Portland Release Event:

We will be releasing Gentlemen’s Club in Portland on Thursday, June 13 at 5pm at the Widmer Brothers Brewery and Pub. Join Rob Widmer and Ben Dobler of Widmer Brothers Brewing and Wayne Wambles, brewmaster at Cigar City Brewery for the release.

Three versions of this limited release beer, each aged on different wood (bourbon barrels, rye whiskey barrels, and new oak), will be released for the first time at this event during this Portland Beer Week Event. A handful of special releases from both breweries will also be available on draught, including several favorites and special releases from Cigar City (while supplies last). Bottles of Gentlemen’s Club will be available in the Widmer Brothers retail store beginning at 5pm.

The Widmer Brothers Pub will be closed at 2:30pm after lunch on Thursday (6/13) to prepare for the event. We will reopen at 5pm for the evening with a limited, gentlemanly menu. The event is 21+.

Gentlemen’s Club Collaboration Beers

- Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Gentlemen’s Club
- Bourbon Barrel Aged Gentlemen’s Club
- Gentlemen’s Club Aged on New Oak Spirals

Beers from Widmer Brothers

- Sasquatch Wheat IPA
- X-114 IPA
- Sorachi Ace dry-hopped Alchemy Ale
- Brotha from Anotha Motha Bavarian Hefeweizen
- Green & Gold Kolsch

We’ll also be pulling out some rare, special beers from the cellar for the event.

Beers from Cigar City

(six Cigar City Beers will be poured at a time)

- Jai Alai IPA
- Hotter Than Helles Lager
- Maduro Brown Ale
- Tocobaga Red Ale
- Cucumber Lager
- Italian Plum Single
- Tangerine Orange White Ale
- Stiftung Berlierweiss
- Invasion Pale Ale
- Geiger’s Hoppy Amber Ale
- Maibock
- Florida Cracker White Ale
- Matt Tucker’s Vienna Lager
- Patio Tools Dry Irish Stout

We’ll also plan to pour some barrel/wood aged Cigar City beers, if we have any left after Wednesday’s Barrel Aging Seminar:

- Kalevipoeg at the Gates of Hell
- Bourbon Barrel Aged Jose Marti
- White Oak Jai Alai IPA

The Test Batches:

A few months ago, the Cigar City team visited Portland to brew the test batches for Gentlemen’s Club at our pilot brewery at the Rose Garden. The test batches were aged in three different kinds of barrels we received from our friends at House Spirits Distillery: brandy, whiskey and new oak. We’ll be pouring these three versions at Wednesday night’s Portland Beer Week Barrel Aging Seminar.

Gentlemen’s Club Outside of Portland:

If you can’t make it to Portland to try Gentlemen’s Club, the beer will be available later this month in New York City (stay tuned for release event details). In mid-July, Gentlemen’s Club will be released in Cigar City’s home state of Florida. Throughout the summer, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego can expect to see Gentlemen’s Club at select beer bars, restaurants and bottle shops as well.

About Cigar City Brewing:
Cigar City Brewing opened its 15 barrel brewery in Tampa, FL in 2009 as the city’s only small-scale production brewery. From the beginning, the brewery’s marketing focus was a celebration of Tampa history and culture as reflected by brand names that reflect local cultural touchstones such as Jai Alai IPA, Maduro Brown Ale and Tony Jannus Pale Ale. From the days of the Tocobaga, the pre-Columbia native inhabitants of Tampa Bay, through its years as the world’s largest producer of hand-rolled cigars, Tampa has witnessed many monumental changes and Cigar City Brewing’s mission is to brew beers that reflect the complex and diverse elements that make Tampa the dynamic city it is today.

Gentlemen’s Club Old Fashioned Style Ale:

• Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Gentlemen’s Club, 10.5% ABV
• Bourbon Barrel Aged Gentlemen’s Club, 10.5% ABV
• New Oak Aged Gentlemen’s Club, 9.5% ABV

Portland Beer Week starts this week and we’re looking forward to sharing beers at several events in Portland over the course of the next 10 days. Here’s our schedule for the week. Hope to see you at these great events. Prost!

Portland Beer Week: Widmer Brothers Brewing

3^rd Annual Portland Beer Week Kickoff Party

What: Come to the event that kicks it all off. Widmer Brothers Brewing will be pouring a limited release batch of X-114 IPA, the popular first release in the Rotator IPA Series.

When: Thursday, June 6, 2013; 5:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Where: Lucky Lab: 1945 NW Quimby

Rye Beer Fest

What: Come check out some amazing rye beer offerings, where Widmer Brothers will be pouring its small batch Imperial O’Ryely Dark IPA.

When: Friday, June 7, 2013; 4pm – 10pm

Where: EastBurn: 1800 E Burnside

Brewery Owners Summit

What: Meet the owners and legends behind some of the west coasts greatest breweries, and sample special beers chosen by each of them: Steve Wagner, president of Stone Brewing; Rob Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers; John Harris of Ecliptic Brewing; Dave Buhler of Elysian Brewing; and Charlie Devereux of Double Mountain Brewery. Widmer Brothers will be pouring a special beer (TBD) selected by Rob Widmer.

