Obelisk Beer Co., by 2 Fort George Brewery alums, opens in Astoria

Two Fort George Brewery alumni have ventured out on their own to open Astoria’s newest brewery, Obelisk Beer Co.

David Coyne was a research and development brewer and barrel manager for nine years at Fort George, and Nathan Lampson was the marketing and sales director at the Astoria brewery. They quietly opened Obelisk about three weeks ago with a focus on what they call “slow beer.”

“We’re really passionate about beers that tend to take a little longer,” Coyne told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “Lagers, oak-fermented mixed-culture beers and spirit-aged strong ales.”

But don’t worry, they’ll have IPAs, too.

“We’re fully aware that IPAs and hoppy beers will keep us afloat,” Coyne said. “We’re also really into high complexity but low (alcohol by volume) beers. Right now half of our taplist is under 5 percent ABV. It’s really nice to be able to have full-bodied, full-flavored beers you can have a few of.”

Obelisk’s taproom is at 598 Bond St., a few blocks from Buoy Beer Co. in a building constructed in 1950 as a Blitz-Weinhard beer distribution warehouse that was eventually bought and used for the past few decades by Columbia Fruit & Produce.

For now, Obelisk is doing collaborations with other breweries and contract brewing some of their own beers at Living Haus Beer Co. while they wait to get their own brewhouse up and running.

“There’s a couple hurdles we’re working through,” Lampson said, “but obviously as soon as possible is the goal. We’re hoping for a handful of months — probably the first quarter of 2023.”

The partners eventually plan to open a kitchen and offer food at the taphouse, but that’s down the road. For now, they have menus to local spots for delivery and welcome people bringing their own noshes into the taproom, which is being managed by their first hire, Kathleen Rooen, also formerly of Fort George and Astoria Brewing Co.

The crew said they are excited about launching their own brewery with their own vision.

“All of our favorite beer tends to take a little more time, whether it’s an eight-week lager, a six-month saison or a four-year Lambic,” Coyne said. “Beer in my opinion tends to take a little longer when you give it the time it needs. So that’s what we’re trying to strive for.”

Editor’s note: This is a republication of Oregonian beer writer Andre Meunier’s Oregon Brews and News newsletter, which comes out at noon Thursdays. Sign up for it here.

No Holiday Ale Fest? No problem, says Tiny Bubble Room

We may not have the Holiday Ale Festival (for the third year in a row, grumble grumble), but we’ve got something new: the North Portland Winter Beer Festival, held at the excellent Tiny Bubble Room (which, for the record, has a great beer garden with covered, private booths.) The North Portland beer bar and restaurant this weekend hosts its first winter beer festival, embracing all of the big beers, vintage beers, holiday beers and holiday flavors befitting the holiday season. Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, noon-11 p.m., 2025 N. Lombard St. Just some of the beers on tap will include:

• Vintage 2010 Bigfoot
• Vintage 2013 Avery Old Jubelation
• Vintage 2014 Cascade Figaro
• 2016 Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus
• Threshold Holiday Bubble Cranberry Tart
• Crowns and Hops Santa Slays
• Silver City Old Scrooge (GABF medal winner)
• pFriem Belgian Christmas
• Deschutes Nitro Jubel
• Epic Gingerbread Big Bad Baptist
• Hetty Alice Wintery IPA
• Rueben’s Apple Pie Reuben Claus

Celebrate a year of Chuckanut P. Nut in Portland

Some of the best beer news of 2021 was that Chuckanut Brewery of Burlington, Washington, one of the best lagermakers anywhere, was coming to Portland. Now its P. Nut Beer Hall in Southeast Portland is a regular stop for me to try whatever’s new on tap and also replenish my six-pack inventory of my favorite Pilsner in the world. On Friday, Dec. 16, P. Nut will celebrate its one-year anniversary with food, raffles and the bottle release of its Barrel Aged Stout, which is limited and packaged in half-liter bottles, with two bottles allowed for purchase per person until it sells out. The hall opens at noon, and starting at 4 p.m. Farmer and The Beast will sell its smash burgers and other items — again, until stock sells out. Pacific Ice will have its specialty smoked fish on hand, and raffles will deliver the merch. 920 S.E. Caruthers St.

