EUGENE, OR—Last week, Denver, Colorado hosted the 2013 Great American Beer Festival (GABF), an annual, three-day beer festival and one of the most coveted beer competitions in the brewing industry. Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest national beer competition that recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the nation.

In an award ceremony held on Oct. 13 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, the top three winners in the competition’s 84 beer-style categories were announced. Jamie Floyd, Ninkasi’s founding brewer and co-owner, and other Ninkasi team members excitedly accepted an award on-stage as the brewery was presented with a gold medal in the Bohemian-Style Pilsener beer-style category for its Bohemian Pilsner. In total, 53 beers from breweries across the nation competed in this category.

Released in July 2013, Ninkasi’s Bohemian Pilsner was brewed under its Rare and Delicious Series, offering limited-release beers that are creative expressions of its brewing collective. The beer itself was released specifically for the 26th Oregon Brewers Festival, and is a Ninkasi take on the traditional Bohemian-Style Pilsener. Ninkasi’s Bohemian Pilsner is a medium-bodied golden lager with spicy floral aromas from the styles signature hop, Saaz.

“Winning gold or any medal for a Bohemian-Style Pilsener is an incredible achievement for us as brewers,” explains Floyd. “This is an incredibly difficult beer to make and we love to show that we are as committed to making delicious lagers as much as we are to the hoppy beers we are associated with.”

Set to release in January 2014, Ninkasi will release its Bohemian Pilsner as the next beer in its Prismatic Lager Series. Renamed after the Czech word for truth, Pravda will be available in 12oz. bottles and on-draft January through April 2014.

“This style has been produced for centuries in Europe so we are excited to share this delicious lager with our fans as a true representation of the style,” says Floyd.

Ninkasi’s complete line-up of beers can be found at: www.NinkasiBrewing.com/beers.

About Ninkasi Brewing Company
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to a 55-barrel brewing system located in Eugene, Ore. Ninkasi’s Flagship beers—Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout—are sold throughout Oregon, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and British Columbia. The brewery remains privately-owned and is committed to community support and giving. Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint.

BEND, OR—Deschutes Brewery beers took center stage at two recent international awards programs –World Beer Awards and European Beer Star 2013, Europe’s largest beer competition. Most notably, the brewery’s new Deschutes River Ale was named the World’s Best Bitter and The Americas Best Bitter (in the up to 4 percent category). The Abyss, Deschutes Brewery’s barrel-aged imperial stout, took home a gold medal.

Brian Faivre brewmaster for Deschutes Brewery said, “Winning awards at both these competitions is a testament to the hard work our brewing team puts into every beer we produce. To be recognized at a national level against all the fantastic breweries out there is confirmation that our commitment to consistency, quality and pushing the envelope is working!”

At the European Beer Star 2013, competition was as tough as it has ever been: a total of 1,512 beers from 40 countries participated in the 2013 competition, an increase of 11% over the previous year. An expert committee evaluated the beers during an all-day blind taste held in the Doemens Brewing Academy in Gräfelfing. The Abyss took home the gold medal in the Imperial Stout category.

The World Beer Award program also selects winners for internationally recognized beer styles from around the world by blind-tasting hundreds of entries from nearly 40 countries. Awards were announced following four rounds of judging by an international, highly respected judging panel. The competition selects, awards, and promotes to consumers the best beers available internationally. A complete list of awards for Deschutes Brewery in 2013 includes:

World’s Best Rankings

• Deschutes River Ale – World’s Best Bitter (Up to 4%)
• The Dissident – World’s Best Label
• Obsidian Stout – World’s Best Stout

The Americas Best Rankings

• Deschutes River Ale – The America’s Best Bitter (Up to 4%)
• Obsidian Stout – The America’s Best Stout
• The Abyss – The America’s Silver
• The Dissident – The America’s Best Oud Bruin
• The Dissident – The America’s Best Label
• Hop Henge Experimental IPA – The America’s Silver.

About Deschutes Brewery
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Deschutes Brewery began as a brew pub in downtown Bend, Oregon and is known for such brands as Black Butte Porter, its flagship brew and the nation’s number one selling craft porter, and the popular Mirror Pond Pale Ale. In addition to its original Bend pub, this family and employee-owned brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District in 2008. The company’s main brewing facility is located on the banks of the Deschutes River and produces over 250,000 barrels of beer annually for distribution in 21 states and two provinces. Deschutes Brewery was named one of America’s Best Places to Work in 2013 by Outside Magazine. To find out more, visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com

SEATTLE—Pyramid Alehouses in California, Oregon and Washington are teaming up with Pints for Prostates to raise awareness about prostate cancer and give a lucky patron the chance to win a nine night Germany Beer Tour for two.

