The Keg Hunter

Rogue I2PA, Hemp, Ginger, Crusty

2011-08-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

OBF 2011 - Amnesia Brewing - Dopacetic IPA

2011-07-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Yep. It's dope.

OBF 2011 - Boneyard Beer - Girl Beer

2011-07-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Not just for girls, this cherry brew is sweet and sassy like a lady should be.

OBF 2011 - Hopworks Urban Brewery - Evelyn's Imperial Sunshine

2011-07-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

All the HUB brews are yummy and organic, but this is a cut above. Quite a treat!

OBF 2011 - Collaborator - Hopfinium

2011-07-28T14:12:00.001-07:00

As usual, the brew crew comes through with a very tasty, hoppy, yet light offering. Not overwhelming, just plain yummy beer.

OBF 2011 - Gilgamesh Brewing - Mint Kölsch

2011-07-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

Just to show off the weather this weekend, here's a view of Mt. Hood from the fest.

A photo of the minty brew would hardly help one appreciate the potent and fragrant mintiness embodied therein anyhow. Unique and sweet with just a little sour Kölsch taste to set off the mint. Yummy. Different.

OBF 2011 - Vertigo Brewing - Razz Wheat

2011-07-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

This Hillsboro brewery got the idea right with their raspberry wheat brew. Potent raspberries lend sweetness in ample portion, and hops lay low for the lead flavor. Very raspberry.

OBF 2011 - Kona Brewing - Lemongrass Luau

2011-07-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what inspired this concoction. Lemongrass would not have crossed my mind as a beer ingredient. Yet it works well enough. Still, not Kona's most mouth-watering offering ever.

OBF 2011 - Alameda Brewing - Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA

2011-07-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

Topping the IBU ratings thus year among the lightest class of beers, this brew is hop heavy but excellently balanced. Fruity and light, but has punch! Onward…

OBF 2011 - Hop Valley Brewing Co - Alpha Centauri Binary IPA

2011-07-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

It's a double by any name. This Imperial IPA is fruity, spicy and strong, but with a deceptively smooth swallow. Onward!

Oregon Brewers Festival 2011

2011-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Today marks the opening of the Oregon Brewers Festival. I decided to start with Caldera Brewing's Hop Hash. Billed as a surprise on all fronts, it has a distinct character.

Tongue tingling and tart, it's almost too hoppy for even this hophead. Onward!

HUB Galactic Imperial Red

2011-07-21T18:03:00.001-07:00

Great smooth mouthfeel. Strong but splendidly balanced. Truly Imperial.

Estrella Damm

2011-07-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

Not from a keg, but easier on the budget than a trip to Spain. This is a tasty, light lager. Perfect with tapas.

Capitol City Brewing Company

2011-06-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here's the sampler: Kölsch, Hefe, Amber, Pale and Porter.

The Kölsch is light and flavorful, maybe a little weak by NW standards, but quite quaffable with complementary pretzels. Delicate, but with a little zing.

The Hefe is an assertive wheat brew, and a very middle of the road interpretation. Not daring, but darn good for a wheat! Hints of fruit hiding in the hay. Not a banana wheat, but not bad.

Amber Waves is a "full bodied", California style (?) ale with strong hop character, and the most popular brew on tap here. It's easy to taste why. Amber, almost red, with hops that assert themselves just enough to get your attention, without being overly bold. Nice balance here, with caramel notes.

The Pale Rider Ale is advertised with a skull and two wings as the image, but this is a pretty tame brew, somewhere between a pale and an IPA. It's got hops, but by Oregon standards, it's not really an IPA. It is pretty tasty and even a little on the citrus side.

The final taster is the Prohibition Porter. Chocolate notes make this a good fit for dessert. Yum.

First stop in DC

2011-06-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

Great Leap to go

2011-05-28T01:01:00.000-07:00

Great Leap Brewing closed their doors for a private party this evening, but they were kind enough to let me grab a growler to go. They'll be open again at 9pm...

Gotta love free enterprise!

Great Leap Banana Wheat, Porter, Stout and Pale

2011-05-22T04:10:00.000-07:00

Never had a banana beer? This is a serious treat, a banana wheat. Sweet, strong banana flavor and a masterful balance. Yes, fruity beer is sacrilegious but in this case all is forgiven. It tastes like candy and love. Rock on!!

