Two Drink Minimum; The After 5 Cocktail Blog

So Ill be short and sweet today…no matter where you live in the US right now, its probably cold outside…so here are some Brandy cocktail recipes, cuz you know, where else do you drink Brandy but by the fire…here you go…enjoy

Cocktail
American Beauty

Ingredients:
- 1 oz Brandy
- 1 oz Orange Juice
- 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
- 1/4 tsp Creme de Menthe (white)
- 1 tsp Grenadine
- 1/2 oz Tawny Port
- Glassware: Cocktail Glass

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Cocktail
Tulip
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Apricot Brandy
- 1/2 oz Apple Brandy
- 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth
- Glassware : Cocktail Glass

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Pomegranate Toddy

Ingredients:
- 3 oz brandy
- 1 1/2 oz Pama pomegranate liqueur
(or substitute with 2 oz pomegranate juice and 1/4 oz simple syrup)
- 3 oz Darjeeling tea with cloven
Garnish: cinnamon stick and orange peel

Brew tea first. In an Irish coffee mug, pour brandy and pomegranate liqueur. Pour hot tea and stir. Garnish with cinnamon stick and orange peel.

Cocktail
Harvard Cocktail

Ingredients:
- 2 oz Brandy
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Grenadine
- 1 dash Bitters
- Glassware : Cocktail Glass

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

As the sun goes down and local shops and groceries stores begin to close there doors and the flicker of lights from houses begin to diminish as all the children are tucked into bed…this is when the night life begins. Stale yellow lights from lamp post soon begin to be replaced by an array of bright buzzing neon rainbows flashing signs for cocktails and beer, live nudes and the ‘party scene’.

Men and women alike get donned up in their best (or not so best) attire and hit the streets all across this beautiful brazen county of ours, all in search of the same thing…that spot with the best Night Life.
As Americans we love the night time party scene…Dim dance clubs blasting the latest and greatest chart toppers while all sorts of multi colored lights flash and spin as smoke begins to bellow from beneath the DJ booth…
Ahh yes, we have all been there…shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers trying against all odds not to spill your drink down the bare back of the nice lady dancing in front of you as you simultaneously attempt to scan the crowd in hopes of locating your friend who you last saw scampering off with a random stranger of the opposite sex. As we all know, most of these nights are hit or miss…either they are great…or you end up wishing you would have stayed home doing something more fun and constructive…such as lying on the couch and catching up on your favorite TV shows…A prospect which keeps some people from ever stepping foot outside their house in attempts to go to the club…
But wait…all you people out there who are disgusted by the idea of paying for over priced drinks in an over crowded bar to get your taste of the night life…I have a solution for you…bring the party to the place you know best…your home…now I know the initial idea of taking a club and plopping it down smack dab in the middle of your living room my not conjure the best of mental images…but give me a chance to explain…
Imagine this…you have your house set up with dim lights…neon signs posted on the walls…stylish light up glasses and straws line your make shift bar…all to accommodate only those people who YOU decide are fit to party in your humble abode.
If the picture just painted brings a smile to your face…you have come to the right place…
Lets start from the top…

You are going to want to make the general ambiance of your home as bar like as you can…and what better way to do it then with neon lights??Here at After5Catalog we have got you covered on just about ANY type of crazy neons you can think of…Everyone loves Beerpong…but can you find a bar anywhere with a beer pong table?? Well you can now…right at YOUR bar!! Martinis and cocktails…like I said, if you want a neon sign…we got it!

So now that we have the neons taken care of…what kinda classy bar would you have without some really kick ass cocktail glasses?? Dim the lights down low and let theses sets of light up “drinking untensils” make the mood nice and mellow…

Last but not least…if want to go full bore and really deck your place out…try one of our personalized signs…we have a PLETHORA of customizable signs to fit just about anyones needs….

So the next time you are out with the guys or gals and someone spills a drink down your back…just remember…we here at after5…”have got your back”

There comes a time in one’s life when it’s no longer cool to mindlessly shout, “a shot of whiskey” when bellying up to the bar. You do know there are distinctly different types of whiskey don’t you? Well in case you missed it in Mixology 101 either in the School of Hard Knocks or sometime in college, you’re in luck. I’m going to distill whiskey down to its core elements. Listen up because there will be a test at the end.

