American Homebrewers Association Launches New Website

The American Homebrewers Association, established in 1978, is proud to introduce the launch of their all-new, completely interactive, educational website devoted to the hobby of homebrewing: HomebrewersAssociation.org.

Features of the new website include:
AHA Forum: An online discussion group for all topics homebrewing-related. Within the first few days of the website launch, more than 6,000 participants had registered and more than 3,500 posts were listed.

Homebrewopedia: A wiki-based resource, allowing homebrewers from around the world to share their recipes and brewing knowledge. Medal winning recipes from past National Homebrew Competitions can also be found here, allowing others to learn from the best.

Pimp my System: The AHA is proud to give homebrewers the opportunity to show off their elaborate and creative brewing systems. Homebrewers are encouraged to post entries in the Homebrewers Bio area on the AHA Forum, where systems are selected to be featured each month.

Brewer of the Week: Homebrewers have great stories to tell, and the AHA is proud to share them with the community. Brewers can post a bio about themselves in the Homebrewers Bio area on the AHA forum, and several will be chosen each month to feature.

Club Profiles & Resources: These pages contain articles geared towards helping homebrew clubs with events and management as well as a section on homebrew Club Profiles. Clubs can post a description and photographs to share and several will be featured each month.

Deschutes Brewery Chef's Challenge

Join Deschutes Brewery for an Iron Chef-style beer pairing competition featuring seven chefs from Portland’s top restaurants, competing to prepare the best dish and beer pairing. A panel of five celebrity judges will decide which combination is the tastiest and most artfully prepared, and a People’s Choice Award will also be given. This is a fundraiser for Morrison Child and Family Services.

Competing Chefs to include:

Kurt Spak - Alba Osteria
Pascal Chureau - Fenouil
Cathy Whims - Nostrana
Adam Berger - Ten 01 and Tabla Mediterranean Bistro
Paul Bachand - Farm to Fork
Jeff Usinowicz & Jill Ramseier - Deschutes Brewery Portland Pub

WHEN: December 14th, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Deschutes Brewery, Portland Oregon

PRICE: $75 per ticket, seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased here.

Laughing Planet Cafe and Fearless Brewing Raise Money for Endangered Chimps

Raise a Glass. Save a Chimp.

It’s as easy as sipping a pint of Fearless Brewing Company’s limited edition Baati Brown Ale at any Laughing Planet Café in Portland and Eugene during the month of December. Brewed exclusively for the chimpanzee benefit, Baati Brown Ale is named for one of the chimps housed at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center in West Africa. Laughing Planet Café will donate 100% of net proceeds from sales of Baati Brown Ale. When the beer is purchased in a pint beer glass, custom designed with a chimp logo, Laughing Planet will discount the beer price. Pint glasses, t-shirts, calendars and ceramic mugs with Baati’s image will also be available for purchase throughout December at all locations.

A champion for orphaned and abused chimpanzees and a former Beaverton veterinarian, Dr. Sheri Speede will make a rare U.S. appearance at Laughing Planet Café on December 16th to share stories of her work at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which she founded in 1999. As a benefit for her center, and for In Defense of Animals-Africa, Speede will show what is happening to the chimp population in Africa, which has decreased 75% in the past 30 years, and how she risked her own life to rescue more than 66 chimps. The event is free and open to the public at Laughing Planet Café, 4110 SE Woodstock Blvd. beginning at 5 p.m. Come meet Dr. Speede and stay for dinner, followed by a slide show at 7 p.m. Laughing Planet will donate 20% of food sales to the Rescue Center the night of the event, along with the proceeds from custom designed chimp merchandise available throughout December.

“If I wasn’t peddling sustainable burritos in Oregon, I would join Sheri in Africa to help her save more chimps,” said Richard Satnick, founder and Chief Burrito Officer at Laughing Planet Café. “As a graduate student in anthropology, I lived with these amazing animals and studied their behavior and communication. Sheri’s a remarkable warrior for these animals and I am proud that Laughing Planet and the community can come together to help protect our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.”

Chimps Smile for the Camera
In partnership with In Defense of Animals – Africa, which Sheri Speede founded, Laughing Planet Café produced a 2010 calendar illustrated with black and white close-up photographs of a dozen chimps rescued by Dr. Speede and her team. The calendar is available for purchase throughout December at each Laughing Planet Café with all proceeds going directly to the Rescue Center.

Meet The Brewer!

