Crooked Stave making it to Oregon

They've been making it here since last summer I think. I've never seen more than two types on the shelf at any time so it's not like they are flooding the market. But they have been around if you know where to look.

I've seen them for about $8/375ml.

I think they are actually more comparable to De Garde in that many of their beers seem to have a signature character which I assume comes from the yeast/bacteria that they use. Unfortunately, I don't think we've gotten any of the really awesome stuff in bottle form, but they are definitely a quality brewery.

 

Surette and Vieille were at the usual spots late last year. Vieille is good but I think Surette is fantastic. Reminded me of Block 15 Ferme de la Provisions. (same style) $8-9 a bottle depending on where you went. I also see that St. Bretta is now around. Not my favorite style but I thought it was ok. Now if they would just mass produce Raspberry Dark Origins (cellar reserve bottle) I'd be super stoked.

 

i caught a keg of Cranberry Vieille on tap at Hop & Vine late last year/early this year and it was really good. their standard bottles are good, but nothing too amazing.

 

Honestly-with the offerings in and around PDX, the standard offerings from Crooked Stave (and most of their cellar reserve beers) are hardly anything to write home about.

 

Strongly disagree, if I saw crooked stave up here I would drop money on it in a heartbeat.

 

The Logsdon 375s are only $1 or so cheaper ... I suppose on a percentage basis that's a lot, but on the absolute dollar scale it's not much.

 

So $2 cheaper in the 375s. Not arguing it's not a price difference or that percentage wise it's not large ... I guess I just don't see $2 as a "damn" type of dollar value.

 

FYI: It's my understanding that CS still does not distribute to Oregon. Someone came here from the brewery for an event a while back and brought a crapton of bottles for local retailers (these hung around for a while, and some of them might still be around). More recently, I know of one shop with an employee who visited the brewery and brought back bottles to sell at the shop. As far as I know, these are the only bottles that are/have been for sale in state. Thus, what you find might be your last chance to pick them up without trading or traveling.

Anyways, aside from whether one is better than the other, I find CS beers to be quite different in character from Logsdons and Upright, so I don't think it's really a good comparison. I think their beers are quite amazing, and worth picking up at the prices I've seen them if you haven't had them before. I wouldn't consider them worth purchasing on a regular basis, though.

 

Pick up a few Surette's and sit on them, opening 1 every 3- 6 months. The transformation is awesome and after a year I frickin love that beer. Hopefully some day Origins will make it up, wife and I love that beer.

I am a Cellar Reserve member so I still get my fill but would love to have them around Seattle too.