Whisky loosely defines a panalopy of alcoholic beverages distilled from any combination of fermented or malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, or corn that is aged in oak casks. The word “Whisky” originates from the Gaelic word “water” and the first written record of its creation dates back to 1405 in Ireland. Scotch and Bourbon are the two biggies dwarfing (Please click this link..) all other whiskey varieties.

Scotch

The two basic types of Scotch are Malt and Grain. Malt is whisky made entirely from malted barley. Grain is whiskey made from malted and unmalted barley along with other grains. 3 different varieties of Scotch result:

• Single malt whisky is produced by a single distillery. Unless the whisky is described as “single-cask”, it will contain the same type of malt yet from many casks. This allows it to achieve a taste representing a particular distillery’s brand such as Glenfiddich, Bowmore, or Glenlivet.

• Vatted malt is created by combining malt whiskies produced by different distilleries. It is usually labelled as “pure malt” or “malt”. A top brand in this category is Johnnie Walker Green

• Blended whiskies, usually cheaper and made from a mixture of Malt and Grain from many distilleries, are blended to produce a flavor consistent with a brand that’s independent of a particular distillery such as Ballantine’s or Chivas.
Usually Scotch is distilled twice, though sometimes a third time. International laws require anything bearing the label “Scotch” to either be distilled in Scotland and matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks or distilled elsewhere meeting the same standards. Whiskies mature only in the cask and not the bottle, so a Scotch’s age is measured between the time it is distilled and bottled. This indicates how much the cask has interacted with the whisky, altering its body and taste. Whiskies that have been in the bottle for many years may be considered rare but are not older and will not necessarily be better than a more recently made whisky matured in wood for a similar time. If Scotch whisky is from more than one cask, and if it includes an age statement on the bottle, it must reflect the age of the youngest whisky in the blend. As a result, many single malts omit the age because they use younger elements in small amounts for flavoring and mellowing.

Bourbon
By international agreement, a whiskey qualifies as Bourbon if it is made in the United States, contains at least 51% and no more than 79% Indian corn, distilled at no more than 160 proof, and aged in an oak cask charred on the inside. Distillers typically use American White Oak casks because they are porous enough to enhance aging yet not too much allowing leakage. Most bourbon is aged four years or more with higher-end brands topping six years or longer. Nothing can be added during bottling to enhance flavor, sweetness, or alter color so this rules out Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort. Other grains included with the Bourbon making process are malted barley, rye, or wheat.
Bourbon whiskey was first made in the central bluegrass region of Bourbon County, Kentucky. The county received its namesake in honor the French royal family. In 1774 at Fort Harrod (now Harrodsburg) Kentucky, residents had an abundance of corn exceeding what they and their livestock could eat. They began converting the excess into whiskey because it didn’t spoil and could be transported more easily than the grain itself. As the distilled spirits were shipped in barrels down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, they were stamped with the county’s name, eventually becoming synonymous with this kind of whiskey. Later on, an important refinement known as the sour mash process was pioneered by Dr. James C. Crow at the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery (now the Woodford Reserve Distillery) in Woodford County, Kentucky. Each new fermentation is conditioned with some amount of spent mash (previously fermented mash that has been separated from its alcohol). The acid introduced by using the sour mash controls the growth of bacteria that taints whiskey and creates a proper pH balance for the yeast to work. Popular brands include Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, and Jim Beam.

So now for the test. Try some different shots of Scotch described above and some of the recipes below. Savor the distinctions you have just learned between Bourbon and Scotch. Then next time you’re out painting the town red, ask specifically for the type of whiskey and/or cocktail you prefer.

Check out these awesome products from After5 along with some cocktail ideas to go along with all your newfound knowledge.

whiskey-decanter

These are our new Crystal Decanters, GREAT for Whiskey, Bourbon or Scotch…or hell all three!

Rusty Nail

Fill a rocks glass with ice

1 1/2 oz. Scotch
1/2 oz. Drambuie
Always pour the Drambuie last to allow it to mix with the lighter Scotch
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and strain into glass

Black Dragon

1 part mint schnapps
1 part Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 part Glenfiddich Scotch whisky

In shot glass, first add the mint schnapps, then add Kahlua and finally add the scotch. If done correctly you should have three different layers

shotglass-checkers

Shot Glass Checkers…a good way to get REALLY… ummm, well lets just say you might not want to play this one if you are trying t improve your gaming skills….

