Wandering Aengus Ciderworks offers Draft cider in Oregon

Wandering Aengus Ciderworks has announced the release of its new draft cider as part of the company’s ongoing effort to introduce real hard cider to the craft alcohol consumers of Oregon.

Since 2005, Wandering Aengus Ciderworks has offered tastings at supermarkets and at Portland area farmers markets to introduce Oregonians to real hard ciders, which are virtually non-existent in the marketplace.

Real hard ciders are produced from blends of true cider apple varieties, which produce a complex and refreshing craft beverage without any additives or adjuncts. Most hard ciders available domestically are made from readily available and inexpensive dessert apples that produce a low alcohol and simplistic beverage and require added sugar, concentrates, colors, and/or flavors to make them palatable.

In early 2009, management at Wandering Aengus decided the only way to raise awareness of real hard cider is to start a cider draft program. Luckily around that same time, Green Mountain Cider of Vermont (producer of Woodchuck cider) purchased Wyder’s Cider of California and British Columbia. This merger resulted in several redundant pieces of equipment including Wyder’s spare kegging line and kegs; cider specific equipment available at a reasonable price. An eventful road trip to Kelowna, British Columbia and a few weeks of repair resulted in a professional kegging set-up.

Initially Wandering Aengus Draft cider will be available at brewpubs and pubs with a current cider tap. The first location to offer Wandering Aengus Draft cider is Ventis Café located in Downtown Salem, Oregon.

“There are no real hard ciders on draft in Oregon. But Oregonians want a craft product on tap that tastes great, is refreshing but complex, and is made from local organic ingredients; Wandering Aengus Draft cider hit all those points,” says James Kohn, Marketing Director for Wandering Aengus Ciderworks.

Wandering Aengus Draft Cider Description:
• Strong apple aromas with a light body and a long ginger spice finish.
• Pairings - barbeque, pork, turkey, sausage, or aged cheddar.
• True Cider Apples, 100% Organic from Oregon and Washington
• Gluten Free
• 6.8% alcohol, 1% residual sugars
• Cold fermented at 48˚F, 2 months, Racked and aged 3 months; all in Stainless Steel tanks
• Available in 6th Barrel (5.16 g) Sankey Kegs
• Batch 1 (Semi-Dry)-138 kegs 5/7/09
• Available through Point Blank Distributing (503-232-1668) and directly from Wandering Aengus Ciderworks (503-361-2400)

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Wandering Aengus Ciderworks crafts real hard ciders from true cider apple varieties grown organically on its orchards in Ashland, Oregon and Salem, Oregon and by a few select growers in the Northwest. True cider apple varietals are required to produce the depth of flavor, excellent structure and body, and delightful aromatics of real hard ciders. Founded in 2004 by Nick Gunn and Mimi Casteel, today Wandering Aengus Ciderworks is recognized nationally for producing the highest quality hard ciders available domestically. For more information, visit www.wanderingaengus.com or e-mail.

Oregon Brews and BBQs to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Oregon Brews and BBQs, an event celebrating Northwest breweries, food and music, will be held June 19-20 at the Granary District, 845 NE 5th Street in McMinnville.

The event will benefit Habitat for Humanity and locally related Habitat projects. McMinnville’s Habitat for Humanity, which completed its first home in 1993, broke ground on its 38th and 39th projects in April.

Oregon Brews and BBQs will kick off Friday, June 19, from 3-10 p.m. and continue Saturday, June 20, from noon-10 p.m. Designed as a family event, this year's Oregon Brews and BBQs will again feature a Kids Zone for children on Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. Special pricing will be offered on Friday from 3-6 p.m., and on Saturday admission is free for men from noon to 2 p.m. in honor of Father’s Day.

“Our first event last year was such a success we have decided to expand it to two days, " said Marianne Mills, executive director of the McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity. “People understand the significant impact Habitat for Humanity has on the local community and want to support its family focus.”

Featured breweries include Heater Allen Brewing, Block 15 Brewery, Golden Valley Brewery, McMenamin’s, Alaskan Brewing Co., Bridgeport Brewing, Raccoon Lodge, Deschutes Brewery, Diamond Knot Brewery and Alehouse, Elysian Brewing Company, Mac and Jack’s Brewing Company, Rogue Brewery, MacTarnahan’s Brewing Company, Pyramid Breweries, Pike Street Brewery, Track Town Ales, Caldera Brewing Company, Full Sail Brewing and The Gambrinus Company.

