October 2010 Archives
The costume themes have finally been solidified for Night of the Living Ales, which is happening Sunday, Oct. 31, starting at 8 p.m.!
At Migration, the contest theme will be “Freakiest Costume” and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from Migration (this one has a runner up prize as well so plan accordingly!)
At the second stop, Spints Alehouse, the “Skankiest Costume” will win a $20 gift card.
Beulahland, our third stop in the NOLA pub crawl, has a costume theme of “Goriest Costume” gets a $35 gift card from Beulahland.
And the good folks at Coalition, our last stop of the night, has “Best Beer-Related Costume” for its contest and a $20 gift card from Coalition.
I am not sure what kind of costume could win “Freakiest/Skankiest/Goriest/Beer-related” but it must be said that each contestant can WIN only once (at one location’s contest) for the night. You can enter as many times as you want, but once you win, you can’t compete any longer.
For all the details on Night of the Living Ales (aka NOLA) and to get your $5 wristband, which gets you into the crawl, gets you access to all the special beers (including the Cascadian Dark Ale by “SNOB” Rich and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout brewed by my partner in NOLA crime, Ezra, from The New School, and cocktails and happy hour deals and, and … and of course, allows you enter the costume and super-double-secret scavenger hunt contests, go here.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 26, 2010
A new podcast is up! Hear what author Andy Crouch has to say about his latest book, “Great American Craft Beer” and meet the folks that are Coalition Brewing. Plus, the Beer of the Week and Chief Bottle Opener (CBO) Carl Singmaster’s best beer picks. It’s all right here.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 26, 2010
This in from Full Sail marketing maven Sandra Evans:
Full Sail Brewing Company, renown for their internationally award-winning beers, has announced that they have expanded distribution to additional markets in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire in partnership with L. Knife & Son Companies.
“We are very proud to enter the northeast markets with such a strong distributor partner. L. Knife has had a long term commitment to craft beer and has a deep understanding of how to go to market with our beers. We are excited about bringing our world class beers to such discerning customers, and as a native New Yorker I am thrilled that after 23 years Full Sail will finally be available in these markets,” said Irene Firmat, Full Sail’s Founder and CEO.
“Full Sail partnered with L. Knife’s Specialty Beverage division in 2009 in the state of Virginia. It was through this exceptional business relationship that we appreciated the professionalism and attention to our brands L. Knife & Son could provide. We are extremely confident in the L. Knife organization and how they will represent Full Sail in these very important markets,” added Robert Lauron, Full Sail’s Vice President. According to Lauron, the new network will represent all of the Full Sail brands and will provide statewide distribution in each state.
“L. Knife’s leadership team is thrilled to establish this partnership with such a revered brewery with parallel company values,” Tim Sheehan, L. Knife’s CEO, stated.
“We’re committed to continuing Full Sail’s proud tradition of excellence as we build a long term relationship as its east coast wholesaler in several key markets. Our 500+ sales team members have been methodically planning a major east coast launch for Full Sail that will establish a strong foundation for continued growth on the east coast,” adds Michael Brazel, VP of Sales and Marketing for the L. Knife & Son Companies.
L. Knife & Sons’ Marketing Director Eric McKay adds, “To supplement the work of our sales force, GreatBrewers.com and our BeerCloud mobile app for iPhone and Android will keep hundreds of thousands of consumers in our markets informed of the numerous Full Sail launch events, and will direct to the bars, restaurants, and beer stores that start carrying Full Sail’s beers.”
Following Full Sail’s successful launch in Virginia by Richmond-based Specialty Beverage, the Company has established distribution partnerships with all eleven of L. Knife’s east coast operations. Full Sail will distribute through Legends Ltd. in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Hunterdon Distributors in New Jersey, Union Beer Distributors in the NYC metropolitan area, Tri-Valley Beverage and T.J. Sheehan Distributing in upstate New York, Seaboard Products, L. Knife & Son and Craft Brewers Guild of Boston in Massachusetts, Craft Beer Guild of NH in New Hampshire, and Craft Beer Guild of RI in Rhode Island. For their strong portfolio balance, their outstanding sales execution and their innovative approach to marketing, the L. Knife & Son Companies were recognized by Beverage World as the 2010 Beverage Wholesaler of the Year.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 19, 2010
Hopworks Urban Brewery taketh and then giveth back.
As you probably know, water is a big part of brewing beer. Well, HUB recently signed an agreement with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to purchase Water Restoration Certificates (WRC), which will, over the course of the next year — restore 1.8 million gallons of water to Oregon’s Deschutes River.
According to a news release from HUB, BEF’s Water Restoration Certificate program is the first national-level, market-based solution that enables businesses to take responsibility for water consumption by helping restore water flow to critically de-watered creeks and rivers.
Basically, what this does is enable HUB, through the water restoration certificates, to return to the environment the entire amount of water they use during brewing for the whole year.
But water isn’t just fabricated, and you can’t pick some up at the store, so how do the WRCs work?
According to the news release, each WRC represents 1,000 gallons of water that is restored to critically “de-watered” streams, as identified and certified by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which assures that the water is returned in ways that provide the greatest benefit to rivers, streams and fish and wildlife populations.
