Oregon Beer Growler, September 2015
Beers Made By Walking (BMBW) invites brewers to create place-based beers inspired by plants found on nature walks. The first-ever Eugene-focused BMBW beer tapping event features 8 beers/ciders that were inspired by natural areas in the Eugene/Springfield area. The event takes place on November 5, beginning at 6pm, at the Bier Stein in Eugene.
The hike-inspired beers and cider come directly from a collaboration with the McKenzie River Trust, which sent experts to lead public, summer hikes with brewers on three conservation areas in the southern Willamette Valley. Brewers learned about private land conservation and water resources in the area, in addition to native and invasive plants. The brewers have been challenged to create a beer or cider that represents the trails they walked.
Agrarian Ales – Close to Home
Yarrow centric with several other herbs that call the Willamette River floodplain home. Yarrow in the kettle, in the fermenter to inoculate culture, and in the keg. 8 IBU, 5% ABV
Claim 52 Brewing – Conservation Sour
Inspired by a walk through the Berggren Watershed Conservation Area. While enamored with all the property had to give we drew particular interest in the fresh scent of lemon balm, the taste and flavor of mustard seed to the natural habits plethora of pollinating plants. Which in the end drew us to concoct Conservation Sour incorporating lemon balm, mustard seed, honey, and hops. 5 IBU, 5.3% ABV
Elk Horn Brewery – Twisted Wood Belgian Saison
Orange colored Belgian Saison brewed with invasive fennel. 35 IBU, 7% ABV
Falling Sky Brewing
Official Melissa Lemon Balm Pale Ale. 40 IBU, 6.1% ABV
Oakshire Brewing – Down by The River
Brett fermented farmhouse ale with Chamomile and Lemon Balm. 29 IBU, 5% ABV
Plank Town Brewing – Foggy Scotsman Porter with Chocolate & Rosemary
Scottish-style porter with complex malty aromas of dark chocolate, honey, ripe figs, coffee and a hint of smokiness, with an extra chocolate backbone that dances lovely with rosemary. 25 IBU, 5.2%
Viking Braggot Co. – Panacea
Belgian Dubbel style braggot made with additions of elderberry, elder flower, blackberry honey and bee pollen. 25 IBU, 7.5% ABV
Wildcraft Cider Works – Confluence Stingo
A collaborative project with the Hagen family of Confluence Farms. Every ingredient used in its making was harvested from the property, by the family. Whole fermented Blueberries pressed and blended with a knapp weed and pennyroyal wine added to a neutral oak barrel for a secondary fermentation with a juice pressed of Gravenstein and Macintosh apples. 6.7% ABV
Each brewery is donating their unique beer and cider for this event. The proceeds will support the McKenzie River Trust’s work to help people protect and care for the lands and rivers they cherish in western Oregon.
The Bier Stein is located at 1591 Willamette St, Eugene, OR 97401.
