Pints for Prostates Portland Pale Ale Invitational Celebrates America's Favorite Beer Style

The inaugural Pints for Prostates Portland Pale Ale Invitational will be held on July 25 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore. The event celebrates the allure, complexity and flavors of pale ale.


The tasting event features pale ales from a dozen Oregon breweries and a dozen breweries from around the globe. Presented by Beer West magazine in conjunction with the Oregon Brewers Festival, the event benefits the Pints for Prostates campaign.

“We are bringing together a collection of great pale ales in a city where pale ales are truly appreciated, all to raise awareness about an important men’s health issue,” said Rick Lyke, a drinks journalist and prostate cancer survivor. Lyke founded Pints for Prostates in 2008 after successful prostate cancer surgery. “Our goal is to reach men through the universal language of beer with a message about the importance of early detection.”

Tickets for the Portland Pale Ale Invitational are $30 and will be available online starting on March 1 at http://www.pintsforprostates.org/ or through the secure link at eTix. All net proceeds support the mission of the Pints for Prostates campaign.

“We are excited about the brewers that have agreed to take part and the world class pale ales they will be pouring. Beer fans will get the chance to try a wide variety of pale ale styles in a single session,” said Megan Flynn, publisher and editor-in-chief of Beer West magazine. “Pale ales have become America’s favorite type of craft beer. This event salutes the passion brewers and beer drinkers have for pale ale.”

The 24 participating breweries include: BridgePort Brewing, Portland, Ore.; Caldera Brewing, Ashland, Ore.; Cascade Brewing, Portland, Ore.; Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.; Fire Mountain Brew House, Carlton, Ore.; Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, Calif.; Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, Ore.; Lompoc Brewing, Portland, Ore.; MacTarnahan's Brewing, Portland, Ore.; Moa Brewing, Marlborough, New Zealand; New Holland Brewing, Holland, Mich.; Ninkasi Brewing, Eugene, Ore.; NoDa Brewing, Charlotte, N.C.; Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.; Oregon Brew Crew, homebrewers from Portland, Ore.; Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore.; Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif.; Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, Wash.; Snake River Brewery, Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Southern Oregon Brewing, Medford, Ore.; Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.; Tree Brewing, Kelowna, British Columbia; 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, Calif.; and Wells & Young’s, Bedford, United Kingdom.

“This year marks the 25th annual Oregon Brewers Festival so we are proud to be able to help support Pints for Prostates by making our venue available for the Portland Pale Ale Invitational on the eve of our silver anniversary,” said Art Larrance, one of the founders of the Oregon Brewers Festival. “The Oregon Brewers Festival is already one of the world’s biggest beer events and the Portland Pale Ale Invitational is another reason for people to visit and enjoy great craft beer.”
Judges at the Great American Beer Festival award medals in seven different pale ale categories. Pale ale categories attract the most entries and are the hottest contested.

“Men are 33 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to have breast cancer, yet few men know about the critical importance of early detection,” Lyke said. “The support of Beer West magazine, the Oregon Brewers Festival and the two dozen great craft brewers donating beer for the event will help us reach an audience that needs to hear our message.”

About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).

About Beer West Magazine
Founded in 2007, Beer Northwest has grown to become the leading beer culture and lifestyle magazine in the Northwest. In January 2011, the magazine expanded into California and became Beer West. The magazine covers the thriving West Coast beer market and is the only regional publication of its kind. Beer West has more than doubled its circulation and visibility in the past year, with a focused readership of 80,000 beer and food enthusiasts. Beer West is a celebration of the unique Western beer-loving life.

About the Oregon Brewers Festival
The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation's longest running and best loved craft beer festivals. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, with towering Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for anyone who loves craft beer. With a laid back attitude and scores of award-winning beers, the festival reflects the essence of the city of Portland, and is the crowning jewel of Oregon Craft Beer Month. The OBF was at the forefront of exposing craft beers to the public. A total of 84 craft breweries from all parts of the nation will serve more than 30 beer styles to nearly 80,000 beer lovers from around the world. Another 50 specialty beers will be available for tastes in the Buzz Tent.

German Chancellor Merkel Gets a Beer Shower

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was attending the annual Ash Wednesday meal held by the Demmin Christian Democratic Union in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania when a 21-year old waiter, identified only as Martin, became an instant You Tube phenomenon.

Merkel had just arrived at her table when Martin rushed over with a tray of cold beers, making sure he served one of the world's most powerful women first. He later told reporters he was a last minute substitute for a female waiter who was too nervous to serve the German leader's table. Five glasses of lager end up on Chancellor Merkel's back, but she hardly reacts.

Merkel raised a toast to the table and later gave a speech to the gathering. I guess if you spend enough time in German beer halls you have to expect the occasional beer shower.

Pints with Presidents

Which leader of the free world would you like to hoist a pint with at your local pub?

President’s Day is Monday, Feb. 20. TapHunter.com and Pintley.com surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. craft beer drinkers asking them “Which American President would you most like to share a beer with?”  

The results were:

1. Bill Clinton (22.4%)
2. Barack Obama (15.5%)
3. Abraham Lincoln (14.9%)
4. George Washington (14.5%)
5. John Kennedy (10.2%)
6. Ronald Regan (7.7%)
7. George W. Bush (3.6%)

Missing from the list are two presidents that knew a thing or two about beer: Thomas Jefferson, who brewed at Monticello, and Franklin Roosevelt, who lifted the tyranny of Prohibition. Jimmy Carter, who signed the bill that exempted homebrewed beer from excise tax, is also missing from the list.