The Pyramid Alehouse locations will reach men through the universal language of beer starting with Oktoberfest events in Berkeley, Calif., and Seattle this week. All four alehouses, including the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek, Calif., and the Portland Brewing Company Taproom in Portland, Ore., will also host events in the coming months for Movember as well as events in 2014. The Pyramid Alehouse events will culminate in a drawing in July 2014 for a trip for two to Germany.

BeerTrips.com has put together a special beer tour of Germany to benefit Pints for Prostates. The beer adventure to Bavaria and Franconia will take place from Oct. 9-19, 2014. The nine night dream trip includes stops in Aying, Garmisch Partenkirchen, Bayreuth, Rothenburg and Bamberg.  The trip includes beer tastings, escorted beer hall crawls, guided city walks, brewery tours, monastery visits, special meals and more.

“We are excited to be teaming up with Pints for Prostates to raise awareness about a disease that touches the lives of so many Americans,” said Danielle Blumen, the Alehouse Community Development Manager for Pyramid Breweries. “This is a chance to support a great cause and give one of our customers the chance to win the beer adventure of a lifetime.”

BeerTrips.com is offering this special Pints for Prostates group tour to Germany to the public on a limited basis. Just 12 slots are available for this tour at $2,995 (+ air) based on double occupancy ($625 single room supplement). The tour will be hosted by Pints for Prostates founder and beer journalist Rick Lyke. Visit www.BeerTrips.com for details.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Pyramid Alehouses to help us raise funds and spread the word to men about the importance of regular prostate health screenings and early detection,” Lyke said. “This will be the fourth time we have teamed up with BeerTrips.com for a special Pints for Prostates European beer trip. This itinerary includes some amazing breweries and is really a unique way to experience Germany.”

“This is one of the most popular BeerTrips.com itineraries because it explores the best of Bavaria and Franconia,” said Mike Saxton, founder of BeerTrips.com. “We offer small groups an intimate experience with the chance for insider tours of some of the most famous breweries in the world. If you love beer and love to travel, this trip gives you a chance to experience the German countryside and some classic small cities that offer tremendous beers.”

As part of the BeerTrips.com and Pints for Prostates partnership, Pints for Prostates will raffle a trip for two for the special trip. For a $10 donation for a single ticket, $25 donation for three tickets or $50 for seven tickets, donors will be entered to win the trip that includes:

• The BeerTrips.com trip for two Oct. 9-19, 2014
• Roundtrip Airfare for Two from the Continental United States
• Nine Nights in Fine Centrally Located Hotels
• Brewery Tours
• Escorted Beer Hall Crawls
• Guided City Tours
• Breakfasts Daily/Special Beer Dinners and Beer Lunches
• Train & Private Coach Transportation

The total value of the trip for two is estimated at $8,500. The Pyramid Alehouse drawing will be held in July 2014. The prize is non-transferable. No cash substitute will be offered. The winner and their guest are responsible for obtaining passports and all trip related costs not outlined above. You must be 21 years old to enter.

About Pyramid Brewing Co.
Pyramid Brewing Co. is a leading brewer of specialty, full-flavored craft beers produced under the Pyramid family of ales and lagers since 1984.  Pyramid beers continue to be honored by beer drinkers and judges having received 22 medals at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), including a gold medal awarded to Haywire Hefeweizen in 2009 as well as the honor of Mid-size Brewery of the Year in 2008.  The brewery has also been awarded seven medals in international competition at the World Beer Cup. With breweries in Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and Berkeley, CA, the Company owns Alehouses at all three locations as well as an additional Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek, CA. Visit www.pyramidbrew.com for more information.

About BeerTrips.com
Beer Trips.com was founded in 1998 to offer serious beer people the opportunity to travel to the world’s best beer destinations with other people who love great beer. Beer and travel, travel and beer — these are two of our favorite things. Both, in our estimation, are worth a fair amount of life’s energy. Our goal, and our very reason for existing, is to take our travelers the best beer destinations, drink, taste and enjoy the best beers, meet the beer-loving people of the countries we visit, and explore the history, culture, art and architecture of the interesting places where beer “grew up”. To do this we stay in nice, well-located hotels, eat at great restaurants that emphasize beer in their fare, and visit breweries, brew pubs, cafes, and museums that enhance our understanding and appreciation of beer and its rich history and culture.