Barbecue vendors include Billy Bob's Blowin' Smoke BBQ, Barker Q, Uncle Wally’s BBQ, Ribslayer To Go, Big Belly’s BBQ and Captain B’s BBQ.

Admission is $5 for those 13 and older and $1 per taste token for those 21 and older. ID is required. Souvenir mugs will be given to participants 21 and over. Tickets are available only at the gate on the day of the event.

North American Organic Brewers Festival Unveils Beer List for 2009

The world’s largest selection of organic beer will be poured at the North American Organic Brewers Festival June 26-28th in Portland’s Overlook Park. Festival organizers have just released this year’s beer list, with over 75 organic ales and lagers.

“I am impressed with the diversity of organic beers now being brewed,” said festival organizer Abram Goldman-Armstrong. “It’s a testament to the creativity and passion of organic brewers.”

The 2009 beer list may be viewed on the festival website.

Last year the NAOBF drew 15,000 attendees and raised over $3,300 for charities. The NAOBF also collects food for the Oregon Food Bank, offering a $1 discount off the price of the festival’s compostable tasting glass, in exchange for three cans of organic food.

When the festival started in 2003, founder Craig Nicholls chose beneficiaries working on various aspects of sustainability. The NAOBF continues to support causes linked to the organic and sustainability movement; the Oregon Tilth, an organic certification body that conducts research on organic farming, and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society since agricultural chemicals are one the leading causes of cancer. The Oregon Food Bank promotes a better diet for those in need, through distribution of local organic food. Without water there would be no beer, so the NAOBF is partnering with Willamette Riverkeeper, which works to clean up Oregon’s arterial river.

In addition to the multitude of organic beers and ciders on tap at the event, the NAOBF showcases a wide array of sustainability-oriented vendors, live music, face painting for children, and local and organic food vendors. Perennial festival favorite Horn Of Africa features organic traditional Ethiopian and Somali cuisine, other vendors offer local pork sausages, soups, and organic juice and coffee.

The NAOBF uses compostable tasting glasses made from corn, which are collected on site along with all food waste for composting through help from the City of Portland’s Master Recycler Program and Cloudburst Recycling. Biodiesel generators and solar panels provide electricity for the event. The NAOBF encourages responsible transportation choices as well, extending a one-dollar discount on the tasting glass to attendees who take MAX light rail (which stops at Overlook Park). On site parking is provided for bicycles, but not for cars.

Sno-Kona's Pond Skim Results

On April 25th Kona held their 3rd Annual Pond Skimming competition at Mt. Hood Meadows, and the results are in! 122 people registered for the event, and 54 advanced to the final round.

1st Place: Jesse Graunitz “Keg Man,” from Kelso, WA won a trip for two to Hawaii!

2nd Place: David Hendrickson “Snowboarder who turned 180 degrees on the water before exiting the pond” from Portland, OR won the Kona "Ride in Style" package including a Kona longboard skateboard, Kona skimboard, 2 Kona beach chairs, & 2 Kona backpack coolers.

3rd Place: Bruce Kuper “King Kamehameha” from Hillsboro, OR won a $50 gift certificate to Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grill.

Other Awards included:
Best Splash: Asit Rathod “Ballerina on skis who took a 20 foot leap and front flip into the pool”

Best Splash Backwards: Evan Sargent “Skied the entire in run backwards – hit water and back somersaulted”

Best Impression Made by a Female: Christine Sanders - “Octo Mom Skier” and Paula Rada - “Octo Mom Snowboarder.”

Best Hawaiian Costume: Rob Adamowski “Luau BBQ Pig – worn on his head atop a serving tray with smoke exiting the pig” and Jimmy Malcarne “Outrigger Canoe – complete with 2 blow up doll paddlers” - Last year’s winner as Magnum P.I.

All of these folks won a $50 Mt. Hood Meadows gift card.

I am SO going to this next year!

