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Hazy Grapefruit Mosaic IPA – Public Coast

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One of the best perks of being a beer blogger is the amount of beer that gets dropped off at your doorstep. Even when you aren’t home and don’t get a pitch email about it. Thankfully, Charlotte was home to try some amazing new beer from Public Coast – the Hazy Grapefruit Mosaic IPA.

This American style IPA​, boasts a 5.8% ABV with three kinds of hops and 160 pounds of grapefruit puree give this Hazy IPA a full body mouthfeel with a refreshing kick of citrus. Hazy Grapefruit Mosaic IPA is the first release in Public Coast‘s SLACK TIDE IPA SERIES. They are brewing every style of IPA – West Coast, Sessionable, Hazy, and Imperial. Some straight forward and others are a bit twisted. Sit back and enjoy the evolution.

Charlotte was able to try the beer while heading outdoors and shared: the beer tastes refreshing and like summertime! I want to sit out in the sun at the coast or hang out in the forest by a fire and drink this beer. Two thumbs up!

Practicing social distancing: Public Coast offers Beer to Go! Kind of like Car2Go, but for beer. Bring your growler or purchase one of theirs. They’ll fill it with any of their beers on tap. Then go off and explore, have a picnic, do whatever you love to do over ice-cold beer; bring back the empty; repeat. They also have crowlers of any beer on tap and 4 & 6-packs of an assortment of their hand-crafted beers. And don’t forget about their 4-packs of Stephen’s Root Beer.

Huge thanks to the team at Public Coast for another great beer. Can’t wait to get back to the coast – rain or shine – and have another pint. Looking forward to the next SLACK TIDE IPA SERIES offering. Cheers!

Public Coast Brewing Co. Introduces Blueberry Hard Seltzer

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Public Coast Brewing Co. has recently added a Blueberry Hard Seltzer to its Farm Stand Series. Fermented with locally grown Public Coast Farm blueberries and unrefined cane sugar, this 4.5 percent ABV hard seltzer is crisp, light, and naturally gluten-free. 

“In these early days of summer, few things are as refreshing as our new Blueberry Hard Seltzer,” said Will Leroux, Public Coast’s head brewmaster. “With fresh blueberries harvested from our very own farm, this low-alcohol, easy-to-drink beverage is a fun addition to our line-up of brews, each of which is inspired by the beautiful, lush region in which we live.”

Public Coast’s Blueberry Hard Seltzer joins the NW Honey Red Ale in the brewery’s Farm Stand Series, highlighting ingredients grown at its sister property, Public Coast Farm, located at the base of the Coastal Range in Banks, Ore. The Blueberry Hard Seltzer is for sale on-tap and in cans at Public Coast’s brewpub in Cannon Beach. For a full list of beers on tap or order online for curbside pickup, visit publiccoastbrewing.com/beer/. 

Public Coast hooked me up with a couple of Blueberry Hard Seltzers to try and share with my buddies. They were super yummy! Not too sweet. Not too tart. A great drink for a day on the water. The blue color was a great surprise too and speaks to the quality of the ingredients (real fruit juice!). Thanks!

About Public Coast Brewing

Located just 70 miles west of Portland in Cannon Beach, Ore., Public Coast Brewing, named after the only true public coastlines in America: the Oregon coast is a 10bbl Brewhouse with one 20-barrel fermenter and two 10-barrel fermenters. Public Coast Brewing also offers fresh and delicious food from local farms and ranches for adults and children alike. Boasting a large pet-friendly patio, wrap-around bar, shuffleboard, and tall windows for peering into the brewery, Public Coast Brewing offers a relaxed and welcoming spot for the whole family. For more information please visit, http://publiccoastbrewing.com/. 