The porter has an excellent balance and full roasted malt character, while the pale is a robust interpretation of the type.

The beers are priced on a sliding scale based on how much they cost to produce, which also tends to arrange them in a good order for tasting. Starting with the lowest priced beers will preserve more sobriety and taste buds for the flavor onslaught provided by the excellent stout. For a beer lover in Beijing, visiting Great Leap is a must.

Great Leap Brewing

2011-05-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

This well-hidden brewery in the hutongs of Beijing offers rotating taps for the intrepid beer enthusiast. Offering an assortment of brews credited with launching the brewery movement in the capital, and soon to expand production and distribution capacity, they have become a sanctuary for expat beer lovers.

Local regulars grab growlers of pale ale or stout to go, and smiles abound. There are usually around 6 taps of tasty libations to be sampled here.

I elected to start with the IPA called Little General. Yum. Served cask temperature with a nice balance of hoppy tang and a full body, this certainly is a welcome brew for an IPA fan in China. At 6.9%, it beats all the local beer handily for potency. It goes without saying. This is the place for beer in Beijing.

Hours are now 3pm-midnight (depending on the level of business) Tuesday through Sunday. Well worth your effort if you are a beer fan in China's capital.

Spring Reign by Ninkasi

2011-05-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

Tasty even from a bottle. When there is no tap in sight, Spring Reign in a bottle is nice to see!

Ninkasi Double Red

2011-05-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

Excellent, hoppy and fully red in character with a sassy finish.

Hop Lava at Night Light

2011-05-05T17:35:00.001-07:00

The Night Light is a sweet little neighborhood restaurant and bar that does nearly everything right. Good food is complemented by excellent beer, and while Hop Lava is an old friend, that's all right by me. It's local, tasty, tangy. Nice.

Burnside Brewing IPA

2011-04-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Nice bite and a mello, malty finish. On tap at Blitz Ladd. HH.

OBF: Green River, Le Freak

2010-07-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

Freaky for sure. Lively mouthfeel and old world microbes make this a unique flavor at OBF. Not for everybody. Earthy.

OBF 9: Mendocino Brewing Imperial IPA

2010-07-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

A robust IIPA with caramel flavors hiding behind great floral hops which happily assault the quaffer.

OBF 9: Ballast Point Brewing Co, Big Eye IPA

2010-07-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

This is very malty for an IPA. Hops are tasty, but the flavors don't seem to blend all that well. Needs more room for the hops to breathe - malt overpowers.

OBF 8: Santa Cruz Mt Brewing, Olallieberry Cream Ale

2010-07-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

Excellent fruity brew from Ca. Olallieberries must be tasty. Good mouthfeel, smooth and soft. A little tang adds dimension. Yum.

OBF 7: Double Mountain, Vaporizer

2010-07-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Excellent tongue teasing IPA that virtually sublimates off the palate. Dry like wine, tasty like IPA, and only the subtlest bite. Very nice!

PIB: Collaborator X

2010-07-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Tasty homebrew recipe from the Oregon Brew Crew. Brown and malty and basically sound. Not spectacular, but has personality.

PIB: Caldera Rose Petal Imperial Golden Ale

2010-07-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

A beautiful golden ale with a kick. Thanks PIB!

PIB: Bateman's Ruby Porter

2010-07-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Super dark red porter. Smooth and extremely well balanced. Not bitter. Wonderful roasted malt notes.

PIB: Lazy Boy Redhead Double IPA

2010-07-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

Very nice, hoppy and fairly crisp finish. Beautiful reddish orange color and not too heavy on the palate. Yum!

PIB: 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat

2010-07-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

Distinct watermelon flavor sets this brew apart from every other. A personal fave among fruity beers. Subtle flavor and very quaffable.

PIB: Widmer Deadlift Double IPA

2010-07-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hoppy but with a muscular malt body and well balanced. Somewhat muddled and unfocused, but not unenjoyable.

PIB: Primator Premium Lager

2010-07-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

Premium and lager are not two words I normally combine. This is a sparkling crisp lager, light and very limpid. Not my cup of tea, but better than most in this genre.