Pyramid's Bold New Look

Pyramid is introducing a new look and injecting a fresh attitude into its family of craft ales and lagers.

The evolved brand position is their expression of the proud tradition of brewing great beer combined with the energy, activity and the community that is the essence of the cities where they brew and serve their collection of award winning offerings.

“As a craft pioneer, Pyramid is extremely passionate about our brewing and we are continually inspired by the cities where we brew, live and play everyday. We believe we have successfully distilled that enthusiasm into our beer and our new packaging,” said Mike Brown, President of Pyramid Breweries. “The robust craft beer businesscontinues to grow with new breweries and brands arriving everyday. To remain relevant in a landscape with greater variety, we believe we must constantly evolve our portfolio and Pyramid is committed to providing craft consumers with interesting beers and experiences that quench their thirst for adventure.”

Created with a “Windows of the World” theme, the updated packaging captures the recognizable Pyramid icons complete with bright new illustrations reflecting the active and dynamic urban environments Pyramid brews its variety of year round, seasonal, and specialty beers.

With the new packaging, Pyramid will introduce new names for two of its best selling ales:

- Pyramid Hefeweizen becomes Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen, an ale that is unfiltered like life itself.

- Pyramid Apricot Ale will boldly go where no fruit has gone before and become Pyramid Audacious Apricot Ale.

The new packaging began shipping in early April and is expected to reach stores shelves by the beginning of May.

The Belgians are coming! The Belgians are coming!

The 3rd Annual “Portland's Cheers to Belgian Beers” Festival is happening this weekend, May 1st and 2nd, from noon - 10pm at Lucky Labrador Beer Hall: 1945 NW Quimby, Portland.

The festival began in 2007 as a celebration of Belgian style beers, with participating brewers all producing beers from the same strain of yeast. The 2009 event marks the first year that all Oregon Brewers Guild members, including breweries outside the Portland Metro area, will be eligible to participate.

This year's chosen yeast it Wyeast 3822 Ingelmunster Ale (formerly known as Wyeast 3822 Dutch Castle), which is a unique Belgian ale yeast that produces spicy/phenolic aromas that are tart and dry on the palate, for a complex beer.

After sampling all the Belgian style ales, attendees will vote for their favorite in the “People’s Choice Awards.” To the victor goes the spoils, and in this case the winning brewery earns the right to host next year’s event, select the yeast strain and pick the 2010 charity beneficiary. Lucky Lab won the 2008 competition and has chosen to donate all 2009 profits 2009 to the Oregon Humane Society.

Admission is free! There is a $5 charge for a tasting goblet, which is required to sample beers, and $1 for tastes. Tickets can be purchased at the festival entrance.

For more information, visit here.

Just in Time for Earth Day

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced today another step toward environmentally-friendly shipping with the delivery of one of the first-ever Peterbilt Hybrid tractors. Traditionally, ground-based shipping is one of the least environmentally friendly aspects of operation in the brewing industry. The shipping trucks use enormous amounts of fossil fuels and have historically contributed high emissions output. This step into hybrid trucking should reduce consumption of petroleum-based fuel as well as slashing the emission footprint.

The Peterbilt Model 330 Hybrid Tractor is the ideal vehicle for short-haul pickup and delivery. When the diesel engine is combined with the Hybrid drive unit, the power is increased to 320 HP and a torque limited to 860 ft-lbs torque. The engine features a regenerative braking system, similar to that in popular hybrid passenger car designs. During braking, the driveline turns the motor/generator, which slows the vehicle to produce electricity and charge the hybrid system batteries.

The central feature of the Hybrid electric technology is an energy storage device—The Power Electric Carrier (or PEC), which includes a pair of lithium ion batteries. The batteries and related controls are efficiently housed in an enclosure that is roughly the size of two small suitcases. The batteries, compared to other battery technology, feature high-energy density, small size, and light weight. The lithium ion batteries used for this system weigh approximately 110 lbs and are equivalent to the energy produced with 1,900 lbs of conventional lead acid batteries. The complete PEC package includes two lithium ion batteries, electronics, and the housing—weighing approximately 220 lbs.

In 2008, the California Air resources Board required heavy-duty diesel trucks to have added controls or auxiliary equipment to reduce emissions during idling. The Peterbilt 330 Hybrid tractor complies with any and all of the stringent emissions requirements and is certified as a “Clean Idle” vehicle.

