01/11/2009
Northwest Brewing News
Beer Awards
Deschutes Brewery & Public House
210 NW 11th Avenue
Portland
503-296-4906

Beer Dinners at Fort George
Seasonal Food & Beer Pairing Events
Fort George Brewery + Public House
1483 Duane Street
Astoria, OR 97103
(503) 325-PINT
www.fortgeorgebrewery.com
6-9pm
$65
Limited to 30 people
Reservations are required

This winter the party will be moving indoors at the Fort George Brewery + Public House in Astoria. The beer-pairing dinners are back for the second year in a row. Customers have a chance to attend these special events, with seasonal cuisine that breaks from the normal casual-fare pub menu.

These sit-down dinners include several courses of food, each with a complimentary beer. At least one beer for each dinner comes directly from the Fort George’s own brewery, and brewers hand-pick the rest from other breweries from all over the world.

The dinners are as follows:

January 21st Indian Food & IPA
Indian Cuisine and West Coast I.P.A Pairing dinner
Tiffin – Spinach and Feta Naan
Indian style flat bread served with saffron infused olive oil.
Caldera Brewing Company – IPA:

Singharas
A spicy dumpling stuffed with lamb, peas, and onions, served with mango chutney
Russian River Brewing Co. – Pliny the Elder:

Rasam
A spicy tamarind and chicken broth served over steamed rice and pan seared chicken
Bear Republic Brewing Co. – Apex:

MAIN COURSE
Methi Gosht
Lamb shoulder slow cooked with green chilies, ginger and fenugreek, served on a bed of saffron
rice and roasted turnips.
Fort George Brewery – Vortex:

DESSERT
Apricots stewed in cardamom syrup.
Midnight Sun Brewing Co. – Obliteration IV:

February 18th Oysters & Stouts
March 18th Celtic Ales & Cuisine
April 15th Homebrewer’s Competition Dinner

Dinners will be from 6 to 9 p.m., are limited to 30 people, and reservations are required. All-inclusive nonrefundable $65 tickets cover your food, beverages, and gratuity. Season passes at a reduced rate are available for those wishing to attend at least four dinners. Call (503) 325-PINT today to save your spot.

3rd Annual Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers Festival
Event date:
May 1st and 2nd, 2009
Lucky Lab Beer Hall
1945 NW Quimby
503-517-4352

Dart Throw Results

Color for light is lighter than amber, color for dark is darker than amber.
Strength for low is <6% ABV, strength for high is >6% ABV.
Check out photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonbeer/

What is the Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers Festival?
Portlands Cheers to Belgian Beers started two years ago to help introduce Oregonians to the breadth of style and flavors of beers brewed in Belgium. The first year had 10 brewers pouring 10 beers at the Rock Bottom Brewery on April 10th, 2007.
In 2008, 18 Brewers made 20 different beers for an event held on April 5th, 2008 at Roots Organic Brewing Co. in Portland.

Portlands Cheers to Belgian Beers is much like your standard beer festival, but all the beers are brewed by Oregon breweries in a Belgian inspired manner. In the past two years, all of the breweries were from the Portland Metropolitan area. New for 2009, the Festival will be open to all Oregon Brewers Guild Members.

How is Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers Different?

One Yeast Strain
During the past two years, almost all brewers have used the same Wyeast yeast strain,
to emphasize the educational opportunities for the consumer.
In year one, Wyeast 1762 the Rochefort yeast strain was used.
In year two, Wyeast 3522 the Aredennes yeast was used.
In 2009, the Wyeast 3822, Ingelmunster yeast strain will be used.

Peoples Choice Award with Benefits
The People’s Choice Award Winner gets a number of benefits:
Hosting the next years Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers – this may change in 2010.
Picking next years yeast strain.
Picking the benefiting charity for next years event

Profits from the event Go to a Charity
$2,800 was raised for Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in 2008. The charity chosen for 2009 by Abby Sherrill of the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company will be the Oregon Humane Society.

What’s with a dart toss to chose a beer style?
Due to concerns about any particular yeast strain driving most of the beers towards one beer style, we decided to hold an event to slightly randomize what people are brewing. This event gives us an opportunity to promote Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers well in advance.

Event Details
Portlands Cheer’s to Belgian Beers
Friday May 1st, 2009
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
Noon-10 pm
Lucky Labrador Beer Hall
1945 NW Quimby
Portland
503-517-4352
Admission is Free.
$5 for tasting goblet which is required to taste.
$1 for tastes.

Thanks to our sponsors:
Wyeast Laboratories is a Proud Sponsor of this event:
3822 Ingelmunster Ale (formerly known as Wyeast 3822 Dutch Castle)
This Belgian ale yeast produces spicy, phenolic and tart aromas. Very tart and dry on the palate. Phenol and ester production balanced with a complex finish. High acid producer.
Alcohol tolerance: approximately 12%
Flocculation: medium-high
Apparent attenuation: 74-79%
Temperature range: 65-80°F (18-27°C)

01/14/2009
Roots Organic Brewing Co. Releases Flanders Red.
1520 SE 7th Ave
503-235-7668
5pm
Limited release 1 liter bottles. Only 175 bottles available at $25.00.

Flanders Red – 9.2% ABV. Considered, “The Burgundy’s of Belgium” this ale is made with a blend of wild and domestic yeast strains. Brewed two years ago, 3/4 of this beer spent eleven months of it’s life in neutral Pinot Noir French Oak barrels. It was then re – blended with the remainder of the original Flanders Red that had been cellaring since it’s conception.
After going through a secondary fermentation, we cellared it again for the last eight months.