PIB: Cascade Raz Wheat

2010-07-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

A tangy raspberry wheat is a fun way to begin an afternoon of tasting at the Portland International Beerfest. Absurdly drinkable with no bitter notes. Good by the sip or the gulp.

Bridgeport Happy Hour

2010-06-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Strolled on over to the Bridgeport Ale House for Happy Hour. $3 imperial pints (20oz) and realistic food prices before 6pm.

I opt for the IPA and a pork sammy. Yum!

Everybody's Brewing

2010-06-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

After a fun time rafting with the Wet Planet crew on the White Salmon river today, we stopped by Everybody's Brewing for lunch. This place is simply fantastic.

Out of ten beers, all were very good. Every brew showed character and incredible balance. I do enjoy audacious beers, and would love to see an Imperial IPA from EB. Until then, ten awesome brews on tap is impressive. Well worth the trip!

Ninkasi's Total Domination

2010-06-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

The story of Ninkasi has been told elsewhere, but this is one success story that shows no sign of stopping. This upstart brewery out of Eugene, Oregon has taken the brewing world by storm, and has become a favored bottler for the connoisseur set. My taste for their IPA was whetted on a recent trip to Bend, where I enjoyed a Tricerahops Double IPA on draft at a downtown pub.

Today, I found myself back in Bend, and sampling yet another Ninkasi IPA - their Total Domination. This time it was prelude to a Walkfast show at Mountain's Edge. The Total Domination is actually a pretty straight up IPA, just super hoppy and very flavorful. It's a very drinkable, very Eugene response to the Mirror Pond that is ubiquitous in the area.

The Tricerahops is another animal entirely, and totally deserving of the huge amount of praise it receives. It is a fabulous double IPA - it has slightly less bite than most, while exhibiting no lack of character, and awesomely complex hoppy flavors.

Double I P a

2010-04-03T15:44:00.001-07:00

Something special in the water? Mad river brews are potent and yet
potable.

David

Country Boy IPA

2010-04-03T15:31:00.001-07:00

Very well balanced.

Humbolt hemp ale

2010-04-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

An old favorite from my cross country trip. Still hopped well and
perfectly balanced. Like a redwood, stands tall and strong.

Tibetans drink all day?

2010-04-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

Easy drinking low potency beer for mountain living. Light but still
has a hint of flavor. From a bottle, but stilll ok.

Tangerine!

2010-04-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

Super fruity Tangerine!

Bitter Bitch rocks!

2010-04-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

Assertive bittered hoppy beer. Sweet and super hoppy.

Bock

2010-04-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

Cascade Lakes Bock is a mild malty mashup.

Stone Ipa

2010-04-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Floral hops provide a succulent bouquet.

Solace summer ale

2010-04-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Smooth low profile perfect for summer drinking.

Howe Sound

2010-04-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Gilgamesh Brewing

2010-04-03T13:51:00.001-07:00

Blueberry wheat

2010-04-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Collaborator Daft Bitter

2010-04-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Widmers latest collaboration is a gentle bitter.

Vortex IPA Fort George

2010-04-03T13:48:00.001-07:00

Awesome hops profoundly impact the imbiber. Nothing delicate here.
Assertive flavor, and ample alcohol too at 7.7%!

Cascadian Dark Ale

2010-04-03T13:46:00.001-07:00

Dark ale, good malt body to complement chocolate and hop notes.

Panty Dropper Ale

2010-04-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Smooth but moderately hopped, well balanced. Restrained.

Mt Emily Ale House

2010-03-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed a taster tray at Mt Emily Ale House in La Grande, OR. Tasty beers, with an extra special Double IPA taking honors as the best

Chateau Wet Hop at Rogue Brewery, Newport

2009-09-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

The Chateau Wet Hop was a very mild wet hop - a new offering from Rogue that went over very well with my folks, but left me craving more. A very delicate beer with extremely well balanced flavors.

I followed with a Double Dead Guy, which was sufficient to pound my tastebuds into submission, and seal my evening at the brewery with a smile. This XS is one of the finer brews that Rogue pours, and I highly recommend it to any hopheads that have the opportunity.