In addition to the new hybrid tractor, Sierra Nevada is focusing on making all areas of their shipping more sustainable. The brewery is using intermodal transportation, rail delivery of raw material, on-site manufacture of bio-diesel, and exploring efficiency upgrades in our existing fleet of trucks.

Cheers to Earth Day!

Oktoberfest Holds Prices In 2009

Recognizing that the economy will require many months to recover, the directors of Mount Angel Oktoberfest have decided to hold prices at their annual event to 2008 levels or lower.

The all festival pass that allows unlimited entry and reentry to the Biergarten, Weingarten and Alpinegarten during all operating hours for all four days of the festival is reduced from $30.00 to $20.00.

Daily admission to the venues will be the same as last year. Children and young people 20 years of age and under are admitted free to the Weingarten and Alpinegarten, when accompanied by a paying adult until 9 PM daily. Prices for beer and wine remain unchanged. Food booths and crafters will be encouraged to hold their prices in line with 2008 and the directors will continue to look at other ways reduce the costs for our visitors without reducing the quality of entertainment, products and fun offered at the annual event.

As always, most events at Oktoberfest remain free.

John Gooley, President of Oktoberfest said "It is our goal to insure that even in these troubled times, everyone can afford to bring their friends and family to the Oktoberfest in Mount Angel, and expect to have a great time. We hope our folk festival can provide an escape, even for just a little while, from the stresses we all share.”

Whole Foods Market New Cheese and Beer!

Whole Foods Market is pleased to announce the arrival of two new artisanal cheeses from Het Hinkelspel Cheese Co‐op in Gent, Belgium. The Pas de Rouge washed rind cow’s milk cheese and Pas de Bleu, blue cow’s milk cheese are now available in all Washington and Oregon stores.

Accompanying these cheese selections is Lousberg Belgian Ale. Lousberg was designed by De Proef Brewery of Lochristi, Belgium specifically to complement the Het Hinkelspel cheeses.

“We are always looking to expand our selection of exceptional cheeses,” noted regional specialty coordinator Frank Schuck. “We are particularly excited to offer our customers this
unique beer and cheese combination.”

Het Hinkelspel Cooperative was created in 1982 by renowned Cheesemaker Alexander Claeys. It is located on Lousberg Street in the beautiful and historic city of Gent, Belgium. All Het Hinkelspel cheeses are produced only with highest quality natural ingredients and with the utmost care for its environment. They are imported by Peterson Cheese in Auburn, WA.

Lousberg Belgian ale was created for Het Hinkelspel by De Proef owner & brewmaster Dirk Naudts. It is a bright golden ale with a beautiful floral nose with hints of tropical fruit and honey. It is refined and elegant on the palate, reminiscent of brut champagne. It will be feature-priced at $8.99 per 750ml cork-finished bottle. 8% alcohol by volume. Lousberg is imported to the U.S. by SBS Imports of Seattle, Washington.

Picture credit: Jay Brooks - Brookstonbeerbulletin.com.

Three Breweries Win Double Medals at Spring Beer & Wine Fest Brewery Competition

In a field of nearly 90 beers, three breweries garnered double medals over the weekend in Portland's annual Spring Beer & Wine Fest beer competition, with another 13 breweries receiving medals as well.

Bend-based Deschutes Brewing, Hawaii’s Kona Brewing and Everett-Wash.-based Lazy Boy Brewing each won two medals in the competition. Kona grabbed two golds – one for Longboard Lager in the Lager category and one for Wailua Wheat in the Wheat category. Deschutes’ Miss Spelt, a German spelt ale, won silver in the broad Other category and its Hop Henge won silver in the IPA/Double IPA category. Lazy Boy won silver in the Belgian category with its Belgian Golden and garnered a second silver medal in the Red/Amber category with its Double Red.