About Public Coast Farm

Oregon’s historic Route 26, known to Portlanders as the Sunset Highway, has welcomed generations of families traveling to and from the coast on its forested byway. Now Public Coast Farm sits on that very route, straddling West Dairy Creek at the base of the Coastal Range, on a 40-acre site lush with blueberry bushes, beehives, fruit orchards, and soon-to-be-planted hops. The farm is fertile ground for the farm’s sister properties – the Stephanie Inn, Surfsand Resort, Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge, and Public Coast Brewing Co. – each of which incorporates Public Coast Farm’s fresh ingredients into delicious dishes and seasonal beers.

Bright Eye Beer Company – Long Beach, NY

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Recently, I had the opportunity to visit my old neighbors from Cambodia in their new home – Long Beach, New York. It was so great to see them in their new spot AND do something we used to do together – drink craft beer! We checked out Bright Eye Beer Company, a local brewery that opened up right before COVID hit the USA and has family ties to Cambodia. Can you believe it?

On my first night, we tried two crowlers from Bright Eye Beer Company. The first one was Sipulation, an American Pale Wheat Beer. The second beer, we tried was the Foam-O, (play of FOMO – fear of missing out) a hazy IPA. Of the two beers, I definitely liked Sipulation more, but that isn’t surprising since I’m not a huge fan on IPAs.

The next day, after enjoying a day of surfing, we went to the brewery to check it out. (We sat outside, socially distancing of course). I got the sampler and tried:

My beer sample and I.

Hazy Pants Creamsicle IPA – inspired by their original cream ale, the Crazy Pants, has a little twist, heavily dry-hopped this IPA is made with fresh orange zest, Madagascar vanilla beans, and a touch of milk sugar. This was hands down my favorite Bright Eye Beer Company’s beers. This is shocking because like I said before, I don’t typically enjoy IPAs, but I DO love fruit beers – and this beer definitely balanced out. I ended up ordering a second pint of this one!

Regular Slice Blonde Ale – a fresh batch of their blonde ale for all the regular beer drinkers out there. (Fun fact: beer used to be served with a slice a bread for farm workers in Egypt and Mesopetamia. They are also made out of almost the exact same ingredients).

Just a Splash – A grapefruit beer, that I thought I would like more than I ended up enjoying. Still good, just loved the Hazy Pants Creamsicle IPA so much more.

Babe’s Stout – This delicious stout is doused with some tender and sweet loving (coffee beans and cocoa nibs) from their friends over at Flux Coffee. I loved this beer and would definitely love it more on a dark and stormy day, rather than a hot and sunny one.

Sean and his beer (and my sampler).

I loved the brewery so much. Even their logo has a fish made out of a hop that I absolutely loved. I picked up a shirt so I can represent their brand all the way in Cambodia.

Next time you are in Long Beach, New York, stop by Bright Eye Beer Company, order a Hazy Pants Creamsicle IPA and pick up some cute Hop Fish looking swag. The owner has a passion for social justice work in Cambodia and is doing great things with the Long Beach community, even in the midst of a pandemic. Show up and show some support!

Have you ever been to Bright Eye Beer Company? What did you think of the beer? Been to Long Beach, New York? What was your favorite brewery there?

Ecliptic Brewing Joins Black is Beautiful Campaign

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Ecliptic Brewing is proud to stand with San Antonio’s Weathered Souls Brewing Company in supporting efforts to raise awareness for racial injustice through their Black is Beautiful initiative. These efforts include a special draft-only Black is Beautiful Stout beer release, with Ecliptic’s version coming July 31st.

Ecliptic will donate 100% of the beer’s proceeds to two local organizations: the Black Resilience Fund and Don’t Shoot PDX. Additionally, Ecliptic will donate 10% of their restaurant sales – split between both organizations- at the beer’s launch event on Friday, July 31st.

The base recipe for the campaign was created by Weathered Souls and allows each participating brewery to add their own twist to the beer. Ecliptic’s was brewed in the Export style and features full roast flavor, while still managing to hit the spot on a warm summer day with a 6% ABV.

“I am proud that we are joining breweries from all over the world to help raise funds for this great cause and the charities that support ending racial injustice”” says Ecliptic’s Owner and Brewmaster, John Harris.

