I meant to do this post yesterday, in advance of Full Sail's roll-out of their bourbon-barrel-aged porter, Top Sail. Aged in barrels from three different distilleries--Maker's Mark, Stranahan's and Four Roses--and then blended. If you live near Hood River, you can still attend the release there on Thursday. They will offer the final product along with a flight of beer from each of the casks so you can see what they contribute.
Top Sail Release
Thursday, February 4, 2010, 5-8pm
Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub
Hood River
Big Bottle Tasting at Saraveza
Another event in the near future is a "big bottle" tasting at Saraveza a week from today. Preston Weesner has corralled and aged a batch of rare beers in big bottles (which are named, I learned as a result of the event, things like Methuselah and Salmanazar)--like six and nine liters big. The beer list: 2006 Chimay Grand Reserve, 2007 Duvel Tripel, 2007 Samichlaus, 2008 St. Bernardus Abt 12, 2008 St. Feuillien Triple, 2007 Unibroue La Fin Du Monde and 2006 Val-Dieu Winter.
Accompanying menu: 15-month-old aged gouda cheese from Willamette Valley Cheese, house crackers and Marcona almonds; cherry smoked black pepper duck sausage with a Chimay beer and prune reduction; and a cider braised lamb and parsnip potato mash pasty with warm spiced butternut squash and pickled garnish. The event ain't cheap, but if you're bearing up under the financial strain, it's sure to be a great event. Preston is knowledgeable and entertaining.
Big Bottle Tasting
Saraveza, Feb 9, 6:30 pm
Tickets $60, call 503-206-4252 to reserve.
Draft Mag's Best Beers
I've been getting emails lately by the Oregon breweries who found themselves on Draft Magazines top 25 beers of the year. Mirror Mirror, Vlad the Imp Aler, and Kiwanda Cream Ale found themselves on a list that included Orval and Duvel. (Yes, Oregon had the most beers. We rock. Yawn.) I will refrain from my usual pooh-poohing; while this isn't the list I would assemble, it's quirky and brave enough to warrant a look.
Oh, and while we're talking Draft Mag, they also have a Q&A with Rogue about the Green Dragon. A shorty, but you might be interested. Teaser quote:
It’s always been a plan to brew there. In October, we put in a homebrew system, and we have Portland’s homebrew club, the Oregon Brew Crew, homebrewing on it. We buy whatever ingredients they want, and a portion of the proceeds goes back to their club. They make amazing stuff -- a barleywine, a golden strong ale, an IPA. And we’re putting in our own 15-barrel brewing system in January.___________________
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Ya might need to do a recount, Jeff.
ReplyDelete1. Consecration (Barrel-Aged Sour Ale) -- Russian River Brewing Co.
2. Stone Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter (Specialty Beer) -- Stone Brewing, Maui Brewing, and homebrewer Ken Schmidt
3. Union Jack (American IPA) -- Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
4. Estate (Wet-hopped Ale) -- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
5. Eclipse Imperial Stout (Russian Imperial Stout) -- FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
Uh, I think that makes 5 California beers? Stone is a collaboration. Better stop "Yawning" Who rocks?
D'oh! Cali's correct. Even if we excise the collaboration brew.
ReplyDeleteI hop immediately onto a new bandwagon: West Coast with 8 beers. We rock. yawn.
good to hear that Rogue is collaborating with the Brew Crew.
ReplyDeletenow, if they would only serve an Honest Pint ;)