Ninkasi (Eugene, Oregon)- Believer Double Red Ale
Coming into this beer I was not sure if I would dig it because I thought the Tricerahops Double IPA was a bit over the top and not well balanced. This one was a better beer in my opinion but still seemed to be lacking something. What I enjoy about it is it’s dark flavor, mild sweetness and that it seems down to earth with a great crisp finish.

Roots (Portland, Oregon)- Woody Organic IPA
You will see a lot of people who aren’t sure about organic beers, but I think after trying Roots, Hopworks, and Laurelwood brews you can begin to have more confidence in them. This is a very tasty IPA that is easy to drink. The bitter taste sticks around a while afterward without any over the top citrus tastes. While it didn’t blow me away, I enjoyed it and would probably buy it again.

Siletz Brewery (Siletz, Oregon)- Spruce Ale
I bought this because I just had to try a spruce beer, plus I had never had anything from Siletz Brewery. Now I have had three beers from there and each of them have a similar weird sour-bitter taste that some say is a some bad vinegar. I don’t know, but it’s not good. It’s not sour in a good way, that’s for sure. I thought it was just the spruce, but it shows up in all three beers I’ve had, including the IPA. The spruce is the best one I’ve had of the three though. If you get it, drink it’s while it’s cold and it will be drinkable; while it’s cold it has a somewhat piney and fresh feel. Although, really, I would not recommend it.

Popularity: 12% [?]

The $52 billion buyout of of Anheuser-Busch by InBev has grabbed a lot of headlines lately and highlights just how big the business of beer is. But, 97% of beer in this country is made by 3% of the breweries. This creates a marketplace in which the little guys have a hard time competing, even though they are generally the ones making the best beer.

SupportYourLocalBrewery.org is trying to even the playing field.

The goal of Support Your Local Brewery is to support small, independent and traditional brewers’ efforts to secure fair legislative and regulatory treatment…

Just as the American colonists rallied to defend a fledgling nation, creating the “Minuteman Militia”, we believe by mobilizing consumers who are passionate about beer and enjoy the diverse and unique beers offered by small breweries into a unified and energized movement we can effectively send a message to state and federal lawmakers: Small brewers deserve fair and equitable treatment under the law!

If ever there was a cause worth fighting for, this is it! So head over to SupportYourLocalBrewery.org and become a Beer Activist by signing up for their E-Action Alert, see what beer-related legislation is being discussed in your state, contact your legislators, and tell your friends. It doesn’t cost you anything but not doing anything can potentially cost a lot.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I have written before about the world-wide shortage of hops (and malts) that is causing the price of beer to go up. Now it seems the next logical step is already taking place: breweries are having to change their beer recipes to use less hops.

Here’s the root of the problem:

The bulk of U.S.-grown hops are produced in the Yakima, Washington, area. Farmers weren’t getting a profitable return and got out of the market, switched crops or went bankrupt. The same was happening in Germany, the world’s No. 1 hop-growing country.

In the United States alone, there were an estimated 515 hop growers in 1950; 75 in 2000 and just 45 today, Ward says. In 2006, about 2 million pounds of hops were destroyed in an S.S. Steiner warehouse in Yakima, equaling about 4 percent of the U.S. hop crop.

All the while, beer sales are increasing worldwide by about 1 to 2 percent annually. The craft brewing industry is growing yearly by 12 percent. That economic reality is pushing hop growers back into the fields.

The larger breweries are not being hit as hard because they have long-term contracts with hops farmers. it’s the little guys that are suddenly having to figure out how to make their brews with much less of a key ingredient. There really is not substitute for hops to the taste of the altered recipe is inevitably different. This is bad news for “hop heads” but personally I like my beer to be less hoppy than most. Still, it’s got to suck for these small breweries who have carved out a little local niche with their one-of-a-kind recipes and now have to change it.

Popularity: 4% [?]

This week, May 12-18, is American Craft Beer Week. This week-long celebration of the “industry and culture of craft beer is an annual event.

Changed to a weeklong event in 2006, the inaugural American Craft Beer Week was recognized by the U.S. Congress with House Resolution 753 (PDF file). The week has continued to grow with interest and support from beer enthusiasts and the media. In 2007, more than 150 brewers registered their community celebrations at www.AmericanCraftBeerWeek.org.

Also new, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience (May 16-17), will be held to commemorate American Craft Beer Week in Washington DC. The event will showcase craft beer and food pairings with participation from 48 independent craft brewers. SAVOR signifies food and beverage lovers’ increasing interest and knowledge of beer and food pairings.

Read the full Press Release (PDF file).

You can find local brewery events related to the the national celebration on this page. Just pick your state and head down to the brew pub to celebrate with American Craft Beer Week with an American Craft Beer.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

The Brewers Association holds the World Beer Cup every 2 years and took place this year in San Diego on April 15 & 16. Winners, which for the first time ever included a woman, get the right to say they brew the best beer in the world.

This year, 644 breweries from 58 countries and 45 U.S. states vied for awards with 2,864 beers entered in 91 beer style categories. The top three entries in each category won gold, silver and bronze medals. Brewers from the United States won 185 of the 268 style category awards and four of the five Champion Brewery/Brewer awards.

91 beer styles!? That’s a lot of variety!

I noticed some familiar beers and breweries on the winner’s list but there where many small (US) breweries that I had never heard of. That means that there are some small local or regional breweries making some really great beer. The craft beer movement alive and well!

My only question is where do I sign up be a judge for the 2010 Cup?

Popularity: 6% [?]