I had the pleasure of being able to attend this annual event this past weekend.  The unexpected addition this year was a variety of local distilleries.  Our fine local Integrity Spirits was there in force showing off their lovely Trillium Absinth.  They also have a very smooth Lovejoy Vodka and Gin which make fine additions to any liquor cabinet.  But as this is a beer blog, so on to that! 

My favorite beer of the festival was a Wit style brew from Fort George Brewery in Astoria.  Quick Wit had a wonderfully smooth taste and made me all around a very happy camper.  Here is the lowdown from the brewer:

Belgian style ale that's pale and cloudy in appearance, that's because it's unfiltered and has a high level of wheat. Wit beer is traditionally brewed with coriander and orange zest. Ours uses organic pale and wheat malts, ground coriander, organic lemongrass (to impart a citrus character ) and wild-crafted elderflower. AV 5.5%

The make some mean fish and chips battered with the help of this fine brew, so next time your in Astoria, look them up.

Fort George Brewery + Public House
1483 Duane Street
Astoria, Oregon USA 97103
Phone: 503-325-PINT(7468)

Another favorite was the always popular Saison from Laurelwood Brewing Company.  Its about the perfect summer brew.  Light and smooth with hints of citrus.  This is one you and your significant other can enjoy on the patio in the coming months.

Calapooia Brewing had a very smooth Chili Beer which was very interesting.  A bit spicy for those of you light of heart.  But don't shy away if your up for it! 

The Edel-Weisse from Scheider Brewing was an excellent Eisenbock.  With an alcohol content of 12% its so smooth you won’t know what is coming.  I knew I had better stay away from that one.  I highly recommend a pint, if you should ever get the chance.  Its brewed like a Doppelbock, then frozen and concentrated to form a perfect blend.

Lost Coast Brewery made a very strong showing but was sold out by Saturday.  Their Tangerine Wheat is definitely one to try.

Overall the event was a great success.  I look forward to hitting it again next year.

Brewers list: 

10 Barrel Brewing Sinister Black Ale Summer Ale Alaskan Brewing Company IPA Summer Ale Astoria Brewing Company Bitter Bitch Kirby Kolsh Belgium Beers Hoegaarden Leffe Stella Artois Blue Moon Brewing Company Belgium White Honeymoon Ale Bridgeport Brewing Company  Fallen Friar IPA Calapooia Brewing Chili Beer rIPArian IPA Cascade Lakes Brewing Company Blond Bombshell Bald Mountain Bock Chimay/Scheider Chimay Tripple Edel-Weisse Deschutes Brewery HOP Henge Green Lakes Eel River Organic IPA PORTER Firestone Walker Brewery Double Barrel Ale Union Jack Ft George Brewery Vortex IPA Quick Wit Full Sail Brewing Company LTD 02 Keelhauler  Hopworks Urban Brewery Organic Survival "7-Grain" Stout Organic Crosstown Pale Kona Brewing Company Longboard Lager  Wailua Wheat Lang Creek Brewery Spitfire IPA Mandarin Hefeweizen Lat 44 IPA Laughing Dog Brewery Dogzilla Alpha Dog Laurelwood Brewing Company Green Mammoth Imperial IPA Saison Lazy Boy Brewing Company Booth 14 IPA Belgian Golden Ale

Lompoc Brewing Angel's Rest Bier de Garde Proletariat Red Lost Coast Brewery Old Ale Tangerine Wheat Mad River Brewing Company Steelhead Double IPA Jamaica Red Ale MacTarnahan's Sling Shot Ambe Ale McMenamins Beatnik Saint Pilsner Kristell New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire Mighty Arrow Ninkasi Brewing Company Total Domination IPA Spring Reign Oakshire Brewery Overcast Espresso Stout Watershed IPA  Oskar Blues Brewery Old Chub Dales Pale Ale Panty Dropper Ale IPA Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen Curve Ball Redhook Ale Brewery Long Hammer IPA  Slim Chance Light Ale  Rogue Brewery Shakespear Stout Sesquicentennial Ale Roots Brewing Company Island Red Futile Surfer Salmon Creek Brewing Belgium Golden Alt Sierra Nevada ESB IPA Silver Moon Brewing & Taproom Hop Knob IPA Southern Oregon Brewing Porter Woodshed Red Stone Brewing Company IPA Levitation Ale Trumer Brauerei Trumer Pilsner Victory Brewing Prima Pils Hopdevil IPA Walking Man Brewing Streetwalker Malt Liquor Big Black Homo Widmer Brothers Brewing Compamy Hefeweizen  Drifter Pale Ale

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If you have never been to Pacific City, then get there now.  It is the perfect time of year for the Oregon Coast, where the crowds are thinner and the beach is just as beautiful.  Also try your hand at Tuna fishing through mid-September.  Located right on the beach – you can actually sit at tables with sand beneath your toes – the Pelican has amazing views of the ocean. The menu is typical pub food with some fresh seafood tossed in. The food is good, but the prices are a tad high, what can you expect, they are ON the beach. The Pelican has managed to find a balance between being a traditional dark-paneled pub and a family friendly restaurant without diminishing either.

