binary individuals in the industry.  (I will pass on info about this when it becomes available)

There are currently more than 450 teams worldwide registered for Collaboration Brew Days. Participating breweries in the greater Los Angeles area include: 14 CannonsAngel City BreweryAngry Horse Brewery, Beachwood Brewing Long BeachBurning Bridge BrewingCommon Corners BrewingEureka Brewing CompanyFrogtown BreweryHermosa Brewing Co.Highland Park BreweryLast Name BrewingLawless Brewing CoLos Angeles Ale WorksMalibu Brewing CompanyNative Son LAPedals & Pints Brewing CompanyTarantula Hill Brewing Co.Topa Topa Brewing Co.Trademark Brewing Co., and Upshift Brewing.

Most of the breweries will be utilizing a special blend of Loral®, Ekuanot®, and HBC 586 hops purchased from Yakima Chief Hops (sale proceeds are also donated to Pink Boots Society). Admiral Maltings out of Alameda, California also provided malt donations for a select number of brew days across the California region.”

So come April, either hit up their festival or find as many as you can individually.

Stronger and Together

Project Barley in Lomita has a dynamic duo of new beers that celebrate women in the brewing industry, Stronger Hazy IPA & Together Clear IPA. Both are amazing and super yummy!!

Portion of the proceeds goes back to the Pink Boots Society. So get a 4-pack of both.

Bootsy

Eagle Rock Brewery has unveiled their 2022 Pink Boots collaboration. Here is the beers mission statement, “We love collaborating with the ladies of Pink Boots and fiercely support their desire to assist, inspire, and educate women in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry.”

And here is the beer description, “Bootsy is a West Coast IPA  that is bright and clean, with crispy tropical notes. Coming in at 6.3% ABV, this is the perfect beer to ring in the warmer weather!”

Blazing

Athletic Brewing has a beer named (I want to believe after my favorite team) Trailblazer! And, 100% of the profits will be donated to nonprofit organizations championing women in brewing. And, it uses the Pink Boots hop blend!