A Beer a Day

You know how some skills just seem to stick with you? The old adage about "riding a bike" comes to mind. #beer #review #unskilled

Crisp and sharp, great Fall beer! 4.5/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaoW9lyLexG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link You know how some skills just seem to stick with you? The old adage about “riding a bike” comes to mind. No matter how long you seem to leave it alone, it always seems ready to be dusted off and put to use. There might be some big cobwebs to shake loose, but you can count on it to…

Irish Stout is an interesting style. Done correctly, it retains most of the flavors of a stout while having a much lighter body and little of the residual sweetness of a typical English or American version. #beer #review #style

Slightly more sweet than expected, but a nice light and roasty stout. 3.5/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaoUod3ruLv/?utm_medium=copy_link Irish Stout is an interesting style. Done correctly, it retains most of the flavors of a stout while having a much lighter body and little of the residual sweetness of a typical English or American version. The light body and subtler flavors of this…

If violence begets violence, which it surely does, can't kindness beget kindness? #beer #review #DoAGoodTurnDaily

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaoRvHhr3YA/?utm_medium=copy_link What’s going to happen with the Russia-Ukraine situation? On one hand, we have one industrialized nation invading another. On the other hand, this isn’t terribly different from the types of activities that have happened in non-European nations over the past… forever. Yes, this is an atrocity. One nation does not have the right to…

It seems almost universal that highly-alcoholic drinks that don't taste boozy are dubbed "dangerous." #beer #review #relationships

Wow! This beer is dangerous. So smooth and well-balanced between the citrusy hops and honeycomb malts. 4.5/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaoT1oNrgRc/?utm_medium=copy_link It seems almost universal that highly-alcoholic drinks that don’t taste boozy are dubbed “dangerous.” The connotation varies widely between “I might do something silly because of this drink” and “I need to be careful…

Take care of yourself, friends. Sometimes, it gets cold out there. Brrr. #beer #review #adaptation

It’s a decent red ale, some warm caramel and honey notes with a piney hop finish. 3.25/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cad6YDerCoR/?utm_medium=copy_link Brrr. We had an actual “cold” week here in the Willamette Valley. I use the word loosely, though we did have several days of hard frost (temps below 30 degrees F for several hours). It’s not something that happens every winter, and it…

Love the dark and light! 4.75/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cad6yU8r2vT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link I had the opportunity to get away from the family and the house for part of the day and attend the Portland International Auto Show. It was simultaneously great and overwhelming. Like many people, I haven’t gone to many public events over the past two years. This was by no means a busy…

Intentional. Intention. What was my intention for starting this blog? Read on to find out. #beer #review #intention

Good hop choices, but the beer tasted worty and unfinished. Distinct flavor of grain hulls and tannins that the citrusy hops couldn’t mask. This would probably be fine to drink with strongly-flavored food. 2/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cad7fyQr9Vc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link For those of you who have become regular readers, thank you for your patience with me as the posts have become…

How can the same style be from Austria and Mexico? Well, hold on to your hats because I'm going to take you on a ride. #beer #review #history

Fairly clean and crisp, notes of honey and toffee. Bitter finish is a bit strong, but the earthy and pithy flavor isn’t unpleasant. 3.5/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaY1b1mr66u/?utm_medium=copy_link What an interesting name for a beer. Translating roughly as “two foreigners” (although it definitely has many other contexts and translations), it evokes a lot of the history of this style…

Can't pass this up, the only day in my lifetime when the date will be a palindrome and a homonym. A day of Twos, Tues, and Toos. #beer #review #twosday #222222day

Can’t pass this up, the only day in my lifetime when the date will be a palindrome and a homonym. Tuesday, 2/22/22 (or 22-2-22, or 22-02-2022 if you like Euro-style), where the numbers read the same backwards and forwards (and even upside down!), with the added bonus of falling on a day of the week that sounds the same as the numbers (in English, of course). A day of Twos, Tues, and Toos. Let’s…

What is a cold IPA anyway? #beer #style #review

Tropical and sweet. Notes of grapefruit, vanilla, pineapple, and pine resin. Light and crisp, with sharp acidity and a drying finish. 3.75/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaQ87jhLHEO/?utm_medium=copy_link “What is a cold IPA anyway?” The originator of the style, head brewer Kevin Davey of Wayfinder Beer of Portland, has been asked this question ad nauseam by all reports. It’s gotten to the…

This beer was my reward to myself for surviving a family outing. #beer #review #parenting

Smooth and juicy, plenty of citrus and tropical notes to keep me happy on a cold day. 4/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaMF0ZkLsEH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link This beer was my reward to myself for surviving a family outing. We did something this weekend that may have been ill-advised. We’ve been looking for activities to do away from home with the kids and decided to visit the Portland…

Perhaps... perhaps it would be better if peanut butter stayed out of beer. #beer #review #peanutbutter

Peanut butter, chocolate. Peanut butter, chocolate. Nice treat, but hoped for more nuance than a Reese’s cup. 3/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaJdrWZrbqw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Peanut butter is an incredible substance. I’ve tried other nut and seed spreads, but nothing has ever come close to the creamy and sweet-savory delight of peanuts. I can appreciate the sweetened and…

I feel like I have a disappointing relationship with experiments. #beer #review #experimentation

Oak and tart blueberry jam. Enough said. 4/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaBlNaTLiZr/?utm_medium=copy_link I feel like I have a disappointing relationship with experiments. As a child, without any true understanding of chemistry, I was sure that I could combine various ingredients that I found around the house to create something spectacular. I had this unrealized expectation that some…

My friends, I received some sad news this week. One of the greats is leaving us, the like of which will never be seen again. #beer #review #tribute

My friends, I received some sad news this week. One of the greats is leaving us, the like of which will never be seen again. No, I’m not talking about Modern Times shutting down their much-hyped Portland taproom (the second brewery to vacate that building, by the way). I mean Hair of the Dog, one of the originals. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZ9mQ2rFd0X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Hair of…

The next time you see a dark beer with the word "Baltic" nearby, you'll know that you're in for a treat. Take a chance, and walk on the lager side. #beer #review #lager

Wow. Time definitely does tell, and the story it tells is exquisite. The clean and light porter allows notes of cocoa to shine through while being tempered with oaky tannins and smooth vanilla. 4.5/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaBfQ_vr0_x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Let me tell you about Baltic-style porters. It’s an incredible style of beer, full of all the rich flavors you expect…

I would be remiss after describing my adventures at the farmhouse brewery if I didn't also give an account of said establishment. So, here's the scoop on Wolves & People. #beer #review #farmhouse

Dry and bready, with a light coffee flavor. Great dark beer flavors without the heft. 4/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ6AxWaLKHe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link I would be remiss after describing my adventures at the farmhouse brewery if I didn’t also give an account of said establishment. So, here’s the scoop on Wolves & People. I really like this place. I’ve told you about my adventure…

This visit to Wolves & People was my first extended solo-parent excursion with F. I thought, "Surely I can take a low-key trip to the brewery on a sunny day and sip on some beers!" #beer #review #parenting

So much going on here. Dusty cocoa layered over tart stone fruit, some vine and stem, and dark toast. Earthy, almost mushroom flavor on the finish. 4.5/5 stars. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ56qvJL71O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link (Continuation of yesterday’s post.) This visit to Wolves & People was my first extended solo-parent excursion with F. I had taken her to the store several times, and…