Are you tired of the big cities? Spend too much time driving around trying to find parking or waiting for mass transit? The stench of homeless urine getting in the way of smelling sweet grain and hops? Then head on over to biggest little city…wait, that’s Reno. Whatever, just drive on over to Bend, Oregon and you won’t be disappointed.
I moved to Bend from California at the end of 2011 and I haven’t stopped smiling. I knew the area was a haven for craft beer, similar to the likes of Denver, San Francisco, or Portland…but I had no idea that a town this small could embrace what I consider a passion, to such a degree.
The Big Guy
Deschutes has been a staple in my beer diet since I started really appreciating craft beer; right around 1998. So I was already familiar with the year-arounds and the seasonals (Abyss, Dissident, Mirror Mirror) and I knew they could be considered the grand daddy of the Bend beer scene. With a massive production brewery just off of the river and recently expanded brewpub in downtown, everybody knows their name. What I was not aware of was the recent explosion (not exaggerating) in local brewpubs and that even the most recently opened were looking to expand. And with Bend being a tight-knit city of only 80,000 (I am originally from Fresno, pop. 500,000 & 2 brewpubs), almost everything is within walking, or at least biking distance. This can make a night on the town seem endless and a bit dangerous to the liver.
The Established
Some of the more established brewpubs are Bend Brewing, Silver Moon, Cascade Lakes and McMenamins.
- Bend Brewing is right downtown, has a view of Mirror Pond on the Deschutes River, and brews the best sour (Ching Ching) and the best spiced beer (Sexi Mexi) in town.
- Silver Moon rocked Stout Month in February by taking their award winning Darkside Stout and adding jalapenos one week and chocolate & macadamia nuts the next week (separate beers).
- Cascade Lakes seems to have a location about every two blocks up here so they are easy to find and they rock some great seasonals.
- And if you aren’t familiar with McMenamins then you haven’t spent any time in Oregon. They currently run 56 separate locations in the state and a good portion of them are refurbished hotels, theaters and even a catholic school (sorry no school girls). One of my favorite afternoon things to do is grab a pint and their delicious hamburger, kick back on a classic beat-up Victorian couch and watch a movie on the big screen for $11. Cold winter nights are spent around the multiple fire pits in the back of Old St. Francis at O’Kanes Pub while sampling limited edition brews.
New Guys
The new guys in town all started brewing with a vengeance. Boneyard, 10 Barrel, GoodLife, Old Mill Brew Werks, and Three Creeks have all made their mark.
- The Boneyard guys are the bikers working out of a metal garage. They won my award for biggest flavor smack-in-the-face with the Notorious Triple IPA at 12% and their liquid dessert called Suge Knite Imperial Stout at 14%. If Death Row Records was still around they would probably be in litigation.
- 10 Barrel seems to be selling their bottles in every location on the planet except grade schools and churches. They have grown so quickly that their name was only relevant for a short time; they now have a 50-barrel system on the east side and are opening a brewpub in Boise, Idaho.
- GoodLife Brewing has been open less than a year, originally planning to just brew beer using the owners as workers, but they now serve food, have a dozen employees, and have created a huge biergarten in the back that I am sure will be as packed during summer as the Lagunitas party pad.
- I am about to host my 2nd tasting event at Old Mill Brew Werks in a few weeks so I know first hand that not only do they brew solid beer, but they back it up with a great guest tap list. In March we blew the keg of Elysian Dragonstooth Stout and they replaced it with Bridgeport’s Raven Mad Imperial Porter. No one was disappointed.
- Three Creeks has a decent showing with their lineup, but their best attributes have to be their location in the cozy Western town of Sisters, with amazing views of the nearby Cascade peaks, and their brewpub atmosphere.
On The Drawing Board
The in-planning and out-of-their-garage guys don’t seem to care that the beer flows like water in Bend. Phat Matt’s, Solstice, Below Grade, Worthy, Crux Fermentation Project, The Ale Apothecary, Sun River, and Rat Hole are all either currently bottling or planning to be in the market by the end of 2012.
