BAR PILOT

Upright Brewing’s Oyster Stout Release

Popular brew gets a truffle upgrade

Posted by: Sarah Moore on Feb 07, 2012 at 04:00PM 2 Comments

Not that Oregonians—and Portlanders in particular—really need incentive to head to the nearest pub and down tasty beers in good company, but if you do, then consider this your cattle prod. To celebrate the release of its 2012 Oyster Stout, Upright Brewing is sending a special, won’t-last-long, truffle-packed firkin over to Grain & Gristle, for your sampling pleasure.

For those of us not conversant in old English units of volume, a firkin holds the equivalent of 72 pints … minus the space occupied by half a pound of Oregon black truffles, of course. That should make for plenty of thick, black, frothy-headed pours, with chocolate notes, roasted malt flavors, and a briny finish. The latter comes courtesy of the Hama Hama oysters used in the brewing process by Upright’s head brewer Alex Ganum (also a Grain & Gristle founder) in partnership with Jason McAdam of Burnside Brewing.

Festivities are planned between noon and 11:30 PM on Thursday, though last year’s epic tapping party lasted into the wee small hours and on through the next day. Bottles go on sale in the Upright tasting room on Friday and should make shop appearances around the same time.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Upright Brewing

OBF: Day One

The crowd is growing and the taps are flowing

Posted by: John Chandler on Jul 28, 2011 at 02:00PM 4 Comments

And… the ceremonial first keg is tapped at the Oregon Brewers Festival!

Let the games begin.

The 24th edition of the Oregon Brewers Festival is off and running. I’ve just returned from a beer blogger event hosted by OBF volunteer and brew brainiac Noel Blake, where 15 specially selected beers were poured for the benefit of a very thirsty local media. If I can somehow decipher my childish scrawl I’ll share the highlights and lowlights.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Black & Red
Dogfish owner Sam Calagione is considered royalty among the brewing cognoscenti—and with good reason. The little brewery from Milton, Delaware is always pushing the “bigger, better, bolder” envelope and this year’s entry in the OBF is no exception. The Black & Red weighs in at a formidable 10.3 percent alcohol and tastes like it should be served in a sherry glass. Chocolate, mint, and raspberry notes dominate while the low carbonation gives it a soupy, syrupy mouthfeel. It’s a monster. Handle with care.

Ninkasi Brewing Company: Helles Belles
A very uncharacteristic Ninkasi, in that the hops stay in the back seat and the malt is front and center. The first note I wrote about this one was “cornbread?” For a lager, Helles Belles is remarkably full-bodied and rich.

Full Sail Brewing’s resident genius John Harris at OBF.

Upright Brewing Company: Offen Weisse
I’ve never met an Upright brew that I didn’t like, and their record is still good. This German wheat beer has a rounded, fruity taste that’s dry as a bone. This would be a fantastic session beer. In fact, please invite me to that session.

Burnside Brewing: Gratzer
Based on an old Polish style it’s a smoked wheat pale ale that really smokes! To achieve that perfect campfire flavor, the brewers smoked 600 pounds of white wheat over an apple wood fire, that also adds a crisp nuttiness to the mix. Recommended.

Columbia River Brewing: Nyctophobia IPA: It’s official. We are to refer to these beers as Cascade Dark Ales, and not Dark IPA. ’Nuff said. I like to call these “candy bar” beers, due to their chewy, chocolate flavor profile. Nyctophobia (fear of the dark) also has plenty of hop heft. Reminded me of an easy drinking porter.

Hopfinium comes from the Collaborator Project, a team effort from the Oregon Brew Crew and Widmer Brothers Brewing.

Lagunitas Brewing: Little Sumpin’ Wild
If you like your beers on the aggressive side, then you’ll go ape for LSW. The combo of wheat, Belgian yeast and heavy hops make this a pretty belligerent brew, but in this case conflict leads to something glorious. I’d like another, please.

Boneyard Beer: Girl Beer
Could be that my palate was pulverized by this point, but I found this fruit beer from a new Bend brewery to be rather weak tea. Subtle to the point of nonexistence.

I’ll be hitting the festival again tomorrow, as will various members of the Bar Pilot “street team,” so we’ll keep you posted. Chandler out.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Ninkasi Brewing, Upright Brewing, Oregon Craft Beer Month, Oregon Brewers Festival

Pre-Fest Functions

Let’s warm up for Oregon Brewers Festival this weekend!