When: Friday, June 7, 2013; 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Where: Roscoe’s: 8105 SE Stark

Fruit Beer Festival

What: The 3rd annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival will welcome over 30 participating breweries, and Widmer Brothers Brewing will be pouring two extraordinary beers: our 2009 Bourbon Cherry Dopplebock in the rare beer tent (tapping TBD), and The Champagne of Grenada, a pomegranate Berliner Weiss.

When: Saturday, June 8, 2013; 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Burnside Brewing: 701 E. Burnside

Widmer Brothers Small Batch Tap Takeover

What: Widmer Brothers tap takeover at Hop & Vine featuring several limited small batch beers, including: Bitter Abbot IPA, X-114 IPA, Sasquatch Wheat IPA, Entendre Saison, Black Forest Hefe, and Brotha From Anotha Motha. We will also be pouring Green & Gold Kolsch, a collaboration with the Timbers Army.

When: Sunday, June 9, 2013; 12:00pm – 10:00pm

Where: Hop & Vine: 1914 North Killingsworth

Barrel-Aged Beer Seminar

What: This seminar focuses on beers aged in bourbon/whiskey, scotch, and rum barrels. An expert, all-star group of brewers will speak in a panel moderated by Breakside Brewery’s Ben Edmunds about the art of barrel-aging beer. Attendees will sample some of each brewer’s barrel-aged rare and vintage beers, including special test batches of the Gentlemen’s Club collaboration beer from Widmer Brothers and Cigar City aged in whiskey, brandy and new oak barrels from local distiller, House Spirits. Don’t miss this one of a kind tasting and educational experience.

Brewers: Doug Rehberg (Widmer Brothers)

Ben Edmunds (Breakside Brewery)

Wayne Wambles (Cigar City Brewing)

and more to be announced soon

Tickets available at: http://www.strangertickets.com/events/7866877/barrel-aged-beer-seminar-with-widmer-brothers-cigar-city

Cost: $42 per person

When: Wednesday, June 12, 2013; 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Widmer Brothers Brewing: 925 NE Russell

Gentlemen’s Club Release Party

What: Join Rob Widmer and Ben Dobler of Widmer Brothers Brewing and Wayne Wambles, brewmaster at Cigar City Brewery, for the release of a special collaboration beer, Gentlemen’s Club. Three versions of this limited release beer, each aged on different wood (bourbon barrels, rye whiskey barrels, and new oak), will be released for the first time. A handful of special releases from both breweries will also be available on draught, including several favorites and special releases from Cigar City (while supplies last). Bottles of Gentlemen’s Club will be available in the Widmer Brothers retail store beginning at 5pm.

About Gentlemen’s Club: Drawing inspiration from an Old Fashioned cocktail recipe and the Gentlemen’s Clubs where the cocktail was first served over 100 years ago, this collaboration beer brings together two breweries from opposite ends of the country and ingredients from the home states of both breweries. Using an Old Ale recipe as the base beer, Gentlemen’s Club was brewed with cherries and oranges, Alchemy, Sorachi Ace and Pacifica hops, and hand-selected specialty malts to mirror the qualities typically found in an Old Fashioned cocktail. The beer was aged on three different woods: bourbon barrels, rye whiskey barrels and new oak spirals, resulting in three unique versions of the beer, each offering a slightly different take on the same age-old recipe.

When: Thursday, June 13, 2013; 5:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Where: Widmer Brothers Brewing: 925 NE Russell

Gentlemen’s Club Flight Night

What: Here’s another opportunity to try the Widmer Brothers and Cigar City collaboration brew, Gentlemen’s Club. Flights of Gentlemen’s Club will be poured alongside an Old Fashioned cocktail, the inspiration behind the Gentlemen’s Club beer.

When: Friday, June 14, 2013; 7:00 – close

Where: Rookery Bar (upstairs at Raven & Rose): 1331 SW Broadway

Beer & Sandwich Festival

What: Who doesn’t love beer and sandwiches? Portland’s best sandwich makers and brewers will present specialty offerings at this casual low key festival outside of Breakside Brewery’s new Milwaukie location.

When: Saturday, June 15, 2013; noon – 7:00 p.m.

Where: Breakside Brewery and Tasting Room: 5821 SE International Way, Milwaukie, OR

Widmer Brothers Brewer’s Dinner at Oba

What: Come join Widmer Brothers’ brewers at Oba for a special dinner for dads (although, all are invited to attend) prepared by Chef Scott Neuman, perfectly paired with a full line-up of Widmer Brothers’ beers. The cost for dinner is $55, and you can make reservations by contacting Oba at (503) 228-6161.

When: Saturday, June 15, 2013; 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Where: Oba: 555 NW 12^th

Portland Beer and Cheese Festival

What: Returning for the 2nd year the Portland Beer and Cheese Festival pairs 10 beers from 10 local breweries each with an artisan cheese selected by World Champion Cheesemonger – Steve Jones of Cheese Bar. Widmer Brothers Brewing will be pouring Steve’s favorite: Widmer Brothers’ famous Alt. A ticket includes a collectible glass and a slice of each cheese and taste of each beer plus one extra. Also on hand, CHOP butchery will provide free charcuterie with the price of your ticket. Don’t miss this ultimate beer and cheese experience. More info can be found at http://portlandbeerandcheese.com/.