Ecliptic Brewing’s Black is Beautiful Stout will be released on draft-only and in very limited distribution throughout Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA.

About Black is Beautiful Stout

Ecliptic Brewing’s Black is Beautiful Stout is brewed in the Export style with Dark Chocolate Malt and Roast Barley, boasting a full roast flavor, complimenting subtle notes of coffee and chocolate. Finishing clean and dry, this beer clocks in at 6%, making it an easy drinker, even in the heat of summer.                                                  

ABV: 6%

IBU: 25

About Don’t Shoot PDX

Don’t Shoot PDX’s organizational work and activism, including direct community education workshops, support the outreach of their continued advocacy as first respondents and have helped community members contribute through direct engagement and legislative value. For more info, and to sign up to volunteer, visit: www.dontshootpdx.org.  

About the Black Resilience Fund

The Black Resilience Fund is an emergency fund created to encourage healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders. It is an initiative of Brown Hope, a nonprofit and community solution for racial justice. For more info, visit: https://www.blackresiliencefund.com/

About Ecliptic Brewing

Ecliptic Brewing is a venture from John Harris, an Oregon beer icon whose background is steeped in the state’s rich craft brewing history. The name Ecliptic unites Harris’ two passions: brewing and astronomy. As such, the brewery celebrates the Earth’s yearly journey around the sun through both its beer and restaurant menus. Harris’ signature beers include Starburst IPA, Phaser Hazy IPA, Carina Peach Sour Ale and Capella Porter. For more information, visit: eclipticbrewing.com.

Black is Beautiful

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Craft Beer in the Revolution. Black is Beautiful.

Videos of George Floyd’s horrific murder at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked calls for police reform and support for black lives across the world.  Many businesses offered their support through large donations and statements of solidarity, including the craft beer industry.  Craft beer has created a community that has used its platform to support many movements in environmentalism and community activism.  At this moment where the nation is coming together to protect black lives, the movement in craft beer is being spearheaded by Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls Brewery, an independent brewery in San Antonio, TX and the Black is Beautiful Campaign.

Earlier in 2020, Craft Beer came together with the All Together Campaign, which offered support to folks in the hospitality industry during this time of COVID-19.  Likewise, Black is Beautiful is a collaborative effort that invites breweries to produce the recipe and donate all proceeds to local funds that are committed to criminal justice reform and the defense of black lives.  The recipe is published on the Black is Beautiful website, and logos and marketing materials are readily available as well.  

Black is Beautiful is a far-reaching collaboration.  As of July 1, 2020, breweries in all 50 states and 17 countries have committed to producing Black is Beautiful.  30 of those breweries are in my home state of Oregon.  Homebrewers can join in on the movement, as the recipe was also published for a 5-gallon system here and my take is here.  If you do opt to homebrew it, please also consider donating your time and money to appropriate causes and organizations.

Breweries coming together to support the Black is Beautiful cause is significant, since craft beer is a white-dominated industry. The lack of diversity in craft beer reflects economic barriers against BIPOC in our country, employment discrimination, disinterest in brewing craft beer for hotter climates and regions with higher black populations, hangovers from Prohibition, leading to a long and unfortunate history of racism in craft beer and brewing.

The widespread reception of Black is Beautiful may be a sign that craft beer, like the rest of white society, is slowly opening up to anti-racism, as long as we all remain committed to doing the work of anti-racism for many years to come.

The beer will be an imperial stout, clocking in at 10% ABV.  The recipe calls for flaked oats and all shades of dark malts.  The result should have a creamy mouthfeel, substantial roasted coffee and chocolate notes, and a nice boozy kick typical of a high alcohol beer.  I am looking forward to trying a few versions of the recipe, knowing that all proceeds will be supporting racial justice and continued work toward equality.