Below is a list of all the winners in the 2009 Spring Beer & Wine Fest Beer Competition:

MEDAL CATEGORY BREWERY BEER STYLE
Gold Red/Amber Mad River Jamaica Red Red
Silver Red/Amber Lazy Boy Double Red Red
Gold Belgian Abbaye de Leffe SA Leffe Blond Belgian Golden
Silver Belgian Lazy Boy Belgian Golden Belgian Golden
Gold IPA/Double IPA Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Silver IPA/Double IPA Deschutes Hop Henge IPA
Gold Lager Kona Longboard Lager Dortmunder
Silver Lager Trumer Brauerei Trumer Pils Pils
Gold Other Cascade Lakes Blonde Bombshell Blonde
Silver Other Deschutes Miss Spelt German Spelt
Gold Pale Sierra Nevada ESB ESB
Silver Pale Hopworks Crosstown Pale Organic Pale Ale
Gold Porter/Stout New Belgium 1554 Dark Ale
Silver Porter/Stout Oakshire Espresso Stout Coffee Stout
Gold Wheat/Wit Kona Wailua Wheat Wheat
Silver Wheat/Wit P. Weissbierbrauerei Aventinus Eisbock Iced Doppelweizen

Brewers Association Releases Top 50 Breweries List

The Brewers Association, which represents the majority of brewing companies in the U.S., announced the annual list of top 50 brewing companies. Released are lists for both Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies of small and independent craft brewers, plus a Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies list. Rankings are based on sales volume in 2008.

"In 2007, 35 of the top 50 brewing companies were small and independent craft brewers. In 2008 there were 37," states Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association. "Craft brewers continue to have success and generate excitement behind the flavorful beer movement, but not without recent challenges including price increases for raw materials and supplies, as well as access to market issues."

Changes from last year's list include breweries moving up or down in the rankings based on volume sales. There was one new entrant into the Top 50 Craft list, The Saint Louis Brewery, and two craft brewers have claimed spots in the Top 50 Overall list—Big Sky Brewing Co. and Mac & Jack's Brewery. Consolidation of MillerCoors, last year's number 2 and 3 brewers, opened up a slot, and the merger of Widmer Brothers and Redhook into the company now named Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. opened up another slot filled by emerging small and independent craft brewers.

A more extensive analysis of statistics on the craft beer segment in 2008 will be released April 22nd during the Craft Brewers Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The Association's full 2008 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will publish in the May/June issue of The New Brewer on May 19.

Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume
(Based on 2008 sales)

Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
3 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
4 Spoetzl Brewery Shiner TX
5 Pyramid Breweries Inc. Seattle WA
6 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
7 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
8 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
9 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
10 Magic Hat Brewing Co. Burlington VT
11 Alaskan Brewing Co. Juneau AK
12 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
13 Bell's Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
14 Kona Brewing Co. Kailua-Kona HI
15 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
16 Shipyard Brewing Co. Portland ME
17 Summit Brewing Co. Saint Paul MN
18 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
19 Abita Brewing Co. Abita Springs LA
20 The Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
21 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
22 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
23 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
24 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
25 Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co. Newport OR
26 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
27 The Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
28 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
29 SweetWater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
30 Flying Dog Brewing Co. Frederick MD
31 BJ's Restaurant & Brewery Huntington Beach CA
32 Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants Louisville CO
33 BridgePort Brewing Co. Portland OR
34 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
35 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
36 Mac and Jack's Brewery Redmond WA
37 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
38 Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants Chattanooga TN
39 Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego CA
40 Breckenridge Brewery Denver CO
41 Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe Eureka CA
42 Otter Creek Brewing Co. Middlebury VT
43 Utah Brewers Cooperative Salt Lake City UT
44 North Coast Brewing Co. Fort Bragg CA
45 Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue NY
46 Boulder Beer Co. Boulder CO
47 Pete's Brewing Co. San Antonio TX
48 McMenamins Breweries Portland OR
49 Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boonville CA
50 The Saint Louis Brewery, Inc. St Louis MO


Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies by Beer Sales Volume
(Based on 2008 sales)

