Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Saturday at OBF

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With so many evens going on Saturday, I didn ‘t make it to the festival itself until almost five.

The third day of the evolution of Chris Crabb in photographs.

Christian Ettinger, who recently left Laurelwood to open his own place. Construction is coming along nicely he told me, but he’s still struggling with finding that perfect name for the brewery.

Relaxing behind the Celebrator/Oregon Brewers Guild booth, Christian takes his son on a flying trip.

Chris Crabb and Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf.

Full Sail Smoker

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Full Sail Brewing has been hosting a smoker at the Pilsner Room, their pilot brewery at Riverplace in McCormick & Schmick’s for many years. Our host, brewer John Harris, opens his brewery/laboratory to the brewing world: brewers, media and those in the know with great beer and cigars. It’s always a great time and a chance to talk with friends and colleagues away from noise of the crowded festival.

The Willamette River at Riverplace.

Full Sail employee/owners Autumn and Barney, with their newborn daughter.

Autumn and Barney’s five-month old.

Alan Sprintz, from Hair of the Dog, and Full Sail brewer — and our host — John Harris.

Jim Parker and me.

Fellow beer writer Abe Armstrong-Goldman and Jeff Smiley, owner of Baron Brewing.

Mark Campbell and me.

Larry Bell, from Kalamazoo Brewing, and Alan Sprintz.

Rose & Raindrop IPA Festival

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After the Horse Brass, we stopped briefly at the IPA Festival the Rose and Raindrop was having in the parking out back from the pub.

We arrived early so there weren’t too many people there. They had about a dozen beers, a few of which I hadn’t tried.

One of our servers, wearing Jamie Floyd’s new Ninkasi Brewing t-shirt, which was the shirt of the festival. The back reads “Jesus Was a Homebrewer.”

The barbecue guy had a six-week old dog with one brown and one blue eye. He was very cute.

A Quick Trip to the Horse Brass

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After brunch, we made a quick visit to the Horse Brass Pub, one of the best beers bars in Portland, and the country for that matter. It’s owned by my friend Don Younger, who’s done a great deal to support craft beer over the years. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Horse Brass Pub. It’s beer selection is naturally excellent and has an authentic British pub feel. I had a couple of yummy cask beers.

Our bartender at the Horse Brass, who’s been there since the beginning.

Lisa Morrison enjoys a pint.

One of Don’s former employees did this painting of him during a trip to England in 1997. I’ve always loved it and happily this visit was able to manage to get a decent photo of it.

Brunch at BridgePort

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I was invited to brunch at BridgePort Brewing and was keen to see the newly renovated space. The brewery had been under construction the last time I’d been in town and had reopened earlier this year. I must say I was a little disappointed that the brick and ivy exterior was gone and in its place a sallow stucco. Inside, though thoroughly modern, was spectacular, if a little too polished for my tastes. But it does seem to fit with the Pearl District’s overall new look and feel. The food was excellent and they had all of their beers on tap, including many of the older ones I hadn’t tried for quite some time. I enjoyed a smooth Blue Heron Pale Ale with breakfast and sampled the wonderful Old Knucklehead, BridgePort’s barleywine.

This beautiful sign hangs above the bars and gives some great info about each beer, but it will make it pretty hard to change lineups, won’t it?

My table, with Stephen Beaumont, Paula Johnston (marketing manager for BridgePort), Tom Dalldorf and Marie Oliver, a Portland-based beer writer.

Channeling Belgian artist Rene Magritte, this painting seems right at home against the interior brick.

Friday at OBF

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I finally made it over to the festival itself mid-afternoon, and things were in full swing.

People waiting in line to buy mugs and tokens to sample the beers at the festival.

Tom Dalldorf, Lisa Morrison and Stephen Beaumont.

Chris Crabb having one of those days.

Inside one of the festival tents.

Stephen and me.

Festival grounds.

Lisa and Mark with Brian’s baby.