New article in Lane Monthly Magazine’s November 2015 edition:
On Nov. 13–14, over 5,000 people will enjoy 190 beers and ciders at the McKenzie Cider & Craft Beer Festival (MCCBF). Presented by the McKenzie After 5 and Springfield Rotary Clubs and held at Springfield’s Willamalane Center, MCCBF showcases regional beers and ciders to the benefit of local community organizations and Rotary Club projects…
Photo by AJ McGarry for Oregon Beer Growler
Thirsty for craft beer news, especially the scene around western Oregon? Here are some of my articles for November 2015:
Filling the Festival Void – Lane Monthly
McKenzie Cider & Craft Beer celebrates its fourth festival! On Nov. 13–14, over 5,000 people will enjoy 190 beers and ciders at the McKenzie Cider & Craft Beer Festival (MCCBF). Presented by the McKenzie After 5 and Springfield Rotary Clubs and held at Springfield’s Willamalane Center, MCCBF showcases regional beers and ciders to the benefit of local community organizations and Rotary Club projects. More…
McMenamins still has fresh legs after a million kegs of craft beer – Tastings – The Register-Guard
The influential chain of brewpubs, now 30 years old, serves up distinctively different bestselling beers that endure in an ever-more competitive market. More…
Matt Van Wyk, Coombs Brothers Launch AleSong – Oregon Beer Growler (print edition, p. 14)
After six years as brewmaster for Eugene-based Oakshire Brewing, Matt Van Wyk (left) has resigned and joined forces with two brothers, Brian and Doug Coombs, to begin a new venture. AleSong Brewing and Blending will focus on barrel-aged and farmhouse beers, with plans to begin selling product in 2016. More…
OSU Prepares Students for Life “Beyond Football” – Oregon Beer Growler (print edition, p. 12 & 23)
Oregon State University’s Beyond Football program was created in 2013 to help student-athletes identify their interests and skills by connecting them with professionals in a range of industries, including craft beer. More…
In the print edition of the November 2015 Oregon Beer Growler, you’ll find the stories above as well as these:
Image: Oregon Business
I’ve lived in Eugene since 2000 and have seen how much this small city is changing—and how it also resists changing. It was really cool to get to write about this balance and conflict for the February 2016 edition of Oregon Business:
Full article: Oregon Business – Can Eugene Sell Itself — Without Selling Out?
Image: AJ McGarry
New in the February 2016 edition of the Oregon Beer Growler:
“Sometimes newlyweds return from their honeymoon and immediately prepare a room for a baby. But for Kiley and Michael Gwynn of Eugene, they returned from their 2008 honeymoon/first anniversary trip to Hawaii with a passion for a new hobby: homebrewing.”
Image: Kelly Lyon/The Register-Guard
Wild beers are such a, well, wild ride. Here’s a new piece about wild beers in Oregon, in The Register-Guard.
“Think of everything you know about beer: the bitter punch of a Northwest IPA, the light flavor of an American lager, the richness of a dry Irish-style stout.
Now pour it down the drain.”
Full story: Brewing on the wild side – Tastings – The Register-Guard
Recently released cover of my fourth book, out June 16
I live in Eugene, Oregon, and have been a self-employed professional writer since 2011—nearly 5 years. I’m the author of 3 (going on 4) travel fantasy books in my Rucksack Universe series. I write about craft beer. I help other people with their online content and marketing. Outside of my home office, I spend lots of time with my wife, son, and daughter. And I love to cook.
Getting ready for the June 16 launch of my fourth Rucksack Universe travel fantasy book, The Lotus and the Barley. (You can pre-order the e-book now at Amazon, iBooks, and Kobo).
A lot of work goes in to launching a book. In addition to setting up the e-book file, I’ve been setting up the paperback files (and paperback layout always means tweaks to the wording so text flows better, which then has to be matched in the main file for the e-books). I’m setting up ads and giveaways, getting in feedback from advance readers, and planning various readings and events. At least, that’s just a few of the things underway from my 27-page launch kit 🙂
Knuckling down for lots of May article deadlines. In addition to the book launch, I have lots of article assignments due throughout the month, about everything from wedding registries to craft beer to construction. Have I mentioned that it’s very, very hard for me to ever feel bored?
Planning summer trips. My wife and I are both self-employed (she teaches Suzuki violin lessons and music classes for infants and toddlers at our Eugene Suzuki Music Academy). We have friends in Portland and Seattle we are long overdue to see, so we are planning a summer road trip. In the works for summer are also some camping trips, and various book signings, readings, and other author events. If you’d like me to come to your town, let me know.
Yoga once a week and walking over 10,000 steps (about 5 miles) each day, aiming for 13,000-15,000 steps (up to about 7 miles) at least a couple of days each week.
Pondering something big, but I’m still working on the decision and am not ready to say anything else yet.
Reading 2 books:
Here are a couple of recent articles I’ve published:
Always intrigued by other people’s stories, so feel free to email me: writer@anthonystclair.com
Thirsty for news about Oregon’s craft beer industry? Check out these 2 new articles by me in the October 2016 issue of the Oregon Beer Growler (more in the print and digital edition too):
Brewing Review and Outlook With Rob Widmer –
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Heya fans and readers, I’ve got 2 new events on the calendar. Please check them out, spread the word, and I hope to see you there!