About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 238,590 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during 2013. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

BEND, OR—Deschutes Brewery is coming to Nebraska! The Oregon-based brewery will be working with Johnson Brothers of Nebraska, part of Johnson Brothers Liquor Company which has been serving the greater region for 60 years.  To celebrate this new partnership, and the arrival of Deschutes in Nebraska, the brewery is launching with a series of special events in the Omaha and Lincoln areas.

A series of events are scheduled from October 15-18, as part of the launch.  It’s the perfect opportunity to try some combination of official Deschutes Brewery Nebraska launch beers, including award winners and style leaders Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter and Chainbreaker White IPA.  Making small talk with a brewer and other personalities from Deschutes Brewery is a terrific bonus.  This schedule follows below the signature events described below.  Please visit Deschutes Brewery’s events page for more information.

Don’t miss Woody either!  The giant, good-times-on-wheels mobile bar rolls his way around Nebraska during our launch week, complete with multiple delicious Deschutes Brewery beers, a stereo, and a disco ball. He is a natural gathering spot at any event for all thirsty individuals (and any misplaced members of your party). Follow Woody’s shenanigans on Twitter at @DBWoody or you can “friend” him at www.facebook.com/deschuteswoody.

Tuesday, October 15, noon-2pm

What: “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” Lunch

We will be making our own happy hour at Cunningham’s – right in the middle of the day! In fact, we can’t think of a better way to spend a Tuesday. Come meet the gang from Deschutes Brewery – here all the way from Oregon – and sampling beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale and Chainbreaker White IPA.

Location: Cunningham’s Pub & Grill, 10904 W. Dodge Road, Omaha, NE 68154

Tuesday, October 15, 4-6pm

What:  Deschutes Brewery Meet, Greet and Sample

Save your grocery shopping trip for Tuesday afternoon and come down to Whole Foods Market for the Deschutes Brewery meet, greet and sample. And when we say “sample” we mean some fantastic beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale,Black Butte Porter, Jubelale, Hop Trip, Chasin’ Freshies and Chainbreaker White IPA paired with foods from the Whole Foods Prepared Foods Department.

Where: Whole Foods, 10020 Regency Circle, Omaha, NE 68114

Tuesday, October 15, 4pm

What: Deschutes Brewery Official Nebraska Launch Party

Oh, the beers you will try at Beer Corner USA!

Crescent Moon’s Weekly Famous Pint Night, 4pm-close
You’ll get a pint glass with your purchase, plus discounted pints of Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter,Chainbreaker White IPA, Jubelale, Nitro Jubelale, Hop Trip, Armory XPA and something special and top secret!!

Beertopia, 4-6pm
Try a bunch of Deschutes beers – including year-round favorites and fresh hop seasonals, plus learn how to build your own Kegerator in a special demo from the folks at Johnson Brothers.

Woody’s Beer Garden, 4-10pm
Woody – Deschutes Brewery’s giant traveling beer barrel – will be present, sampling your new favorite array of beers. Come get your photo taken with this keg on wheels while sipping some craft beer from one of his many taps.

Where: Beer Corner USA, 3570 & 3578 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68131

Wednesday, October 16, noon-2pm

What: “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” Lunch

We will be making our own happy hour at Omaha Tap House– right in the middle of the day! In fact, we can’t think of a better way to spend a Wednesday. Come meet the gang from Deschutes Brewery – here all the way from Oregon – and sampling beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale and Chainbreaker White IPA.
Where: Omaha Tap House, 1403 Farnam Street, #136, Omaha, NE 68102

Wednesday, October 16, 4-6pm

What:  Deschutes Brewery Meet, Greet and Sample

Are you a craft beer fan? Here’s your chance to come chat with the folks from Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery while they’re in town celebrating their Nebraska launch. Try some fantastic beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale, Hop Trip, Chasin’ Freshies and Chainbreaker White IPA.

