Archeologists have discovered a large brewery complex in the mountain city ruins of Cerro Baúl. The brewery, setting 8,000 feet above sea level required that water was carried up steep mountain trails to produce the fruit & grain beverage chicha, a traditional part of Peruvian rituals.
You can also watch a video of the process as explained by some of the archeologists. After having Muscat Love, this stuff sounds good!
Time and monetary considerations prevented me from spending as much time or trying as many beers as I would have liked to this year, but I still had a great time and was able to enjoy the festival with friends.
The Good: Muscat Love from Widmer, Boundary Bay’s Dry Hopped Simcoe Pale Ale, Laurelwood’s Organic Monkey Malt Liquor, Tuck’s Red Rye Lager, the hippie New Orleans jazz band, the surprising coolness despite 100ºF weather, and the elation that several beers, good weather, and good company brings.
The Bad: Couldn’t reuse/recycle mugs from previous events, sample size increased, as well as price for samples, drinking water was scarce and warm, Mango Tango, and the blinking Ropewalk necklaces that transmitted the following message in Morse Code: “Bridgeport sells out!”
Sadly, there were a few brewers I missed this year, so I’ll have to try again next year.
In another massive beer manufacturing copulation, Molson and Coors have announced a merger.
“The new Molson Coors Brewing Company, created from Canada’s largest brewer and the third biggest in the United States, would be the fifth biggest brewer in the world by volume of beer sold.” – from CBC
Damn you Molson! The people at Coors have spent decades and millions trying to make the world less like Canada. And they’ve spent nearly a century selling crappy beer with women. And polluting Colorado.
Because I’m a big nerd who likes to keep notes on the beer that I consume, I’ve put together a small cheat sheet with all the beers being served at OBF this year. There are two formats available. A plain sheet, and my own sheet on which I’ve marked which beers I want to try. Its not that I expect the other beers to suck or anything, but I’ve identified those I want to try the most.
The Oregon Brewers Festival approaches quickly, and it will most likely be an amazing event. But just in case you don’t want to deal with the crowds, local beer patron saint Don Younger is having his own miniature Brewers Festival at his three pubs – Horse Brass, New Old Lompoc, and the Hedgehouse.
This morning I found 2 recipes from Ian McGregor in my mailbox. It the first submission from someone besides Scott or myself, and its greatly welcomed. His Grand Cru and Hoppy Amber recipes are now available in the recipe section in QBrew format. Thanks Ian.