A Night in Beervana
February 26th, 2010
Here's the birthday boy, shown during an earlier visit to Hopworks, the eastside eco-brewpub that celebrates Portland's love of beer and bikes. Note the bike frames suspended in the background. (Not pictured: the banana seat "head rests" strategically placed above the urinals in the men's room.)
My buddy Googs, so named for his for his uncanny passing resemblance to hooper Tom Gugliotta, recently celebrated his 40th birthday. Among his presents: tickets for friends and family to join him at a private “Beer 101″ event at Widmer Brothers Brewing, hosted by beer goddess Lisa Morrison.
Lisa was accompanied by brewers from three popular visitor venues – Chad Kennedy of the family-friendly Laurelwood Public House & Brewery; Ben Love of the eco- and bike-minded Hopworks Urban Brewery; and Doug Rehberg of the venerable Widmer — who shared their insight, good humor and a seemingly endless parade of samples.
My favorite moment: the side-by-side-by-side comparisons of the three brewers’ IPAs (I’m a big fan of the hoppy stuff) and “Cascadian Dark” varieties.
To plan your own beer adventure, visit the Oregon Brewers Guild’s website for a full list of brewery locations and public events.