On Tuesday November 17th Green Dragon presents Meet the Brewer with Oakshire Brewing.

Featured beer are:
* Ill-Tempered Gnome – Winter Ale
* Overcast: Espresso Stout
* Watershed: India Pale Ale

Dark Dragon: the Green Dragon Barley Wine

As promised, the highly-anticipated third release in the series of Green Dragon brews will take place Wednesday, November 18th at 5:00pm.

Dark Dragon is an American Barley Wine which was brewed on the Green Dragon’s 1 barrel, nano-brew system.

Dark Dragon is brewed with 15 ingredients: Maris Otter, Golden Promise, Pale, Munich, Carastan, Caravienne, Crystal 60, Chocolate and Special B Malts; Amarillo, Magnum and Cascade Hops; Roasted Barley, Corn Sugar and American Ale Yeast. Dark Dragon is simply described as robust, well-balanced and dangerous. Specifications are 86 IBU, 24º Lovibond, and 18.9º Plato. Dark Dragon is dedicated to the Green Dragon Founders Club.

Like its two predecessors, there are only 2 quarter barrel kegs of Dark Dragon which amounts to a scarce 140 pours. Tickets for a 12oz glass at the premiere pour are being sold now and are available at the Green Dragon. They are limited to one per person.

A portion of the proceeds from Dark Dragon will be donated to the Oregon Brew Crew.

Dark Dragon Barley Wine will be poured from one of the “Back 30” taps located behind the new bar on the cooler wall. These taps are home to Green Dragon brews, beers from Oregon nano breweries, Meet the Brewer beers and seasonal themed beers like Winter Ales.

Additional Green Dragon beers are being brewed by Oregon Brew Crew members Josh Blender, John Heasley, Scott MacDonald and Patrick Miller. The styles are: Irish Red Ale, Russian Imperial Stout, Chocolate Stout and a Porter. Mark your calendars now because the next premier pour will take place Wednesday November 25th at 5:00pm.

The Northwest Loses Another Beer Legend

I discovered more sad news today when I called Derek Wilmot of Dick's Brewing to send him our condolences for the loss of Dick Young.

Brian Sollenberger of Diamond Knot Brewing passed away on October 31st. Though my contact with Brian was limited to funny quips in email conversations, it saddens me greatly to know that we've lost yet another member of our brewing community.

Our hearts and thoughts are with the Dick's Brewing and Diamond Knot families.

The Second Annual Big Chill

Put on your bowling shoes and stocking caps for the 2009 “Big Chill" at Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge, taking place this Friday, November 13th.

This second-annual event, a celebration for the upcoming snow season, will kick off at 9 pm and keep patrons toasty all night long with cold Brrr, the winter seasonal ale from Widmer Brothers Brewing.

The night will include music from 94/7 FM and Grand Central's new DJ, Clint Kuper, as well as a fashion show on the bowling lanes with the best in winter gear from U.S. Outdoor Store, including looks from Airblaster, Bond, Bonfire, Burton, DC, Holden, Oakley, Volcom, 686, and more.

The event will also feature custom snowboard design entries from the 94/7 Snowboard Design Competition and one lucky designer will leave with a customized Revolution snowboard, a 2009/2010 Season Pass to Mt. Hood Meadows, and a $50 gift certificate to U.S. Outdoor Store.

Snow-junkies can also get their pictures taken at the Big Chill photo booth or warm up with a sample of cold Brrr, after it makes its way down the Brrr ice luge.

The evening will be filled with plenty of Widmer Brothers Brrr and tons of prizes! Admission to the Big Chill is free. A 2009 commemorative mug is also free when purchasing a Brrr Seasonal Ale for $3.50, while supplies last.

Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge is located at 839 SE Morrison Ave., Portland, OR 97214.

The Green Dragon Releases "Gouden Draak"

The Oregon Brew Crew is ready to unveil Gouden Draak, the second beer in the series of Green Dragon brews. The tapping will take place this Wednesday, November 11th at 5:00pm!

Gouden Draak or “Golden Dragon” is a Belgian Golden Ale and the second beer brewed on the Green Dragon’s 1 barrel, nano-brew system.

Gouden Draak is brewed with 6 ingredients: 2 Row Pilsner and Caravienne Malts; Styrian Golding Hops, Orange Peel, Invert Sugar and Belgian Ale Yeast. Gouden Draak, while uncharacteristically dark for the style, has excellent Belgian attributes from the yeast with a hint of orange and a relatively dry finish. Specifications are 32 IBU, 7º Lovibond, and 16.8º Plato. Gouden Draak is dedicated to Oregon Homebrewers.