- Phat Matt’s is just north of here in the town of Redmond, also home to two Cascade Lakes locations. They have three current styles that are circulating around the area, their Golden Ale being one of them that stopped the burning in my stomach after eating too much at the Chili CookOff earlier in the year.
- Below Grade is making amazing beers out of their basement on the west side. The Dangerous Kate Black IPA was ridiculously good as was their Volksvitzen South German Weissbock I had at GoodLife.
- Crux Fermentation Project has everyone holding their collective breath. Or at least I am. Larry Sidor is a partner and he is known as the previous brewmaster at Deschutes that gave us some of our favorite beers including The Abyss, The Bond Street Series of hopped beers, and Black Butte Anniversary beers. Additional partners include Dave Wilson of 21st Amendment fame and Paul Evers who is responsible for the branding of 21st, Deschutes and Odell.
- Paul Arney is brewing in secret as The Ale Apothecary and has almost as many of the Deschutes beers on his resume as Larry does. I feel like this place will be a combination of Dogfish Head (off-centered ales) and Lost Abbey/Port Brewing (barrel-aging).
- Worthy Beer is being opened in part by Chad Kennedy who came from Laurelwood up in Portland. Talking with him, he expects to be open by the end of the year, or at least have amazing aromas wafting out of the building.
I don’t have any information on Solstice (already open in Prineville), Rat Hole, or Sun River but tidbits seem to be leaked weekly regarding this bourgeoning scene. I even heard rumor of another brewery in planning up in Redmond but I have zero info to substantiate that.
In this town even the barbershops pour you a perfect pint of beer while you are getting a trim. The homebrew shop is also a great bottle shop and a Cheers-style pub in the basement (trifecta!) Needless to say I am really excited to see what happens over the next six months as summer puts construction into high gear. So get your happy ass up here and come drink some beer with me!
Miles Wilhelm
www.whydrinkbeer.com
miles@whydrinkbeer.com
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, December 12, 2011
My Move To The Great Northwest - Lucky Move #13
After some unfortunate events in early 2011 I made the tough decision to move back to Madera from Santa Rosa. The seven months I spent in the North Bay were filled with more beer events than the last five years combined. Craft beer is part of the culture up there and a booming industry in this wacky economy (just ask Lagunitas). So it was with a heavy heart that I left my new friends and a wonderful city to come back to the black hole of the craft beer universe: California's Central Valley. It took me five months to get my shit together and make a decision. I absolutely had to be part of an active, vibrant community that not only offered a plethora of outdoor activities, encouraged physical and mental fitness and worked hard to improve education and decrease local crime but most importantly (ha ha) embraced a quality craft beer culture.
I almost immediately ruled out the East Coast. No offense but I just really love the West. Denver was about as far east as I considered and what a wonderful city it is. Other options were places I am already partially familiar with: Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Vancouver. The last one, Bend, Oregon, was my favorite and probably the least familiar. I knew it was a small town of close to 80,000 people and that the craft beer industry was doing very well. Nestled up against the Cascade mountain range I assumed that the summer months offered a huge amount of camping, hiking, backpacking and rafting options.
Back in 2006, we had backpacked south of the Sisters peaks for a week and thoroughly enjoyed the area (and our quick trip to the Deschutes pub afterwards). One of the main reasons for putting Bend at the top of my list was of course my parents' decision to retire to the area in the next few years. My father, if you don't already know, is my best friend and drinking buddy through and through and my mom fuels my creativity and keeps me from doing too many things I might later regret.
So the first week of November I answered an advert for an after school teaching position that started in three weeks. Not something that can pay the rent by any means, but a reason to get me up and moving. I promised to be in class on Tuesday the 29th and by golly I would be there. So for the ump-teenth time, my dad 'volunteered' to help me move. This would be a thirteen hour drive one way for him, since we had to make a stop in Santa Rosa to pick up a few things. I treated dad to a few beers in town including some at the Platypus Pub and the Deschutes pub downtown. We had a great time in only a few hours and I can't wait for him to come back.