Where: HyVee-Stony Brook, 14591 Stony Brook Blvd., Omaha, NE 68137

Wednesday, October 16, 6:30-9:30pm

What: Deschutes Brewery’s Hats off to Homebrewers

Attention homebrewers and beer geeks…come share your love for craft with the fabulous staff from Nebraska Brewing Company and Deschutes Brewery. Chat with Nebraska Brewing Company’s Head Brewer Tyson Arp and Deschutes Brewer Ryan Schmiege.  Sip on an exclusive brew made just for the event, out of your commemorative snifter. Gather complimentary brewing supplies, including clone recipe booklets and bags of whole flower hops, to use in your next homebrew (supplies are limited).  Win a $100 gift certificate to the newly opened Patriot Homebrew Supply.  But that’s not all…

Enjoy three beer samples from each brewery, expertly paired with three gourmet tapas-style items from Chef Chad Waters of Nebraska Brewing Company.  Plus a full glass of an exclusive Hats Off To Homebrewers brew.  Mix in a “Stump the Brewmaster” Q &A session.  It all adds up to a can’t-miss-night! Check out the amazing pairing menu below…

• Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale and NBC Brunette Brown Ale
  Venison Sliders – Mirror Pond Kissed Pickled Onions, Brunette 7 Grain Mustard and Horseradish Aioli English Cheddar Cheese
• Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA and NBC Beer formally known as Hop God
  Seafood Taco – Avocado Ranch, Mango Salsa, Cotija Cheese, Baby Arugula
• Deschutes Jubelale and NBC Apricot Saison
  Spiced Rubbed Ribeye “Carving Station” – Jubelale Shallot Marmalade, Apricot Au Poivre Saison Jus Rosemary Batard

Grab a fellow homebrewer or craft beer fan and join us for this amazing event!  Cheers!

Where: Nebraska Brewing Company, 7474 Towne Center Pkwy #101, Papillion NE 68046

Cost: The cost is $20 per person.  www.hatsoffne.eventbrite.com

Thursday, October 17, noon-2pm

What: “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” Lunch

We will be making our own happy hour at Leadbelly– right in the middle of the day! In fact, we can’t think of a better way to spend a Thursday. Come meet the gang from Deschutes Brewery – here all the way from Oregon – and sampling beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale and Chainbreaker White IPA.

Where: Leadbelly, 301 N 8^th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508

Thursday, October 17, 5-7pm

What:  Deschutes Brewery Meet, Greet and Sample

Are you a craft beer fan? Here’s your chance to come chat with the folks from Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery while they’re in town celebrating their Nebraska launch. Try some fantastic beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale, Hop Trip, Chasin’ Freshies and Chainbreaker White IPA. Beers will be perfectly paired with gourmet pizzas from Yia Yia’s. Get a photo with Woody, the brewery’s giant traveling beer barrel!

Where: Moran’s Liquor Works, 3400 A Street, Lincoln, NE 68510

Thursday, October 17, 6:45pm-10pm

What: Deschutes Brewery Bicycle Pub Crawl

It’s time to explore great craft beer all over Lincoln – by bicycle. Get your gang together and celebrate Deschutes Brewery beers on tap at some favorite watering holes and shops. There will be something deliciously different to try at each stop!

Where:

• Moran’s, 3400 A St, Lincoln, NE 68510  (meet around 6:45ish)
• Cycle Works, 720 N 27th St., Lincoln, NE 68503 (arrive around 7ish)
• Dempsey’s Burger Pub - 228 North 12 Street, Lincoln, NE 68508 (arrive around 8ish)
• Doc’s Place, 140 N 8th St., Lincoln, NE 68508 (arrive around 9ish)
• Yia Yia’s, 1423 O St., Lincoln, NE 68508 (last stop! 10ish)

Friday, October 18, 5-7pm

What:  Deschutes Brewery Meet, Greet and Sample

Are you a craft beer fan? Here’s your chance to come chat with the folks from Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery while they’re in town celebrating their Nebraska launch. Try some fantastic beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale, Hop Trip, Chasin’ Freshies, Chainbreaker White IPA and something very special! Beers will be perfectly paired with fare from Greta’s Gourmet Cuisine.

Where: The Still, 6820 S 70^th Street, Lincoln, NE 68516

Friday, October 18, 7-10pm

What:  Deschutes Brewery Flight Night

Friday is flight night! Take off with tapas style plates, each paired perfectly with Deschutes Brewery beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Chainbreaker White IPA, Jubelale and Black Butte Porter. If that doesn’t make you fly on down here, then you will when you hear what foods inspired the small plates (hint, bacon).

Where: Single Barrel, 130 North 10^th Street, Lincoln, NE, 68508

PORTLAND, OR—Widmer Brothers Brewing has introduced four new limited release beers as part of the brewery’s fall lineup. Just in time for the cooler fall months ahead, the Portland-based brewery has released: Falconer’s IPA, the latest addition to the Rotator IPA Series; this year’s vintage of Old Embalmer Barleywine and a pinot noir barrel-aged version of Old Embalmer as part of the Brother’s Reserve Series; and Downward Spiral, an imperial India-style Pale Lager (IPL) aged on new oak spirals.