Dixie Dew

2 oz Bourbon
1/2 tsp Triple Sec
1/2 tsp Creme de Menthe (white)

Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass

Midnight Cowboy

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz dark rum
1/2 oz heavy cream

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass or serve on the rocks

Now these are just awesome…maybe its just cuz I’m from Michigan but either way, these are AWESOME!

Mint Julep

4 oz Bourbon
1 dozen fresh Mint Leaves
1 White Sugar cube or 1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar

Muddle the mint and sugar together with a dash of bourbon in a silver julep mug (a rocks glass or highball glass will suffice). Fill glass with ice, add more bourbon and stir Garnish with a mint sprig and serve with a straw

And last but not least…just in case you want to spread your new knowledge…keep it in your pocket for that perfect opportunity.

Cosmopolitans are said by some to be a “ladies only” drink. You know, because they’re pink, they’re fruity, they’re Barbie-esque, and they definitely don’t taste like manly men. Plus, the cocktail was, for some, made famous by the television show, Sex and the City. So whichever way you look at it, yeah, a Cosmopolitan can beconstrued as somewhat…okay, a lot girly, but don’t let that be reason enough for you to miss out on its utter alcoholic fabulousness.

The recipe is as follows – vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice. Shake it all together, and BAM, you’ve got yourself a cosmo. So why has this drink o’ choice been dubbed a ladies only beverage? We all like vodka, we all like triple sec, and who doesn’t love a gulp or two of cranberry juice from time to time? If the froo-froo of it all is just too much for you, you can always drink a Cosmopolitan in disguise. If you’re a fan of retro or modern barware, then a cosmo is definitely a drink that can help show-off the presentation of your cocktail. After all, it’s pink. Pink makes everything prettier.

And, for those of you who want everyone to know how cool you are, we also happen to have martini glasses and shakers that can actually be personalized, so if you’d like to announce that this is BOB’S glass, then go right ahead. The ladies will love it.

You can also serve your Cosmopolitans in my personal favorite, a “Rocket Glass” that will seriously rock your world, pun intended. I mean, how often is it that you get to drink from a steel rocket ship? Let’s all go to space. Sipping from this product shoots you straight to the moon, because you’ll want to use it…and use it…and then use it all over again. Huston, there’s no problem here.

Also, ever seen Shark Week on the Discovery Channel? If you have, you’ll know that whether or not you like sharks, you like Shark Week. So, why not have shark-based martini glasses? You see, this is your easiest “out” on the Cosmopolitans-are-for-girls assumption. After all, when sharks are involved, things are always hardcore.

The options really are endless. What woman wouldn’t like to be wooed in with a Cosmopolitan served in a thick-stemmed martini glass like the ones below? Gives you something to hold onto that assists in the prevention of dropping it all over the place after a couple swigs of this fine, strong concoction.

So remember, there are plenty of ways to drink a girly drink that won’t lead to your buddies calling you a sissy. And remember, just because it’s pink, doesn’t mean real men don’t drink it!

Written by Sarah Cook, exclusively for After5catalog.com.

Can’t sit still? In need of random stimulation? Want to throw a little rave into your beer? In case you haven’t heard, you can now drink your cocktail and impress your friends, all at the same time.

It doesn’t get much cooler than cocktail glasses, beer glasses, shot glasses, and ice cubes that light-up. And seriously, who doesn’t like neon? We’ve got a large selection of barware that will bring you back to 1982, and make you wish you’d never left.

Imagine this. You invite your friends over for poker night. They’re expecting beer, shots of whatever it is that you take shots of, and pretzels, yes? The simple stuff. So think of the look on their faces when they see that not only do their shot glasses light up, but they have LED dice inside that roll around like crazy, only to land on a random number and make noises at you thereafter. You might not ever get around to playing poker when your buddies get their hands on these, as they’ll be too busy trying to decipher whose shot glass is the coolest, and what random drinking games can come from it all.

Got any “no alcohol, please” drinkers at your party that are grumpy because they don’t have a glowing cocktail to stare at? No worries, as we happen to have ice cubes that do the deed as well. Our light-up ice cubes come in every fluorescent color you’d ever desire, including green, red, yellow, and blue. So if one of your buddies is whining about how their drink is boring and uneventful, toss a couple of these babies in and you’ve got yourself a quick solution. We’ve even got glowing ice cubes that look like dice, for those that are more difficult to impress.