Pelican Pub & Brewery
Pacific City, Oregon
(503) 965-7007

Beers Sampled:

• Surfer Summer Ale

  • The slight herbal fruity smell from this golden glacial hopped concoction make it on of the freshest summer ales I have ever tasted!  Here is the rundown:

  • Ingredients:

    • Golden Promise malt
      Wheat malt
      Torrefied wheat
      Glacier hops
      Pure local water
      Pure ale yeast

  • Specifications:

    • 12.5 degrees Plato
      Alcohol: 5.5% by volume
      Bitterness: 26 IBU
      Color: 8 SRM

• Saison du Pelican

  • Beautiful saison belgian style ale, with a sweet spicy twinge, think spicy citrus.  It aftertaste is especially nice, and its very drinkable.  Here is the rundown:

  • Ingredients:

    • Pale Ale malt
      Flaked Spelt
      Glacier hops
      Pure local water
      Belgian-type ale yeast

  • Specifications:

    • 13.2 degrees Plato
      Alcohol: 6.0% by volume
      Bitterness: 25 IBU
      Color: 8 SRM

• Doryman's Dark Ale

• Dark rich with malts and very balanced.  It can be a great compliment to the fish and chips available here.  I think this is a quintessential coastal beer, and you should not leave the Pelican without tasting it. 
• Ingredients:

• Pale Ale Malt
  White Wheat Malt
  Caramel Malt
  Chocolate Malt
  Mt. Hood Hops
  Cascade Hops
  Magnum Hops
  Pure Local Water
  Pure Ale Yeast

• Specifications:

  • 14 degrees Plato
    Alcohol: 5.8% by volume
    Bitterness: 42 IBU
    Color: 33 lovibond

Pros: good service, incredible views, you can wander in off of the beach for a beer, when the weather is good there is sandy play area for your kids that you can see from the outdoor tables.

Cons: prices are a little high

Go to their Fall Brewers Dinner on October 18th 2008

where Head Brewer Darron Welch and Executive Chef Pieter Vanden Hogen prepare another fabulous dinner event featuring the foods of Spain expertly paired with the award winning beers of the Pelican Pub & Brewery. Book Early as the dinners sell out well in advance.
$75 per person
Doors open at 6:30pm with Dinner at 7:00pm.  Call the Brewery for more details and tell them Brew Republic Sent You!

Had a chance to stop by the Full Sail Keg at the Oregon Brewers Festival and try their excellent pale bock.  It was smooth and malty, just like I wanted it to be.  It was one of my favorites of a festival overrun with IPA's.  So it happens that I was able to visit a few short days later the wonderful brewery in the scenic Columbia River Gorge.  Hood River is an amazing little town to begin with.  The view, the windsurfers, kiteborders, white water rafting(check out the white salmon just across the bridge.. great class 3-5) all make it a great place for a getaway. 

I was able to try their more excellent Doppel Bock, their LTD 01 Lager, their Summer Weizen, and of course the awesome LTD 02.  All were excellent as were the burgers we had to go along with them.  Really excellent service and some exquisite beers. 

5. Its in Portland!

4. Your Friends are all doing it.

3. You can take the MAX.

2. You can go to the ALT festival across the street if you get bored.

1. Where else can you sample hundreds of beers and potentially a good portion that will never been seen again.

 

Its absolutely the best beer festival on the planet for Microbrew enthusiasts, hands down no contest.  You need to get to Portland within the next 7 days.  Check Beer festivals section for more tips! 

http://beerfestivals.brewrepublic.com 

I was recently able to sample this excellent IPA while visiting Glacier National Park in Montana.  I was at the infamous Charlie's Place in Babb, home to the Babb Music Festival.  The bar serves an excellent selection of Local Brews as well as about anything else you would want.  It almost makes me want to move to Montana, about as laid back as a bar can possibly get.  Anyway, on to this fantastic Single Malt IPA powerhouse from Blackfoot Brewing in Helena, Montana.  Here is the commercial description:

Just like Single Malt Scotch, our spring seasonal I.P.A. is brewed from 100% crisp Maris Otter floor-malted (made by hand!) barley - no specialty malts, no blending. This traditional India Pale Ale is heavily hopped with both Magnum and Cascade hops grown in the Pacific Northwest. Golden in color, refreshing to drink and full of hops, this beer is available from mid-February through mid-September

It is clean, crisp and a great beer for the summer months.  It does not leave a bad taste in your mouth and goes well with food.  The Aroma was good a clean as well as expected from the non blended ingredients.  You simply can not go wrong with this beer.  More pictures when I get the chance.  Brewrepublic rating: 8/10