Rank Brewing Company City State
1 Anheuser-Busch InBev St. Louis MO
2 MillerCoors Brewing Co. Chicago IL
3 Pabst Brewing Co. Woodridge IL
4 Boston Beer Co. Boston MA
5 D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. Pottsville PA
6 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico CA
7 Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. Woodinville WA
8 New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
9 High Falls Brewing Co. Rochester NY
10 Spoetzl Brewery Shiner TX
11 Pyramid Breweries Inc. Seattle WA
12 Deschutes Brewery Bend OR
13 Iron City Brewing Co. Pittsburgh PA
14 Minhas Craft Brewery Monroe WI
15 Matt Brewing Co. Utica NY
16 Boulevard Brewing Co. Kansas City MO
17 Full Sail Brewing Co. Hood River OR
18 Magic Hat Brewing Co. Burlington VT
19 Alaskan Brewing Co. Juneau AK
20 Harpoon Brewery Boston MA
21 Bell's Brewery, Inc. Galesburg MI
22 Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago IL
23 Kona Brewery LLC Kailua-Kona HI
24 Anchor Brewing Co. San Francisco CA
25 August Schell Brewing Co. New Ulm MN
26 Shipyard Brewing Portland ME
27 Summit Brewing Co. Saint Paul MN
28 Stone Brewing Co. Escondido CA
29 Mendocino Brewing Co. Ukiah CA
30 Abita Brewing Co., L.L.C. Abita Springs LA
31 The Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn NY
32 New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus WI
33 Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton DE
34 Long Trail Brewing Co. Bridgewater Corners VT
35 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. San Jose CA
36 Rogue Ales/Oregon Brewing Co. Newport OR
37 Great Lakes Brewing Co. Cleveland OH
38 The Lagunitas Brewing Co. Petaluma CA
39 Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Paso Robles CA
40 SweetWater Brewing Co. Atlanta GA
41 Flying Dog Brewing Co. Frederick MD
42 BJ's Restaurant & Brewery Huntington Beach CA
43 Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurants Louisville CO
44 BridgePort Brewing Co. Portland OR
45 Odell Brewing Co. Fort Collins CO
46 Victory Brewing Co. Downingtown PA
47 Straub Brewery Saint Marys PA
48 Cold Spring Brewing Co. Cold Spring MN
49 Mac and Jack's Brewery Redmond WA
50 Big Sky Brewing Co. Missoula MT
For additional statistics, see Craft Brewing Statistics.

The definition of a craft brewer as stated by the Brewers Association: An American craft brewer is small, independent, and traditional. Small: Annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition. Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer. Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewer's brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

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Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade and education association for small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Visit the Web site, www.beertown.org, to learn more.

Sierra Nevada Launches "Wild Rivers" Campaign

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. announced today the launch of the “Wild Rivers” campaign to help keep our waterways clean and healthy.

For every 12-pack of Pale Ale and Summerfest Lager purchased in the U.S. this May, Sierra Nevada will donate a portion of proceeds to Western Rivers Conservancy, a nonprofit partner based in Portland, Oregon.

“Our beer is a product of our surroundings,” said Ken Grossman, Founder and President of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and member of the board of directors for Western Rivers Conservancy. “Sierra Nevada is not just the name of our brewery, but also a place with its own unique environment. We need to do our part in protecting that environment for generations to come.”

Proceeds from the Wild Rivers campaign will support Western Rivers Conservancy’s work to create river parks and protected natural areas along rivers like the Klamath River in California, the John Day in Oregon, the Hoh River in Washington and the Bear River in Utah.

The campaign launches at retailers nationwide on May 1, 2009, and continues through May 31.

Michelob Turns Up The WHEAT

Michelob Honey Wheat is the newest beer to join the growing Michelob collection. This hand-crafted filtered wheat ale, brewed with orange blossom honey from the groves of Florida and California, completes an all-wheat sampler pack created just for spring and summer.

The Michelob Brewing Co. Spring/Summer Sampler Pack, available beginning March 2, includes Michelob Honey Wheat, year-round favorites Shock Top Belgian White, Michelob Dunkel Weisse, and the spring seasonal Hop Hound Amber Wheat.

“When you’re sampling beers, always select the proper glass style and shape. This will enable you to enjoy the beer’s aroma and coloring – key parts of the tasting experience. With wheat beers, try a traditional tall, wide-mouthed glass.” ((See Beer Northwest Winter issue for help on choosing glassware of all sorts)).

The Michelob Spring/Summer Sampler Pack is available at grocery and convenience stores nationwide through September in 24-packs (six of each beer), 12-packs (three of each beer) and six-packs (two of each beer, Hop Hound Amber Wheat not included).