I do understand now that this can get out of hand quickly. I live within 5 miles of 10 Barrel, two Cascade Lakes locations, GoodLife, Silvermoon, Bend Brewing, McMenamin's, Below Grade, Noble, Deschutes, Boneyard and Old Mill Brew Works. This is ridiculous. I need to do this with a bit of restraint, willpower and sanity. I have discovered something new all ten days I have lived here and I plan on making that a routine. So here is to a new exciting year in 2012 and I look forward to hosting at least a few of you in this amazing forested, high desert of a town in the near future.
Slainte, Prost, Salute, Na zdravje & Budmo!
*Editor's Note: I am writing this at Cascade Lakes' 7th Street pub in Redmond, OR while drinking a King Kong Imperial Porter and watching the Steelers beat the Browns.
I almost immediately ruled out the East Coast. No offense but I just really love the West. Denver was about as far east as I considered and what a wonderful city it is. Other options were places I am already partially familiar with: Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Vancouver. The last one, Bend, Oregon, was my favorite and probably the least familiar. I knew it was a small town of close to 80,000 people and that the craft beer industry was doing very well. Nestled up against the Cascade mountain range I assumed that the summer months offered a huge amount of camping, hiking, backpacking and rafting options.
Back in 2006, we had backpacked south of the Sisters peaks for a week and thoroughly enjoyed the area (and our quick trip to the Deschutes pub afterwards). One of the main reasons for putting Bend at the top of my list was of course my parents' decision to retire to the area in the next few years. My father, if you don't already know, is my best friend and drinking buddy through and through and my mom fuels my creativity and keeps me from doing too many things I might later regret.
So the first week of November I answered an advert for an after school teaching position that started in three weeks. Not something that can pay the rent by any means, but a reason to get me up and moving. I promised to be in class on Tuesday the 29th and by golly I would be there. So for the ump-teenth time, my dad 'volunteered' to help me move. This would be a thirteen hour drive one way for him, since we had to make a stop in Santa Rosa to pick up a few things. I treated dad to a few beers in town including some at the Platypus Pub and the Deschutes pub downtown. We had a great time in only a few hours and I can't wait for him to come back.
I do understand now that this can get out of hand quickly. I live within 5 miles of 10 Barrel, two Cascade Lakes locations, GoodLife, Silvermoon, Bend Brewing, McMenamin's, Below Grade, Noble, Deschutes, Boneyard and Old Mill Brew Works. This is ridiculous. I need to do this with a bit of restraint, willpower and sanity. I have discovered something new all ten days I have lived here and I plan on making that a routine. So here is to a new exciting year in 2012 and I look forward to hosting at least a few of you in this amazing forested, high desert of a town in the near future.
Slainte, Prost, Salute, Na zdravje & Budmo!
*Editor's Note: I am writing this at Cascade Lakes' 7th Street pub in Redmond, OR while drinking a King Kong Imperial Porter and watching the Steelers beat the Browns.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Portland Here I Come!
PDX. Beervana. Beer City USA. Mecca*.
Many names meaning many things to millions of people from around the world. I first visited when I was a wee lad, only knee-high to a duck as my dad would say, in 1985. Alas, no beer experiences that time, and a tour of Olympia Brewery doesn’t count.
Fourteen years would pass before I turned 21 and embarked on my 48-state Great Cross Country Trip of ’99. Even then, the only brewery I visited was Widmer (not a bad start I might add). I had just begun to delve into the burgeoning world of craft beer and looking back I wish I had been paying more attention, but I just didn’t know what was possible and what some amazingly inventive brewers were attempting.
I returned to visit family in 2003 and to meet up with the one man who started me on this beer-journey, the respectable Ryan LaMar. He had built a mini-beer shrine in his Vancouver apartment, which I soaked up over the course of three hours of muppet porn, Iron Maiden talk and my first beer ice cream float, but we didn’t venture out into the City.
