Widmer Brothers Deadlift IPA

Widmer Brothers Deadlift IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A hoplicious way to close out the year.

BridgePort Ebenezer Ale

Ebenezer Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A cheerful winter beer!

HUB A-Bomb!

A-Bomb!, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A delightfully citrusy hoppy winter ale.

Alameda Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA

Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A typical(ly good) Northwestern Imperial IPA.

New Old Lompoc Holiday Cheer

New Old Lompoc Holiday Cheer, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A smooth vanilla porter with chocolate notes.

BridgePort Nightcap

BridgePort Nightcap, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A belly-warming, delicious ale made up of 33% ale aged in a bourbon-barrel and 67% yummy ale.

Combined to make a winter treat!

Widmer Brothers Brrr

Widmer Brothers Brrr, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Hoppy Goodness disguised as a winter ale.

Sure, it has it's dark color and malts, but it truly is a hop-lovers winter beer. I love this stuff!

ABV: 7.2%

Cascade's Autumn Gose

Cascade's Autumn Gose, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

You can barely see it because it's barely lit in Apex (but the lights they have are awesome! Hand-sculpted glass lamps that look like hops!), so take my word for it, it was a beautiful brownish amber sour ale that hit the spot.

Lucky Lab Force of Nature

Lucky Lab Force of Nature, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Another delicious offering from Lucky Lab.

New Old Lompoc Monster Mash

Monster Mash, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A great porter - if you like porters...

Philadelphia's Sellwood Golden

Sellwood Golden from Philadelphia's, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

I had no idea Philadelphia's brewed beer. Nor did I know that there was a hop called Sellwood Willamettes.

Cool.

Green Dragon's Hop Diddly

Green Dragon's Hop Diddly, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A super floral, citrusy IPA from Green Dragon. My favorite for the day.

Deschutes Portland Pub's Fresh Hop Mirror Pond

#Beer 2: Deschutes Portland Pub's Fresh Hop Mirror Pond, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Like the "non-fresh hops" variety, only with more flowery nuances from the hop.

Yummy!

Lucky Lab's Mutt

Lucky Lab's Mutt, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A fresh hop ale made from the hops of local, backyard growers in Portland. Every year Lucky Lab hosts a harvest party where everyone brings in their hops and contributes to the brew.

It's a mutt, since no one knows what kind of hops went into it.

While I love the idea, I have to say that I didn't really love the beer. It had a strong bitter start and a watery finish. It was like a hoppy farmhouse ale.

Bridgeport Hop Harvest

Hop Harvest, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

There are many varieties of "fresh hop" beers, so it's hard to lump them all into one category. Hop Harvest, from Bridgeport is one of my favorites, and is more along the lines of an IPA than a pale ale or anything else.

The hops are busting out, and far more complex than one normally gets.

ABV: 6.56%

Cascade Brewing Funk II

Funk II, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Sour beer directly from the wooden barrel. It didn't have as much carbonation as the keg beer, but was yummy, nonetheless!

Cascade Brewing Noyeaux

Noyeaux, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A yummy sour ale from Portland's newest brewpub, the Cascade Brewing Barrel House.

MacTarnahan's Lipstinger

Lipstinger, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Beer brewed with peppercorns?

Yes. And done well. The peppercorn represents just a tiny little tingle on your tongue, a lip stinger, if you will.

I was surprised at how (to borrow a horrible word from an even more horrible beer) drinkable it was.

HUB Ace of Spades IPA

Ace of Spades IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Some delicious Imperial IPA from HUB.

All hopped out and shit.

ABV: 9.5%

Pyramid Juggernaut Red Ale

Juggernaut Red Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A decent red ale.

New Old Lompoc Centennial IPA

Centennial IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Pretty good, but it has tastes maltier and less hoppy (or maybe just a higher ABV) than their regular IPA.

Buckman IPA

Buckman IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

An IPA brewed at the Green Dragon under the name "Buckman Brewery."

It's not the hoppiest or strongest IPA that I've ever had, but that's OK. I like the subtle citrusy hop flavor and find that it's pretty well balanced.

My apologies for the horrible picture. I'll have to go back and try again. Sigh.

HUB Piledriver

Piledriver, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Piledriver - premiered out at Biketobeerfest - is a Belgian ale, aged for 18 months in 4 different barrels with lots and lots of cherries.

I'm not sure if this would fit the definition of a sour beer, but it sure is tart - and incredibly complex. With tastes of bourbon and cherries floating in your mouth, it's a surprisingly refreshing beer. I wouldn't have been able to drink many of them (unlike the Totally Radner, or even Gayle's Pale), but I was surprised at how well this barrel-aged beer went down.

ABV: 8.5%

HUB Totally Radler

Totally Radler, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A mix of 70% organic HUB Lager and 30% fresh house-made lemonade, served up out of an ice-cold keg. At 3.2% ABV, I could have drank this all day!

