Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Chad Kennedy Named Head Brewer

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It’s now official, Chad Kenedy will be the new brewmaster at Laurelwood Brewery in Portland, Oregon, as former brewmaster Christian Ettinger leaves to open his own place. Congratulations to Chad.

New Laurelwood brewermaster Chad Kennedy.

From the press release:

Mike De Kalb, owner of Laurelwood Brewing Company, named Chad Kennedy as his new brewmaster replacing Christian Ettinger who is leaving to pursue his own entrepreneurial venture.

“Having worked as Laurelwood’s assistant brewmaster since January 2003, it’s exciting to step into the leadership role,” enthused Kennedy. “I’ll continue brewing the great beers that have put Laurelwood on the map, and I’m looking forward to introducing new ones.”

Kennedy became an avid home brewer in 1998 while he was working as marketing director for AM Todd Botanicals in Eugene, Oregon. In 2000, he decided to devote himself to his passion for brewing and took a sales position with Aria Imports, a beer distributor in Portland. “I was lucky that my job gave me the opportunity to meet the folks at Laurelwood because when I found out there was an opening in the brewery, I jumped at the chance.”

Since joining Laurelwood, Kennedy has been an integral part of a successful brewing team. In 2004, the World Beer Cup honored Laurelwood with its champion small brewpub and brewmaster awards, two of the most prestigious honors in the craft brewing industry, in addition to two gold, two silver, and one bronze medals. Additional honors include awards from the World Beer Cup in 2006 and the Great American Beer Festivals in 2003 and 2004.

Jessica, former event coordinator for the AOB, Ralph Olson of HopUnion and Chad Kennedy, new head brewer at Laurelwood Public House & Brewery in Portland, Oregon.

Laurelwood Brewer to Open His Own Brewpub

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Award-winning brewer Christian Ettinger, who’s been doing some wonderful things at Laurelwood Brewery in Portland, Oregon, will be opening his own place later this fall. It will be located on SE Powell Boulevard near 29th Avenue. Congratulations to Christian. No word yet on what the new brewpub will be called. I look forward to trying his new beers soon.

I assume brewer Chad Kennedy will be taking over brewmaster duties at Laurelwood but no official word yet if that’s the case or not.

Rogue Chipotle Ale in SF Chronicle

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Linda Murphy, wine editor for the San Francisco Chronicle — and a friend to craft beer — has a short article in today’s paper about Rogue’s Chipotle Ale. Rogue Ales, based in Newport, Oregon also operates a Public House in San Francisco.

Rogue describes the beer as follows:

Dedicated to Spanish author Juan de la Cueva, who, in 1575, wrote of a Mexican dish that combined seedless chipotles with beer: Chipotle Ale is based on Rogue’s Oregon Golden Ale, but delicately spiced with smoked chipotle chile peppers. Deep golden in color with a tight head, rich malty aroma, delicately smooth and crisp flavor, and subtle chipotle chili finish. Formerly known and packages as Mexicali Rogue, Chipotle Ale is created from Northwest Harrington, Klages, and Maier Munich Malts; Willamette and Cascade hops; and Smoked Jalapeno (Chipolte) Peppers. Available in a 22-ounce (12/case), 12-ounce (24 loose/case) screened bottles, and on draft. Blend it with Rogue Chocolate Stout and create a Mole’ black and tan!

Measurements: 12 degrees Plato, IBU 35, Apparent attenuation 82, Lovibond 23
No Chemicals, Additives, or Preservatives

Widmer Fixes Broken Halo IPA

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Widmer Brothers Brewing, whose flagship Hefeweizen redefined that style for America, also makes many, many other excellent beers. And one of those, Broken Halo IPA, was their spring release last year. One of their most successful seasonal releases, demand for Broken Halo continued long after the seasonal cycle ended last summer. Widmer Brothers announced yesterday that it would be fixing that and making Broken Halo IPA a year-round addition to their portfolio.

From the press release:

Widmer Brothers Brewing announced today the launch of Broken Halo IPA, the result of a tried-and-true recipe from the company’s seasoned brewmasters. Broken Halo will be distributed to select West Coast bars, taverns and finer grocery retailers beginning the week of April 3, 2006. Inspired by the traditional India Pale Ale (IPA) recipe originating in 19th Century England, Broken Halo contains higher concentrations of hops and alcohol than typical beer, and will be ceremoniously launched the same week in history when Prohibition was repealed for beer on April 7, 1933.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 73 years of the freedom to enjoy beer than with our new Broken Halo IPA,” says Kurt Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing. “We saw the first signs of this IPA’s success when we offered it as a spring seasonal Ale, then as a Brewmasters’ Release recipe. With so many people at bars and taverns requesting it, the obvious choice was to listen and bring it back. Rob and I are really proud of the result and I think craft beer lovers will really enjoy it, too.”