The release of Falconer’s IPA, a beer brewed in tribute to the late Oregon brewing legend Glen Hay Falconer, represents the third time this beer has been available as part of the Rotator IPA Series. Falconer’s IPA is an aggressively hopped Northwest IPA that features Falconer’s namesake hop blend from HopUnion: Falconer’s Flight. Widmer Brothers has brewed the beer annually since 2011 and it has become a favorite in the series, but this release will be the last as the Falconer’s Flight hop is being retired after this year. A portion of the proceeds of Falconer’s IPA benefits the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, which provides educational opportunities and scholarships for aspiring and professional brewers.

Old Embalmer Barleywine has been a brewery favorite since it was first brewed in 1999. This year’s version of the beer features a yet-to-be-named experimental hop variety known as X-431. In conjunction with the annual barleywine release, Widmer Brothers has released Barrel-Aged Old Embalmer ’13, a version aged in pinot noir barrels from Patricia Green Cellars in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a pinot mecca. Aging this barleywine in pinot noir barrels brings the beer to a new level, amplifying the tropical fruit and vanilla notes and giving it a tannic, vinous quality with hints of oak. The two 2013 Old Embalmers are perfect for cellaring and make for a unique side-by-side tasting opportunity.

Downward Spiral is an imperial version of Widmer Brothers Hopside Down IPL aged on new oak spiral, and is the fourth new limited release from the brewery this fall. This aggressively hopped beer was brewed with Cascade hops, both during the boil and again via dry hopping, giving this beer a big, citrusy nose. Aging the beer on new oak spirals lends some oak and vanilla notes to both the flavor and the aroma. Cold fermenting with Widmer Brothers’ lager yeast gives Downward Spiral great balance with the clean, crisp finish of a lager.

Each of the four new releases is available for a limited time, in limited quantities. To find out where they are available near you, please visit the Widmer Brothers online beer finder.

Please visit www.widmerbrothers.com for more information, or follow Widmer Brothers Brewing on Facebook. For more information about the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, visit www.glenfalconerfoundation.org.

About Widmer Brothers Brewing
What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their 20s, they dreamed of brewing unique interpretations of traditional beer styles. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best-selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently brews a variety of beers including Alchemy Ale, the Rotator IPA series, Pitch Black IPA, Nelson Imperial IPA, a limited edition Brothers’ Reserve Series and a full seasonal lineup. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.

About Falconer’s IPA
Glen Falconer was passionate about friends, family, and great IPAs. So in tribute, we’ve created an IPA worthy of this master brewer. The result is a bright, moderately bitter IPA with stone fruit aromas and a strong malt backbone. We think Glen would approve.

Malts: Pale, Caramel 40L, Honey Malt
Hops: Falconer’s Flight Hop Blend for aroma, Alchemy Hop Blend for bittering.
Original Gravity: 15.0 P
ABV: 7.0%
IBU: 65

About Downward Spiral
Downward Spiral is an imperial version of our Hopside Down India-style Pale Lager that was aged on new oak spirals. This bold wood-aged beer is an aggressively hopped, cold-fermented brew that brings together the clean, crisp finish of a lager with the hop character of an IPA, balanced by distinct oak flavors and aromas. Wood is good. Prost!

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Munich, Caramel 80L, Dextrapils
Hops: Alchemy Hop Blend, Cascade, Dry-Hopped with Cascade
Original Gravity: 17.65 P
ABV: 9.0%
IBU: 84

About Old Embalmer Barleywine 2013
Old Embalmer Barleywine Ale has been a favorite since it was first brewed in 1999, and true to its name, is a great beer for the cellar. Brewed with copious amounts of malts, this year’s version features X-431 hops, a limited variety that lends tropical, dark red fruit and citrus qualities for brilliant balance and a velvety finish.

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Caramel, Midnight Wheat
Hops: Alchemy Hop Blend for bittering, X-431 for Aroma
Original Gravity: 21.5 P
ABV: 10.2%
IBU: 75

About Barrel-Aged Old Embalmer Barleywine 2013
For this version of our favorite barleywine, we’ve aged the beer in pinot noir barrels from Patricia Green Cellars, located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, which is regarded worldwide as delivering the highest quality pinot noir. Patricia Green crafts beautiful pinot using grapes from the best vineyards in the valley. The always-present sweet caramel, vanilla, and toffee notes of Old Embalmer are accented by tannic and vinous characters gained from the wine barrels, as well as the dry finish, all accented by an assertive does of X-431 hops.

