Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Ninkasi Brewing Company Announces The Release of Lux

NINKASI BREWING COMPANY ILLUMINATES ITS PRISMATIC LAGER SERIES WITH THE RELEASE OF LUX

Lux German-Style Helles Lager is Available May Through August On-Draft and In Bottle


EUGENE, Ore.—April 23, 2014 Following the release of its gold medal-winning Pravda Bohemian-Style Pilsner, Ninkasi Brewing Company announces the release of Lux, a German-Style Helles Lager available throughout all of its distribution areas, May through August.

Commonly known for its big, hoppy Northwest beers, Ninkasi embarked on creating craft lagers in 2011. Since then, the series has highlighted Ninkasi offerings that are Northwest embellishments of traditional lager styles. Brewed with some of the purest water in the Continental United States from Oregon’s own McKenzie River, regionally-sourced hops and traditionally-grown German hops, each beer released under the Prismatic Lager Series remains true to traditional styles and achieves a brilliant balance only accessible by using the highest quality ingredients. In 2014, Ninkasi announced year-round releases to the series, making it a mainstay in its style offerings.

“I have always been a huge fan of European-style lagers,” says Jamie Floyd, founding brewing and co-founder of Ninkasi. “They epitomize balance and nuance as their delicate flavors leave nothing for a brewer to hide behind. We love the challenge these beers present but most of all we love the wonderful beers that follow.”

Known as Bavaria’s national beer, Helles Lagers define drinkability to the people of Munich. Brewed in the traditional German-style, this lager has a lightly-toasted, clean malt profile balanced by the addition of Noble German hops. After brewing, the beer is allowed to lager for eight weeks in Ninkasi’s cellar until it has reached optimal drinkability. The result is a crisp and defined lager that pairs easily with German favorites like brats, pork chops, sauerkraut, potato salad, and spaetzle and is a great companion to summertime activities.

Available for the first time, Lux can be found in 12-ounce bottles and on-draft May through August.


Lux Stats
Style: German-Style Helles Lager
Series: Prismatic Lager Series
Available: May – August 2014
ABV: 5.0%
IBU: 20
Starting Gravity: 1050
Malt: Bohemian Pilsner, Pilsen, Cara-pils, Acidulated
Hops: GR Hallertau Herkules, GR Hallertauer Mittelfrueh, US Hallertau
Packaging: 12-ounce bottles and draft
Distribution: Oregon; Washington; Idaho; Montana; California; Alaska; and Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Illuminate your palate with this traditional German-style lager. Brewed with premium pilsner malt and bittered with German Hallertau hops, this Helles lager pours champagne in color. Bright, crisp and satisfying, enliven any occasion with Lux.

Tasting Notes: The lightest of the European lagers, this Munich-style beer was made to counter the bitter pilsners coming from Northern Germany and the Czech Republic. Lux has a clean aroma with just a touch of grassy hops leading to a sweet, toasty malt flavor. This sustains to a crisp finish with just a hint of noble hop aroma. This beer defines refreshing!

Food Pairings: Brats, Pork Chops with Brown Sauce, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad, Spaetzle

Learn more about Ninkasi’s line-up of craft beers at www.NinkasiBrewing.com/beers.


About Ninkasi Brewing Company
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to two brewhouses, a  55-barrel and a 90-barrel brewhouse, located in Eugene, Ore.  Ninkasi’s Flagship beers—Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout—are sold throughout Oregon; Alaska; California; Idaho; Montana; Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The brewery remains privately-owned and is committed to community support and giving. Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint.

For more information, call 541.344.2739 or visit www.NinkasiBrewing.com.  
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

9th Annual FredFest

9th annual FredFest celebrates Fred Eckhard’s 88th birthday with rare beers,
infamous food pairings and a singalong for the craft brewing icon
Festival organizers announce second session due to overwhelming popularity
Press Release:
PORTLAND, Ore.  — What Would Fred Drink? That question can be answered at the 9th annual FredFest, which celebrates the 88th birthday of Fred Eckhardt, the Dean of American Beer Writers. This year’s FredFest will take place May 4th at Hair of the Dog Brewery and Tasting Room, ‎61 SE Yamhill St. Attendees will enjoy rare and unique beers, raise money for local charities, and sample, sip and sing with a true icon of the craft brewing world.

Due to the event’s popularity, this year will feature two sessions. The first session will run from 1 to 4:30pm and the second from 5:30 to 9pm. The beers available will be the same at both sessions. Only 300 tickets are available per session; tickets cost $60 in advance and are available at www.hairofthedog.com/goodboy/. Tickets include a tasting glass, access to a rare collection of hand-curated beers, light fare and birthday cake. Cheeses, chocolate, candy and even cereal will be offered in abundance so attendees can experience some of Eckhardt’s more infamous beer-and-food pairings. The event is for ages 21 and over.