Posted by: John Chandler on Jul 22, 2011 at 02:00PM 4 Comments

You call that drinking?

Look, I know it’s hard and sometimes you just want to throw in the towel, but real competitors who want to become champions maintain their training regimens. While some misguided individuals cling to horse-and-buggy theories about reducing their beer intake—or even drying out completely—in the days leading up to the Oregon Brewers Festival, I’d just like to make myself perfectly clear: It’s Oregon Craft Beer Month, and as such requires redoubled efforts. Please don’t make me question your commitment.

For beer believers looking to sharpen their sipping skills, there are a trio of opportunities to do so coming up—starting tonight!

Farmhouse Brews at The BeerMongers

Looking for something a wee bit different? Skate on down to The BeerMongers bottle shop on SE Division for some ale expertise from the Old Country. Alex Ganum from Upright Brewing, David Logsdon and Charles Porter from Hood River Logsdon’s Organic Farmhouse Ales, and Michael Wright from Beetje Brewery will be on hand to pour some singular suds. Ganum’s offering, the Alphaphylactic Hop, is described as an “imperial IPA hybrid,” while Beetje’s Urban Farmhouse Ale and Logsdon’s Seizoen and Seizoen Bretta are throwbacks to small-batch brewing traditions that originated in Belgium and France in the 18th century when farm owners figured out that keeping their workers hydrated with rough, unfiltered beer was a proper way to ensure loyalty and diligence. I tried this line of reasoning with my own boss, but was immediately threatened with disciplinary action.

LOLA: A Celebration of Women in Beer at Saraveza

LOLA stands for Ladies of Lagers and Ales, a determined group of women brewers from some of the best breweries in the state. Bend Brewing’s Tonya Cornett is probably the most visible member of this fledgling organization, but lady brewers from Oakshire, Lucky Lab, Hopworks, Natian, Full Sail, and Heater Allen also will be present with some of their handpicked beers that should dispel any lingering vestige of sexism that may still linger in this particular chapter of the Old Boy’s network.

Ben Fest at Grain and Gristle

I was unaware that “Ben” was such a mundane moniker in the brewing community! Apparently there are “Bens” working at Widmer Brothers, Breakside, Occidental, Lucky Lab, and Hopworks. Starting at 5 PM on Monday, Benophiles can sample beers from more than a half-dozen breweries that wisely chose to employ guys named Ben. Hey, I’ve accepted flimsier excuses than that for a beer throwdown.

UPDATE!

Portland Monthly’s Picnic for Forest Park

I neglected an event for Sunday! How could I be so stupid? Portland Monthly is having a picnic for Forest Park this Sunday. Of course you’re invited!

Add a Comment »

Tags: Beer Festivals, Craft Beers, Upright Brewing, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Lucky Lab, Oregon Craft Beer Month

Dutch Treat

Upright Brewing’s Kopstootje

Posted by: John Chandler on Apr 05, 2011 at 12:00PM 3 Comments

The instruction card read:

Scoot to the edge of the bar.
Bend from the waist to sip from the tulip glass.
Look a little silly? Perfect.
Sit up. Take a sip of your beer.
Now introduce your new friend to a stranger.
Repeat.

Last Friday found your humble narrator facing the bar at Circa 33, along with a bunch of other beery chaps, waiting for the green light. Directly in front of each of us was a shot and a beer, but nothing nearly as prosaic as bourbon and Bud. Instead, the bartender had filled our lovely tulip glasses to overflowing with Bols Genever, a brazen, wheat-based Dutch-style gin variant. Perched nearby was a beer back of Kopstootje (kop-stow-tje, which mean "little head-butt) Biere, a specially brewed, limited-edition ale from Upright Brewing mastermind Alex Ganum and local spirits guide Jacob Grier, that was formulated specifically to be imbibed in concert with the gin (that isn’t really gin).

After some introductory comments by Ganum, who noted he tried to add as many of the same botanical and aromatic ingredients to the beer that are also found in Bols Genever (star anise, clove, juniper, to name a few), and by Bols Genever brand ambassador Tal Nadari, who insisted that his product is really more akin to whiskey than gin, we put our hands behind our backs, bent forward and sipped. I can attest to the fact that Bols Genever is in no way similar to Beefeaters, Seagrams, or any other dry London-style gin. Instead, there is more herbal sweetness, with none of the accompanying burn. When you add a splash of the botanically bolstered Upright Kopstootje, the remnants of the Genever seem to go “poof” and a cloud of malt, licorice, and clove is left behind, which softly dissipates.