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Caramel, Midnight Wheat
Hops: Alchemy Hop Blend for bittering, X-431 for Aroma
Original Gravity: 21.5 P
ABV: 10.2%
IBU: 75

PORTLAND, OR—Widmer Brothers Brewing has released Krystal Pear, a filtered American-style wheat beer brewed with Oregon pears as the official beer of this year’s Bon Appétit presents Feast Portland: A Celebration of Oregon Bounty, a four-day festival celebrating Oregon’s culinary culture with top Oregon chefs, along with nationally recognized chefs and food influencers.

Krystal Pear is inspired by the Oregon bounty and the spirit of the Feast Portland event, and brewed with local pears from USA Pears. As a founding beer sponsor of the event, this is the second year that Widmer Brothers has brewed the event’s official beer at the brewery’s 10-barrel pilot brewery, located adjacent to the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. This is the first year that the beer is available in bottles, a first for commercially-available beer brewed at the pilot brewery.

“This year’s release of Krystal Pear is really exciting for our entire team,” said Brewer Ben Dobler, who oversees brewing at the Rose Quarter brewery. “After the great response we received about Krystal Pear during Feast Portland last year, we wanted to share the beer with more people this year. Bottling small batch beer, which isn’t something we typically do, is a great way to get the beer to more people around town.”

Krystal Pear will be available only in the Portland market for a limited time, now through the end of Feast Portland, which runs from September 19 to September 22. The beer will be featured at several of the Feast Portland events, including the Widmer Brothers Sandwich Invitational on Thursday, September 19, the USA Pears Night Market on Friday, September 20, and the Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting events.

“Feast Portland is a celebration of Oregon’s amazing culinary culture and bounty, and Krystal Pear is a fitting addition to the festival,” said Mike Thelin, co-founder of Feast Portland. “The beer was brewed and bottled in small batches specifically for Feast and the Portland market, using pears from orchards in eastern Oregon. Plus Widmer Brothers is one of the original Portland craft breweries, and we are excited to have them back as a sponsor.”

Please visit www.widmerbrothers.com for more information, or follow Widmer Brothers Brewing on Facebook. For more information about Feast Portland, visit www.feastportland.com.

About Krystal Pear

Krystal Pear is an interpretation of the Krystal Weizen beer style brewed with Oregon pears as the official beer of Feast Portland. Krystal Weizen is an important style for Widmer Brothers Brewing, as it was the second beer style brewed by Kurt and Rob Widmer in 1985. Krystal Pear has a moderately fruity aroma, reminiscent of a cider with notes of pear. The delicate pear flavors and moderate body offer a crisp, semi-dry finish that has just enough sweetness to support the fruit character. The cider-like and vinous qualities of this beer allow it to be complex without being overpowering. Inspired by Oregon Bounty and Feast Portland, Krystal Pear is the perfect beer to pair with a wide variety of foods.

Malts: Pale, Wheat
Hops: Alchemy, Mosiac
Original Gravity: 12.8 P
IBU: 12
ABV: 5.8%

About Widmer Brothers Brewing

What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their 20s, they dreamed of brewing unique interpretations of traditional beer styles. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best-selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently brews a variety of beers including Alchemy Ale, the Rotator IPA series, Pitch Black IPA, Nelson Imperial IPA, a high-end Brothers’ Reserve Series and a full seasonal lineup. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.

About Bon Appétit presents Feast Portland: A Celebration of Oregon Bounty

Bon Appétit presents Feast Portland: A Celebration of Oregon Bounty is the flagship food and drink festival in the Pacific Northwest, capturing the current energy and enthusiasm driving America’s food revolution. Founded in 2012 by Mike Thelin and Carrie Welch, Feast Portland showcases local culinary talent and Pacific Northwest ingredients alongside internationally recognized chefs, culinary professionals and industry leaders. Feast Portland is also a festival with a mission, donating its net proceeds towards ending childhood hunger in Oregon and around the country through Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Share our Strength. For more information visit www.feastportland.com and follow the festival on Facebook and Twitter (@FeastPDX).

BEND, OR—Deschutes Brewery is taking full advantage of its close proximity to some of the world’s leading whole flower hops this season, releasing two fresh hop beers later this month. Hop Trip, now in its ninth year of bottling, is full of freshly harvested Crystal hops that travel from the fields at Oregon’s Sodbuster Farms and into the brew kettle – all in a matter of hours. Chasin’ Freshies, in its second year in the Bond Street Series, uses Gamache Farms’ famed fresh Amarillo hops for this year’s vintage.

