2018 Willamette Week Portland Beer Guide

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by devilmakesthree, Mar 2, 2018.

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  1. devilmakesthree

    devilmakesthree Pundit (889) Nov 27, 2013 Oregon
    Society

    Hey everyone in Portland, this week was the supposed publication of Willamette Week's Annual Portland Beer Guide. In past years I've seen it available for free all over town in news stands, but I haven't seen it this year so far, and I've been checking twice a day in multiple locations. Has anybody seen it? Am I just looking in the wrong places (mostly downtown where I see it every year)? Has it just not been distributed yet? If anybody is more in the know than I am I'd love your feedback. Thanks!
     
    #1 devilmakesthree, Mar 2, 2018
  2. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #2 distantmantra, Mar 2, 2018
  3. devilmakesthree

    devilmakesthree Pundit (889) Nov 27, 2013 Oregon
    Society

    Read that article, which was fun. They said that the publication date would be Feb. 28th, but so far nothing. Maybe the beginning of next week.
     
    #3 devilmakesthree, Mar 2, 2018
  4. ppilot

    ppilot Zealot (522) Jul 17, 2009 Oregon

    It's funny comparing that list to the Oregon Beer Awards. In general, I have a hard time taking WW's beer recommendations seriously considering some of their past recommendations.
     
    #4 ppilot, Mar 2, 2018
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  5. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You could also ask them on Twitter or Facebook.

    edit: I just asked for you.
     
    #5 distantmantra, Mar 2, 2018
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  6. devilmakesthree

    devilmakesthree Pundit (889) Nov 27, 2013 Oregon
    Society

    Thank you! I don't have Twitter, so that really helps.

    I agree with you. I mostly use it as a guide to which breweries I've visited and which I haven't. I'm no great fan of their beer reviewers, to be honest. They are all about trends and have a handful of breweries and tap rooms they adore and can be incredibly dismissive of others (some of which I love). Still, a free beer magazine is a free beer magazine.
     
    #6 devilmakesthree, Mar 2, 2018
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  7. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agreed. After reading over the award winners this year, I was tempted to make a, ahem, possibly sarcastic and insensitive comment, concerning the judges lack of proper appreciation and understanding of the greatness of Great Notion beer (in view of the Willamette weekly panels findings from last year).
     
    #7 John_M, Mar 2, 2018
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  8. SeaAle

    SeaAle Maven (1,381) Jun 24, 2012 Oregon

    Are you referring to their IPA blind tasting? That was done with only tasting IPAs brewed within the actual city limits of Portland. So wasn't metro or state wide.
     
    #8 SeaAle, Mar 2, 2018
  9. SeaAle

    SeaAle Maven (1,381) Jun 24, 2012 Oregon

    Yeah, there were a lot of weird winners. The Oakshire beer IPA #3 that took the silver in the hazy category sounds like a one-off and maybe only brewed just for this competition? Curious how it tastes.
    But Ninkasi Ground Control taking gold for barrel-aged beers is a stretch for me.
     
    #9 SeaAle, Mar 2, 2018
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  10. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I thought so too, but then that's always the reaction I have. Invariably, when I read over a list of award winners in any given competition, there are always some winners that just have me shaking my head. As someone else mentioned, it's hard to understand how any pilsner could score more points than pFriem's.
     
    #10 John_M, Mar 2, 2018
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  11. devilmakesthree

    devilmakesthree Pundit (889) Nov 27, 2013 Oregon
    Society

    I think Breakside's Pils is pretty good. Better than pFriem's? No, but on par with it. Never had the Grain Station Pils (never even heard of them). Old Town? Really? It isn't bad by any stretch, but I can name a dozen Pilsners I'd rather drink before it.
     
    #11 devilmakesthree, Mar 2, 2018
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  12. weaverr

    weaverr Zealot (729) Jun 10, 2008 California

    Wayfinder makes a really solid pils, I was very impressed.
     
    #12 weaverr, Mar 2, 2018
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  13. blackcloud

    blackcloud Savant (1,243) Apr 28, 2012 Alaska
    Trader

    I mean... the FIRST sentence is: "In the 22 years since Portland's BridgePort invented the American IPA..."

    is that a factual statement? Not calling 'em liars, just wondering....
     
    #13 blackcloud, Mar 2, 2018
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  14. BeerandLoathing

    BeerandLoathing Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Oregon

    Pretty certain BridgePort hasn't been around since 1975. From what I can tell by a quick google of the subject matter, Anchor Liberty Ale is the first "invented" American IPA brewed after prohibition.

    https://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/liberty_ale
     
    #14 BeerandLoathing, Mar 2, 2018
  15. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Not sure if this was the guide that mentioned it, but just bought a bottle of Upright Pathways saison....... phenomenal.

    It’s amazing how under the radar Upright is. They just continue to produce awesome beer year in and year out
     
    #15 derftron, Mar 4, 2018
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  16. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agreed. Incredibly, there were still bottles of Fantasia at the brewery when I stopped by a couple weeks ago. There were no purchase limits (that I saw), and it appeared as if there was still plenty available. I was just amazed.
     
    #16 John_M, Mar 4, 2018
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  17. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    SHUSH!
     
    #17 BBThunderbolt, Mar 4, 2018
  18. dphi

    dphi Zealot (534) Apr 14, 2013 Oregon

    How was this year's? I didn't like last year's as much as previous batches so I'm not as inclined to rush down there for a bottle.
     
    #18 dphi, Mar 4, 2018
  19. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it's really good. I actually feel as if it's improved a bit since they first released it. Sour component has softened a bit, and the peach has blended in a bit more. Imho, it's drinking at its best right now.

    I hate sours generally, but this is a very easy to drink and enjoy sour right now. As always, YMMV.
     
    #19 John_M, Mar 4, 2018
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  20. BeerandLoathing

    BeerandLoathing Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Oregon

    It's not that hard to find if you look around. I saw some at Zupans off Macadam and Johns Marketplace.

    Fantasia is just hanging out this year it seems, which is weird because it's absolutely delicious and not a beer that in previous years you could find collecting dust on the shelf.
     
    #20 BeerandLoathing, Mar 5, 2018
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