Tapping the Source
What are you drinking? It’s research, baby
Posted by: John Chandler on Mar 25, 2010 at 09:00AM
8 Comments
It was recently pointed out to me by an authority figure that we can better serve our readership if we periodically took their pulse about what they’re eating, drinking, reading, watching, listening to, driving, and smoking. (OK, skip the last one.) Readers with elephantine memories may recall that many moons ago I wrote a less-than-scientific feature for this very magazine about the tastiest summer beers being concocted by our local beer barons.
What we’re gunning for today is an update on the state of craft beer—specifically beer that’s brewed locally or from somewheres in Oregon. We’re all up to speed on Widmer Hefeweizen, Bridgeport IPA, Dead Guy, Mirror Pond, Hammerhead, and all the rest of the usual suspects. What I want to know about (nay, demand to know about) are the little fish. The up-and-comers from artisan breweries in the area that have taken your taste buds hostage. The local brews that haunt your dreams and cause incidents of sleepwalking to the fridge. The IPA’s you drink in the shower. The ESB’s you pound after a hearty meal. The golden ales you quaff while in front of the TV, effectively shutting out spouse, offspring, and other reminders of the many tragic mistakes you’ve made in this unimaginable hell you call a life.
In my case, I’ve been steering away from the mega-hoppy IPA’s to more malty brews that deliver intriguing secondary and tertiary flavors. I’ve had a fairly serious romance with Ninkasi’s Believer Double Red, a hearty ale clustered with nutty caramel notes. I also confess to a dalliance with Hopworks Lager, a plucky refresher, suitable for choo-choo chugging or dainty dabbling, that’s made steady headway into the Portland pub pack.
How about you drinking buddies? Give me the low down on the locals: the good, the great, the fabulous—and the overrated. Let’s get cracking!
Tags: Beer
The missus and I dined at Ken’s Artisan Pizza last night (because we’re highfalutin), and I enjoyed a tasty Dusseldorf Alt from Amnesia: http://blog.oregonlive.com/thebeerhere/2010/03/amnesia_brewings_new_dusseldor.html
…that the Upright Brews are nice, the Deschutes collection provides a good standby option for whatever you please, and Heater-Allen has a few sassy little lager numbers too. But, psssst, don’t tell anyone. That’s just what I heard.
Hair of the Dog has a pretty substantial cult following, but I never let up about how much I love them anyway. When expounding on my love for their Blue Dot (double IPA), a coworker asked, “Oh, a nice, balanced IPA, huh?” To which I replied: “No, imbalanced. . . like, with problems. . . like, in the really, really attractive way.”
what happened to Captured by Porches? I loved that guy. Upright makes beer unlike anything else I’ve had from the NW, which is mostly a good thing. there’s also a whole new world of non-portland beer at Prost where I had a traditional weisse the other day. It was my birthday. afterwards I had an ice cream cone. but I digress.
I still prefer Smiths’ special gin infused pilsner.
Been really digging all the Ninkasi offerings lately while at bars. At home, I’m holding onto a Pelican Bridal Veil from 2008, for a special occasion. Oh, and that Hopworks IPA, which can be found in many stores now, is really outstanding.
New Seasons has two kinds of Captured by Porches, which come in their own growlers. IPA and, I think, an amber?
It never ceases to amaze me at how easy people loose sight of the ‘why’. Why do you drink? To Quote the insightful Mr. Chandler; ‘… effectively shutting out spouse, offspring, and other reminders of the many tragic mistakes you’ve made in this unimaginable hell you call a life.’ Damn, that sounds like the buzz of innumerable LT Beers (and YES I have been to the Holy Land and it is in Golden Co.), or the newly discovered tantalizing blonde or amber that sneaks up on you and lays you low long before your appointed bedtime. These discovers are generally in ale houses disguised as eateries, ie ‘Wild River Brewery’, or the hard to find ‘Walk-a-bout Ale’, from the not so Aussie brewer in Southern Oregon. I have also found Rogue Ale sold all over the US, but it is not so agreeable with my tastes.
Remember the why and that every journey begins with just one drink.
New Seasons carries Captured by Porches? I gotta go check this out.
Deschutes and Rogue often have limited release stuff that stands head and shoulders above their usual fare. And I’ve never had anything from Ninkasi or Terminal Gravity that I haven’t really, really liked.
And th’ wife loves the Double Mountain IRA. Can’t disagree with her on that one.