Rogue Delight

2009-08-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

Block 15 - Corvallis Brewers Doing Well

2009-08-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

The brewers down at Block 15 started out with a space that had a
troubled history, but this small brewery in the heart of
"Marysville" is becoming a fixture downtown with happy hour specials
that please and unique brews that engage the palate and the imagination.

Banana notes from the Hefe, wonderfully balanced ales, and a pungent
one-hop riff on Simcoe were fantastic. The IPA is likely to please
those with a taste for the bitter, but true hopheads should savor a
pint of the one-hop because it is part of a series, and will be gone
fast.

Charlie 1981

2009-07-27T12:36:00.001-07:00

The Rogue breweries can be trusted to provide tasty libations for all
palates. Today, along with my usual Crusty and Imperial IPA, I
enjoyed a crisp, dry-hopped St Rogue Red and the subtle malty body of
Charlie 1981. Those of you with a taste for the finer things In life
would approve.

A shout out to Jason & crew from Texas. Keep up the good work!

SOB gold

2009-07-25T16:15:00.001-07:00

David

More brews at OBF

2009-07-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Pomegranate Wheat

Cerveza Crema

David

Hop diggidy from Port Townsend

2009-07-25T13:51:00.001-07:00

The Trip

2009-07-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Razz Wheat

2009-07-25T13:04:00.001-07:00

line for pom wheat was extended...

Hell or High Watermelon

2009-07-25T12:54:00.001-07:00

Bison Brewing Organic Chocolate Stout

2009-07-25T12:46:00.001-07:00

Kraken IIPA

2009-07-25T12:31:00.001-07:00

Widmer KGB

2009-07-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

Check out all the official descriptions and details on the Oregon Brewers Festival website.

Dark Hefe

2009-07-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Caldera Hibiscus Ginger Beer

2009-07-24T14:46:00.001-07:00

Laht Neppur Nut Brown

2009-07-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Double Mountain IRA (India Red Ale), Hood River, OR

2009-07-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mountain High IPA (Weed, CA)

2009-07-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Oregon Brewers Festival 2009

2009-07-24T13:01:00.001-07:00

I showed up fashionably late for the party, and just started enjoying
a Tripel from Scuttlebut Brewing. Great showing as usual at the OBF.
I'll be busy this weekend!

The Scuttlebut is a little under- hopped for my taste.... On to the
IPAs?

Latest Tastes from the Rogue

2009-07-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

HUB Update

2009-06-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hedge House Redux

2008-11-06T18:55:00.000-08:00

Revolution at the Rogue

2008-11-04T23:10:00.000-08:00

The revolution has begun. Long live the rogue!

Roasting the Rogue

2008-10-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hopworks Imperial IPA

2008-09-06T13:19:00.001-07:00

The SNOBs met at the HUB today; I elected to try the IIPA, and it hit
the spot. An excellent, smooth, hoppy ale, with a kick.

Mt. Hood Brewing

2008-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

A quick morning of snowboarding, some good beer (Ice Axe), and a few runs on the alpine slide. Happy Birthday to me!

C Note

2008-08-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Widmer Gasthaus

2008-08-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

After a week of work, it's nice to go out and treat yourself
sometimes. Tonight I finally made it to Widmer, only to find that
they won't pour taster trays Friday and Saturday!

Instead, I chose to get a "taste" of the Ressurection Rye, Alt, and
the Albina Street Amber. The rye is a golden color, very mellow,
slightly spicy.

The Alt is my favorite of the three, extremely assertive, the malt
only revealed as an aftertaste. Very clean.

Albina is gentle by comparison, redder in color, well balanced and
complex, but quite restrained. A civilized brew.

For the finale I picked Old Embalmer to accompany a salad and burger;
it's a brew I've only tasted from a bottle until now. All I can say
is it is even better on tap. Ciao!

OBF

2008-07-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Beer chart from OBF pamphlet shows the way to hop heaven.

Hop Stoopid lives up to the name. Signature Lagunitas flavor.

Titan IPA from Great Divide is floral, hoppy and gentle.

Workhorse IPA from laurelwood is just what it ought to be - a hoppy beer that drinks easy.