When: Sunday, June 16, 2013; 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Where: The Commons Brewery: 1810 SE 10^th

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at the brewery. We recently entered a handful of our beers in two major beer competitions, the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) and the North American Beer Awards (NABA), and were awarded with eight medals!

Two of our longtime favorites received critical accolades. Hefeweizen continues to please judging panels, and was recognized with a medal in each competition (Silver in the AIBA, Bronze in the NABA), and Drop Top Amber took home a Gold medal in the “Ordinary Bitter” category at NABA.

Both of this year’s offerings from our Rotator IPA series medaled: O’Ryely IPA won Bronze in the “Other IPA” category at AIBA, and Hopside Down IPL won Silver in the “Hybrid” category at NABA.

Portland Timbers fans will also be proud to hear that Green & Gold Kölsch, our collaboration beer with the Timber’s Army and the 107ist, took home Silver in the Kölsch category at NABA. RCTID!

Here’s the recap from both competitions:

2013 Australian International Beer Awards

Hefeweizen – Silver – Other Wheat Beer
Nelson Imperial IPA – Bronze – American-Style Imperial IPA
O’Ryely IPA – Bronze – Other IPA
Columbia Common – Bronze – Labels and Surface Graphics on Package

2013 North American Beer Awards

Drop Top Amber – Gold – Ordinary Bitter
Green and Gold Kölsch – Silver – Kölsch
Hopside Down IPL – Silver – Hybrid (two or more styles combined)
Hefeweizen – Bronze – American Hefeweizen

Congratulations to all the brewers and breweries who were also recognized for the great beers! Be sure to check out the full lists of awards for the NABA and AIBA. Prost!

When we arrived I was greeted by Bill.  He is one of 3 brothers who run BC Hop Farms.  I later met up with Charlie and Bruce.  Bill toured me through operation with great enthusiasm.  I’m assuming this was in part due to the fact that hop harvest is almost done for the season.  However I quickly learned that these 3 brothers have a great passion for hop farming.  Farming is such a thankless job.  Next time you see any farmer out there; give them a big hug!  It might a little awkward, but do it anyways!  After touring the harvesting facility we headed over to the hop kilns and met up with Charlie and Bruce.  Man, I wish I had “Smell-o-vision” for you all, because it smelled so awesome!  They had 6 bins of kilning at various stages of dryness.  Hops will kiln dry till they have about 8-10% moisture.  After the kilns we headed in to check out the bailing facility.  Wow, we walked into a room with mountains of hops that were roughly 20-30 feet high.  I resisted the urge to dive in even though I was encouraged to do so by Bill and Charlie.  After this we headed out to the field where they were just finishing up this year’s Liberty harvest.  It’s quite the operation in the field.  There are 2 guys with hedge trimmers that cruise down the rows and slice the lower part of the trellis.  They are followed by a truck and a “Mad Max” looking machine that chops the vines at the top of the trellis.  All in all BC Hop Farms have 350 acres of hops.  They grow Centennials, Cascades, Nuggets, Willamette’s and Liberty. 

We got back to harvesting facility bagged up 30lbs of Liberty hops as they were just coming off the conveyor to the kiln.  The highlight for me of this whole adventure was all they wanted for the hops were a couple cases of beer!  Frankly this is how I like to do business!  The look on Bill face when I opened the back of truck was great.  You see, a “couple” of cases to me means at least 8 or 9.  I know that I can sleep better at night knowing that when this harvest season is done they’ll be sitting on the porch of their farm house sipping down a cold Widmer Brothers Beer! 

Cheers

Ben

We also put an alert on Facebook to give out some van decorating kits, and we blew through the 200 we had in the first 2 hours! Can’t wait to see everyone’s vans plastered with Widmer Brothers logos.

See you out there. Hood to Prost!

 - There is BenFest on Monday 7/25, held at Grain & Gristle, where myself and a bunch of other brewers named Ben in the Portland area will have some special brews on tap. I’m bringing Friends with BENefits, an aged Russian Imperial Stout with black Benberries. Tasty…

 - Then there is the Timbers game on Tuesday vs. Independiente. Ok, so that isn’t a OCBM event, but I’m RCTID and wouldn’t miss it.

 - Then of course, the granddaddy of all beer festivals, the Oregon Brewers Festival starts on Thursday the 28^th. Can’t wait! This event is killer, year after year. The beer is fantastic, the atmosphere is alive, and looking at the 10 day forecast, the weather looks perfect. We are pouring Foggy Bog Cranberry Ale, a tart cranberry wheat beer. Should be perfect for the warm summer day.

 - After party on Thursday at Fest on the Edge.

 - We wrap it all up with the Plate & Pitchfork dinner at Smith Berry Barn on Sunday the 31^st.

Get out and enjoy Oregon craft beer!

Ben Dobler

Brewer