This year's event will feature creative brews from approximately 20 breweries, all vying to best answer the perennial question, What Would Fred Drink? (WWFD?). The evolving beer list is available at http://www.fredfestpdx.com/the-beers.
Dubbed "the littlest big-beer festival in the world – or at least in Portland," FredFest has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Eckhardt's selected non-profits in its past eight years. To learn more, visit www.fredfestpdx.com.

About FredFest
What started as a surprise 80th birthday party for the world-renowned Portland beer writer Fred Eckhardt has become a significant fundraiser for a variety of non-profit organizations. This year's FredFest fundraising recipients include Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Hair of the Dog "house" charity; International Medical Corps, in memory of Mark Wilson, husband of Hair of the Dog's Wendy Sprints; and the Oregon Brew Crew's OSU Bob McCracken Scholarship for Fermentation Sciences students. FredFest is all volunteer-driven, which means 100 percent of the net proceeds will be donated to these charitable organizations.

Monday, April 21, 2014

10th Annual Oregon Garden Brewfest This Friday Through Sunday




10th annual Oregon Garden Brewfest presented by Growl Movement, this Friday - Sunday.

The festival will feature:
  • 65 breweries, pouring 130 beers, ciders and meads from throughout Oregon and across the country
  • Great regional bands on two stages
  • Amazing food from local vendors

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (#ogbf) for the latest updates. And make plans to attend the Seven Brides Brewfest Brunch at Seven Brides Brewing on April 25th.

Hours
Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26: noon to 11pm
Sunday, April 27: noon to 5pm (minors welcome Sunday only)

Admission

Purchase your 2014 Brewfest admission online now

Advance Admission:

  • Single-day pass: $15 (includes: admission for any single day of Brewfest, a tasting glass & 5 tasting tickets.)
  • Three-day pass: $35 (includes: admission for all 3 days of Brewfest, a tasting glass & 10 tasting tickets.)
  • VIP: $50 (includes: admission for all 3 days of Brewfest, a tasting glass, 35 tasting tickets, a Brewfest t-shirt & a voucher for one item at the Oregon Garden Resort food booth.)

At-the-door Admission:

  • Friday: $15, $20 after 5pm (includes: admission, a tasting glass & 5 tasting tickets.)
  • Saturday: $15, $20 after 5pm  (includes: admission, a tasting glass & 5 tasting tickets.)
  • Sunday: $15 (includes: admission, a tasting glass & 5 tasting tickets.)
  • Three-day pass: $35 (includes: admission for all 3 days of Brewfest, a tasting glass & 10 tasting tickets.)
  • Silverton resident three-day pass: $25 (available Friday only, includes admission for all 3 days of Brewfest, a tasting glass & 10 tasting tickets.)
  • Designated Drivers: $5 (includes a bottle of water)
  • Minors: $5 on Sunday only (children 4 and under are free)
  • Oregon Garden Members always receive a $3 discount on Brewfest admission.

Volunteer

Volunteer at the event and receive free admission, tasting tickets and a t-shirt. Visit our Brewfest Volunteer page for details and to sign up today.

Tasting Tickets

Each taste is one ticket, and a full glass is four tickets. Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase for $1 each. Please bring cash, as ticket sales are cash-only. There will be an ATM on-site.

Featured Breweries

We will feature 65 breweries from throughout Oregon and across the country, during our 2014 event.
If you are a brewery interested in participating, please contact Mary to be added to our waiting list: maryr@oregongarden.org.

Entertainment

We will showcase music from local bands on two stages, beginning at 5pm on Friday and Saturday. The music lineup will be available soon.

Overnight Package

Stay overnight at the Oregon Garden Resort, just steps away from Brewfest. The Brewfest package starts at just $209 and includes:
  • Accommodation
  • Two 3-day admission passes to Brewfest (each pass includes a tasting glass and five tasting tickets)
  • A voucher for a food item from the Oregon Garden Resort’s food booth at Brewfest
  • Continental buffet breakfast
  • Admission to The Oregon Garden
Book your 2014 Brewfest room now online or call 800-966-6490.

A Brewfest package is also available at The Grand Hotel in Salem. The package starts at $159 and includes early check-in, accommodations, transportation to/from Brewfest, breakfast and a late check-out. Book online or call 877-540-7800.

Sponsers: Growl Movement, Venti's Cafe, The Gallon House,  Bierhaus, Pepsi, Wave Broadband,Oregonian/Oregon Live

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2014 event and reaching 8,500 people, contact Brittney at bhatteberg@oregongarden.org.