Our light-up pilsner beer glasses come in sets of four, and you can choose between red, green, blue, or rainbow. I know what you’re thinking. “What happens when all the glowing stops?” Simple solution – replace the batteries! Who knew how easy life could be. Plus, these pilsners have set speeds that you can choose from in order to dictate all the flashing madness. You can flash slowly, you can flash quickly, or, if you get too excited and start to dump your beer all over yourself, you can stop flashing for awhile while you attempt to regroup.

Also included in our light-up barware selection and not mentioned earlier are acrylic martini glasses, margarita glasses, and these super awesome beer pitchers that are the life of the party, as they flash in quite the strobe-light manner, reflecting an assortment of colors as your buddies stare in awe at the barware rave you’ve created for them. You’ll have a blast with these cocktail-based items, but don’t forget to take the batteries out of everything before putting them in the dishwasher, or you’re going to spend a lot of time wondering, “What happened?!”

At After5 our motto, “Celebrating the art of celebrating,” is just a politically correct way of saying we really like to party. And we know, just like you, that nothing ruins the memory of a good party quicker than a bad, bodacious, head-throbbing hangover! That’s right; you know what we’re talking about! Anyone who cruises the After5 site probably knows what it’s like. The symptoms: waking up with the spin and wondering “where the hell am I and how did I get here?” Hopefully you landed in your own bed, or at least in a bed spooned up to a warm body of your choice! And, oh yeah, let’s not forget these thoughts: “How can I rid myself of the nasty taste in my mouth - dragon-breath so bad my own mother would willingly put me out of my misery - not to mention a headache so bad I’d gladly lean on a sharp pencil placed in my eye in a heartbeat, if I could only drag my sweet, sorry ass out of bead to find one!”

Well, before you resort to a self-inflicted lobotomy, though you may deserve it for being such a bad, bad guy or gal during your night of earnest debauchery, know that help is on the way, courtesy of After5. Not only do we offer fun wacky party and cocktail barware accessories that promote and glorify our affinity for a good cocktail, a good party and a good laugh, we also offer a line of items that are bound to revive you, or at least, lead you to the road of recovery.

To snap you out of your fog in a jiffy and perhaps put a smile on your face, we highly recommend How to Cure A Hangover.

You’ll be glad to know this handy little book is not scribed by some party animal turned snake-oil peddler – this here’s the real deal. Hangover is written by DR. Andrew Irving, a “practicing London doctor, who has made a special study of the effects of alcohol on health. He has been a wine and whisky

lover for over fifty years (so you know this guy’s got some excellent hands-on experience.) The author is a supporter of the concept that alcohol in moderation is beneficial to health” (amen, let’s here it for the brother!)

This book is filled with witticisms for everyone such as:

“Alcohol is necessary for a man so that he can have a good opinion of himself undisturbed by the facts.” - Finley Peter Dunne

And,

“Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it.” - Madame De Pompadour

Recipes in the book like this one by Elmer Keifner, head bartender at the Hotel Vancouver in Canada, are bound to cure the most hardcore hangover:

Extremely Effective Cure
(for a large handover)

30mls or 1 fl. Oz. Cognac
60 ml or 2 fl. Oz. dry port
10 ml or ½ fl. Oz. sugar syrup
1 whole egg

Pour the above into the shaker

with crushed ice, shake well and strain in a goblet. We think this curative elixir looks fetching in After5’s Galleria Stemware Red wine glasses.

After all, just because you feel like cr*p, doesn’t mean your drink has to look that way in one of one of your old, chipped glasses, now does it?!

Once your head is in a better place, you’ll want to clean yourself up and slip into some fresh lounging clothes. We suggest the one-size-fits-all After5 Bathrobe, made of soft, all-cotton terry cloth with our embroidered martini logo. http://www.after5catalog.com/product_info.php/cPath/21_27/products_id/38o

For the ladies on the road to recovery, there are soft, 100% cotton Nightcap Pj Pants. They feature a retro-cool, ring-a-ding print of animated moons and cocktails that glow in the dark and include a drawstring-adjustable elasticized waist.

Better yet, pair this with the Nightcap P j tank top, for a coordinated relaxed look (making dressing a snap when you are still feeling a bit off from last night’s libations!)

By now you should be feeling just a bit better, so we’ll leave you be. We hope you’ll come back and visit our blog, especially if you find yourself in need of a “Suffering Bastard,” “Prairie Oyster” or “Fallen Angel.” In part two of this topic, we’ll explore exactly what a hangover is and what’s going on inside that body of yours. And yes, we’ll define the origin and meaning of that descriptive saying known through the ages as “hair of the dog.”