Cam O’Connor, brewmaster at Deschutes Brewery, said, “Fresh hop season is one of my favorite times of the year. The number of different beers that are made with fresh hops gives people an unlimited selection to choose from. All the amazing flavors and aromas that permeate from fresh hop beers are really exciting for me. I feel like a kid in a candy store sometimes during this season.”

The highly celebrated Hop Trip has been enjoyed by Deschutes Brewery fans for nearly a decade and is once again offered in 12-ounce bottle 6-packs as part of the Bond Street Series lineup. Why the longevity for this particular brew? Not only does it taste fantastic, but there’s a great story. The brewery team rushes over to the Willamette Valley each year to pick, bag and load up fresh whole flower hops. They quickly return to Bend, Oregon and dump these freshly harvested jewels into the brew kettle. The result? A perfect pale ale with a uniquely citrus punch and fall spice flavor. 5.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 38 IBUs

Chasin’ Freshies, dubbed after the ski town pastime of chasing fresh powder on the slopes, hit the scene last year with some well-carved turns. Rather than the heirloom Cascade hops of the 2012 version, the brewers changed things up for 2013 and feature the fresh and bold Amarillo hops in this IPA. Fresh hop beer lovers will appreciate the bold, juicy aroma and flavor that comes but once a year. 7.2% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 65 IBUs

Both beers will be available in most of the 22 states where Deschutes Brewery beers are sold, starting in October.

About Deschutes Brewery

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Deschutes Brewery began as a brew pub in downtown Bend, Oregon and is known for such brands as Black Butte Porter, its flagship brew and the nation’s number one selling craft porter, and the popular Mirror Pond Pale Ale. In addition to its original Bend pub, this family and employee-owned brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District in 2008. The company’s main brewing facility is located on the banks of the Deschutes River and produces over 250,000 barrels of beer annually for distribution in 21 states and two provinces. Deschutes Brewery was named one of America’s Best Places to Work in 2013 by Outside Magazine. To find out more, visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com

EUGENE, OR—Ninkasi Brewing Company introduces its second Prismatic Lager Series release this year, Oktoberfest, available on-draft and in 12-ounce bottles throughout Oregon; Washington; Idaho; Montana; California; and Vancouver, British Columbia.

This Dortmund-style lager is the second Prismatic Lager Series release this year following the spring release of Sterling Pils. Established in 2011 with the introduction of Ninkasi’s Helles Belles, the Prismatic Lager Series was created to highlight Ninkasi offerings that are Northwest embellishments of traditional lager styles.

“We are very excited to bring our Dortmund-style lager into the Prismatic Lager Series as Oktoberfest,” says Jamie Floyd, founding brewer and co-owner of Ninkasi. “Neither a helles nor pilsner, this style embodies a perfect balance of malt and hops that is neither sweet nor bitter.”

Celebrate the harvest like our friends in Munich, and cheers to the changing of seasons!

Oktoberfest Stats
ABV: 5.1
IBU: 25
Starting Gravity: 1050
Malt: Pilsner, Vienna, Carahell, Acidulated
Hops: German Magnum, German Hersbrucker
Available: 12-ounce bottles and on-draft, Sept. through Oct.
Distribution: Oregon; Washington; Idaho; Montana; California; and Vancouver, British Columbia
Description: Highly drinkable and with a slight malty sweetness, Dortmund-style lagers were first brewed in 19th century Dortmund, Germany and were favored by the city’s industrial workers. Ours is golden in color with a clean balance, perfect for enjoying after a hard day’s work or anytime. Cheers!
Tasting Notes: The hallmark of this Dortmund-style pale lager is the balance between perceptible Noble Hop bitterness and rounded malt flavor; making it deliciously easy to drink.
Food Pairings: Sausages, Schnitzels, Spaetzles, Trout, Fondue, Potato Salad

To learn more about the full line-up of Ninkasi beers, visit: www.NinkasiBrewing.com/Beers.

NORTHWEST

Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House: Features Deschutes beers you can’t find anywhere else.

Rogue Distillery & Public House: 38 taps, a full restaurant and bar and a working still.

NORTHEAST

Concordia Ale House: Rotating beer menu; cool refurbished pink elephant mural.

Laurelwood Public House & Brewery: Award-winning beers; kid-friendly.

Migration Brewing: Dog-friendly.

NORTH

5th Quadrant: Connected Side Bar features even more Lompoc beers.

Amnesia Brewing: Dog-friendly.

Breakside Brewery: Envelope-pushing beers.