2006 was finally the year that I dipped my pinky toe in. Dad, Uncle Ed, cousin Mike and I drove up from Madera, CA to the Sisters Wilderness outside of Bend, OR for a week of backpacking, stopping at brewpubs along the way. After making the unavoidable visit to Deschutes, we drove as fast as possible to Portland and began to plan the next day. Pre-iPhone days meant loosey-goosey organization, although we found our way to Lucky Labrador, New Old Lompoc, and Bridgeport before realizing we were ignoring local family.
Fast forward to 2011 and one particular member of that family happens to be turning 90 years old. Perfect excuse to make a weekend of it, as if I need an excuse. My knowledge of the craft beer industry has grown tremendously since even 2006 and I even started home brewing beer last year. I have a trusty iPhone with the BeerMapping app locked in on the Portland area, plus I have padded my visit with a couple of days that I am sure my family won’t miss me. I am using Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to gather ideas and suggestions regarding how to get the most out of my visit. The only thing I am missing is a breathalyzer.
Email me with tips: miles@whydrinkbeer.com
* I don't live a religious life so I thought I would borrow the word Mecca and apply it to what means the most to me.
Many names meaning many things to millions of people from around the world. I first visited when I was a wee lad, only knee-high to a duck as my dad would say, in 1985. Alas, no beer experiences that time, and a tour of Olympia Brewery doesn’t count.
Fourteen years would pass before I turned 21 and embarked on my 48-state Great Cross Country Trip of ’99. Even then, the only brewery I visited was Widmer (not a bad start I might add). I had just begun to delve into the burgeoning world of craft beer and looking back I wish I had been paying more attention, but I just didn’t know what was possible and what some amazingly inventive brewers were attempting.
I returned to visit family in 2003 and to meet up with the one man who started me on this beer-journey, the respectable Ryan LaMar. He had built a mini-beer shrine in his Vancouver apartment, which I soaked up over the course of three hours of muppet porn, Iron Maiden talk and my first beer ice cream float, but we didn’t venture out into the City.
2006 was finally the year that I dipped my pinky toe in. Dad, Uncle Ed, cousin Mike and I drove up from Madera, CA to the Sisters Wilderness outside of Bend, OR for a week of backpacking, stopping at brewpubs along the way. After making the unavoidable visit to Deschutes, we drove as fast as possible to Portland and began to plan the next day. Pre-iPhone days meant loosey-goosey organization, although we found our way to Lucky Labrador, New Old Lompoc, and Bridgeport before realizing we were ignoring local family.
Fast forward to 2011 and one particular member of that family happens to be turning 90 years old. Perfect excuse to make a weekend of it, as if I need an excuse. My knowledge of the craft beer industry has grown tremendously since even 2006 and I even started home brewing beer last year. I have a trusty iPhone with the BeerMapping app locked in on the Portland area, plus I have padded my visit with a couple of days that I am sure my family won’t miss me. I am using Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to gather ideas and suggestions regarding how to get the most out of my visit. The only thing I am missing is a breathalyzer.
Email me with tips: miles@whydrinkbeer.com
* I don't live a religious life so I thought I would borrow the word Mecca and apply it to what means the most to me.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Women's Brew Day! - Saturday June 11th 2011
This will be the first annual Women's Brew Day and our homebrew club saying about time! I just read an article about the female market being the one that is going to drive craft beer sales over the next few years. Women need to be aware of how diverse craft beer can be and it isn't just aggressive, angry young men or cantankerous old farts who grumble and won't try anything new. Craft beer can be just as delicate and complex as wine, and as my wife always likes to point out:
'There is always food!"
This is taken directly from the homebrew club's MeetUp site:
“FOR ANY WOMAN WHO EVER WANTED TO BREW HER OWN BEER… Or, anyone, male and female, who wants to learn about home brewing craft beer.”