Jenna wants to call out that 32 breweries in Oregon are participating:

10 BARREL BREWING

Portland/Bend, OR, USA

2 TOWN’S CIDERHOUSE

Corvallis, OR, USA

BDSM BREWING COMPANY LLC

Hillsboro, OR, USA

BINARY BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

BLOCK 15 BREWING CO.

EUGENE, OR, USA

BONEYARD BEER

Bend, OR, USA

BREAKSIDE BREWERY

Portland, OR, USA

BUOY BEER COMPANY

Astoria, OR, USA

CASCADE BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

CLAIM 52 BREWING

Eugene, OR, USA

CRUX FERMENTATION PROJECT

Bend, OR, USA

ECLIPTIC BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

FERMENT BREWING COMPANY

Hood River, OR, USA

FORT GEORGE BREWERY

Astoria, OR, USA

GIGANTIC BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

GREAT NOTION BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

HOP VALLEY BREWING

Eugene, OR, USA

LEIKAM BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

LEVEL BEER

Portland, OR, USA

LITTLE BEAST BREWING

Clackamas, OR, USA

MIGRATION BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

MOONSHRIMP BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

PELICAN BREWING COMPANY

Pacific City, OR, USA

ROGUE ALES & SPIRITS

Newport, OR, USA

SASQUATCH BREWING CO.

Portland, OR, USA

SKY HIGH BREWING

Corvallis, OR, USA

STORMBREAKER BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

THE ALE APOTHECARY

Bend, OR, USA

THREE MUGS BREWING CO.

Hillsboro, OR, USA

UNICORN BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

VON EBERT BREWING

Portland, OR, USA

WORTHY BREWING

Bend, OR, USA

Zupan’s Markets Partners with Ex Novo Brewing Company to Continue Their Farm to Market Lineup

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Zupan’s Markets has partnered with Portland’s Ex Novo Brewing Company. to develop the eleventh beer in their Farm-to-Market lineup. A bold and crisp Imperial IPA, this beer features hand-selected Centennial hops from Yakima, WA, providing hop flavors of brilliant tangerine, lemon peel, and classic pine. With an 8% ABV, this beer is excellent paired with summer grilling fare like bratwurst, salmon, and all things barbecue.

“Zupan’s Markets is excited to partner with another one of Portland’s great craft breweries to continue our Farm-to-Market lineup,” said Zupan’s Markets President and CEO Mike Zupan. “Ex Novo is leading the way in consistently producing unique craft beers and together we have created a beverage that showcases the best of Portland’s brewing culture.”

This IPA is currently on shelves at all three Zupan’s Markets locations and available in 4-pack, 16oz cans for $14.99 or single can for $3.99. Available to order online at Zupans.com for in-store or curbside pickup. With only 150 cases produced, this beer will only be available for a limited time. 

In addition, customers can order online at Ex Novo Brewing Co. for pickup at one of their pubs or for next-day beer delivery.

“Ex Novo is passionate about creating unique collaboration beers,” said Ex Novo’s Founder and President Joel Gregory. “Zupan’s Markets has always been supportive of the Portland craft beer scene and we were excited to create this dangerously drinkable beer for our customers.”

Farm to Market Beer Profile: ABV 8%, IBU 77
Malts: Pilsner, 2-row barley, C-15
Hops: Centennial
Yeast: Scottish
Tasting Notes: Hand-selected Centennial hops from Yakima, WA, lend distinct aromas and flavors of brilliant tangerine, lemon peel, and classic pine. Blending Pilsner and 2-row barley as well as a pinch of light caramel malt, provide a deep and crisp maltiness, allowing the Centennial hops to shine. Fermented with an American ale yeast which finishes dry, yielding a pleasant and balanced bitterness.

I found the beer to have light hops, a smooth aftertaste, very aromatic, like cedar wood chips, mellow, with earthy floral notes, and gentle bitters.