HUB Gayle's Pale

Gayle's Pale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

The first fresh hop beer of the season, and it's yummy!

It's made from fresh hops grown at Goschie Farms in Silverton, Oregon.

New Old Lompoc Heaven's Helles

Heaven's Helles, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Another amazing pale ale!

Hair of the Dog Fred

Fred, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A pretty complex beer. It has a malty-toffee-like start, with a hoppy middle and a bitter, alcohol finish.

It's really yummy, but I don't think I could drink more than one!

ABV: 10%

Bridgeport Haymaker

Haymaker, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A refreshing beer on a hot summer day. In terms of Pale Ales, I lean a bit more towards Widmer's Drifter which is a bit hoppier. However, this is an Extra Pale Ale, so maybe they shouldn't even be compared.

Whatever. When it's hot out and want a refreshing beer that's light, but still tasty, this is an excellent choice!

New Old Lompoc Condor Pale Ale

New Old Lompoc Condor Pale Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A nice, light ale that's perfect on a hot summer day!
ABV: 5.2%

Widmer Hefeweizen

Widmer Hefeweizen, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A pretty decent summer beer. I'm not a huge fan of hefeweizen in general, but when I want something light, I will drink this yummy PDX hefeweizen.

New Old Lompoc Proletariat Red (on Nitro)

New Old Lompoc Proletariat Red (on Nitro), originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A deliciously yummy red ale made all the more smooth by pouring from a nitro tap.

Rogue Portland State IPA

Portland State IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A most excellent beer from all locally-sourced ingredients.

HUB Evelyn Sunshine Imperial IPA

Evelyn Sunshine Imperial IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Such a delicious IPA.

HUB Diablato

Diablato, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A sourry, yeasty treat in a glass, the Diablato is a HUB Belgium Ale.

HUB Rise Up Red!

Rise Up Red!, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A hoppily delicious red ale from HUB.

Laurelwood Wry Pale Ale

Wry Pale Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A delicious pale ale.
ABV: 5.6%

Lucky Lab Zingerbier (on Nitro)

Zingerbier on Nitro, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Whoa. A chocolatey-malty beer with a ginger zing - on Nitro for the smooth, creamy finish.

Lucky Lab Super Dog IPA

Super Dog IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

The Lucky Lab's yummy, super IPA.

New Old Lompoc Spring Bock

Lompoc Spring Bock, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A reddish bock with a malty taste.

ABV: 8.1%

MacTarnahan's Amber Ale

MacTarnahan's Amber Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A hoppily tasty Amber Ale that makes its way into our fridge on a regular basis.

ABV: 5.1%

Laurelwood Workhorse IPA

Workhorse IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A super florally - and equally yummy - IPA from the folks at Laurelwood.
ABV: 7.5%

Laurelwood Portland Roast Espresso Stout

Portland Roast Espresso Stout, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

An excellent stout from Laurelwood (one of my favorite brewpubs is their NW 23rd place). A smooth and malty beer with a wonderful roasted taste that helps wash away the sleet and rain (and hail) that I rode through today.

Yummy!

Alameda El Torero IPA

El Torero IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A nice and hoppy - without being crazy hoppy - IPA from Alameda.

ABV: 7.2%

HUB Cross Town Pale Ale

HUB Cross Town Pale Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Another delicious beer from the folks at HUB.

ABV: 5.3%

Roots Island Red

Island Red, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A smooth and creamy amber ale full of oats and barley and even some hoppy goodness. I'd love to try this on nitro.

ABV: 5.6%

New Old Lompoc Batch 69 Baltic Porter

Batch 69 Baltic Porter, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

A sweet malty beer that goes really well with chocolate!
ABV: 7.7%

HUB Secession Black IPA

Secession Black IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

With this Black IPA, I could taste a strong malty presence with a malt backdrop. Good stuff!
ABV: 6.5%

Widmer W'10 Pitch Black IPA

W'10 Pitch Black IPA, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Interesting.

But I'm not really I see (taste) the IPA here. I can certainly taste the malt and barley, and I think it's delicious - I just don't really taste any hops, the trademark IPA taste.

Whatever. It's good!

ABV: 6.5%

Widmer Drifter Pale Ale

Drifter Pale Ale, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

Quite simply the best pale ale anywhere.

ABV: 5.7%

Bridgeport Highland Ambush

Highland Ambush, originally uploaded by Ben McLeod.

I was surprised by how much I like this beer. Most of the other beers aged in wooden barrels are a bit on the heavy side. Not Highland Ambush. It has a wonderfully smooth, malty-bourbony taste that rolls off your tongue. There's almost no lasting bourbony sting that's so common with similar beers.

ABV: 6.8%