Broken Halo uses Cascade and Columbus hops for balanced bitterness, flavor and aroma. Bitterness is 45 IBU, alcohol by volume is 6% and original gravity is 14.25 degrees plato.

The label for Widmer’s new Broken Halo IPA.

In Memory: Jim Kennedy

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The late Jim Kennedy’s birthday is also today and I didn’t want to forget to raise a toast to him tonight, either. I never got the opportunity to meet Jim, but we had a lot of mutual friends and colleagues. Jim Kennedy founded Admiralty Beverage (acquired by Columbia Distributing in 1995) and was instrumental in the success of countless early microbreweries in Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

Chosen as “best beer pioneer” by Willamette Week in the weeks prior to his death, here’s what they had to say in 2002:

Let’s all raise a pint to Jim Kennedy. Don’t know who he is? If you’re a beer imbiber, chances are you’ve admired his work. The Pacific Northwest’s quality beverage scene would not exist without Kennedy and what friends call his infectious passion for the finer things in life. Founder, with his wife, Bobbie, of the Admiralty Beverage Company, Jim helped bring craft beers—as well as imports and fine wines—to these parts. He was a major supporter of breweries like Widmer and Deschutes in their early days. It’s a terrible irony that the man so many describe as the most vital force in the country’s thriving brewing scene has only a few weeks to live. After a serious battle with cancer, Kennedy says he doesn’t expect to live out the summer. A few weeks ago, he and Bobbie threw a living wake at Portland Brewing Company. Jim didn’t want to miss a last chance to party with his friends.

My friend and publisher, Tom Dalldorf, attended that living wake, and spent an hour or so interviewing Jim Kennedy. That interview appeared in the August/September issue in 2002. It hit the streets just a few days after Jim passed away. Please join me in raising a toast to his memory.

Laurelwood Launches New Blog for New Brewery Project

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Laurelwood Public House and Brewery in Portland, Oregon has announced that they will be building a new brewery and moving a few blocks from their present location in the Hollywood at 1728 NE 40th Avenue. Last summer, Laurelwood owners Mike DeKalb and Cathy Woo-DeKalb purchased the former Sylvia’s Restaurant and Dinner Theater about a dozen blocks away at 5115 NE Sandy Boulevard. The equipment has now arrived at the new site and a New Brewery Project blog has been launched to follow the construction of the brewery. Check out their blog and follow along as they build the new facility. It should be a fun and educational experience to watch a day-to-day account of a brewery being built from scratch. Great idea, guys. Best of luck to Christian, Chad and Paul.

BridgePort Re-Opening Date Announced

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BridgePort Brewing of Portland, Oregon announced today that the re-opening of their brewpub on NW Marshall Street, which has been closed for a massive renovation since December of 2004, will take place in two weeks, on February 23.

From the press release:

The gala event will take place February 23 from 6 p.m. to Midnight at 1313 NW Marshall St. A $10 cover charge includes food, live music, and one drink scrip. Ticket information is available online at www.bridgeportbrew.com or by calling 503-241-7179.

Glen Hay Falconer Foundation Announces 2006 Events

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The Glen Hay Falconer Foundation announced today two events for 2006. The foundation honors the memory of iconoclastic brewer Glen Falconer, who died in a tragic accident in 2002. He brewed at Wild Duck Brewery in Eugene, Oregon. The foundation raises money for scholarships so that worthy brewers can attend the Siebel Institute in Chicago.

The dedicated group of individuals that made the past Brew Fests so successful is already planning for the fourth annual Sasquatch Brew Fest on Saturday, June 3, 2006 in Eugene. Mark your calendar and check out the festival website created and maintained by Doug Fuchs of Flying Ink Media.

On July 28, the Foundation will produce the second annual Sasquatch BrewAm golf tournament at McMenamins Edgefield. Pair up with celebrity brewers for a morning of beer and golfing camaraderie, as the Sasquatch BrewAm is unlike any other golf tournament and is designed to appeal to beer-loving golfers of all levels. Stay tuned to the festival website for more information.

I’ve never attended either event, but have heard glowing reports about both from friends who have participated. Plus, it’s a very worthy cause. Glen was a great person and is very much missed by everyone who knew him.