Oddly, George W. Bush makes this list even though he is said to have stopped drinking long before entering the White House. Abraham Lincoln might also raise some eyebrows, since he implemented the first tax on beer to help fund the Civil War.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: Nightclub & Bar Top 100 U.S. Clubs

Around the World in 80 Drinks is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores drink culture and the places where great beer, wine and spirits are created and consumed.

Nightclub & Bar magazine has released its 2012 Top 100 list of nightclubs, bars and lounge venues. The list is dominated by venues in major markets, with eight of the top 10 located in Las Vegas, Nev. The list is topped by Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub in Las Vegas, which reported revenue in excess of $70 million for 2011.

Nightclub & Bar Top 10

1. Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub ($70-$80 million), Las Vegas
2. XS Nightclub ($60-$70 million), Las Vegas
3. Tao Nightclub ($60-$70 million), Las Vegas
4. Pure Nightclub ($45-$60 million), Las Vegas
5. LIV ($35-$45 million), Miami Beach, Fla.
6. LAX Nightclub ($35-$45 million), Las Vegas
7. HAZE Nightclub ($35-$45 million), Las Vegas
8. Surrender Nightclub ($35-$45 million), Las Vegas
9. The Bank Nightclub ($25-$35 million), Las Vegas
10. LAVO Nightclub NYC ($25-$35 million), New York City

According to Nightclub & Bar magazine and Technomic, which compiled the list, members of the Top 100 list generated revenue totaling $1.4 billion. The Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show will be held March 12-14 in Las Vegas.

Tuesday Tasting: Two Beers from Bodebrown Brewery in Brazil

Tuesday Tasting is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that explores some of the best beers, wines and spirits on the market. This week we sample a pair of brews from a Brazilian microbrewery.

Bodebrown Brewery is located in Curitiba, the state capital of Parana in Brazil. The microbrewery features a school, homebrew supply store and a small library to help the local beer community. Bode means "goat" in English and the brewery's name salutes the founders' grandfather who raised goats in the northwest of Brazil

Paulo de Tarso Cavalcanti of Cervejaria e Escola Bodebrown brought some of his beers to the Raleigh Rare & Vintage Beer Tasting last weekend. The event was held at Tyler's Restaurant and Taproom and raised funds for the Pints for Prostates campaign.

Bodebrow Strong Scotch Ale Wee Heavy is 8 percent alcohol by volume. The beer won a gold medal at the Mondial de La Bierre in Montreal in 2011. The beer pours a reddish brown with a off white head. There is a nice caramelized malt base to this beer with just a faint hint of smoke in the background. The mouth feel is not as heavy as some other wee heavy Scotch ales on the market.

Bodebrown Perigosa Imperial Milk Stout comes in a couple of strengths. The beer getting most of the crowd noise at the event in Raleigh was the 21 percent alcohol by volume giant that is aged in Hungarian oak and former Bourbon barrels. The beer is a thick black pour with a minimal head. There is a sweet and roasted nose that opens up as the beer warms slightly. The beer is full flavored with tons of dark fruits, wood and chocolate throughout. The high alcohol content is not a major component of the flavor.

Wynkoop Brewery Names Three Finalists for "Beerdrinker of the Year"

 Wynkoop Brewery is getting set to host its annual Beerdrinker of the Year competition and the three finalists have impressive beer drinking resumes. If you are around Denver on Feb. 25 you might want to stop in for the finals.

The three finalists are:

Warren Monteiro, a New York City freelance writer, beer traveler, homebrewer and BeerSensei columnist for Alestreet News. Monteiro has sampled beers in Europe, Central American, India, Sri Lanka, numerous other nations and throughout the United States. In 2011 he visited breweries and beer festivals in England, Belgium, the Netherlands and the US. He samples an average of 350 beers each year. His home beer bar: Blind Tiger Ale House, New York City.

Greg Nowatzki, a Las Vegas, Nevada accountant, home brewer and beer judge. Nowatzki has tasted over 13,600 beers from 84 different countries and all 50 states in the U.S. He has visited over 500 breweries in 32 different states and the District of Columbia, and attended over 150 beer festivals in 8 states. In 2011 he visited 16 beer festivals (including an 11th consecutive Great American Beer Festival) and visited over 100 different breweries in 7 states. His home beer bar: Big Dog’s Draft House, Las Vegas, Nevada.

J. Wilson, a Prescott, Iowa writer, homebrewer, beer judge and beer blogger. He has a three tap, 8-foot home bar supplied by a 10-gallon brewing system in his basement. An advocate for beer for 15 years, he organized numerous beer events in his hometown in 2011. The past year was highlighted by a research project in which he fasted for 46 days on water and a dopplebock he brewed with a local brewery. It became a book, Diary of a Part-Time Monk. His home beer bar: El Bait Shop, Des Moines, Iowa.

The judging takes place at Wynkoop on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., when the finalists face questions from a panel of previous Beerdrinkers of the Year and beer experts. More information is available at http://www.wynkoop.com/.

Belgian Post Honors Trappist Brewers on Stamps

Belgium is the home of six of the world's seven Trappist breweries. Belgian Post recently issued a special set of stamps to recognize these amazing Belgian beers.


The stamps feature bottles, caps and glasses filled with Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren.


It is not the first time that postal officials in Belgium have celebrated the national drink with special stamps.

A total of 174 Trappist monasteries exist worldwide.  Six in Belgium and one in the Netherlands still brew beer and are approved to use the Authentic Trappist Product logo that indicates compliance with the rules of the International Trappist Association. Originally, Trappist monks brewed for the needs of the monastery. Now money raised through the sale of beer fund good works.