#burnside brewing

The Perfect Chip Accompaniment

Despite its reputation, Seattle isn't the only Pacific Northwest city that exhibits stalker-like tendencies towards coffee. In some circles, the argument could be made that Portland brews a better cup than their neighbors to the north. 

Probably a huge reason why Burnside Brewing Company, in Portland's Eastside, is collaborating with Groundwork Coffee to produce "Wau, Nessie!" Coffee Wee Heavy Ale" as part of the roaster's Brewers Series. 

Using organic, single-origin, Papua New Guinea roast from Wau Co-Op, Groundwork Coffee and Burnside Brewing encourage you to raise a pint during the beer's official launch, January 31st, at Burnside Brewing. 

More on Wau, Nessie!, Wee Heavy, and Wau Co-Op

The name "Wau, Nessie!" is a reference to both the Papua New Guinea Wau Co-Op from which this coffee is sourced, and the Scottish origins of Wee Heavy style ales, as well as a nod to another Burnside beer the Groundwork team loves, the 'Woah Nelly'.  Also known as “strong Scotch ale,” a Wee Heavy (or “small strong”) is rich, malty, and usually caramel-sweet, suggestive of a dessert without being cloying or syrupy. The Burnside Brewing team has balanced this style with Groundwork's Papua New Guinea medium roast coffee, which has notes of cocoa nibs, pipe tobacco, dry spice, and tart cherries, for a delicious and unique coffee beer.  Wau Co-Op in Papua New Guinea is part of the Monpi Sustainable Services organization. Formed in December 2008, Monpi Sustainable Services contributes to sustainable livelihoods by providing training on the best agricultural, environmental, social, and healthcare practices in its coffee-growing communities. In this way, Monpi contributes to improving the quality of life for its coffee producers.

If you want to support Groundwork's Cafe Café Femenino Foundation, here's how.

As part of Groundwork's mission to help build and support its community locally and globally, during the first week of each new collab beer's launch, $1 for every coffee beer sold at that brewery will be donated to Café Femenino Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization that funds community betterment grant requests proposed and managed by women in coffee-producing regions around the world. For every "Wau, Nessie" beer sold at Burnside Brewing from January 31st to February 7th, $1 will be donated to the Café Femenino Foundation! Each of the collaboration beers in the series feature a different Groundwork organic coffee roast chosen by the brewers, and featured in a style of beer that's not typically combined with coffee. The first collaboration beer of the series was a Coffee and Cream Ale made by Stormbreaker Brewing called"MOCABE Lo Sabe" featuring Groundwork coffee from Mexico's MOCABE Organic Farmer Co-Op. 304 pints of MOCABE Lo Sabe were sold during its launch week in December, resulting in a total $304 donation to Café Femenino Foundation from Groundwork and Stormbreaker! 

Different Strokes

Burnside Brewing has a new series out called Coax. The idea is to get all the flavor out of one or two hop varieties. The first in the series is made with Mosaic and Marynka hops from Poland.

Mosaic is probably the most popular hop cultivated in the last five years. It was first introduced in 2012, and it’s already found it’s way into all my favorite IPAs. I think it tastes great, but to some it tastes sort of savory and weird. Brewers are snapping up new hops without testing their flavor on different palates.

Take for example Coax No 1 and those Marynka hops. On the nose Coax is all Mosaic, scented like roses and melon. But the first sip, yikes, I almost spat it out. Marynka tastes like peppermint leaves. It’s intense. It took a few ounces down the hatch before I started to really appreciate the beer. Coax tastes a bit like the hibiscus and mint iced tea at the coffee shop down the street. It’s interesting, but I doubt I’d try a full pour of Marynka hopped beer again.

A Beer for Burnside

You may have glimpsed the painted trusses from the I-84 on ramp. Or caught it in Free Willy — though the film was set hundreds of miles away on the Oregon coast. You probably remember it best from the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. 

Burnside Skatepark started on Halloween 1990 when a group of renegade skaters turned an asphalt lump into a serviceable ramp. Over the next two decades with cheap concrete and tacit city approval the park grew. Burnside is a public space open to any kid with a board. 

Last month Burnside Brewing Co., located four blocks away, released their Project Ale, an imperial IPA that benefits the nonprofit that keeps the park going. Project Ale is just as extreme and crazy as the guys — they are predominantly guys — at Burnside. It’s dense with hops, from tropical to dank. It’s dark and woodsy with layers of pine and earth. And of course, Project Ale is face shreddingly intense. 

The Portland Fruit Beerfest, put on by Burnside Brewing, starts today! To entice you to attend this wonderful celebration of fruity beers, take a look at this list of what you'll be able to drink!

Right here!

Take note of my personal favorite from last year, as well as last year's " beer of the show", Breakside Brewery's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. If you've ever wanted to drink a beer that tastes just like rhubarb pie, this is your brew.