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One month from now, the Portland Trailblazers will kick-off the 2017-18 campaign in Phoenix and Pyramid Brewing has an IPA for the occasion. Maybe it won’t be hazy like the teams chances are this year.
And kudos to the label designer. The uniform fabric look is really cool as are the little touches like Dr. Jack in plaid and Bingo Bango Bongo.
Yesterday, the salary capped-out Blazers had three late 1st round picks to use in the 2017 NBA draft.
If I was the GM, I would have dangled the 15 pick along with Allen Crabbe or Evan Turner’s bloated contract to anyone who would bite. Then I would take Jordan Bell from the UO for defense and hustle and Isiah Hartenstein to stash overseas and groom to be a Nurkic apprentice.
After the smoke had cleared, let’s call them “my” team traded their 15 and 20 picks for the #10 from Sacramento to select Zach Collins from Gonzaga and used the remaining pick on Caleb Swanigan from Purdue.
Based on their college team, here are some beers to toast the new arrivals to Rip City.
For Collins, it is easy. No-Li Brewhouse makes a cream ale by the name of Gonzaga or maybe Stellar Stout in the hopes that he will blossom into our starting power forward.
I couldn’t find a brewery in West Layfayette in a quick google search, but Indiana has a great number and I found an appropriate beer for Swanigan at Sun King Brewing. Big Iron English Barleywine or Bring the Hops, because Portland needs some rebounding.
A few games into the 2016-17 NBA season and things started turning south for my beloved Blazers. The crew that had clicked last year was losing very frequently. It looked dire. I had started my “Who to draft” process. But then the arrival of the Bosnian Beast, Jusuf Nurkic from our nearest playoff competitor sparked a revival. And despite Nurk going down, the rest of the team stepped up and got us into a 1st round match-up with Golden State. (also thank to Russell Westbrook for downing the Nuggets)
So, considering we have a first round date with the Curry-Durant Warriors. What should I drink? I welcome your suggestions but here are some that just might be in my ‘fridge for the series….
You can find some Ex Novo Brewing beers around LA and since they are Portland based and have a beer named Damon Stout-amire after a former point guard for the Blazers, it would be a good start.
I will need something strong for when the Warriors start scoring at will, so I pulled up a barley wine from Oakshire Brewing from 2014! It will certainly relax me as the torrid pace of scoring ensues.
I also will try to channel the 1977 Blazers by opening Brewyard’s Smoked Red Ale. Maybe the spirit of the original Big Red Head will swing some karma.
Congratulations though to the team for persevering when it could have been just as easy to tank for draft picks.
2016 has started shakily but could be a breakout year for Lillard/McCollum and Co. but 1977 is THE year for Portland Trailblazer fans. Our one and only championship season. And now Pyramid Brewing continues their Blazer beer series with 1977 Lager.
The recipe has some easter eggs to it. The IBU’s are 32 which is not coincidentally Bill Walton’s no retired number. The malt bill has 5 grains like the starting five for the team. Twardzik, Gross, Steele, Lucas and Walton. Finally the SRM is 7, the amount of years it took for the franchise to win a title.
In a smart move, instead of going IPA or another high ABV route, they went to a sessionable lager. The better to drink while cheering on the team.
Since the NBA Playoffs are now underway and since the Portland Trailblazers made it in despite all the naysayers (like me), it is time to pop the cap on Terry Porter from Gilgamesh Brewing in Salem, Oregon.
The Terry Porter pours an inky black with an espresso foam ring. Much smokier than anticipated in the early sips. Rauch malty which fades as the beer warms. Almost cigar smoke. I can imagine a barrel aged version of this adding a layer of complexity. There is a smooth viscosity here. Kind of one note in the end though.
This beer donates part of the proceeds to the Doernbecher Hospital as well as celebrating one of the best Blazers of all-time.
Beat them Clippers!
I would really like to hold that title. But Pyramid couldn’t choose a better person to put on the label of a Blazer beer than Bill Schonely.
With Moda Center next to pyramids, you can almost hear the “Rip City” from a three-point play in the air while the El Dorado and Calypso hops help with the pick and roll.
Now if the Blazers could get a nice roll going so I could enjoy this red session ale with wins that would be great.
I will be buying multiple bottles of this for the label alone.