Holiday Cheers and Winter Beers!

HOLIDAY CHEERS AND WINTER BEERS!

Tis the season for the Holiday Ale Festival, a joyous winter tradition at which to celebrate the most wonderful time — and beer — of the year. The 11th annual event will take place Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

The roots of brewing special winter and holiday beers trace back to the mythologies of Greece and Rome. The pagan celebrations of the winter solstice marked the return of light to the world, and triumphant ale was brewed to mark the occasion. In the Middle Ages, monasteries encouraged the brewing of special beers for special occasions, particularly Christmas.

Today, these “winter warmers” ward off the chill of winter and warm both the palate and soul. Complex in aroma and flavor, these heavier beers are big in body and high in alcohol.

Thanks to an extra dose of malt, most of these beers are rich and bold, with chocolate, caramel or coffee flavors; others benefit from the addition of herbs, spices, and fruit.
There are literally hundreds of holiday beers available on the market. The Holiday Ale Festival has gathered together three-dozen winter craft brews on draft, making this the most prestigious winter beer sampling opportunity on the West Coast.

Many breweries have brewed a beer especially for this year's festival: Widmer's Regifted Red is based on its Northwest Red, but with more malt and a bit more hops. Pelican's Full House Ale, an Imperial American Brown, is named in honor of the three Gold medals, two Silver medals and “Large Brewpub of the Year” won at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival. And Walking Man's Ho Ho Homo Erectus is a holiday version of the brewery's award-winning Imperial IPA, aged in Jamaican rum barrels.

One of the most exciting beers is the debut of Jim, a collaboration between Hair of the Dog Brewing and Oregon Brew Crew member Preston Weesner. Jim honors the late Jim Kennedy, founder of Admiralty Beverage and a tireless promoter of craft beer. This Belgian Dubbel Maredsous 8 is blended with Hair of the Dog beers and aged on oak; it's a beer not to be missed, and the Holiday Ale Festival is the only place to get it.

Other highlights include Anchor's Old Foghorn Barleywine, on draft in Portland for the first time in many years; the debut of Ninkasi's first winter seasonal, Believer; Belgian imports Scaldis Noël and St. Feuillien Cuvée de Noël; and Samichlaus, the strongest lager in the world at 14 percent abv. All beers will cost patrons the same: $1 for a taste, or $4 for a mug, so anticipate the imports and specialty beers to run out early.

With gas heaters, evergreen boughs, cheery decorations and seasonal music, the festival creates a warm and cozy ambience underneath Portland's Christmas tree. In addition to beer, there's warm mead, a limited selection of wine by the glass, and a root beer garden. Craft vendors offer distinct handmade gifts, and a wide selection of beer apparel and souvenirs are available for the beer lover on your list.

On Sunday at 10 a.m., the third annual Brewers Brunch will take place on the upper level of the Square. The ticket price of $30 includes brunch and four exclusive beers not featured at the festival. View the menu or purchase tickets online at holidayale.com.
The holidays can be a stressful time; the Holiday Ale Festival offers the perfect venue to relax, unwind, and get in touch with your Christmas Spirit. And with Max Light Rail located outside the doors of the event, you can toast to your heart's content. Cheers!

For hours or more information visit www.holidayale.com or call 503-252-9899.

Side Bar Story

The Holiday Ale Festival’s Third Annual Brewers Brunch
The Third Annual Brewers Brunch will take place Sunday, December 3rd beginning at 10 a.m. thru noon. The auxiliary event will be held on the upper level of Pioneer Courthouse Square, adjacent to the umbrella man, at the corner of Broadway and Yamhill Streets. This is a great opportunity to mingle with brewers of the area and contribute some money to a good charity. The Oregon Brewers Guild will benefit by the purchase of these tickets.
The ticket price of $30 includes brunch and exclusive beers not featured at the festival.

~ The Beers ~

Full Sail Vesuvius
Hair Of The Dog Fred
Chimay Grand Reserve
St. Feuillien Triple

~ The Menu ~
~ Fresh croissants lightly toasted and served with your choice of either warmed Black Forest ham with Havarti or slow roasted turkey breast with Smoked Fontina. ~
~ A variety of local award winning cheeses from Willamette Valley Cheese Co
Brindisi Fontina, Eola Jack, Gouda.
~ Blue Cheese, Brie Cheese
~A selection of cured artisan salamis.
~ Mini Pain Au Chocolate, a heavenly puff pastry with a small ribbon of chocolate baked inside.
~ Chouquettes, a puff pastry ball sprinkled with rock sugar.
~ Mini Chausson aux Pommes, A French applesauce turnover.
~ Mini raspberry croissants.
~ A hand-carved fresh fruit platter
~ Fresh orange juice and strong black coffee will also be served.
To order tickets or get more information about the Brewers Brunch, visit www.holidayale.com or call 503-252-9899.

Beer News:

Just in time for your Hanukkah Celebration! Portland has the release of a beer for Hanukkah! HE'BREW gourmet Kosher beers from Schmaltz Brewing Company are having a release party at The Horse Brass (4534 SE Belmont Pdx , www.horsebrass.com (503) 232-2202) on Wednesday November 29th starting at 6:00 PM