Full Nelson IPA opened the festival as the featured brew from Widmer. Gentle by the standards of this fest. Tasty to boot.

Total Domination IPA Ninkasi brewery Eugene I'd say it is a medium hop well balanced with a citrus finish.

Zon from boulevard brewing co is a very fruity brew.

Stone Levitation Ale is next to last, but certainly one of the best today with a clearly superior balance of character.

Rocket Dog from Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay, ID is a tasty ale with vivid citrus notes and a nice bite.

OBF

2008-07-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Next up at the festival is Bridgeport Hop Czar. This triple hopped
bad ass has an aggresive flavor profile dominated by hops. Powerful
but not overpowering the Hop Czar does Bridgeport proud.

Oregon Brewers Festival 2008

2008-07-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Today I biked downtown to enjoy an afternoon at the Oregon Brewers
Festival. 72 brews on tap for three days of tasty libations.

My first taste is a dry hopped crystal pale ale from Boundary Bay
Brewery. Delightfully light and crisp with excellent hop character.
Good head and very nice malty finish.

Roots

2008-07-24T18:13:00.001-07:00

Dropped in at Roots' brewpub today for an excellent salami sandwich and a taster tray.

Calypso is a fruity summer brew, with a very spicy feel. Light and easy drinking, the heat is a wise departure in a summer brew. As anyone who has sampled world cuisine knows, spicy hot food is popular in hot regions - probably because the sweating that follows enhances the natural evaporative cooling of the body.

Kolsch follows in good form, with a very mellow and soothing mouthfeel after the Calypso. There was a unique odor that I could not identify, and unfortunately it wasn't to my liking. Overall a decent beer.

Burghead Heather Ale comes third, using Heather flowers in place of hops. A very striking and unique brew yet extremely pleasant. A beer that proves even hop free brews can succeed, and a good demonstration of ancient techniques. Extremely tasty for a beer without any hops.

Roots' Island Red is a pleasantly hearty beer lover's dream, based on oats and English hops. It's essentially a dark red stout, and tasty as heck. Recommended.

Woody IPA is yellow-orange and bursting with hops. Mellowed with a little citrus note, this dry-hopped ale is assertive in a good way. Highly recommended.

Crannog Stout rounds out the selections today as dessert, and restored my faith in the ultimate goodness of existence. Caramel and coffee help form a dream of a closer brew. No bitter aftertaste, just a well executed stout that leaves me smiling. Hard to go wrong here.

Hedge House: C-Note

2008-07-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

A visit today to the Hedge House allowed me to revisit an old favorite - the super hoppy joy known as C-Note. This brew has an Abv of 6.9%, a deep copper color, and seven 'C's. A rating of 100 IBU attests to
the potency of the combined Crystal, Cluster, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus and Challenger hops. Needless to say this is a complex brew.

The yummy beer is even more tasty on Tuesday, at $2.50/pint. Just remember that this place can be popular in the evening, particularly in nice weather. Here's to Oregon sunshine!

HUB round 2

2008-07-20T17:54:00.001-07:00

I enjoyed four new seasonals today with my pear & nut salad.

The HUB's Wheat is a pleasant and cloudy one, sweet enough to drink without the usual lemon wedge. Very drinkable, slightly floral finish.

The Kölsch is light and effervescent, with gentle character all around. A dreamy, extremely light straw color - summer in liquid form.

The third seasonal, a Belgian, is still light enough for summer, but begins to reveal the more robust tendencies of the HUB's other offerings. Bitter enough to offend a delicate palate.

Summer Ale is the last seasonal today, providing a respectable interpretation of an Oregon summer ale. Very flavorful yet easy drinking - truly a beer for the season if you can handle the hops.

Yes this is my fridge

2008-07-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

I am using this seemingly flippant photo to note that there is plenty of good local beer that never sees a keg at all - Portland's own homebrew. Now that the Keghunter is packing heat in the form of an iPhone, photo blogging of beers shall be the norm.

Welcome to the future, fellow keg hunters.