Until next time, always designate a (sober) driver, thanks for visiting and cheers!

Written by Sarah Ettman-Sterner, exclusively for After5catalog.com

While we are on the subject of beer, (see last blog) I am itching to share our latest invention with all of you beer lovers out there. This crafty little can carrier has enough room for a full six pack of your cans or bottles. The Beer Belt has six insulated molded foam beverage holders, two banks of three, that keep the brew cold right up until the last can, or can’t for some. Its a great party pleaser that reduces the lag time while waiting in those long lines for the bartender to doll out drinks one by one. Stand in line once, get your six and your set

for the next hour ..or so. Suddenly you have lots of beer buddies following you around ? We made it with an adjustable wide 2″ belt that evenly distributes the weight of the six beers giving the user long hours of beer carrying capability. Maybe we should call it the can camel. Any suggestions out there? if you come up with a winning name I will give you a free one. An After 5 exclusive!

Now if you really want to be a party geek use the Beer Belt in conjunction with the Beer Helmet. Do the math…that would be eight beers. Thats enough to find out where the restrooms are. This epiphany is another nifty little invention, (not from us however) that makes sure you are fully hydrated at all times. The Thirst Aid Helmet or Beer hat has changed the way people drink beer with its ife-enriching miracle of hands-free drinking. Through ingenious and very scientific technology utilizing a helmet, two drink holders, and some plastic hose, the groundbreaking beer helmet revolutionizes beer consumption by conveniently placing beverage containers on both sides of the frontal lobe. The tri-valve ergonomic “chug” lines of the beer helmet will allow the drinker to imbibe from two beverages at once, thus doubling the intoxication rate while freeing up the hands to better tally Fantasy Football scores, crochet, or hold a couple more beers. The Beer Hat is completely washable. Adjustable interior plastic band adjusts to 24.75″. One size fits all.

Continuing on with the subject of beer check out some of our fun beer signs on our new website. www.personalizedsignshop.com.

Nowhere is it said that you must use glass or plastic as the vehicle from which to sip your cocktail. How about ice. Yes solid molded or hand carved ice in the shape of a cocktail glass.. In Sweden there is a place called the Ice Hotel where they have an ice cocktail lounge. Here the bartender serves your drinks in a chunk of ice carved out in the shape of a cocktail glass. Now the thought of putting an ice cocktail glass to your lips might make a lowlander cringe. I have made reference to this concern in past blogs, but I can’t ignore that dreaded childhood nightmare of licking and sticking your tongue to a metal pole outside in the winter. No, that doesn’t happen here. Your body heat melts the ice glass preventing your lips from freezing while you enjoy your chilled cocktail of choice. On the pole the metal freezes the moisture on your tongue making the pole lock to your face. I only make reference to the ice pole to dispel any rumors associating pain with creative cocktailing. Iced cocktail and shot glasses are totally cool, (excuse the pun) and are a great way to enjoy a cocktail. The ones that I have are Arctic Frozen Ice Shots. They are great substitute if you can’t break away and fly to Sweden for the real icer. You just fill them up with water throw them in the freezer for a day and you got frozen shot glasses. In the standard home bar @ 70 degrees you get about three drinks per shot glass before you run into leakage. That’s why you get 20 shot glass molds per pack. These shot glasses work geat for martinis as a side note…just had to get that in for those martini lovers. If you put your vodka or gin in the freezer you get much better mileage out of your ice shot glasses than room temperature liquor. Note; your mileage may vary depending on freezer settings.

Words by Eric States

Martini chillers might be a mystery to some but there is a very valid reason for their existence. Back in retro days the martini/cocktail glass was, (and still is) an bar ware icon. Up until someone in a drunken spell busted the stem off one and fell in the snow….didn’t even spill the martini..a new bar glass was born. The Martini Chiller. The idea is to surround the sides of the stemless cocktail glass with ice to keep the alcohol from getting warm. Well you can’t do that with a stem on the glass. Remove the stem and put what’s left in a bowl of ice. I wish I had thought of this. its a great way to warden off those alcohol warming blues and keep your drink cold and fresh for its brief but sweet libatious duration at cocktail hour. I was skeptical at first, I mean after a couple of my martinis I need that stem for support, or shal we say a handle. How do you hold on to a tapered wet conically shaped cocktail glass? It takes practice and its worth it. It actually ads to the ritual and savoring nature requisite of a good martini. Concentration with each sip. Honestly, I only use my martini chiller on special occasions- new vodka, old vodka, warm vodka, only after five. Its a great conversation piece and it does work well.