The program, which was launched in Summer 2009, provides economic incentives for water rights holders who historically have had to operate under policies that foster a “use it or lose it” model for water use. The BEF partners with water trust organizations to provide payment through the WRCs to water rights holders which allow them to use their water to restore these critically and chronically water-threatened streams.
Another great way to enjoy great beer and feel pretty darn good about it at the same time.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 19, 2010
Nope, this isn’t a political commentary. Tom Dalldorf, of Celebrator Beer News fame, asked me to let y’all know about a little event that is taking place right around Halloween, appropriately enough, in our nationl’s Capital.
Here are the deets, directly from Dalldorf (who hasn’t been lurking about in our parts for quite some time, but keeps promising to make an appearance at the Holiday Ale Fest, so consider yourself warned!):
Sanity/Fear: A Rally for Beer
The Brickskeller, Washington, DC
October 29, 2010
The famed Brickskeller in Washington, DC will host Sanity/Fear: A Rally for Beer
on Friday night October 29, 2010. This is coincidentally the eve of A Rally to
Restore Sanity with Jon Steward (The Daily Show) and Keep Fear Alive with
Stephen Colbert (Colbert Report) on Saturday afternoon on the mall at our
nation’s capitol in Washington, DC. What luck!
Join Celebrator Beer News publisher Tom Dalldorf (who’s alter ego Glenn Beck’s
is named for a mediocre German import) as we consider Sanity in brewing and
Fear of extreme beers with brewers Bill Madden, Mad Fox Brewing Company,
Falls Church, VA and Jason Oliver, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company,
Roseland, VA. Several of their best efforts will be served along with some cellar
treasures selected by the Brick’s Dave Alexander.
Following this will be a performance by the Rolling Boil Blues Band defying
Sanity by instilling Fear via beery tunes like Hop This Town, This Beer’s For
You, Homebrew Hand Jive and (sadly) many more! The band features Dave
Alexander on lead guitar and Tom Dalldorf on so-called vocals. Fortunately, the
beer will be flowing!
Additional details and tickets at http://www.lovethebeer.com/brickskeller.html
Come for the Sanity. Stay for the Fear. Beer and Loathing at the Brickskeller,
Washington, DC. Be there!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 19, 2010
Our good friends over at BREWPUBLIC are commemorating their 2-year anniversary with five days of events that span Beervana and offer a LOT of beer. I mean A LOT. This is one of those weeks when I really wish someone would create my dream invention, the LiverPAK — a camelback-type device that quick-connects to your body and acts as a substitute liver while drinking, so you can thusly spare your own precious organ. (That’s Margaret and Angelo, of BREWPUBLIC poring over a beer menu in the photo, by the way … )
Details on BREWPUBLIC’s beer bashes are after the jump ..
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 19, 2010
There’s a lot going on in this week’s Beer O’Clock podcast: Meet Alyssa Gregg of Spints Alehouse (and find out what Spints are); get details on how to enter to win entry for two to the Night of the Living Ales pub crawl; learn how to tell artisan cider from the cheap stuff; get your beer-science geek on with OMSI; grab some tasting notes on new bottled beers that have hit our shelves and drink in a venerable barley wine in our Beer of the Week. It’s always Beer O’Clock somewhere, so listen up!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 19, 2010
What’s part scavenger hunt, part costume party, part pub crawl and ALL fun? The first-ever Night of the Living Ales pub crawl co-sponsored by The New School blog and Beer O’Clock — the show for people who love great beer!
The Night of the Living Ales starts at 8 p.m. sharp on Oct. 31, Halloween night, at Migration Brewing. Then the costumed crew will then crawl over to Spints Alehouse, Beulahland and Coalition Brewing. Special beers, happy hour pricing on certain food and drinks and a themed costume contest at each location — plus an ongoing scavenger hunt — will all be part of the fun.
You can win two wristbands which will get your costumed self and a equally fabulously costumed friend into the Night of the Living Ales pub crawl by sending an e-mail to me at real.beergoddess@gmail.com with “Night of the Living Ales” in the subject head. The deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 20 at midnight.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 17, 2010
Hopworks Urban Brewery is going nano! The venerable HUB brewers have procured the mini brewery that they will use to brew collaboration beers with folks — and it’s all ready to go except for one thing. It needs a name!
HUB has yet to find a name from those submitted so far, so they are extending their “Name the Nano” contest through Monday, Oct. 18. So if you slacked before(You know who you are), you still have time.
Submit your nano brewery name idea to NameTheNano@hopworksbeer.com with “Name the Nano” in the subject line. The winner will not only get to name the tiny brewery, but will win a year-long Mug Club membership with all the perks at Hopworks.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 17, 2010
Around these parts, Deschutes’ Jubel Ale was the first out of the gate, showing up in my mailbox in late August. Then, Ninkasi followed in hot (or is that hop?) pursuit with Sleigh-r. Southern Oregon Brewing (those SOBs) released their Old Humbug. And now, Full Sail has released its venerable Wassail to contribute to the winter seasonal selection.