Rogue ales

2008-07-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

Biked to the Rogue ales pub today for a taster tray and a burger. As usual the brews impress, starting with a freebie American Amber. This brew is light and very easy drinking, flavorful but thin enough for summer. I followed with one of my favorites, the ever tasty I2PA which packs a nice wallop. Next on my list today was the YSB, a true local brew if ever there was. Bitter and smooth is an unlikely combination here embodied.

To lighten the potency, I turned to St. Rogue Red and enjoyed this delightful brew as an apéritif for my dessert - Old Crusty, of course!

The H U B

2008-07-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

the keg hunter is back today and better than ever. iPhone enabled, my blogging is released. Hopworks Urban Brewery is the first to fall victim to the keghunter's 3g fetish.

Hard to resist the organic IPA, world beer cup gold medal winner.

Cheers to great local beer.

Rogue Issaquah

2008-01-23T13:58:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of making a stop at Rogue's brewpub on I-90, picked up t-shirts and dinner to hold me for the long drive home.

Amnesia Brewing 10/29/2006

2006-10-29T13:34:00.000-08:00

First, my apologies for an inexcusable lack of postings. I have not been on a hiatus from the Keg, but my postings have ceased for far too long. Numerous wonderful Rogue samples have gone unpublished, for which I hope to make amends over the winter season. In the meantime, I have a made a lunch visit to Amnesia Brewing (800 block NE Beech) in Portland, to sample their food and grog.

On today's menu, 6 samples of house-brewed beer and a half-pound burger. The burger is a tasty but simple number, charcoal grilled, but with no onions (?!) and little else to mention. Big, tasty, and filling. Not something to distract one from the beer.

First on my taster tray, the seasonal "Amnesia Summer Ale". This brew was not the most auspicious start to my tasting, being remarkably reminiscent of the amateur homebrews I have sampled over the years. It was not bad, but the level of sophisitication was simply absent. It was a decent light summer ale, with not enough flavor to drown out the notes of fermentation. Drinkable, certainly, but a pint would be somewhat masochistic.

Next up, the "Copacetic IPA". Once again, not really a hit in my book, this IPA was strong, but not well-developed, and had the same homebrew tinge to it. Not truly a professional product, but nonetheless still a decent IPA. Potent, but not well proportioned.

Third up, I decided to try the house ESB. This is where Amnesia turns the corner. This bitter is, as the brewery asserts "as close to an amber as we get" here, and is surprisingly mild and well balanced. Not really overly flavorful, but a good mild bitter, quite palatable and tasty. Not a bad choice.

Fourth, the "Dusty Trail Pale Ale", is a nice simple Ale, full bodied and delicious. Still a little tinge of the homebrew about it, but overall a very good pale ale that really did have a feeling of the trail to it.

Fifth, the Desolation IPA, probably could be considered the signature beer for the establishment, as they are known for their work on IPAs. This particular batch was flavorful and well balanced, with sufficient potency (6.3% ABV) to make itself tops on the alcohol list for this brewery. A nice beer,and one that could even bring me back for another visit here.

Sixth, a rather weak "Slow Train Porter", at only 5.3%, was actually a very nice finish to the tasting. This one lives up to its billing, with "rich caramel and chocolate flavors". Although not a chocolate stout to rival a Rogue, and a bit short of the sweetness standard of Old Market's "Maple Vanilla", this porter makes a very respectable and tasty brew. This is a mild warmer with a very good flavor profile.

Overall, the beers are hit and near-miss here, but if you can forgive a few mis-steps, Amnesia will serve you well. One serious complaint, however, is the flies. Having the brewery in the same open warehouse as the seating area has led to a substantial population of flies in the restaurant. In the summer, this would recommend outside seating, but in the winter season, this is not a good sign. Either they need to re-think the open floorplan, or find a way to prevent the insect invasion. This was a distraction that prevented 100% focus on their product. This is a brewery off to a decent start, with loads of potential. Let's hope they get things going in the right direction. Worth a visit.

