Microcosmos
Silver Moon Shakes it up
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 09:36 Source Staff
It’s been a few months since Tyler West left Silver Moon Brewing for Oakshire Brewing in the valley. So, microcosmos stopped over there week to see how life was shaking out for one of Bend’s first and most well-loved breweries under the leadership of new head brewer Brett Thomas.
And holy crap is that guy cranking out the beers.
For starters, Thomas and his new assistant brewer Stuart Long out of Lost Abbey in San Diego are rolling out four new seasonals in the next two weeks, including Epic Trail 2012—an American wheat, the Imperial Red Bonecrusher, the GetSum Summer Ale—a hoppy wheat beer made with Amarillo and Simcoe hops, and a special summer pilsner.Can-Do: Hop Valley Brewing’s Alphadelic IPA
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 09:44 James Williams
Man, we just love this canned beer revolution. You can take ‘em anywhere and they often taste better than their bottle brethren. The 90 IBU, 6.5 percent can of Alphadelic IPA that waltzed into our offices on a recent winter afternoon proved to be another Northwest winner. A delightfully bitter IPA, it did lack a certain citrus punch, but we were fine with that—fine enough with it that we cracked another after shipping out the week’s paper. Never heard of Springfield’s Hop Valley Brewing Co.? That’s okay; they just celebrated their three-year anniversary party in mid-February. If you’re in the valley, check them out. And to find their beers locally, go by Broken Top Bottle Shop & Ale Café where a sixer of cans is selling for $12 or you can grab a single can for $3.
Dogfish Head: World Wide Stout
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 10:23 The Source Staff
When this beer burst on the microbrewing scene in 1999, it was the strongest beer around. Though other beers have since topped World Wide Stout’s current 18 percent alcohol marker—including Dogfish Head’s 120 minute IPA, which clocked in at 21 percent several years ago—this 70 IBU stout is still one of the most cellar-worthy beers available in Bend these days.
Cascade Lakes Project X
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 10:34 The Source Staff
The latest seasonal release from Cascade Lakes is a smooth-drinking pale ale that will temporarily replace the Pine Marten Pale Ale. Soon available in six packs, Project X is a classic Northwest pale, that uses a blend of two-row, crisp, Munich and cara grains to create a well-rounded beer that puts as much emphasis on its malt profile as it does on hops. Weighing in at just 41 IBU’s, this beer won’t be confused with a Northwest IPA. But that’s the point. The result is a mellow spring ale that won’t sabotage your palate, or your afternoon at the mountain, in the same way that some of the high-gravity beers have a tendency to do.