Doesn’t it seem a tad early for winter beers?
Yes, I think so, at least. But apparently, there is a (market-driven) reason for this beery equivalence of peeking at your Christmas presents too early.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 15, 2010
This face doesn’t lie! My review of last weekend’s Celebrate Beer Weekend at Skamania Lodge has been posted on the Hop Press. It’s a great weekend, as Anna from Salmon Creek is surely expressing. Read this, then plan to check it out next year.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 13, 2010
This week on Beer O’Clock, the Homebrew Chef Sean Paxton and I talk about the best beers to pair with those mini-Tootsie Rolls and fun-sized candy bars that will be beckoning us all as we approach All Hallow’s Eve. All that tasty goodness, plus a whole lot more! Check it out here or click the podcast button on the right side of the homepage!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 11, 2010
Hopworks Urban Brewery is going nano! The venerable HUB brewers have procured the mini brewery that they will use to brew collaboration beers with folks — and it’s all ready to go except for one thing. It needs a name!
Submit your nano brewery name idea to NameTheNano@hopworksbeer.com with “Name the Nano” in the subject line. The winner will not only get to name the tiny brewery, but will win a year-long Mug Club membership with all the perks at Hopworks.
Contest ends Tuesday, Oct. 12 — and that’s when the winner will be announced. So get those names sent in ASAP!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 08, 2010
Somebody better inform Hallmark: Mother’s Day has now been changed to NovemBEER 19, 2010.
That’s when Pelican Pub & Brewery will release its super-special seasonal: Mother of All Storms. Think Perfect Storm, but Mama-sized!
From the website:
Mother of All Storms will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. The only way to ensure you get a bottle of this vintage will be by showing up in person at The Pelican Pub & Brewery.
We will not be accepting online orders for this beer.
Instead we will be accepting names and contact information via phone starting today October 7th, 2010
503.965.7007
On December 1st we will be evaluating our stock of the beer and should the numbers allow, we will proceed to contact the names on our reservation list on a first come first serve basis to fulfill their orders.
We will begin shipping any orders the following Monday the 6th. This delay will allow us to process payment and ensure that everyone can be contacted prior to shipment.
If you have attempted to submit an online order you will still need to call to get your name on the reservation list
online orders will not be processed.
Thank you for your interest in Mother of All Storms!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 07, 2010
Been meaning to post this. The winner of the first-ever Prost! Oktoberfest competition is Widmer’s Okto. Both “pro” judges (me, Karl Ockert, Megan Flynn, Ned from Portland Mercury and Roger of the Mississippi Marketplace) and the customers chose Okto from a blind tasting of nine local beers as most authentic Oktoberfest beer.
For those who took part, here is the lineup as the beers were tasted:
A.) Deschutes
B.) Hop Valley
C.) Golden Valley
D.) Lompoc
E.) Widmer Brothers
F.) Heater Allen
G.) Amnesia
H.) Double Mountain
I.) Hopworks
The pro judges also deemed Deschutes’ offering as “best NW-style” Oktoberfest (meaning it was good and hoppy!) And Widmer’s Okto also got Best In Show as well as Most Authentic. Thanks to Prost! for a grand time. I am sure this event will come back around next year. It was a hoot!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 07, 2010
The latest Beer O’Clock show is available right here or you can just click on the link to the right on the homepage. Special guests include KSWBeer bloggers Greg Krsak and Matt Snyder and Rick Lyke of Pints for Prostates. Plus we have a great rundown on some new brews that are now on the shelves from Carl Singmaster of Belmont Station — and our Beer of the Week is a wintry offering from the Goddess Ninkasi and her disciples down in Eugene!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 04, 2010
Well, it’s raining. Might as well enjoy some Oktoberfest biers at Prost! in Portland this gray Sunday. Join me and a host of other “celebrity” beer judges including Oregonian beer columnist and blogger John Foyston and Beer NW’s Megan Flynn at 3 p.m. in critiquing biers from nine local breweries — vote for your favorite! The winning brewery will have its beer at Prost! all month long — and the proceeds from the event will go to help at-risk youth in Portland under the name of the winning brewery. See you there later today!
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 03, 2010
Definition of Green Flash: 1)An intense, brief flash visible under certain conditions following the moment the sun goes beyond the horizon. The phenomenon is due to refraction of light rays from the setting sun as they pass through the lower layers of the atmosphere. 2) An awesome brewery based in the San Diego, Calif., area.
Portlanders won’t have to get up early or wait until sundown to experience Green Flash for themselves on Monday, Oct. 5 when Green Flash hits the Rose City. You can enjoy some of the brewery’s great West Coast IPA or investigate a few of Green Flash’s harder-to-find beers such as Le Freak, Palate Wrecker, Imperial IPA, Imperial Red, Double Stout and 30th Street Pale Ale all day at the Horse Brass. And Belmont Station is having a Meet the Brewer night with Green Flash’s Chuck Silva, who is also bringing those beers to the Station. That event runs 7:30-9:30 p.m.
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Posted by Lisa Morrison on Oct 03, 2010
