The air is crisp, the leaves are falling. The frost covered grass makes a satisfying crunch beneath my feet. Autumn has arrived in Oregon, and with the change of seasons comes the change of seasonal brews. Now one might assume, and understandably so, that this transition would signal the arrival of harvest ales, pumpkin porters and the like. But, alas, those brews are already wrapping up their tour of duty. For fall has become the season of the winter beer, a fact that pains me in the same way as seeing Halloween costumes and Christmas stockings occupying consecutive end caps in August.

That said, it does take quite a bit of the sting out of the ever-earlier arrival of winter warmers when the first one you crack open is as lovely as this year’s Winterhook. Out of the bottle, the beer gushes caramel and warm bread crust. Shy of a full-on maltgasm, but easily sends the needle past melanoidalicious on the trusty ol’ malt-o-meter (patent pending). The light dash of roasted malt adds a nutty dryness to the finish that invokes memories of my favorite English browns. The whole package is wrapped (<- forced Christmas pun) in just enough spicy hops to support in all the right places, yet stay out of the way and let the malt shine. Hmm…looks like another transition has occurred, beer review to bra advert. Moving on…

I have to second Jeff’s remark that Winterhook is not only one of Redhook’s recent bests, but one the year’s best seasonals as well - neck and neck with my perennial favorites Jubelale and Wassail. I can also attest to his musing that, at a modest 6%, it may be hard to stop at one. I made short work of a pair while waiting for the wort of my Irish Stout to reach a boil. Not sure if it was the Winterhook or the leg-scorching, high-output propane burner, but I stayed quite comfortable despite the cool weather.

Cheers!
Kevin

The Willamette Valley Fresh Hop Tastival has come and gone, but there are still plenty of beer-y things to do for the rest of October, including Widmer Flight Night at The Bier Stein and the start of Thursday Night Extreme  Beer Tastings at the 16 Tons Supreme Bean Union Cafe. 

Widmer Flight Night
Oct. 13, 6-9pm
The Bier Stein
www.thebierstein.com 

Join us this Thursday  the 13th from 6-9pm for Widmer Flight Night! We will have 4 Unique beers on draught available in a flight or by the pint/glass: *Liberty fresh hop Vienna Lager *Lemongrass(Wheat ale brewed w/Lemongrass and Muscat grape juice, fermented on both Champagne and Ale yeasts!) *Brrr Winter Ale *Timbrrr Imperial India Red Ale. The 1st 40 folks to buy a Widmer flight or draught will receive a sweet Widmer Tulip Imperial pint glass! Event runs from 6-9pm! 

A Night of New Belgium
Oct. 13th, Free Tasting from 4-6pm
16 Tons Supreme Bean Union Cafe
www.sixteentons.biz
Facebook Event Page

Several rare beers from New Belgium Brewing will be on tap including KICK, an Oak-Aged Sour Ale made with Pumpkin and Cranberry Juice. Ryan, from the brewery, will pour free samples from 4-6pm. All night we will feature $2 pints and $8 growler fills of select New Belgium beers!

New Belgium beers being poured include:
* Abbey Ale
* Abbey Grand Cru
* Super Cru (Asian Pear)
* Kick (Sour Cranberry Pumpkin Ale)
* Belgo
* More! 

Also, we’ll tap Eugene City Brewery’s Pumpkin Mole Ale brewed with Ancho Chiles! 

Ride your bike to the event and get a $1 cheater pint of any beer! 

Stone Brewing: We’re Not Humble
Oct. 20th, Free Tasting from 4-6pm
16 Tons Supreme Bean Union Cafe
www.sixteentons.biz
Facebook Event Page 

Erin from Stone will pour free samples from 4-6pm. In addition we’ll have at least 6 Stone brews on tap. Free pint glasses to the first 48 pints sold. AND! We will be sampling and selling Stone Hot Sauces! You are not worthy to sample Stone’s 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA but we will let you have some nonetheless. Featuring $2 pints and $8 growler fills of select beers all night! 

Stone beers being poured include:
* Cali Belgique IPA
* Sublimely Self Righteous
* Levitation 
* 15th Anniversary
* Arrogant Bastard
* Double Bastard
* Oaked Bastard 

Ninkasi Total Tap Takeover
Oct. 27th, Free Tasting from 4-6pm
16 Tons Supreme Bean Union Cafe
www.sixteentons.biz
Facebook Event Page 

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event. Ninkasi will dominate 16 Tons by taking over every tap. 12 taps and a Cask! Featuring Fresh Hopped, Oak-Aged, and other unusual brews! $8 Growlers! Live Music at 8pm! 

Ninkasi beers being poured include:
* Conventionale
* UnConventionale
* Nuptiale
* Helles Belles
* Sleigh’r
* Gin Barrel Maiden The Shade
* Oatis
* Tricerahops
* Total Domination
* Believer

Then, just around the corner, we have the Hellshire II release and the 2nd Annual Winter and Strong Ale Festival…

Cheers!
Kevin