The Hop & Vine: Inventive tap list.

Saraveza Bottle Shop & Pasty Tavern: Wisconsin kitsch, awesome rotating taps.

Widmer Gasthaus: Widmer beers you didn’t even know existed.

SOUTHWEST

Bailey’s Taproom: 20 taps.

Higgins Restaurant: James Beard Award winner chef-owner; extensive beer list.

SOUTHEAST

APEX: Fifty rotating taps; The Beermongers bottle shop is kitty corner.

Bazi Bierbrasserie: A slice of Brussels.

Belmont Station: 17 uncommon taps and 1,200 bottles.

Cascade Brewing Barrel House: Sour and blending masters.

Gigantic Brewing: Awesome year-round IPA, seasonals and one-offs.

Hair of the Dog: Mind-blowing beer; excellent food.

Hopworks Urban Brewery: Organic.

It follows, then, that Portland must be the brewing capital of the world. Yes, you did read that right. Our fair city, with 583,776 of us, is the largest such in this state. We have no fewer than 169 craft breweries operating across our Oregon. Fifty-two of them are inside Portland city limits. According to Brian Butenschoen, director of the Oregon Brewers Guild, if one travels 25 miles out of Portland, there will be another 17 breweries to sip at. This includes our close neighbor, and suburb, just north of here: Vancouver, WA. We call ourselves Beervana with good reason.

It’s true, the Bamberg area of Northern Bavaria may have up to 150 breweries, but Bamberg itself is a small city of 70,000 population, with only nine or 10 breweries.

As far as I am concerned, it’s time to tell the world: “Portland is the greatest.” What about the beer? you ask. Is our beer the greatest, too? But, of course! Well, not all of our beer is the greatest, but plenty of it is very good, and we have some beers that really are great. More important, there is a wonderful array of truly fine brews produced in this city, some 300 labels, by my guess. We have everything from altbier to doppelbock, from porter to double stout, from Scottish pale to ESB to IPA—all those and rye beer, too. Besides that, we have raspberry-weizen, lemon lager and far more than our share of yellow, red and icy dry industrial beer, too.

I am frequently asked, “Why Portland?” Why do our craft brewers do so well? How did Portland get to be No. 1? One reason might be that Oregon (and Washington, too) has a cooler, wetter climate than many other places. Both states drink a greater proportion of their beer (18 percent) on draft from on-premise locations. Our city water is among the best on our planet.

Our climate is similar to that found in England, Belgium and Germany, where the drinkers also consume much of their beer in public houses of one sort or another.

It helps to have a good law. Oregon has what may be the best brewpub law in the country. It went into effect in June of 1985 and is very well-written. A new craft brewer may choose to have a pub, or she may choose to distribute her own beer. That’s very brewer-friendly.

Most of our pubs are interesting and well-managed, and serve a large selection of beer accompanied by good food. They are more likely to be beer and wine bars, and less likely to serve hard liquor. (The latter is changing, because we are also enlarging our distilled beverage base in this area.) Oregon has a small advantage over Washington, in that Oregon taverns and pubs are required to serve food, which makes for a better atmosphere than if only snacks are available.

Oregon and Washington pioneered wide distribution of multiple-tap bars back in the early ’80s. It is almost impossible to find a tavern in Portland or Seattle that does not have at least eight to 10 tap or draft beers. This also means that even small-town bars will offer at least a craft beer or two on tap. The popularity of good beer is spreading ever more widely around the Northwest.

This multiple-tap situation means that small craft breweries and brewpubs can expect success merely by producing draft beer. They can succeed in the market without having to install expensive
bottling systems.

Another reason for the success of Northwest craft beers is that we have beer columnists writing in local newspapers—notably in Portland and Seattle. People here are better educated about beer.

This education has led to an appreciation of beers with rich and distinctive tastes. The taste profile of even the most innocuous of our local brews is far and away more interesting than any of the nation’s industrial beer (which also sells well here). In all, our Northwest citizens have the inclination, education and opportunity to enjoy the best of this new wave.

Speaking of education, did I mention the world-famous Oregon Brewers Festival, held annually, on Portland’s downtown Willamette River Waterfront Park, at the end of July, (24-28)? Any reader of All About Beer would enjoy a vacation in Portland. It’s not an expensive city to visit.

Compare some of America’s best micros with the Northwest’s best and draw your own conclusions. Perhaps you’ll agree with me when I say, in my most provincial tone: “Our Northwest ales are among the best in the world.” I urge you, go for the dark side and forget the mellow yellow—live it up!