I found the combination to be earthy and intricate, but perhaps not suitable for your daily dose. This is a complex flavor confluence best left to august occasions. If you wish to take this pairing for a test drive, you can find Bols Genever and Kopstootje currently available at Hop and Vine, Beaker and Flask, Grain and Gristle, and a few other classy drinking establishments.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Upright Brewing, Circa 33, Bols Genever

Happy Birthday, Dear Beer!

Three of our best breweries light the candles

Posted by: John Chandler on Mar 15, 2011 at 10:00AM 3 Comments

March is loaded with birthdays I would do well to remember. Darryl Strawberry…Paul Kantner… Dr. Seuss… the list goes on. Around these parts, a trio of noteworthy brewing operations also are lighting some anniversary candles and I’m taking this opportunity to offer up my best wishes to the following folks who are always there for me when my thirst for hops gets the upper hand. Cheers one and all!

Laurelwood Brewing Brawny-but-balanced brews like Workhorse IPA and Free Range Red have provided me with countless hours of inspiration and merriment. To celebrate 10 years in the beer biz, Laurelwood will be throwing a birthday bash this Friday at the Laurelwood Pub & Brewery (5115 NE Sandy) from 5-11. Laurelwood brews will be a paltry $2.50 a pint and lucky attendees can look forward to a taste of two spanking-new beers from head brewer Chad Kennedy. The “Big O” Organic Pale Ale (named for the great Oscar Robertson, perhaps?) and the Imperial Workhorse IPA (just like the excellent Workhorse IPA—but bigger!). Cheers to Kennedy and owner Mike De Kalb.

Upright Brewing Brew master Alex Ganum and his hardworking colleagues are marking their second anniversary with a party at the Upright tasting room (240 N. Broadway, Suite 002) this Sunday from 1-6. The star of the show will be Four Play, a sour farmhouse cherry wheat beer that’s been aged in pinot barrels. Brew believers, do not miss this one; it’s based on Four, Upright’s awesome wheat beer that’s been barrel-aged for a year with a load of cherries. Also making an appearance will be the guest of honor from last year’s soiree, the Apricot Anniversary Ale, aged in Ransom Spirits Old Tom Gin barrels. In fact, it’s safe to say you’ll have a barrel of fun!

Redhook I’ve been knocking back Redhook long before the term craft beer was bandied about. Back in my rock ‘n’ roll days we referred to such tasty titles as Ballard Bitter (now called Long Hammer IPA) and spicy seasonals like Winterhook as “microbrews” (it seems almost quaint now). True, this long-running operation is based in Seattle, but it was the first microbrew to gain national distribution and thus helped pave the way for others to follow. In honor of its 30th anniversary, Redhook has unveiled it’s “back-to-basics” stubby-neck 12 oz. bottle along with some new packaging and color-coded label design. Soon to come from Redhook will be a pilsner style and its Copperhook will be available in cans.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Beer Festivals, Craft Beers, Upright Brewing, New Beer, Redhook Brewing, Laurelwood Brewing

Magic Moments 2010

A few things that made me love my job this year

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 04, 2011 at 10:00AM 5 Comments

The Bar Pilot Special from Big-Ass Sandwiches

Gads, is it 2011 already? My, how quickly the sands of time swirl away during the pursuit of Happy Hour excellence and bar bounty. Please understand that I’ve had to chew my way through some ghastly grub (the memory of Ash Street Saloon’s evil grilled-cheese sandwich still causes me to wake up screaming) and sample some really underwhelming cocktails in order to bring you, my drinking buddies, the latest intelligence from the front lines. But let’s accentuate the positive, shall we? Here then is a list of particularly noteworthy menu moments from this past year.

Big-Ass Sandwiches A Big-Ass Sandwich is like telling your stomach, “Here! Suck on this!” This is not a food cart that you can hit on a daily basis. The sandwiches are just too extreme. But if you’re having one of those days and you can feel a gnawing hunger in your gut that cries out in primordial fashion to be satisfied, you can do no better.

Cafe Nell The best service in town. Super-efficient waiters who appear as if summoned from a lamp.

Cascade Barrelhouse I adore Ron Gansberg’s sour beers and I greatly look forward to exploring their flavor mystique with an assortment of food pairings.

Hawthorne Hophouse A welcome addition to my neighborhood with exceptional pub grub (the Red Dragon Burger, with ham, spicy mustard, and cheddar atop Angus beef is a new addiction) and a rotating beer selection that pays loving tribute to the region. On Sundays, local brews are only $3!

