Malt Ball 2013: A Rocking Good Time

What do you get when you put 26 breweries and a dozen bands into a trendy Portlandia event space?  Malt Ball 2013.  This second annual union of local bands, courtesy of the Portland Mercury, along with participating breweries, through the Oregon Brewers Guild, made for yet another epic volunteer opportunity.  Last year, I accidentally stumbled upon Malt Ball 2012.  Rocking out to music and talking about beer hardly seemed like a chore at all.  Not to be out done, this year's Ball at the Wonder Ballroom didn't disappoint.  With more beer, more bands, more space, and way more people, this event was split into two sessions.  So popular, the evening session was sold out before the taps were even hooked up.

By the time it was my turn to test out some brews, I headed straight for Solera Brewery's Hank is Dank IPA.  I stood next to this tap for five hours during my shift, listening to lucky imbibers rave about it.  As expected, I was thoroughly impressed with the thick hop tea that filled my mug.  Another notable taster came from Migration Brewing.  Their Black Hearted Ale, a Cascadian Dark Ale, was the perfect blend of roast and hops.  

Haven't been to a Malt Ball yet?  Don't let next year's pass you by.  Undoubtedly, the best beerfest you'll find in PDX.

www.solerabrewery.com  migrationbrewing.com  www.portlandmercury.com  oregonbeer.org

New Still On the Block: Port Steilacoom Distillery

The sleeper town of Steilacoom, WA is home to a new distillery.  Kevin Laughlin Stewart, along with his wife Jennifer, opened Port Steilacoom Distillery back in December 2012.  On a research trip with a fellow wannabe moonshiner, I visited their nautical themed tasting room earlier this week.
Warm and welcoming, Kevin took us back to his "lab" where he explained the whole distillation process.  Answering all of our questions and sharing his own experiences was beyond helpful.  After opening up the jar of juniper berries for us to smell, we sampled his Homeport Gin.  Not being much of a gin girl, I was hesitant.  However, Kevin's aromatically tantalizing citrus infused honey based gin was nothing more than amazing.  His Chambers Bay Vodka was equally crisp and delicious.  With a spiced spirit in the works, it is safe to say I will be back to this tasting room very soon.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Port-Steilacoom-Distillery/353481884723680?ref=ts&fref=ts

P-Town Throwdown: Puyallup River Brewing

Tuesday night +"soft" opening = a crowded Puyallup River Alehouse.  I think it goes without saying that downtown Puyallup has needed this kind of attraction for awhile.  Rolling in at 7:30pm, 2+ hours after the doors opened, the place was standing room only.  Brewmaster Eric Akeson amply prepared the taps with eight of his own and sixteen guests.  Our first round consisted of PRB's Fryingpan Cascadian Red IPA and Valley Farmhouse IPA.  With great brews across the board, I caught a quick sip of Jack O'Lahar Pumpkin Ale: a full pumpkin pie experience.  The next pints were filled with MT Head Imperial IPA and a Great Divide Dopplebock.  Again, a solid line up.  If you end up in the humble abode of the South Sound, head on over to the Puyallup River Alehouse and enjoy your pick of twenty-four different beers.  Chances are you'll find something you'll like!

puyallupriverbrewing.com

Double Trouble: Two Brothers Brewing

A three day weekend translated into a two day trip out to Chicago to visit one of my favorite breweries.  My long distance relationship with Two Brothers Brewing has consisted of a few bottles making their way to me out West via friendly travelers feeding my addiction to craft beer.  Within an hour of landing at Midway, I was saddled up to the bar at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois, a newly acquired facility that previously held the Walter Payton namesake.  Twelve hearty samples later, I discovered my top three: Revelry, Outlaw, and Cane and Ebel.

Revelry, an imperial red ale coming in at 9.5% ABV, started off a bit bready.  The slow release of that malt into a bittery citrus hop finish captured my palette.  I think it goes without saying that I brought a full growler of this home, taking the risk of my luggage becoming beer soup.  The Outlaw IPA was light and citrusy, with just enough pine to please this NW hophead.  Cane and Ebel, on the other hand, was a totally different animal.  Described as a "hopped up red rye ale," this heavy weight was impeccably balanced between the spiciness of the rye, sweetness of the Thai Palm Sugar, and the bitterness of Simcoe, Columbus, and Summit hops.  

My Two Brothers checklist didn't stop there.  The next day, I headed out to Warrenville to tour the actual brewing facility.  With a snifter of Revelry, I traipsed around the well equipped brewery that currently distributes their goods to only five states: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio.  Not hearing Washington on the list prompted me to fill my already at capacity suitcase with more Two Brothers Brew.  If you ever find yourself in Chicago during the middle of winter, or anytime of the year for that matter, head out to the 'burbs and see for yourself what these guys have been brewing up for the last sixteen years.

www.twobrosbrew.com