About Ex Novo Brewing Company
Ex Novo Brewing Company opened in 2014 in Northeast Portland, though the idea of Ex Novo began in a garage full of homebrew in 2012.  This brewery wanted to respect the pedigree of brewing found in the NW while crafting consistently enjoyable and unique beers, and producing great and unexpected food in a warm, inviting atmosphere.  Believing they can help change the world through craft beer and conversation, their mission as a brewery is to donate 100% of their profits to those building a better world. Their missions include Friends of the Children, IJM, Impact NW, and Mercycorps. Joel Gregory, Founder and President manages the business. Ex Novo has locations in Portland, Beaverton, and Corrales, New Mexico. Learn more about Ex Novo Brewing Company http://www.exnovobrew.com/.

About Zupan’s Markets 

Founded by John Zupan in 1975, Zupan’s Markets is a local and family-owned gourmet market that has served Portland’s food-loving community for more than 40 years. Zupan’s Markets has three locations in Portland and Lake Oswego that focus on quality, selling everything from the best meats and wines to the freshest produce, baked goods, gourmet deli products, specialty foods, flowers and more, always emphasizing locally-sourced, artisan products when possible. For more information, visit www.zupans.com.

Thanks Ex Novo for providing the great beer! Interested in learning more about how to order amazing beer (or any other cookie type) during COVID? Check out Joy’s baking website: Sweet Joyness.

Public Coast Brewing Hits the Shelves of Green Zebra

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Due to popular demand, Cannon Beach’s favorite brewery expands Portland offerings to all four Green Zebra Grocery locations

Public Coast Brewing, named after Oregon’s 363 miles of free and open coastline, has expanded its beer offerings in Portland to include all four Green Zebra Grocery locations. Green Zebra will carry the largest selection of Public Coast beers available in the metro area, including the Coastal Haze Hazy IPA, Imperial IPA, Blackjack Bumbleberry Sour Stout, and the World Beer Cup Gold award-winning ’67 Blonde Ale, among others.

“Green Zebra is committed to serving our community and providing it with the best beer from the region,” said Steve Byers, beverage director at Green Zebra. “In a time where we can’t travel to the coast, we are excited to bring some beachy flavors to our customers, by way of a diverse selection of Public Coast’s beers.” 

Will Leroux, lead brewer for Public Coast, is known for creating world-class and award-winning brews. In addition to his ’67 Blonde Ale winning the highest honor at the 2018 World Beer Cup for “Best Golden or Blonde Ale,” the beer also took home gold at the 2018 Oregon Beer Awards for Golden, Blonde and Light Ales. The brew is described as a freewheeling, easy drinking ale that’s clean, crisp and enjoyed by all; essentially, Public Coast’s beach philosophy in a glass. 

“Public Coast honors the spirit of the Oregon Coast and, while travel to the coast is currently on hold, we are proud to expand our reach in the greater Portland area,” said Ryan Snyder, owner of Public Coast. “Our beer is for everyone, from the novice to the aficionado, and was brewed combining the natural and rich flavors of Oregon. We’re eager to hear what Green Zebra customers think!” 

Public Coast is available in cans at all four Green Zebra locations: Lloyd, PSU, Kenton and Division. Full list and pricing:

BeerPriceQuantity
‘67 Blonde Ale$11.496 pack of 12 oz. cans
Oswald IPA$12.996 pack of 12 oz. cans
Coconut Brown Ale$12.996 pack of 12 oz. cans
Coastal Haze Hazy IPA$12.994 pack of 16 oz. cans
StackStock Candy Cap Stout$3.9916 oz. cans
Imperial IPA$3.9916 oz. cans
Blackjack Bumbleberry Sour Stout$3.9916 oz. cans

We were lucky to get our hands on some of the great Public Coast beers. Overall, the whole line up was refreshing.

  • ’67 Blonde Ale – Has a smooth finish and light flavor. I know this is Jenna’s go-to beer whenever she goes to visit Public Coast at Cannon Beach.
  • Oswald IPA – Has the standard deliciousness that is an NW IPA. If you like IPAs, be sure to check this beer out.
  • Blackjack Brambleberry Sour Stout – Not too sour. Pairs well with a summer salad. Which is what we ended up eating while checking out this Public Coast Lineup.
  • Coastal Haze Hazy IPA – I thought this was the best of the bunch. With lovely grapefruit notes.

