Day 2 - Drive from Astoria to Portland

Time to pack the bags and head for Portland, home of lots and lots of beer. But not before a quick visit to the Rogue Ale House on Pier 39. I was really looking forward to visiting this pub; Rogue brews has always beer solid and sometimes innovative. It all seemed good at the start. A nice gentleman brought me a beer to sample as I sat down. It was a guest tap: Buckma n Black Saison. The Buckman was very good with ample ash, spicy yeasts and tastings of milk chocolate and vanilla mocha coffee. Your selection of beer samples were listed on blackboards located in various locations around the pub. After listing you choices, which was around 12 beers, on a simple form your sampler tray arrived.


Don't get me wrong, I like Rogue beers, but their public house just seemed a little ... flat. The menu looked above average but not exceptional. There was no brewing on premises, at least not that I could see, just a lot of kegs. There were also lots of Rogue product (ie. bottles and T-shirts) lying around waiting for you to pick them up. Yes, yes I know the point of a pub is to sell beer, but you don't have to be overly invasive about it. And no I do not wish to join the Rogue Nation. Perhaps my feelings were tainted by the awesome beers at Fort George Brewery we had the night before.

After the Rogue let down we headed towards Portland to prepare ourselves for Oregon Brewers Fest.

Boss Kozlak Bock
Bock

Ratebeer 3.23 64th percentile
Beer Advocate B

This is a bottom fermenting lager that generally undergoes longer cold conditioning to round out the flavours. They are usually stronger, maltier beers with subdued hops.
Taste +3

This dark ruby brew pours with no head and leaves no lacing worth mentioning. Although the nose is primarily vinegar, you can pick out slight smoke, caramel and nail polish remover. There is no carbonation, but there certainly is a very assertive cherry/caramel malt and smoke flavours. The hop bitterness is absent and a hickory vapour coats your palate at the end. Despite the complex tastes, it is a very quaffable beer.

Aftertaste 0

Sadly very clean and moist ending.

Alcohol Content 0 6%

Almost tipped the scales for a +1.
Value +1

It was a very interesting beer for a good price ($2.50US).

Ingame Enhancement +1

I don't care that I bought a $400 PS3 to play Ms Pacman; it is still fun.

Overall 5/10

I liked it; it was a sweet and slightly complicated bock.

Hermannator Ice Bock and Zombie Wedgies
Amber Bock
Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

Flavius: Meterman is not here, so I shall go ahead and re-brand the blog. I will focus on the health aspects of beer drinking. After reading the book Problogger, I plan to specialize my blog and make a six figure income.
Meterman: I figure you will make six bucks.
F: I will never let you ruin my dreams again...
M: ..with the voice of reason.
F: Whatever. Apparently binge drinking, but not so much regular consumption of alcoholic beverages, is associated with a greater hip-waist ratio (WHR). A bigger hip-waist is considered to be the classic beer belly. In a recent study, over 28,000 people from the former Soviet republic were surveyed about their drinking habits. It was found that regular drinkers of beer or spirits (but not wine) had a slightly bigger WHR but not necessarily a larger body mass index (overall body size). This effect was thought to be slight and not very significant. What was significant was those people who reported binge drinking at least once a month, generally had a greater WHR that those that did not binge drink.
M: So binge drinking, not regular moderation, can make you plump.
F: Looks like. Binge drink is defined as consuming more than 80g of ethanol at one sitting. That is about a six-pack of regular beer (5%ABV).
M: It could also be two and a half Rochefort 10's.
F: Really only two..oppps

Kozlak Amber
Bock

Ratebeer 3.04 48th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4
I like a good bock, as long as it is not too sweet. The aroma is very sweet with lots of roasted caramel, smoke and cherry wood. This is a very sweet beer; lots of creamy toffee, roasted nuts, smoke and brown sugar. I'm sure there are hops there somewhere, but where?

Aftertaste +1
The wash is very sweet and the lingering of roasted caramel and toffee fades quickly.

Alcohol Content +1 6.5%

It is not noticeable through the sweetness.

Value +1

A very unique taste and I would certainly get it again.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Just sat in our Seattle hotel room and drank good beer after good beer after good beer...
Overall 8/10

For those who like there beers a little sweet and strong, look no further.

Hermannator Ice Bock and Zombie Wedgies
Yankee Jim Ice Bock
Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

Black Boss Porter (Poland)

There must be something about Polish beers, I have liked every one that I have tried.

Taste +4

This beer is black as black can be, almost as dark as my parole officers heart. A true strong porter all the way; noses of roasted malt, espresso and peat. The taste is what you would expect from the nose, heavy on the dark chocolate, roasted coffee and light bits of licorice.

Aftertaste +2

Nice finish of dark fruits (plums) and tingle of alcohol.

Alcohol +1 9.4%

Ouch, you can taste the ethanol on this one. It doesn't stop you from wanting to drink more and more.

Value +1

Sadly this came from the Bottleworks in Seattle. It was only $2.99US for 500ml, this was a great deal for the flavour.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I don't remember what I was doing while sampling this beer. But I do remember was that I couldn't physically finish typing of the review. I was flying Executive Class and had quite a few gin and tonics; I couldn't feel my fingers.

9/10 BOOM HEADSHOT

This is a stellar beer. If you like dark porters/stouts, this beer is a must.