Come and learn from women brewers as they demonstrate how to brew a craft beer. You can taste a variety of home brewed craft beer, participate in the brewing demo’s, learn about the brewing techniques, materials and ingredients involved in creating a craft beer. This event is for all members. Everyone is encouraged to show, bring a pot-luck and some great home brew. Come out and support the women of the club as they demonstrate brewing techniques and help other women learn about craft brewing. We will be expecting people outside of the club to be showing up as we are using the local press to advertise for us. It would be great to enlist some more new members! For any other information contact Cathy Portje at portje56@yahoo.com.
http://www.sonomabeerocrats.com
'There is always food!"
This is taken directly from the homebrew club's MeetUp site:
“FOR ANY WOMAN WHO EVER WANTED TO BREW HER OWN BEER… Or, anyone, male and female, who wants to learn about home brewing craft beer.”
Come and learn from women brewers as they demonstrate how to brew a craft beer. You can taste a variety of home brewed craft beer, participate in the brewing demo’s, learn about the brewing techniques, materials and ingredients involved in creating a craft beer. This event is for all members. Everyone is encouraged to show, bring a pot-luck and some great home brew. Come out and support the women of the club as they demonstrate brewing techniques and help other women learn about craft brewing. We will be expecting people outside of the club to be showing up as we are using the local press to advertise for us. It would be great to enlist some more new members! For any other information contact Cathy Portje at portje56@yahoo.com.
http://www.sonomabeerocrats.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Nanos, gravity readings and yeast?
This last week I spent my free time recovering from the Double IPA festival at The Bistro during SF Beer Week, reading up on some of the most interesting Nano-breweries in the country, studying up on hydrometers and how to read Original and Final Gravities and contemplating a yeast library.
I know, I know...that is a lot to think about in a single week. But with my current job being as boring as possible, I need to focus on something productive and enjoyable. So I sit and think about the last beer we (Eudaemonia Brewing) brewed the weekend of January 29th. This was the first time I fully understood the reason for taking the Original Gravity. I used to think this was a complex measurement followed by a more complex calculation. Not so, friend. And now, after looking around online, I found an Excel sheet that will not only calculate the potential alcohol percentage, but it will make the necessary correction if the temperature is off at the time of reading.
Thursday, I made the inaugural trip to my new local homebrewing store: The Beverage People. This place is a huge step up from my old homebrew shop, and the employees are all members of the Sonoma Beerocrats homebrew club, which I will be joining in the next few weeks. This place has just about everything you need to start and day-to-day, including barrels of grains and a refridgerator full of a diverse selection of yeast. I picked up two Brew Your Own special edition magazines that focused on growing and using hops, and 250 clone recipes, which I decided is what I am going to start with when I buy my own setup in the next few months.
I also watched a recent Brewing TV episode where they visited a homebrew club that was lucky enough to have a yeast specialist as one of their members. For some reason I find culturing yeast very interesting... not sure why. So after I figure out the dry hopping, sparging and yeast starter aspects of homebrewing... I will begin to explore the wonderful world of culturing.
Lastly, I discovered a great nano-brewery list on Hess Brewing's site that kept my attention for about 72 hours straight. This has to do with my desire to connect and volunteer/work with a brewer who is taking the next step into the world of commercial brewing. I could read the progress blogs of pico and nano breweries for hours. These entreprenuers are living the dream! You can find the list here: http://hessbrewing.blogspot.com
I know, I know...that is a lot to think about in a single week. But with my current job being as boring as possible, I need to focus on something productive and enjoyable. So I sit and think about the last beer we (Eudaemonia Brewing) brewed the weekend of January 29th. This was the first time I fully understood the reason for taking the Original Gravity. I used to think this was a complex measurement followed by a more complex calculation. Not so, friend. And now, after looking around online, I found an Excel sheet that will not only calculate the potential alcohol percentage, but it will make the necessary correction if the temperature is off at the time of reading.
Thursday, I made the inaugural trip to my new local homebrewing store: The Beverage People. This place is a huge step up from my old homebrew shop, and the employees are all members of the Sonoma Beerocrats homebrew club, which I will be joining in the next few weeks. This place has just about everything you need to start and day-to-day, including barrels of grains and a refridgerator full of a diverse selection of yeast. I picked up two Brew Your Own special edition magazines that focused on growing and using hops, and 250 clone recipes, which I decided is what I am going to start with when I buy my own setup in the next few months.
