Green Dragon Update

Excited to proclaim not much has changed at the Dragon. I dropped in for meet the brewer night and it was pleasantly familiar. After a nice glass of Fort George North II (which the mug club was still in effect), the happy hour hasn't changed yet. Next up was a glass of Baron Rauchbier which was excellent. There is something about a easy to drink smoked beer that is just perfect. You get the heavier smoked/scotch flavors, without to much kick.

After that I talked with the brewer for a bit and sampled a few of the offerings. Strange to say, I really enjoy Pelicans standard beers, but their special releases are... well.. not my thing. I thought the Wee Heavy was rather bland, not enough earthiness and character, more like a typical American strong ale. The Bridal ale didn't have the malt depth of a good Bier de Garde. The Pelican Brune didn't have hardly any carbonation, leaving it flat and lifeless. I think Pelican makes an awesome IPA, stout, dark, and Stormwatchers is delicious, but all of these seasonals just seem to be mediocre. Even their Saison and Gran Cru which I had last year had a vegi flavor like they were rushed.

Anyway, enough ranting, needless to say the Green Dragon still felt like home, although reading over the Rogue FAQ on each table showed you that things will be changing.

So if you have writen this place off, know that it still holds the old charm at least for now.

Bottles Available

Just a heads up. I dropped into the Market of Choice on Terwilliger blvd yesterday and they had a few bottles of Abyss left and some bottles of Cherry Adam. So if you missed the dock sale you might luck out if you head down there quick.

1 good 1 bad 1 in progress

So my blogging has been few and far between, still waiting to get my camera back and a busy schedule has left holes in my blog. So at least this is something.

I've been working on a new platform for my blog, no real reason, just thought it would be fun to have my own real domain for the site and get to know wordpress better. I should have the new site up in a few weeks, I still need to do some artwork and organization, but it will give me more options.

So tonight I got home and popped the top on Heater Allens new winter seasonal Weizenbock. The pour was murky dark amber, very small beige head. The nose smelt off, sort of yeast and cleaner like. The beer tasted the same way, really funky and awful. I wasn't sure if I was drinking part soap and part yeast slurry. This was the first beer in a while I poured down the drain. Anyone else try this beer yet? thoughts? did I just get a bad bottle?

Since that was a total let down I decided to open a bottle of Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam from the Wood that I scored at last weekends Anniversary dock sale. I think this beer isn't quite ready yet, very flat on the carbonation giving a thinner oily palate, very faint ring of a tan head over the dark ebony body with red hues at the edges. The smokiness from the original Adam from the Wood is there and the cherries are sweet but meld well with flavors of sherry and soft burnt chocolate, finishing slightly tart. Good now, but like most Hair of the Dog beers will continue to improve with age.

Lack of posts and bad news

First, I apologize for the lack of posts this week. I've been displaced from my home all week while house-sitting, so my blogging and drinking haven't been connected lately. Also, my parents borrowed my camera for their work overseas, so my blog has been naked without that. With no pictures my horrible writing has to stand for itself, and it is trying to bide its time till the photos return.

2nd, some sad news to report. Angelo just posted on the brewpublic.com blog that the Green Dragon is being taken over by Rogue. As a mug club member and big fan of the Green Dragon, this is quite depressing. I'm still hoping this doesn't come to fruition, but if this holds up the East side just had a major setback.

I'll be honest, I don't like Rogue very much. Their beer is decent, a few are really good, but overall overpriced. They don't treat their employees very well, and the ones they do have often couldn't care less about knowing their product. Everything is overpriced in their pubs, so I'll stick to the bottles and maybe forking over the big chips to try something special if it is only on tap.

I've enjoyed my time at the Dragon. Casual and laid back, good selection of rotating taps, a staff that does well at knowing their products. The weekly meet the brewer has been a great success, bringing some of the smaller breweries from the NW to the spotlight. What I don't understand is the Rogue takeover. Integrity Spirits is in the same building, is Rogue buying that also? Would Rogue house a direct competitor in the same building?

Someone say this whole story isn't true.

Widmer Taps 11.8.08

Just a quick post for Widmer beer selection as of last night. On their specials list was a solid schwarzbier called Black Beer, balanced with a fairly bitter hopped finish for a schwarz, and a excellent doppelweizen called Double River Doppelweizen. I think the doppel will be available around town soon, it might be part of the Collaborator project, but i'm not 100% on that, either way, make sure to give this a try.

Beers on tap:
Brrrr
Alt
Fest Wit
X114 IPA
TeaserX Fresh Hop
Dormunder
Black Beer
Double River Doppelweizen

Election Night 2008

As the states begin to report I sit back, battling the excitement, beer in hand, looking forward waking up tomorrow with a renewed enthusiasm for our country. For this evening I pulled a bottle of Unibroue 15 from my cellar. No significance to it, not the best beer I have on reserve, just a overall delicious beer. Soft dry fruitiness up front, subtle hints of wild honey, dried pineapple, and sweet pear. Highly carbonated like most Unibroue beers, lively and fizzy on the palate helping to emphasize the spiciness. Between the beer and the results coming in things are looking good.

7:10pm - As of right now Obama 207 / McCain 135 / Beer 75% remaining. They just called Ohio for Obama, big gain. Hope my uncle in Hamilton, OH helped out on that one.

8:00pm - Obama 207 / McCain 141 / Beer 50% remaining. A few states have gone McCains way, no worries though as they were favored towards red from the start. Getting close to calling the west coast states.

8:01pm - ABC just called the election for Obama, congrats America!


Now to celebrate with the remainder of my beer. Here's to tomorrow's America.

Cheers!