The Long Hammer of the Law

Some beers are embedded into you memory due to specific events in your life.  For me, I can never drink, see, walk by, even think about Redhook’s Longhammer IPA without thinking about local pizza spot “I Love NY Pie.” 

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Hot Like the Sun

When you head to work, you don’t always know what the day might have in store for you. Take for instance, today, when I set out to work riding my bike . The ride to work was fine, a little cool, but nothing out of the ordinary. It was the afternoon I had to fear. 

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How I Do What I Do

I’ve had friends over for beer tastings and encourage basic note taking.  I usually get the question of “How do I taste beer?”  My response is to just go with it, taste what you taste, don’t get outside of yourself and just enjoy yourself.  It’s not a test, there’s no wrong answer, but some times people want more.  Thankfully, there are people smarter than I (quite a few in fact) to help out with this sort of thing. 

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The Party Ender

Back in college there was an unofficial tradition a few of us had.  When it was going to be a party, there always seemed to be a 6-pack of Mendocino Brewing’s Eye of the Hawk in the back of the fridge.  Like clockwork, when the party was winding down, we’d finally get into the 6-pack.  This is where the stories would fizzle out, the night would become a blur and the party would end.  In honor of this not-so-noble tradition, I decided the Hawk deserved the proper respect and sat down with a bottle over the weekend. 

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The Midas Touch

Slowly, Dogfish Head brews are trickling into the Bay Area. While I’ve written about the 90 Minute IPA, one of their more interesting beers would be Midas Touch. The recipe came from the remnant found inside a vessel buried inside of King Midas’ tomb. So it’s time for a little history lesson, as we drink like a king from times past. 

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Into The Abyss

Back in February, I bought an extra bottle of The Abyss by Deschutes. Originally, this bottle was meant for another. Unfortunately for them, our plans for the exchange fell through repeatedly and we gave up. It was then going to be shared with Wes when he was in town. This one fell through the cracks on a rather busy weekend of drinking. So I was determined to find someone to share this bottle with. I didn’t just find someone, I found many. 

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Who is Pete? F@%$ Pete!

Some people might be asking that.  not only who’s Pete, but who’s Matt.  Matt brews Pete’s Wicked Ale, and Mississippi Mud and the beers you’d find under the Saranac label, among many more.  A few months back, Matt Brewing Company suffered a fire at their brewery.  Supposedly things are back on track, so to this accomplishment, I raise a glass of Pete’s Wicked Ale. 

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LTD: Say It With Beer

Full Sail is one of those breweries that I’ve always been a bit indifferent towards. They’re signature brew is the amber, but nothing really jumps out at me as a must have beer. With that said, while walking the aisle of Trader Joe’s I’ve noticed their LTD for some time. This last trip, I finally decided to grab a bottle and give it a shot. 

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A Bit O’ Abita

While I couldn’t make it to the Hopmonk for the Jambalaya Jam, I did take a bike ride on Saturday.  What do these things have to do with each other?  Let me see if I can fill in the gaps. 

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A Bridge Too Far

Portland is an interesting city when it comes to beer. It’s full of small breweries and pubs, the citizens drink more beer than anywhere else, and many people consider it the best craft beer town in the country. Yet, if you live outside of Portland, most of that great beer just doesn’t leave the area. One of the few breweries in the city that has a more regional presence is Bridgeport. 

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