It has also been brought to our attention that Public Coast Brewing Co. recently launched ‘Crowlers For A Cause’ in support of local food banks.

The local Cannon Beach brewery, Public Coast, to donate $1 from every crowler sold to hunger-relief efforts at the Oregon Coast.

In support of local food banks, Public Coast Brewing Co. in Cannon Beach has launched “Crowlers for a Cause,” donating $1 of every crowler sold to hunger-relief efforts at the Oregon Coast. 

Available for both pickup and delivery, the crowlers (or giant 32 oz. beer cans) are offered in the brewery’s Coastal Haze Hazy IPA, Oswald IPA, Imperial IPA, NW Honey Red Ale, Coconut Brown Ale, La Noche De Cabra Dark Lager, Willy Vanilly, Old Bog Farm Cranberry Kettle Sour, Stackstock Candy Cab Stout and Blackjack Bumbleberry Stout, as well as the award-winning ‘67 Blonde Ale. 

Public Coast Brewing Co. is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m. The brewery is currently offering both food and beer for pickup and delivery. To order online, see https://gotab.io/loc/publiccoast.

So support a great cause, order some local crowlers, and feel great while drinking amazing beer. As always, Jenna recommends the ’67 Blonde Ale. You can’t go wrong with this summer classic. While I would definitely recommend you pick up the Coastal Haze Hazy IPA.

About Public Coast Brewing

Located just 70 miles west of Portland in Cannon Beach, Ore., Public Coast Brewing, named after the only true public coastlines in America: the Oregon coast, is a 10bbl Brewhouse with one 20-barrel fermenter and two 10-barrel fermenters. Public Coast also offers fresh and delicious food from local farms and ranches for adults and children, alike. Boasting a large pet-friendly patio, wrap-around bar, shuffleboard and tall windows for peering into the brewery, Public Coast is a relaxed and welcoming spot for the whole family. For more information please visit, http://publiccoastbrewing.com/. 

About Green Zebra Grocery

Green Zebra Grocery is Portland’s healthy convenience store with a mission to make healthy food more convenient and accessible for everyone. Within an easy-to-navigate store layout, customers can find made from scratch grab-and-go meals, a full service coffee bar, a curated beer and wine selection filled with Oregon selections, carefully sourced groceries and everyday staples. Green Zebra provides catering and delivery services, as well as, online ordering for pick up in-store or at-home delivery. The company was founded in 2013 and currently has four locations. For more information, visit www.greenzebragrocery.com and follow @GreenZebraGrocery on Instagram and GreenZebraGrocery on Facebook.

Thank you to Public Coast for providing great beer as always and to Danner for being a great doggy model. See you at the coast this summer! (Socially distanced of course!)

COVID Brewery Happy Hour: Von Ebert Brewing Company

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Quarantine has been wearing on for over a month now.  I haven’t been to a brewery since early March when I attended a Schitt’s Creek trivia at Von Ebert.  Despite being an introvert, enjoying a nice meal and beer out on the town is definitely something I am missing.  Fortunately for me, several breweries around Portland are offering next day delivery, and those that serve food will offer pick-up or delivery.  What a great way to support your local breweries while still sheltering in place!  So, it took a little bit of pre-planning and acceptance that any socializing would happen remotely, but I decided to put together a Von Ebert At Home Happy Hour.

I chose Von Ebert, because I am obsessed with their chicken wings, and their beer is also top-notch.  Von Ebert is an independent craft brewery with locations in the Pearl District and Northeast Portland.  They make award-winning IPAs, German styles, and farmhouse styles.  No matter what the palate, you’ll be able to find something enjoyable at Von Ebert.  Before my at-home happy hour, I knew that their Volatile Substance IPA was among my favorite beers in town.  Their food menu is also outstanding, hence my obsession with the chicken wings.