The sampler tray at Hawthorne Hophouse.

Hop & Vine Really, this modest little shop offers the best of everything. A well-curated wine list, terrific rotating taps, intriguing cocktails, and a sturdy food menu, for starters, but the atmosphere is congenial and cozy. And if you want to stalk local beer celebrities chances are they’re hanging out there—right now!

Jade Lounge’s Banana Fritters On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jade Lounge offers a cunning array of $3 plates all day. In this case I recommend dessert first. For a fleeting instant, the delicate cornmeal shell rolled in cinnamon, bursting with gooey banana splendor will bring to mind delightful domestic scenes from childhood. Perhaps not yours, but somebody’s.

Metrovino’s Seafood Chowder: True, I first encountered this sensational soup in 2009, but I return periodically to slurp of its goodness and fortify my ravaged soul. Fatty smoked bacon adrift in a sea of oysters, clams, tuna, and halibut for $5. Why aren’t you eating it now?

Metrovino’s Seafood Chowder.

Miho Izakaya For sheer menu audacity, I have to give it up for the little Japanese pub on N Interstate. The ingredients are always cracking fresh, and the 25 or so small-plate offerings ($2-10) are not only uniformly tasty, but extremely interesting to boot. The slow-cooked pork, spicy noodles, and beguiling fish entrees will reel you in and turn you into a homing pigeon for this coop.

Three Doors Down Bartender Matt Stiles is an unsung hero in my book. He’s never served me a drink that was anything less than spectacular. And the quality of the Happy Hour chow, from the habit-forming Tuscan white bean spread to the vodka sausage penne, is incomparable. Happy Hour is available all night on Sundays and Tue-Thur.

Upright Brewing Alex Ganum’s bold and yeasty farmhouse ales provided a welcome respite from the hops arms race.

I’m as human as the next gink and I can’t be everywhere at once. So by all means, if I’ve missed something that deserves a round of applause, please speak up!

Add a Comment »

Tags: Happy Hour, Hop and Vine, Three Doors Down, Metrovino, Best of 2010, Hawthorne Hophouse, Miho Izakaya, Upright Brewing, Cascade Brewing, Big Ass Sandwiches, Cafe Nell, Jade Lounge

Beer! Beer! Beer!

There’s no escape from Night of the Living Ales

Posted by: John Chandler on Oct 20, 2010 at 10:00AM 3 Comments

Graphic courtesy My Two Cents Clothing

My favorite holiday is fast approaching and as you may recall from previous posts, it’s an occasion I treat with the fervor of a rabid Jehovah’s Witness.

Last year I called out for Halloween cocktail recipes and I’ll be dropping some knowledge on that particular subject very soon. In the meantime, I would advise the brew believers among you to make arrangements for Halloween night (Sunday, Oct 31) to attend the Night of the Living Ales pub crawl along NE 28th Ave.

You’ll need to buy a $5 wristband for this auspicious event (find out how here), which entitles the wearer to exclusive beers like Upright Brewing’s pinot barrel-aged brown ale, Double Mountain’s Bonne Idee Avec Kriek (a blend of Saison and cherry kriek beer), and Ninkasi’s Kraken, a strong ale as formidable as its name. The piece-de-resistance is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal stout crafted by event organizers. Your host will be the lovely Lisa Morrison, aka The Beer Goddess, whose “Beer O’Clock” radio show broadcasts every Saturday at 3 p.m. on KXL. The crawl begins at Migration Brewing (2828 NE Glisan St) at 8 p.m., followed by stops at Spints Ale House, Beulahland, and Coalition Brewing.

In the words of event founder Ezra Johnson-Greenough, “I designed this pub crawl to be exactly what I would want to do for Halloween—it’s just good clean fun and great beer and drinks without being a wild out-of-control event. Don’t feel you have to wear a costume, though you have a far better chance of winning prizes if you do, and there will be some excellent prizes like gift cards to all the various pubs, T-shirts and more.”

Yes, you should wear a costume as prizes (e.g., brewery swag) will be awarded at each location. Besides, it’s Hallo-friggin’-ween and craft beer is way better for you than some lousy miniature Milky Ways.

Costume ideas? I’m all ears.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Events, Holiday Events, Craft Beers, Stumble Zone, Halloween, Ninkasi Brewing, Upright Brewing, Zombies, Spints Alehouse