The results are in from the Chowder Challenge at the Fifth Quadrant!

If you missed out on the Chowder Challenge on Saturday, you well, MISSED OUT!

Winner of the coveted 2009 Chowder Cup: New Old Lompoc

There was a total of 326 votes, with more than half going to New Old Lompoc.
Rogue Ales took second. The Lompoc reclaimed the title that it originally
won in 2006; the Morrison Hotel took home the 2007 Cup.

The event raised $3,300 for Locks for Love.

Most Flavorful: Rogue Ales
Best with Beer: Hedge House
Most Authentic: New Old Lompoc

Congrats!

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest Recognized for Its Philanthropy

Oktoberfest in Mount Angel received the 2008 Ovation Award for "Best Philanthropic Event in Oregon" at the annual convention of the Northwest Festival and Events Association held in Ocean Shores, Washington. Oktoberfest was specifically recognized for providing regional non-profits the opportunity to raise funds at the festival and for its long-established annual grant program.

This past year, the 50 food booths at Oktoberfest grossed $661,000.00 at the four day event. This was the largest gross sales ever recorded by the booths. Other groups earned money operating the parking lots, providing shuttle service from the lots to the festival and up to Mount Angel Abbey, assisting in traffic control and crowd management, operating the first aid station and performing a myriad of other tasks.

In May, fifty-seven worthy organizations in the region will share $115,150.00 through the festival’s annual grant Program. Since its inception Oktoberfest has distributed well over two million dollars to organizations in the Mid Willamette Valley.

Oktoberfest is the most important event of the year for the church, school, youth activities, volunteer firefighters, boy and girl scouts, service clubs and other organizations involved. Many generate most of their annual funds over the four day run of the festival.

Congratulations to all involved!

Rogue Nation Bails Out its Citizens!

In economics, a bailout is an act of loaning or giving capital to a failing business in order to save it from bankruptcy, insolvency, or total liquidation and ruin.

These days, you can’t turn the corner without hearing something about the crumbling economy and the planned bailout (biting my tongue on what I think about all of that). The United States government has allocated $787 billion to bail out the nation during this recession. But they aren’t the only nation taking action.

Rogue Nation has put together a bailout plan to aid Rogue Nation citizens during these difficult financial times, appropriately named the Rogue Nation Bailout Program (RNBOP).

Twice-a-day, at each of the embassies (read: Rogue locations), the Rogue Nation Bailout Program pays 100% of a customer(s) tab. Each unsuspecting person or group is randomly chosen, inducted into the Rogue Nation (if not already a citizen) and relieved of their debt to Rogue. Since the program was put into effect, Rogue has bailed out over 350 tabs.

Rhizomes Are Coming!

Spring is right around the corner and if you ever wanted to grow your own hops, now is the time to start thinking about planting. F.H. Steinbart's in Portland anticipates having them in around the week of March 16th . If the wind decides to blow just right, they'll be carrying the following varieties:

-Cascade
-Centennial
-Chinook
-Kent Golding
-Mt. Hood
-Magnum
-Newport
-Sterling
-Willamette
-Zeus

All Rhizomes will be $4.50 per cutting.

Call in to reserve as soon as you know what you what rhizomes you would like. Rumor has it supply will be limited this year. To reserve please call F.H. Steinbart's at 503 232-8793.

They can only hold rhizomes for 2 weeks after your pre-order arrives to the store, as they do not keep very well outside of the ground. Feel free to give them a call if you have any questions about hop growing or anything else beer or wine related.

Laughing Buddha Brewing Company Will Change Its Name

Laughing Buddha, a Seattle-based craft microbrewery, has resolved a trademark dispute with an Australian brewer that packages beer in Buddha-shaped bottles. To resolve the dispute, Laughing Buddha Brewing Company will operate as Trade Route Brewing Company starting April 1, 2009.

Smouha Fabrics, owner of Lucky Drink Company of Australia, sent a letter to the Seattle microbrewery in May 2008 objecting the use of Laughing Buddha’s name, citing US trademark registrations for their Buddha-bottle design and the name “Lucky Buddha.”