You know how sometimes things come together in the most unexpected ways?
Earlier this year I made arrangements to attend a writer business workshop in late October in Lincoln City, Oregon. A few weeks ago, Lincoln City’s Driftwood Public Library emailed me. They saw my interview in Library Journal and invited me to give a talk as part of their Dark & Stormy Nights Author Program. And the date? Right when I’m already in town. Funny ole world.
On the stormy Oregon coast, join author and freelance writer Anthony St. Clair for insights on how travel, beer, and an outlook for the world have come together in his ongoing Rucksack Universe series. Anthony discusses his craft, how he writes while raising 2 children, and his ongoing journey as an author-publisher. Sponsored by the Driftwood Library Foundation, this is the 14th year Lincoln City’s Driftwood Public Library has presented their Dark and Stormy Night author program.
Dark & Stormy Nights – Facebook Event
Driftwood Public Library, Lincoln City, OR
6:30-7:00 p.m. Social Time and Refreshments
7:00-7:15 p.m. News, Upcoming Events, and Member Announcements
7:15-8:30 p.m. Author Talk by Anthony St. Clair
8:30 p.m. Drawing for Free Gift
8:30-9:00 p.m. Questions and Book Signing
Free to Willamette Writers members or $10 general public. You can also join Willamette Writers at the door.
Image: The Register-Guard
A hopefully-changing rarity in the guy-dominated craft beer industry, two women are at the helm of this 6-year-old Eugene brewery. Claim 52 has been ahead of the curve on trends such as kölsch and hazy IPA, and now they’re about to open a downtown taproom/restaurant. I was so happy to get to talk beer and business with the owners and their head brewer, especially about the big change they have coming to downtown Eugene this year.
Eugene Magazine is a lifestyle quarterly that I have written for regularly for a few years now. The Spring 2018 issue just came out, and I have an articles in there on traveling to Florence,
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The May issue of the Oregon Beer Growler is out! The full issue is available in print and digital, and you can also find many articles online.
For my story in this issue, a Eugene brewery has had lots of twists and turns, but now seems to have found a good location for their excellent beer: Third Time’s the Charm for Manifest Beer.
This story is really fascinating: North of Eugene, Oregon’s capitol of Salem has a new brewery that’s inspired by Central America. I’m looking forward to learning more about Xicha Brewing (that’s “chee-chah”): Easy-to-Like Latin Flavors, Hard to Pronounce.
One thing I love about living in Eugene is that you are about an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east, and an hour from the Pacific Ocean to the west. Florence, OR, is a nice spot for a weekend getaway to the coast, and I had a lot of fun breaking down some things to do and see while there for the Spring 2018 issue of Eugene Magazine.
I’ve been following Manifest through all its ups and downs over the years, from its original incarnation, to two tumultuous moves to, finally, landing in a sweet space in downtown Eugene.
The beers are excellent, and the location is awesome. I’m hoping it’s a sign of good things ahead not just for Manifest, but downtown Eugene overall. This was such a fun article to work on, and I hope you like it too.
Over 50 events from over a dozen Eugene/Springfield breweries. Along with the local craft beer scene, Eugene Beer Week has grown so much over the past few years. If you are in the area, or just want an example of what an awesome local, small business-minded, life-loving culture looks like, Eugene Beer Week is a great snapshot.
Brewing a business is a combo of checking your plan—but adapting as you go. Loved this chat with one of my fave local Eugene craft breweries, Falling Sky Brewing.
How Data Can Drive Your Business Growth –
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Had such a good time meeting the folks at Eugene’s The Wheel Apizza Pub. Great pizza & refreshingly tasty, approachable, yet different craft beer.
➼ ➼ ➼ Check out their profile in the August 2018 Oregon Beer Growler
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