Belgian Pale Ale Release
02/02/11
Breakside Brewery
820 NE Dekum St.
Portland
503-719-6475
3pm
A classic Belgian-style pale/amber in the tradition of De Koninck brewed with three Slovenian hops.

Full Sail Black Gold Release
02/01/11
Full Sail at Riverplace
0307 SW Montgomery
503-222-5343
5pm
The brewery will be offering a vertical tasting of three versions of Black Gold to highlight the flavor components of this special beer. Black Gold is a blend of Imperial Stout aged for a full year in both 18 and 20 year old bourbon barrels and they will offer both unblended and the final blend to taste.

Full Sail Black Gold Release
02/01/11
Full Sail’s Tasting Room and Pub
506 Columbia
Hood River
541-386-2247
5pm
The brewery will be offering a vertical tasting of three versions of Black Gold to highlight the flavor components of this special beer. Black Gold is a blend of Imperial Stout aged for a full year in both 18 and 20 year old bourbon barrels and they will offer both unblended and the final blend to taste.

Full Sail Brewing Releases Vintage Barrel Aged Beer
Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

For the past year bourbon barrels and time have been working their magic together deep in the cellar at the Full Sail Brewery. There are absolutely no shortcuts with this beer, as it all has been aging in rich bourbon barrels for twelve months. A 100% commitment to excellence results in a truly special beer – complex, elegant and supremely balanced. Now we’re finally able to taste the delicious results as the Full Sail crew releases Black Gold Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 2011.

According to Jamie Emmerson, Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster, the Imperial Stout was racked into 18 and 20 year old casks from Schenley Distillery back in January 2010. “This extended aging presents hints of vanilla and allows the Stout to pick up the flavors of the wood, bourbon and oak. The aging combined with the robust character of the Imperial Stout make for an extraordinary and wonderful taste experience. It has a strong roasted malt character and a full body. Chocolate and caramel nuances blend with the hops for a smooth Imperial Stout,” described Emmerson.

“Wood barrel aging is an art form. When done right, it’s a wonderful thing. Our barrel aged beers have been a Full Sail tradition since 1998 when we joyfully discovered what happens when you pair vintage barrels, dedication, and patience. Every year since, we’ve brewed an imperial style dark ale, filled roughly sixty oak bourbon barrel casks, and then aged them in our cellar for a year. We rack this special beer in small batches, available in only very limited quantities. It cellars well, so if you store a few bottles in a dark, cool place and be patient, you will be rewarded for your effort and restraint. You should get some while you can,” added Emmerson. To help the beer aficionados that have the self-discipline to cellar this beer, Full Sail marks the bottle label with the reserve year. Black Gold will be available in 22 oz bottles and on draught. (ABV 11.4%, IBU 37.5)

Full Sail is planning two special events to celebrate the release of Black Gold. The brewery will be offering a vertical tasting of three versions of Black Gold to highlight the flavor components of this special brew. “Since Black Gold is a blend of our Imperial Stout aged for a full year in both 18 and 20 year old bourbon barrels, we thought it would be interesting to try a bit of each before blending. We kegged off a very small stash from each vintage for the initial release. Join us to celebrate the unveiling of this very special beer and taste the nuances between the two vintage years and the final version,” added Emmerson. The special tastings will take place simultaneously at Full Sail’s Tasting Room and Pub in Hood River and at their Riverplace Brewery in Portland at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1st. For more information call the Full Sail Riverplace brewery at 503-222-5343 or the Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub at 541-386-2247.

In the February issue of Men’s Journal, Black Gold was named one of “the best” barrel aged beers in the US. Previously Black Gold was awarded a silver medal at the 2009 World Beer Championships and at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival® (wood-aged strong beer category).

Tripel Nipel Release
01/27/11
Victory Bar
3652 SE Division
Portland
8-10pm
The Double Mountain crew releases their latest limited-release: “Tripel Nipel”. Brewed with Gambrinus pilsner malt, local wildflower honey and Chimay yeast, the Nipel is a strong (9+% abv) with balanced abbey-style flavors. They will be raffling off some wearables and goblet glassware as well. Chef Eric will be preparing pan-roasted mussels for the event.

9th Annual CrabFest
01/28/11
Deschutes Brewery Mountain Room
901 SW Simpson
Bend
6pm
$SOLD OUT – People must love crabs…………and beer!!!!
Crab cakes, crab cocktail, crab louie, crab legs along with great Deschutes beers while listening to some festive live music.

Scottish Ale Festival
01/29/11
Cascade Brewing Barrel House
939 SE Belmont St
Portland
3-11pm
Free
Nine Scottish ales from Lucky Lab Brewing, Migration Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery and Upright Brewing. There will be traditional Scottish music by Ron Gansberg’s own Stone Porridge, plus a few bagpipers thrown in the mix.

Meet the 7 Brides Brewer
01/27/11
Concordia Ale House
3276 NE Killingsworth St
Portland
503-287-3929
11am
Meet Brewer Josiah Kelly and Phill Knoll from Seven Brides Brewing.
Two beers on tap, Black Cat Porter + the Seven Brides IPA.

Breweries of 2010 Beer Summit
01/28/11
Roscoe’s
8105 SE Stark
Portland
503-255-0049
5pm
Try beers from 16 of the newest breweries in Oregon including Burnside Brewing, Boneyard Beer, Cascade Brewing Barrel House, Migration Brewing, Coalition Brewing, Breakside Brewing, Prodigal Son Brewing, Beetje Brewery, Columbia River Brewing, Natian Brewery and beer from the new Hair of the Dog location.

IPA Fest
01/29
16 Tons Bottle Shop
265 E 13th Ave
Eugene
5-10pm
541-345-2003
Free
Tasting tickets are $1. Beers are 1-4 tickets for 3oz tasters.
Friday & Saturday Nosh Pit will be making fresh sandwiches
For updated information about the festival: http://sixteentons.biz/blog/?page_id=502

Look for Vertigo Brewing Friar Gone Wild Imperial IPA, Coalition Brewing IPA, Fort George Brewery OmegaTex,
Hop Valley Brewing Alpha Centauri Binary IPA, 10 Barrel Brewing Apocalypse IPA, Alameda Brewhouse Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA, Silver Moon Brewing HOPpopatamus, Natian Brewery Old Grogham Winter IPA, Cascade Lakes Centennial IPA,
Deschutes Brewery Hop Henge, Deschutes Brewrery Hop Trip, Deschutes Brewery Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale,
Lompoc Brewing C-Note Imperial IPA, Ninkasi Brewing Mystery IPA, Ninkasi Brewing Tricerahops,
Three Creeks Brewing Hoodoo Voodoo IPA, Widmer Brothers Brewing Deadlift Imperial IPA, Beer Valley Brewing Leafer Madness