In fact I took it quite a bit further… There was a time when I was obsessed with making cool, new, hard to make drinking gadgets, in fact I am still fairly well entrenched in that frame of mind. My wife says I am a little obsessed with my creativity. I feel its its a calling. Home bars need cool stuff. I like to find it, or make it and share it. Hence After 5. One of the more outlandish of our inventions is what I like to call the Terminator of cocktail chillers… better known in the catalog as Mr Freeze.

The idea here is to fill the milled aluminum reservoir with water, freeze overnight, make your cocktail the next day and park it in the cradle. This is the ultimate of chillers in my biased opinion. The frozen aluminum has crazy conductive properties. When you put the metal glass in it you can see the ice build like a Chicago snowstorm. Your drink can’t get warm. Nor does the next one, or the next…if you get that far. Quite a party flair as well. The casinos buy these and use them for their shrimp cocktail serving dishes. Clever huh?

In summery the cocktail chiller is a special bar tool that every true cocktail aficionado worth their salted rim shouldn’t be without. Its not for everyday, its a little more involved than just grabbing a glass and pouring but its worth the added effort. Even the bad vodka tastes better in a chiller.

Cheers,

Words by Eric States.

When I moved to Portland three years ago, I became a real beer drinker. Not that there was anything wrong or “unreal” about my old California daily diet of Mexican imports with lime wedges, but I quickly realized something once I traded in my palms for pines: The climate and culture of the Northwest demand beer with greater flavor, depth and variety – and there’s a proud local heritage to boot.

For instance – did I know, upon moving to Oregon, that I was entering the second largest craft beer market in the nation? Was I aware that the city of Portland boasts more breweries than any other city in the world? Hell, yes, I was aware! The beer thing figured heavily into my decision to move here!

But I was pleasantly surprised to witness a sort of Old West pioneer/entrepreneurial spirit here, too. Portlanders have mastered the art of balance between work and play. The landscape is a playground in all directions, and five minutes out of downtown you can get yourself lost in the rain forest, grape vineyards, U-pick farms, and myriad rivers with Tom Sawyer islands scattered everywhere.

It’s this bounty of nature that allows for a bounty of the best beer ingredients: fresh hops, malted barley, and glacier-fed water.

So, yeah, I’ve become a churchkey-carrying beer snob. In pubs and restaurants, I order my brew exclusively on tap in big, thick pint glasses. And at home, instead of piss-pale Pacificos and Coronas, now I fill my fridge with hoppy, bold and aggressive local beers that bring a satisfying smile with every gulp.

A few of my Portland favorites:

BridgePort IPA

The first American beer to win the 119-year-old Brewing Industry International Awards for “champion beer” in London in 2000 (beating 750 beers from 43 countries). It slipped to silver in 2002, but regained the title in 2005. Check the fridges of most Portlanders, and this is the beer you’ll find – the quintessential hoppy Northwest suds.

MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale

Check the garage fridges of most Portlanders, and this is the beer you’ll find. (This is the stuff they buy in bulk!) In its debut year, “Mac’s” Amber Ale captured a coveted gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. It’s dry-hopped, smooth and rich – and rockin’ tasty with grilled salmon or a thick steak.

McMenamins Hammerhead Ale

To experience a McMenamins beer, you have to visit a McMenamins pub/hotel property: A century-old schoolhouse, a sprawling Depression-era poor farm, a renovated pioneer farmstead, landmark hotels, assorted haunted barns – no vacation or business trip to Portland is complete without a McMenamins stop or three. And oh, yeah, the beer: Hammerhead is rich and caramelly, with an intense hoppy (are you noticing a trend here?) flavor.

Widmer Hefeweizen

Whenever I get to missing my old citrus-in-the-beer California days, I just order a Widmer and drop in a slice of lemon. Another frequent award-winner at the Great American Beer Festival.

Can you buy these beers where you live? I hope so. Can you experience the full flavor of Oregon without sitting here amongst the droopy douglas firs and impossibly green hillsides? Nope.

Words by Trevor Pitchford