I ordered two four-packs of beers from Von Ebert on Tuesday afternoon, so I could have two of every style.  I ordered their New American Pils, a Black Pils, the Volatile Substance IPA, and the Sabrage dry IPA.  I was like a kid at Christmas waiting for my beer delivery.  I put off my morning workout and shower for fear that I’d miss my delivery because I was in the shower!  My delivery driver was masked, he checked my ID, thanked me for supporting them, and placed the beer on the ground for me to collect at a safe distance.  I appreciated the extra safety efforts.

Thank goodness that Von Ebert is selling those award-winning smoked wings to go!  Wednesday was two for one, even!  But there’s only one of me, so I just bought one for one and a side salad.

So I had my beer and I’d ordered my food to be delivered by Postmates.  The first pour was the New American Pils.  As I’ve come to expect from Von Ebert, this beer really embodied the European Pils style, but with a slightly hoppy American twist.  The flavor was bready and malt-forward and the hope profile was light, so it definitely was not an American Pale Ale masquerading as a Pils.  As I nursed that first pint, I caught up with my sister.  It was nice to have a beer and conversation, even though I was in my pajama pants and sitting on the floor of my living room.

My food arrived right before I finished the pint.  I said goodbye to my sister since I require two hands to eat Von Ebert’s wings.  I went for the Sabrage dry IPA.  I could not have asked for a better beer to drink with those smoky, spicy wings.  The beer was definitely dry with a plethora of hop flavors.  The chicken wings were served hot with spicy barbecue sauce.  They did require two hands to dig in.  I savored the meal while watching TV.

I will look forward to going out for a beer and a good meal in the future, but in the meantime, I am grateful for at-home delivery.  I am also happy to support some of my favorite local businesses, and I encourage you to do the same if you are able.

Until we meet again, cheers.

Meet Alyssa

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Hi! I’m Alyssa! I grew up in Montana, home of Big Sky Brewing, Bayern, and 60 other excellent breweries worth the road trip.  I came to Portland for college, studied (officially) fine art, and (unofficially) beer in Austria.


I am a music lover, a cat mom, and an obsessive homebrewer.  I was lucky enough to meet Jenna in 2017 and brew an explosive batch of raspberry wheat together.

My favorite beer bar at the moment is Roscoe’s in Montavilla. They have an awesome and varied tap list, and you can choose between Roscoe’s menu of soul food goodness or sushi from Miyamoto. Sushi and beer? Yes please!! There’s also pool and a few arcade games.

I’m on the constant lookout for delicious and well-balanced IPAs.  Some of my favorite breweries are Fort George, Breakside, Ex Novo, and my little home brewery–HouseCat HomeBrews.

Note from Jenna: I’ve been so blessed to call Alyssa my friend for the last three years. I’ve really enjoyed watching her grow from a home brewer to an AWARD winning home brewer! I can’t wait to see what she ends up writing about here on BiteSize Brews!

Zupan’s Markets Partners with Breakside Brewery and Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider to continue their Farm to Market Lineup

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Zupan’s Markets has partnered with Portland’s Breakside Brewery and Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider to develop the tenth beer and first cider in their Farm-to-Market lineup. The beer, a lightly hazy IPA features Chinook, Mosaic, Citra and Wakatu hops with notes of tropical fruit. The cider is dry-style, medium-bodied and crafted with a blend of Pacific Northwest apples. And both pair perfectly with all things Thanksgiving and holiday. 

“Zupan’s Markets is excited to continue to grow our Farm-to-Market lineup,” said Zupan’s Markets President and CEO Mike Zupan. “Both Breakside and Rev Nat’s are leading the way in innovation in their respective categories, and together we have created two beverages that showcase the best of Portland’s brewing culture.”