I also watched a recent Brewing TV episode where they visited a homebrew club that was lucky enough to have a yeast specialist as one of their members. For some reason I find culturing yeast very interesting... not sure why. So after I figure out the dry hopping, sparging and yeast starter aspects of homebrewing... I will begin to explore the wonderful world of culturing.
Lastly, I discovered a great nano-brewery list on Hess Brewing's site that kept my attention for about 72 hours straight. This has to do with my desire to connect and volunteer/work with a brewer who is taking the next step into the world of commercial brewing. I could read the progress blogs of pico and nano breweries for hours. These entreprenuers are living the dream! You can find the list here: http://hessbrewing.blogspot.com
Friday, February 11, 2011
New Discoveries (Sent to Bay Area Beer Bloggers for SF Beer Week)
Tuesday, January 25th 2011
New Discoveries (Sent to Bay Area Beer Bloggers for SF Beer Week)
I just discovered Monkey High Five at Bear Republic. A bit north, but I still consider it North Bay, sorta. What a delicious, umm...what style was it? A belgian IPA? Cascadian Dark Ale? A Black IPA? Great balance of hops and slight roasted malt. Beautiful dark, slightly transparent brown with clinging foam lacing. I can't believe they aren't promoting this on their site.
Puddle Jumper Pale Ale from Third Street Aleworks was an old friend that I became re-acquainted with. Reminded me of the first time I tasted Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and how surprised I was with amount of hops it contained for a pale ale. No wonder it is an award winner.
And lastly, Rejection from Russian River. This beer does everything but turn me away. I look forward to being welcomed by its depth of flavor every year as Valentine's approaches. A Belgian Dark Ale with only a minute bit of sourness, similar to Back In Black IPA, but with a much more complex malt profile. Wish it was year around, but it gives me a reason to enjoy V-day.
New Discoveries (Sent to Bay Area Beer Bloggers for SF Beer Week)
I just discovered Monkey High Five at Bear Republic. A bit north, but I still consider it North Bay, sorta. What a delicious, umm...what style was it? A belgian IPA? Cascadian Dark Ale? A Black IPA? Great balance of hops and slight roasted malt. Beautiful dark, slightly transparent brown with clinging foam lacing. I can't believe they aren't promoting this on their site.
Puddle Jumper Pale Ale from Third Street Aleworks was an old friend that I became re-acquainted with. Reminded me of the first time I tasted Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and how surprised I was with amount of hops it contained for a pale ale. No wonder it is an award winner.
And lastly, Rejection from Russian River. This beer does everything but turn me away. I look forward to being welcomed by its depth of flavor every year as Valentine's approaches. A Belgian Dark Ale with only a minute bit of sourness, similar to Back In Black IPA, but with a much more complex malt profile. Wish it was year around, but it gives me a reason to enjoy V-day.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Exploring Santa Rosa
Local Markets
I made a stop at the local Whole Foods in Santa Rosa last night and stumbled upon a 'Tap House' inside the store! 16 taps with everything from Dogfish Punkin to Old Rasputin to Allagash White.
Only open for 6 weeks, the bartender was super excited, talked about what taps they had already gone through, and explained that a local home brewer was going to start holding meetings there. This place is going to be a regular stop for me...right in the middle of a grocery store!
San Francisco Examiner article: http://www.examiner.com
I made a stop at the local Whole Foods in Santa Rosa last night and stumbled upon a 'Tap House' inside the store! 16 taps with everything from Dogfish Punkin to Old Rasputin to Allagash White.
Only open for 6 weeks, the bartender was super excited, talked about what taps they had already gone through, and explained that a local home brewer was going to start holding meetings there. This place is going to be a regular stop for me...right in the middle of a grocery store!
San Francisco Examiner article: http://www.examiner.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)