Racoon Lodge

2006-04-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Racoon Lodge is a friendly place on Beaverton-Hillsdale that offers a selection of ten house brews for a sampler. Here's what came with mine:

The IPA is mellow and tasty - not punchy, really a well-defined ale. The Ring Tail Ale is what a domestic beer could be if it were good - weak, but tasty and with a hoppy finish. The oak-aged IPA has extremely strong bourbon notes from the oak cask, and retains the overall balance and definition of the regular IPA. You can taste the tannins, too. The Raspberry Wheat beer is so fruity you can hardly tell that it is a beer - it tastes almost like a raspberry cider. Very good. The Baltic Stout is a strong stout that is gentle on the beer lover - tasty malt and chocolate flavors, with a little coffee, and 9.4% ABV. Racoon lodge is my friend. They also have a Mango-Wheat, which is not really my thing, but they do it well. The Blonde Bock is a gentle bock, light and hoppy, with no real bite - extremely gulpable. The Celtic Copper is a malty brew with less hops and more body, also a well-balanced beer. The owner of the establishment is obviously a real beer lover. The Black Snout Stout is a hearty Irish-style stout, that could go head to head with even a Beamish and do well. Last but not least is the Winter Defroster 3, a powerful winter brew with all the right flavor. This place is great, and my burger is here. One Ringtail burger for me, thanks. Until next time.... hop on.

Bridgeport Brewpub

2006-04-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Well, the new Bridgeport Brewpub has been open for a while now, so I decided to finally drag myself down Marshall street and have a looksee. Not bad. The place has a funky Portland-apropos feel to it, a little hip for me, but relatively comfy. I decided to scarf a pork butt sandwich before diving into my taster tray - eight brews on tap, for $5. Not a bad deal (20oz pint for 2.50 at happy hour is not bad, either). To start - the Supris - a take-off on the Belgian style, with the taste to prove it. This one is light and airy, with a mouthy malt to balance hops that really are quite gentle, but flavorful. This is one light beer that doesn't skimp on strength (6.0%ABV). A great summer brew. The India Pale Ale is hoppy in the best sense, while remaining understated - a sophisticated IPA. A little less punch at 5.5%ABV, but very tasty and easy to quaff. The hoppy E.S.B. has me convinced that Bridgeport is on the right track - this one has all the Special, without too much of the Extra or the Bitter. Nice. A Cask Conditioned IPA is a nice, very mellow version of the style, notable for being shy yet still carrying the goodness of the original. Old Knucklehead Barleywine is a strong brew, no doubt about that - but it is so balanced that there is little to complain about. Unfortunately, there is also not too much to rave about - it is so mellow it has little personality, in spite of potency. It does have a nice deep red color, and the strong hops and malt are there, but it doesn't speak as a good barleywine should. The Porter is also short on personality, but it does have a good flavor, and the molasses shines through as a sweet toasty note. Only as potent as the Surpris, this is not going to win any medals, but it does do the style justice. Not bad. The signature Blue Heron Pale Ale is tasty, though it does leave room for improvement. It is a weaker (4.9%ABV) brew, and has the weaker character inherent in such a beer. It has notes of malt and hops, but an abrupt finish kills any lingering hoppy tingle. Last but not least, the Ropewalk Amber Ale is a caramel malted, mellow brew. It doesn't hit the high notes, but it carries its own weight and does a nice job bringing up the rear - it is a representative ale for Bridgeport, but not something special. Overall, Bridgeport makes good beer, in any style - but nothing spectacular. At $2.50 for 20oz, though, one could go far here, and could do far worse elsewhere.

The New Old Lompoc

2006-04-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

Well, another day, another brewery. Tonight I find myself at the new old Lompoc, explaining to the other guests how EVDO works, and sampling seven of their fine brews. I start with the IPA - hoppy - just like I would make it myself. All the brews here are 5% or better, so I know I will be happy with my selections. The IPA is a little homey - not as sophisticated as a Rogue brew, to be sure - but certainly a step up from the lucky lab. It has enough to it to be interesting, but it is not as mesmerizing as the I2PA which is my gold standard. The condor pale ale is a hearty and gulpable homage to the local condor breeding program, and a mild brew with a unique hop flavor. These folks do seem to know what they are doing. The Fool's Golden Ale is not as silly as it sounds - this one is a good mellow balance of hops and malt, not too powerful to enjoy a pint of - but I am glad I have four more tasters to sample. The C-Note will probably be my fave - being a hop-head, I enjoyed the description on this one "This Pale Ale is all about the hops! Using Centennial, Crystal, Cluster, Chinook, Cascade and Columbus hops; this hop head's dream pushes 100IBU. 6.8% a/v" My kind of beer, no doubt. Perfectly hoppy. The Caldera almost tastes like a volcano - this so called amber ale is actually red in color, without a distinct hop presence, but with some indefinable malt interest. The LSD (Lompoc Strong Draft) is a real beer, deep red in color, with gutsy malt and enough hops to keep it on the level. At 6.9%, this is far and away the strong beer of the bunch. The Sockeye Cream Stout on Nitro is a tasty treat - rather weak for a stout, but well seasoned with tasty notes of coffee and very mild bitterness.

