Two beers have popped up on my radar lately, and they can only be found on the East Sieeeeeeed!

Wild Oats is carrying Caldera IPA.  Now it’s a steep $9.00 six pack, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t one of the tastiest IPA’s I’ve had in a long time.   Don’t be one of the uninformed that is deterred by the fact that it’s in cans. Seriously … this is the current top repeat performer on my list of easy-drinking beers, and my favorite IPA of the moment. It seems I’m over on the East Side much more these days to restock my fridge with this nectar. Go check this beer out!

Also at Wild Oats is a bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Porter from the Brewmaster’s Series of Full Sail.  I’m not a big Full Sail fan, but I have to admit that their Brewmaster’s Series are regularly interesting, and I’m always up for a new barrel-aged beer.  I haven’t had it yet, but here’s what RateBeer has to say about it. Should be a nice bottle to crack open when I’m transferring beer this weekend.

So go support the beer buyer at Wild Oats for the smart additions to their lineup.

After the much-anticipated (by this guy at least) release date came and went, we finally have the nectar called The Abyss!  I ended up down at the pub along with everyone else who had been waiting for the first offerings for a toast to the second bottling of this excellent example of American craft beer.

The Abyss is an Imperial Stout aged in several different wooden vessels and blended together to make up a complex character that unfolds into huge flavors as the beer warms.  At a whopping 11% ABV, this is something to be savored sip by sip.  Roasty, smooth, sweet, warming and delicious … this beer will go quickly just as last year’s batch.  This stuff should age very well, so grab as much as you can and try to keep your bottle opener away from it until later.

A couple of important notes:  I went down to the main brewery to pick up a case, and they said they have 4 left.  Local grocery stores have it, but word is out, and the small amounts bottled are going quickly.  Also, I wouldn’t be as informative as I could be if I failed to mention that The Blacksmith – the Best Happy Hour in Bend – is one of two places in Central Oregon where you can get this stuff on tap … get it while it lasts!

Cheers!

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written, and it’s too long of a story about why.  In short- work, holidays, brewing, side-projects, etc. I haven’t written off the blog, but other things have been eating away at my time. One of those side projects is about to be complete, and I thought it was appropriate to let people know about it.

Good friends of mine own The Blacksmith restaurant here in Bend, Oregon. They shut down the restaurant about six weeks ago to do a major remodel of the inside. One of the new directions of the space is to bring the bar front and center. You still get great food and an excellent dinner experience if that’s what you’re into, but there’s a new focus on small plates, excellent liquor choices, a wide variety of beers, and a beautifully designed bar and lounge area.

I had the pleasure of helping create the beer list, and I’m really curious to hear honest opinions about it. The thing about Central Oregon is we are in the back yard of the NW Craft Beer scene. This year alone, two local breweries brought home four GABF medals. I love that I’m a 5 minute drive to several pubs where Craft Beer is so well represented, and I take advantage of that fact rather frequently. Still, I miss diversity in all the beer bars here in town.

With The Blacksmith’s beer list, we did our best to provide the widest breadth of choice among the highest quality beers available in Central Oregon. There are 12 handles and a modest collection of bottles that represent everything from Lagers to Belgians to Guinness to West Coast IPAs to local favorites. Come check it out, and know I’d welcome any feedback (positive or negative).

Cheers,

Spence

The Great American Beer Festival is going on in Colorado this weekend. I didn’t get to go, but I’ve been waiting to hear who the winners are this year to see how many Oregon brews made the list (gotta root for the home team). For those who don’t know … this competition is a big deal. It is pretty much the Olympics of American beer competitions, and gives well-earned bragging rights to anyone who can bring home a medal. Just some facts to give you an idea of its scope:

More than 100 judges labored for three days to evaluate 2,793 beers and pick the best entries and top breweries for this year’s Great American Beer Festival. A total of 222 medals were awarded in 75 beer style categories and top breweries and brewers were designated based on the total number of medals won. The five top awards recognize small, medium and large breweries and small and large brewpubs

Here’s the recap of those winners who call Oregon home:

American-Style Wheat Beer – 19 Entries
Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Silver: Brewmaster Reserve

International-Style Pilsener – 10 Entries
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
Gold: 4K Pils

Dortmunder/European Style Export or German-Style Oktoberfest/Wiesen (Meadow) – 18 Entries
Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Bronze: Widmer Export Lager

Imperial or Double Red Ale – 38 Entries
Laurelwood Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Gold: Organic Deranger

Bitter or Pale Mild Ale – 43 Entries
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
Gold: Pub Bitter (and now our supply at the pub just got a whole lot smaller!)

