Belmont Station, Saraveza in New York Times

So here I am brushing my teeth, reading the New York Times on the iPhone and what do I see? In the list of most-emailed stories, a curiously titled article: "Tastings With Craft Beers." The lede talks about some pub in Oakland with a lot of taps. Not particularly newsworthy, I'm thinking, but it's cool the Times has taken notice. But then these eye poppers:

The cultivation of gourmands is a common goal for the outfits, which put a premium on education. Belmont Station (4500 Southeast Stark Street; 503-232-8538; belmont-station.com) in Portland, Ore., which stocks more than 1,200 different beers alongside a 26-seat taproom, offers one or two free tastings a week. “Over the course of the year you can taste well better than 500 bottled beers,” said Carl Singmaster, the owner.

And

Food and beer pairings play a central role at the brick-walled Saraveza (1004 North Killingsworth Street; 503-206-4252; saraveza.com), which opened in Portland at the end of 2008. The kitchen turns out housemade sausages and a different special pasty, a savory pastry similar to a calzone, every few days. To accentuate the mildly spicy curried lamb and cauliflower creation on a recent menu, Sarah Pederson, the owner, recommended a lightly hopped pale ale from Amnesia Brewing in Portland. Then she said other pairings were possible: “It depends how you’re trying to drink and how you’re trying to eat.”

Whoa! (Eugenies will be pleased to see that the Bier Stein and Ninkasi also get a shout-out.) Nice work, folks--

Abyss Available Now!

So here's the skinny. Belmont Station got in 25 cases of Abyss this morning, but are already down five or so (12:41 pm). So there are 240 bottles left as I write this, and I wouldn't expect them to last through the weekend, or, honestly, through closing tomorrow. I'll call around and see where else they may have landed.

Go forth, and secure your three bottles!

[Update (12:45 pm): John's Market got some in as well, though they refused to divulge how much. The guy I spoke to speculated that it was enough to last until I got off work, if that tells you anything. They're at: 3535 Multinomah Blvd., Portland. (503) 244-2617.

Woodstock Wine and Deli (12:48 pm): no dice. They got some in, but it was instantly snapped up/spoken for.

New Seasons (1:53 pm): I have been in email contact with New Season's beer person--yes, such a person does indeed exist, and yes, she's a woman--who was promised delivery at their nine Portland stores. She's checking to see if the deliveries are in.

Later (3:27 pm). This just in from New Seasons: "It sounds as though all of our stores got their Abyss except our Concordia location. Some stores have some set aside for their loyal customers who’ve called in. We’re expecting it to be all gone by gametime Sunday."]