All around, Lompoc is a good stop - there is something here for most beer lovers to fall for, and though I am a citizen of the Rogue nation for life, I could see myself stopping in for some LSD or a C-Note now and then. Recommended.

Pyramid Taproom

2006-04-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

Well, after driving in circles for a while, I finally made it to the taproom on Industrial Avenue. Within minutes I was sampling a selection of the local ales, weizens, and porters. The Amber weizen is unfiltered and smooth, with a moderate amount of character, but still understated. Hints of fruit and caramel. Mac's Ale is a huge step up, with a significant hop presence, and enough malt to maintain a modicum of balance. It is clear why this is one of the more popular brews here. The Hefeweizen is a good example of the type, with ample body and a light feel - this one is also unfiltered, and balances well with the obligatory lemon wedge. The Curve Ball is one I have had from the bottle before, but it is more crisp and has a better mouthfeel coming from the tap. A good example of how the Northwest has learned the best of the Germans' beer tricks. Next to last is the Blackwatch Cream Porter, with roasted malt and oatmeal, this one is almost a meal in itself. A yummy porter if I ever had one. I'm still waiting on the Snow Cap, which is always a fave of mine.

Beamish in New York

2006-04-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

Before leaving New York, I had the pleasure of a dinner at the New York Sports Grill in the JFK Airport terminal. This is a sports bar with a dozen flat screen tvs, and four dozen beers on tap. Out of all the selections available, most from overseas, I spied the Irish classic Beamish, and set about sampling the only real Irish beer there is. I was not disappointed. Beamish is smooth and strong, with deep flavors of malt and chocolate, with a very substantial body. Something like Guinness, but in my opinion better than the old standby in almost every respect. This is a fine beer, dark and with a truly beautiful head and bouquet. If you ever see this beauty on tap, I advise you to try it out - a real taste of Ireland.

Lucky Labrador

2006-04-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

Well, as usual, I have been lax in recording my keg hunting exploits. Many a keg has fallen before my lips, but here I shall pick up the story at a cavernous venue in SE Portland. I finally expanded beyond Rogue and the Old Market Pub, and made my way to the Lucky Labrador brewpub. Located on Hawthorne, and boasting a selection of handcrafted brews, the lucky lab is a dog friendly pub with outdoor seating, plenty of parking, and a laid back atmosphere. I started with the Chicken Bento (spicy chili, please) and a four pull taster of Dog Day IPA, Hair of the Dog (nitro), Crazy Ludwig's Alt, and Stumptown Porter. The Dog Day is light and gulpable, with a noticeable but mild hop flavor, and bashful malt - today's cask conditioned ale makes for a good start. A great summer brew for relaxing with the pups. Next I sampled Crazy Ludwig's Alt, while the Nitro "Got Hops?" settled a little. Crazy Ludwig's is a reddish brew with a strong hop flavor, with the typical yumminess of cascade hops. Strong at first, it mellows as you make your way to the bottom of the glass. Next up - the Nitro. Being a huge hop fan, I was excited to see that the hoppiest brew in the house would be on Nitro - this should be great. Shockingly mild, actually, not the kick I was expecting. Very smooth, with the hops balanced at a reasonably mild level in this golden bier. Only one taster left to explore - Portland's very own Stumptown Porter. This one is incredibly drinkable, and potent. Even though I am a big hop fan (and therefore very much enjoying the Alt), this porter is smooth and well balanced, and will make for a great complement to the others. Ah yes, the joy of beer. Well, back to my bento... until next time.