APR/MAY 2005 | REGIONAL | WEST COAST

Brew News You Can Use

BridgePort Brewing Company "Becomes Legal"
BridgePort Brewing Company turns 21 this year and is celebrating with a big public party.
“As Oregon’s oldest craft brewery, all birthdays are significant, but turning 21 is especially momentous, as it represents a rite of passage in relation to adult beverages,” explained Paula Johnston, marketing manager for BridgePort Brewing. “It’s a milestone that calls for a celebration.”

The brewpub shut its doors in late 2004 for a 10-month remodeling project, but that won't stop the birthday bash. Instead, BridgePort is relying on the kindness of its neighbors to provide the location for the "BridgePort Double Down" party. The theme will be Blackjack (get it — 21?), and there will be blackjack tables, special prices on pints of BridgePort ales, food for sale by Pazzo and a midnight toast. Four bands will be on hand to keep toes tapping: Nicole Campbell, Rye Hollow, Dirty Martini and Groovebox.

There is no cover for the all-ages event, which will run from 4:00 p.m. to midnight on April 30 at the Jackson Machine building on the corner of NW 14th and Northrup (1115 NW 14th) in Portland's Pearl District.

Put on your dancing shoes and hope that Luck's a lady on April 30 as BridgePort celebrates 21 years of beers and cheers.

Kona Brewing Company Brews Nation's First-Place Homebrew Porter
Kona Brewing Company's brew staff on Hawaii's Big Island recently invited America's Homebrewer of the Year, Rod Romanak, into its brewery to recreate his award-winning Positively Porter. Romanak was proclaimed Homebrewer of the Year at the American Homebrewers Association's National Homebrew Competition in June 2004.

"We were very proud of Rod when we found out he had been honored as the best homebrewer in the U.S.," said Kona Brewing Company Director of Brewery Operations Rich Tucciarone. "It was a pleasure to brew with Rod and re-create his award-winning recipe!"

Romanak's porter claimed the first-place medal in the robust porter category at the competition. Then it went on to be declared the best homebrew beer submitted in all categories. Some 4,443 homemade beers were submitted by 1,058 homebrewers in 46 states and three countries.

Positively Porter is a dark, smooth beer, strong in roasted malt flavor and aroma, with roasted coffee overtones and a slight taste of ripe figs — a character imparted by the extra special malt used in the brew. Romanak is president of the Kona Coast Barley Boys homebrew club in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii's Big Island.

"Next to getting the award in Las Vegas among fellow homebrewers, being asked to brew my beer at Kona Brewing Company was one of the greatest honors," said Romanak. "To go from brewing one-half of a barrel to 20 barrels is overwhelming. Kona Brewing Company's brew staff did an amazing job of bringing in the exact specialty grains and whole hop flowers to duplicate my recipe."

A batch totaling 20 barrels of Positively Porter was brewed in early January and is being tapped exclusively at Kona Brewing Company's two restaurants on the Big Island and Oahu.

"Hawaii's homebrewers are some of our most loyal customers. We've always valued their feedback and support," said Tucciarone. "It was great fun to be able to scale up Rod's Positively Porter recipe and let all our customers try it. I'm positive this is going to be a popular beer at our bar!"