“We didn’t feel that we were infringing on their trademark,” says Chris Castillo, co-owner of Laughing Buddha Brewing Company. “Smouha is a big corporation and we couldn’t afford to go through the litigation process.”

Laughing Buddha Brewing Company began selling their line of beers to restaurants, pubs, and stores in late 2007. They brew a brown ale with pandan leaves, a hefeweizen with mangoes, and a pale ale with ginger.

“We’re experimenting with many ingredients from ancient trade routes,” says Castillo. “Trade Route Brewing Company will be a better fitting name for us.”

Mark your Calendars for the Return of the World's Largest Organic Brewers Festival

The North American Organic Brewers Festival June 26-28th at Overlook Park in Portland, Oregon will feature the world's largest variety of organic beers. Last year's festival featured 75 different organic beers, and drew about 15,000 attendees.

Beers poured at the NAOBF range from pilsner to porter, amber ale to Belgian wit, Irish-style stout to Northwest-style India Pale Ale. With breweries from across North America, England, Scotland, Germany, and Belgium the festival showcased some of the finest organic beers on the planet. Over the last decade organic brewers have carved out a solid niche within the craft brewing movement. Organic beer sales grew from $9 million in 2003 to $19 million in 2005, and to $25 million in 2006, according to the Organic Trade Association.

"I see organic as the next step in the craft brewing revolution's return to traditional beer ingredients and brewing methods," says festival organizer Abram Goldman-Armstrong, of the growing popularity of organic beer.

The NAOBF, presented by Roots Organic Brewing, is in its fifth incarnation, and promotes sustainable living as well as organic beer. Sustainability oriented vendors and non-profits set up alongside brewers. The NAOBF benefits the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, which fights cancer, often caused by agricultural chemicals, the Oregon Tilth, which promotes organic agriculture, and the Oregon Food Bank, which feeds the hungry. A diverse program of music runs throughout the event, and a children's area provides activities for youngsters. Local vendors offer a variety of cuisine from Sweetbriar Farm's pork, to Horn of Africa's spicy organic dishes, to veggie dogs.

NAOBF organizers strive to make this the most earth friendly beer festival in North America. Festival attendees sample beer from compostable corn-starch tasting glasses instead of the heavy plastic mugs used at other beer festivals. Composting and recycling stations are provided for festival waste and food vendors are required to use compostable cutlery and plates. Electricity needs are met with a combination of biodiesel and solar generators, volunteers wear organic cotton and hemp tshirts, and signage is reusable.

The NAOBF will be open from 12-9pm Friday June 26, 12-9pm Saturday June 27, and 12-5pm on Sunday June 28. A tasting glass is $6, and 4 oz. tastes of beer are $1 each. A $1 discount is given in exchange for three cans of organic food for the Oregon Food Bank or presenting a validated MAX light rail ticket.

The NAOBF was first held in 2003 at Port Halling Brewing Company, and since 2006 has been an annual event in Portland, Oregon, one of the greenest cities in North America. Portland is home to two all-organic breweries, NAOBF presenter Roots Organic Brewing Company, and Hopworks Urban Brewery, which debuted its beer at the 2007 NAOBF. A number of other brewpubs in Portland produce significant amounts of organic beer, including Laurelwood, Lucky Lab, and Alameda Brewhouse. Portland also tops the list of bicycle-friendly cities, is a leader in green building, and is home to more breweries than any other city in the world (38).
Overlook Park, between Fremont and Overlook Streets on North Interstate Avenue is located on the Yellow Line MAX, Portland's award winning light-rail system, two stops from downtown Portland. Festival attendees are encouraged to use the MAX, walk, or bike to reduce the carbon-footprint of the event. There is no on-street parking at the site, making responsible transportation the easiest way to reach the event.

Damn the Man - just say NO to the New Oregon Beer Tax!!

Come stand up against House Bill 2461 (The New Beer Tax) Next Thursday, February 26th, at 5pm at the Green Dragon in Portland, Oregon. You'll have the chance to learn more about the proposed beer tax (like what crap it is), send a letter to state representatives, and speak with Oregon brewery owners. There will also be anti-beer tax collateral for everyone. Come down, speak out, and drink up. This is beer we're talking about here!