This IPA and hard apple cider are currently on shelves at all three Zupan’s Markets locations. The cider is sold in single 16 oz cans for $4.99 or a 4-pack for $16.25. The beer is sold in a 22 oz bottle for $6.99, and its label was designed by local artist Eric Abel. The beer and cider will only be available for a limited time. 


“Zupan’s Markets is one of our biggest champions, and we are really impressed by their excitement for craft cider,” said Nat West, Cider master and founder of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider. “Partnering with them on our first collaboration cider is a perfect fit.”

“Breakside is honored to be partnering with Zupan’s Markets on their Farm-to-Market series during this holiday season.” said Breakside’s VP of Sales and Marketing E.K. MacColl. “Zupan’s Markets is a perfect showcase for this collaboration beer.”

Farm to Market Beer Profile: ABV 6%, IBU 52
Malts: German Pilsner, Vienna, Munich, Acidulated malts
Hops: Chinook, Mosaic, Citra, and Wakatu.
Tasting Notes: A persistently citrusy IPA, complex with tangible tropical fruit and brimming with aromas of lime zest and pine.
Beckie’s Thoughts: Fresh hop flavor. Easy drinking. Hop-forward.

Farm to Market Beer Profile

Farm to Market Cider Profile: ABV 6.5%

Tasting Notes: Fermented to crisply dry perfection, with light cloudiness to impart a softness of texture and body. Versatile enough to use in the kitchen, in a cocktail or simply enjoyed.

Beckie’s Thoughts: The cider was great! Not too sweet, not too dry. Great apple flavor!

Farm to Market Cider Profile:

About Breakside Brewery
Breakside Brewery opened in 2010 in Northeast Portland as a restaurant and pub brewery. The brewery is known for its innovative, experimental and diverse beers. In 2013, Breakside expanded operations to Milwaukie, OR with a 30 bbl production brewery filled with 30, 60 and 120 barrel tanks, barrel rooms for wild and non-wild/sour fermentations, a high-speed bottling line and a 24-tap tasting room. The brewery expanded to Northern California in 2016 and in 2017 Breakside opened its third location in the Slabtown district of Northwest Portland. In addition to winning several national and regional awards for its beers, Breakside was named Brewery of the Year at the 2019 and 2017 Oregon Beer Awards and the 2018 Best of Craft Beer Awards. Breakside sells on draft and in 22oz bottles in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Northern California, British Columbia and Alberta. Learn more at https://breakside.com/

About Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider
Reverend Nat’s story begins in 2004 with Nat himself when he began experimenting with the abundance of apples from his friend’s apple tree. The first year he made 5 gallons of hard cider, then the next 15 gallons, then 40, then 6 years later he made 500 gallons of cider and was a better cidermaker and a popular neighbor and opened in an abandoned warehouse in Northeast Portland. While he loved the classic apple, he wanted to make ciders that no one else was making and began creating interesting flavorful profiles.  Learn more at http://reverendnatshardcider.com/

About Erik Abel Art
Erik Abel is an artist and designer currently living and working in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Inspired by his love of the ocean, surfing and travel, Abel’s work articulates the spirit of the water and awe of nature. His roots as a California surfer intermingle with his experiences living in the Pacific Northwest as well as traveling to the South Pacific and Central America, imparting an organic, tribal style to his subjects and compositions. His original pieces have been featured in galleries across the country and abroad while his commercial work has attracted clients including Patagonia, Reef, REI and Billabong. Learn more at abelarts.com.   

About Zupan’s Markets 

Founded by John Zupan in 1975, Zupan’s Markets is a local and family-owned gourmet market that has served Portland’s food-loving community for more than 40 years. Zupan’s Markets has three locations that focus on quality, selling everything from the best meats and wines to the freshest produce, baked goods, gourmet deli products, specialty foods, flowers and more, always emphasizing locally-sourced, artisan products when possible. For more information, visit www.zupans.com.

Sustainable Web Hosting by Canvas Host

Sustainable Web Hosting by Canvas Host