Golden or Blonde Ale – 48 Entries
Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, OR
Silver: Kiwanda Cream Ale

American Style Brown Ale – 45 Entries
Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, OR
Gold: Doryman’s Dark Ale

Imperial Stout – 44 Entries
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
Gold: Abyss

Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
Bronze: Russian Imperial Stout

Strong Scotch Ale – 28 Entries
Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, OR
Gold: MacPelican’s Wee Heavy Strong Scotch Ale

Old Ale or Strong Ale – 32 Entries
Bend Brewing Co, Bend, OR
Silver: Outback X

Straight fact … Deschutes, and Pelican have been kicking ass, and this year they’ve each brought 3 gold medals back to Oregon! In addition, a second GABF medal was won by the Bend Brewing Company in as many years!

Sincerest congratulations to all breweries for their outstanding job at turning out amazing beers for all of us here in Oregon.

Today was an epic day for those fortunate enough to live near Bend, OR. Today was the release day of 3 hop-centered beers including the classic Jubelale and new annual, Hop Trip. Below you’ll find the descriptions from their beer menu. Get thine ass down to the pub for a pint or four!

Jubelale – Perfect for a cozy winter gathering, Jubelale is a festive ale characterized by a large malt body balanced with hop bitterness derived from a variety of American & European hops. Enjoy this celebrated seasonal tradition! IBU’s: 60 Alcohol Content: 6.7%

Hop Trip – Deschutes’ brewers took the journey over to the Willamette Valley to pick an abundant amount of the freshest whole leaf Crystal hops straight from the vines of Doug Weather’s farm. The return trip to Bend was greeted with a homecoming welcome as the hops were immediately added to the boiling brew kettle. The first brew started soon after a phone call was received from the Willamette Valley confirming the hops were loaded on the truck. Roughly 680 pounds of Crystal hops were added to each of the 120 barrel batches in addition to some dry kilned whole flower hops. All together, there are 7 pounds of hops per barrel. A brisk flavor is created with a finish of soothing bitterness from the fresh hop oils. IBU’s: 38 Alcohol Content: 5.5%

Superstition Fresh Hop Stock Ale – We developed a Stock Ale recipe that has a subtle but complex malt profile. We used Willamette hops upfront in this beer but the wow factor comes from the tremendous amounts of fresh Crystal hops in the back end of the beer to accentuate the hop flavor and aroma. This is a beer to take stock of. IBU’s: 52 Alcohol Content: 5.3%

Biggest “hmmm?…” moment – Jubelale. I’m just not sure what to say about this except that it tastes “green”. It has a gummy, resiny flavor that knocks it out of balance in relation to the roast, bitter, and malt. It also suggests that it needs to mature a bit as well. I love Jubel. I’ve got a bottle collection dating back years. I’m going to buy a case (as I always do) just to stay true to tradition, but I have to say I was caught off guard by what I tasted.

Biggest “exactly what I expected” moment – Hop Trip. Two words … “love it”. This is hops showcased as they should be. Big, chewy, up-front, and yet completely complemented by the malt they rest upon. Aroma, flavor, and drinkability all in one tasty package. Get it … while it lasts.

Biggest surprise – Superstition Stock Ale. There was once a brewery called Orchard Street Brewery out of Bellingham, WA that was the only brewery that I had a stock ale from, and it was a treat when I could find it. What a great beer. Orchard Street went under (from what I understand), but this beer is damned close to it. Hoppy like an American Pale Ale with a slight caramel malt flavor reminiscent of an amber without the cloying qualities that I get from many ambers … a great session beer. And this one is fresh-hopped! Awesome, and brought back such great memories.

And there was a surprise. I overheard and saw brewers talking about and sampling an Oktoberfest they brewed at the pub. Got a quick sampler, and it was highly drinkable. Very highly drinkable. Good job guys!

So there you have it. Four new beers at the pub, and they’re all most definitely worth have a pint or more of.

Cheers!