Like the Finally! IPA, there are only 2 quarter barrel kegs of Gouden Draak which amounts to a scarce 140 pours. Tickets for a 12oz glass at the premier pour are being sold now and are available at the Green Dragon. They are limited to one per person.

All proceeds from Gouden Draak will be donated to the Oregon Brew Crew.

Green Dragon Gouden Draak will be poured from one of the “Back 30” located behind the new bar on the cooler wall at the Green Dragon. These taps are home to Green Dragon brews, beers from Oregon nano breweries, 'Meet the Brewer' beers and seasonal themed beers like Wet Hop and Winter Ales.

Additional Green Dragon beers are being brewed by Oregon Brew Crew members Josh Blender, John Heasley, Scott MacDonald and Patrick Miller. The styles are: American Dark-Strong Ale, Irish Red Ale and Russian Imperial Stout. Mark your calendars now because the next premier pour will take place Wednesday, November 18th at 5:00pm.

Lompoc says, "La'chaim!"

Every year, Lompoc Brewing releases more than a half-dozen Christmas beers around the first of December. This year, the brewers are excited to brew a beer in honor of Hanukkah as well.

Dubbed "Eight Malty Nights," the Chocolate Rye beer will be brewed tomorrow, November 10th. Rabbi Bradley Greenstein from the Congregation Neveh Shalom will be present to bless the mash and deliver a toast.

The beer will be released on the first day of Hanukkah, Dec. 11.

Silver City Brewery Helps Feed Kitsap Families in Need

From November 2nd through Thanksgiving eve (November 25th), Silver City will act as a collection point for Central Kitsap Food Bank donations. Silver City will issue a Free Dessert card to the person or family donating each bag of non-perishable food items brought through their doors.

Central Kitsap food bank’s mission is “To help those in need.” The Central Kitsap Food Bank began as a church pantry in Tracyton, WA in 1989, moving to its current location next to Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale in 1992. They are a local, independent food bank and partner with seven local food banks and several hot meal programs to maximize the generous donations from the community.

In 2008, CK Food Bank served 463,790 pounds of food to 20,207 individuals in 6,143 households. In 2007, the food bank became the contact agency for a federal food program called Commodities Supplemental Food Program; as such, they served and/or delivered 30+ pounds of additional food to 275-300 low-income seniors and children each month.

Please join Silver City in supporting this worthy Food Bank and bring your donations in for a FREE Dessert. During this time of year CK Food Bank would appreciate the following NON PERISHABLE items:

Stuffing Mix
Canned Yams and Sweet Potatoes
Gravy (canned or packets)
Instant Potatoes
Chicken or Turkey Broth
Cranberry Sauce
Monetary Donations

For info about the food bank please go to: http://www.ckfoodbank.org/

For a more info about Silver City Brewery please go to: www.silvercitybrewery.com

Firestone Walker Releases “13”

Firestone Walker Brewing Company announced the release of their much anticipated anniversary beer, “13.” This annual release will go on sale for the first time at noon on November, 14th at the Firestone Walker Brewery in Paso Robles and the Firestone Walker Taproom Restaurant in Buellton.

Firestone’s anniversary series, a unique blend of barrel aged beers, has become quite a phenomenon each year as beer fans from all over the U.S. seek out this special limited release. In years past releases have sold out at the brewery in just a few weeks and these beers have garnered a hefty price tag in the market.

“These unique barrel aged beers have really changed the public’s perception of beer,” says Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “The care and time that went into this blend is more akin to wine than beer,” he added.

Brynildson again enlisted the help of Paso Robles area wine makers to assist in the blending of several barrel-aged beers into the final product. Barley wines, imperial stouts and an imperial brown are just a few of the beers making up the final blend. Many of the component beers have spent over 2 years aging in a combination of retired bourbon, rye, and wine barrels. This process contributes unique and one-of-a kind flavors not typically found in beer.

The anniversary release will be available to select accounts in limited quantities throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Oregon later in November. Only 1,000 cases of this vintage beer were made and Firestone Walker co-founder David Walker doesn’t expect it to last long.

“Our anniversary beers have become somewhat of a phenomenon. Each year beer fans make the pilgrimage to the brewery to get this limited release and before we know it, it’s gone,” said co-founder David Walker.