13 February 2010 - 8:27Girl’s Night at the Brewfest

Friday night was girl’s night to celebrate my friend’s birthday. We had a nice dinner at Olive Garden, then headed to the annual Micro Brewfest. Over the past few years I have become a huge fan of microbrews to the point now that my sister has made us a journal to write down all of our favorite beers. I am not expert on beers, but here is what I tried and what I thought.

1. Southern Oregon Brewing Co. (Medford, OR) ‘Nice Rack IPA’
Good IPA. Nothing special, but with a name like that, I had to try.

2. Laurelwood (Portland, OR) ‘Workhorse IPA’
Good IPA. It was lighter and seemed to have fruity taste to it.

3. Deschutes (Bend, OR) ‘Hop Henge IPA’
The best beer I tried there. I will be having this IPA more often.

4. Laughing Dog (Ponderay, ID) ‘Dogzilla’
It was a little dark for my taste, but it’s good to try new things

5. Mad River (Blue Lake, CA) “Jamaica Red Ale’
Good. It might have been the only red beer there.

6. Block 15 (Corvallis, OR) ‘Aboriginale’
Solid ale, nothing overly special but still yummy.

7. Lagunitas (Petaluma, CA) ‘Olde Gnarly Wine’
Nice and sweet.

8. Oakshire (Eugene, OR) ‘Duck Billed Platypus’
This was a dark rye that was bought for me. I took a risk and it didn’t work. I don’t like dark beers, but to someone who likes dark beers, it might be delicious.

9. Eugene City Brewery (aka Rogue) ‘Track Town Brown’
Good solid beer

Other interesting beers I sipped from my friends….
1. 21st Amendment (San Francisco, CA) ‘Hell or High Watermelon Wheat’
This beer was interesting. I enjoy wheat beers in the summer, but watermelon in a wheat beer, just didn’t seem right. Also, this beer came out of a can…and to me that just seems wrong.

2. Calapooia (Albany, OR) ‘Chili Beer’
This beer actually tasted like salsa….weird.

3. Block 15 (Corvallis, OR) ‘Love Potion #9′
This beer was a special Valentine’s brew. It is a chocolate raspberry stout. I am not a big fan of stouts but this could be a yummy dessert.