Contemplating her beer, a festival goer looks lost in thought.

Hair of the Dog

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After the Brew Am, I paid a visit to one of my favorite Portland breweries, Hair of the Dog. Luckily, I was traveling with people who knew exactly how to get there, because even having the address is no help if you don’t know how to navigate the labyrinth-like back alleys that lead to the brewery. The first time I visited the brewery — which was on my honeymoon ten years ago — it took us a very long time and many wrong turns before we finally found it. But like their beers, it’s very worthwhile to make the effort. For many years now, they’ve been having a open house Friday afternoon during the festival and it’s always a fun time.

Almost all of their beers were pouring, including their delicious new Blue Dot Double IPA. Released in bottles this year on Earth Day, the blue dot refers, of course, to mother Earth. As with everything Alan makes, this too is a quite tasty example of an Imperial IPA. Big hops with citrus notes such as grapefruit abound. Thick and chewy, with a great mouthfeel.

Alan Sprintz owner/head brewer of Hair of the Dog Brewery.

Alan shows off the food he prepared for his open house.

Me showing off Alan’s grill outside the brewery.

The Brew Am 2006

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The 2nd annual Sasquatch Brew Am took place Friday morning at McMenamins Edgefield Pub Course. It was for a very worthy cause and sponsored by the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation. I also sponsored a hole at the tournament.

Nico Freccia, of 21st Amendment, tees off.

A view from the hills. McMenamins Edgefield Pub Course.

Me at Hole No. 2, the hole I sponsored.

Hole No. 2.

Shaun O’Sullivan and Nico, co-owners of 21st Amendment, at Hole No. 12, the hole they sponsored. They’re holding the imaginary cans of their beer they forgot to bring.

The McMenamins gardens with the ballroom and water tower behind them.

Shaun teeing off.

Lisa Morrison, Paul Walker, Abe Goldman-Armstrong, Noel Blake, and two golfers from Lompoc Brewery in Portland.

Lisa Morrison and Bob Brewer look on as Quentin Falconer, organizer of the Brew Am makes a toast in the ballroom after the tournament.

The tournament participants relax in the ballroom.

Thursday at OBF

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I arrived in Portland around 3ish after ten and half hours in the Celebrator van, just in time to help set up the booth for the festival which began at four.

Tapping the Collaborator keg at the festival.

Fred Bowman, co-founder of Portland Brewing, Tom Dalldorf, Celebrator publisher and Jack Joyce, owner of Rogue.

Tom with Cathy and Sean, Stephen Beaumont’s sister and brother-in-law.

Chris Crabb, who runs thing for the festival.

Jamie Floyd, whose Ninkasi Brewing is almost open, but the beer is pouring now.

Jamie Jurado, head brewer for Gambrinus.

OBF is Coming, Get Your Watermelon Wheat Early

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Tomorrow the Oregon Brewers Festival begins and will continue through Sunday, July 30. I’ll be driving up early tomorrow morning with Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf. Perhaps I’ll see you there?

If you weren’t planning on going, clear your calendar and get yourself to Portland. It’s one of the best festivals in the country, beautifully situated in downtown Portland along the Willamette River at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park between the Morrison and Burnside Bridges. Each brewery is only allowed to bring one beer and many create a special brew just for the festival.

An inside source at the festival, Chris Crabb, revealed that the most popular beer at the festival is none other than San Francisco favorite, Watermelon Wheat brewed by 21st Amendment Restaurant & Brewery. A thrilled Shaun O’Sullivan, brewer and co-owner of 21st Amendment, was proud as a peacock to learn the news.

You may also want to consider playing a little golf in the 2nd annual Sasquatch Brew Am at McMenamins Edgefield Pub Course Friday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. (8 o’clock registration). It’s for a very worthy cause and sponsored by the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation. The Bulletin is sponsoring a hole, too, so come out and join us. Check out the website for more details if you’re interested.