Beer of the Week

Maccabeer Winter IPA, Leikam Brewing (6.3%) One of the few examples of Chanukah beers available, Leikam Brewing released its 2022 vintage this week. Hopped to the brim with Centennial, Idaho 7, HBC630 and Strata, this beer is bright, clean and crip with notes of tropical fruits, berries and winter pine. With a limited production, it is packaged in 16-ounce cans.  I asked co-founder Sonia Marie Leikam about Maccabeer, and she wrote to me about the beer, Chanukah and its significance to her Jewish faith. “Often mislabeled as the Jewish Christmas, Chanukah is an eight-day, wintertime ‘festival of lights’ and is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods,” she said. “The Hebrew word Chanukah means ‘dedication.’ In the second century BCE, the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), tried to force the Jews to accept Greek culture and beliefs and destroyed the Holy Temple. Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated the Greeks and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.” This year Chanukah begins Sunday, Dec. 18, at sundown, and the Maccabeer Winter IPA will generate funds to support the House That Beer Built, a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East and local craft breweries.

What to do, what to do?

Rare Beer Night with Breakside & Friends: Breakside Brewery holds an evening of small bites and select brews from Breakside, Alesong Brewing and Blending, and Hair of the Dog Brewing, curated by Breakside brewmaster Ben Edmunds and blending manager Dan Hynes at the brewery’s Slabtown location. 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, 1570 N.W. 22nd Ave. Tickets $75 available online.

Loyal Legion holidays: Loyal Legion has a full slate of holiday events, topped with the tapping of 12 Hopworks Urban Brewery beers at both Legion locations from today through Sunday. The Abominable Celebration will feature four variants of Hopworks’ Abominable Winter Ale: the classic Abominable, Nitro Abominable, Barrel-aged Abominable and Old-Fashioned Abominable. Loyal Legion will also hold an Ugly Sweater Party from Dec. 15-18 at each location, with Pono Brewing beer and Bauman’s cider pouring at the Portland location, with the Pono team appearing from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, to release their Pinot Porter, which has been aging in a Maker’s Mark barrel for 14 months (rumor has it Pono co-owner Erick Russ will dress up like Santa again this year). In Beaverton, ColdFire Brewing and WildCraft Cider Works will be featured, with a fundraiser for Northwest Animal Companions being held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. There will be kittens to cuddle and adoptable foster dogs to pat. Bring your family (including dogs) for photos with Santa on the covered, heated patio. Portland: 710 S.E. Sixth Ave.; Beaverton: 4500 S.W. Watson Ave.

Makers Fair, Hammer & Stitch Brewing: The Northwest Portland brewery teams with its neighbor Assemblage, formerly Makers Union PDX, to showcase the region’s maker network “while making holiday shopping fun, festive & meaningful.” The fair returns as several small-scale holiday markets held inside the Slabtown brewery, with 10 local artisans selling their handmade goods at each market for a total of 30 makers. Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 10 and 17. 2377 N.W. Wilson St.

Santa at Mt Tabor Brewing: What’s better than Santa Claus, beer and pizza? Nothing. So join the brewery at its Vancouver pub from 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, and get beer specials and a picture with Santa. The brewery is also hosting a coat and blanket drive starting this week, and all items should be new and will be donated to a local organization in Vancouver to help those in need. 3600 N.W. 119th St., Vancouver.

12 Beers of Christmas, McMenamins’ Thompson Brewery & Public House: McMenamins celebrates the season by pouring a new seasonal beer every other day at the South Salem location, starting on Dec. 1 and running up to Christmas. A raffle is included, and you get a ticket every time you buy a new beer. 3575 Liberty Road S., Salem. You might need to make a few trips since the early beers will rotate out as the kegs blow. Dates, beers and brewhouse are:

• Dec. 1: Super Spiced “Old School” Kris Kringle (Thompson Brewery)
• 3: Ginger-Cran Ruby (Thompson Brewery)
• 5: Cinnamon Coffee Stout on Nitro (Thompson Brewery)
• 7: Woolly Mammoth (Wilsonville Brewery)
• 9: Lord of Misrule (Edgefield Brewery)
• 11: Caramel Apple Sour (Old St. Francis Brewery)
• 13: Barrel-Aged Black Widow Porter (Lighthouse Brewery)
• 15: Juniper-Infused Five Foot Assassin DIPA (Thompson Brewery)
• 17: Barrel-Aged Raspberry Stout (Monroe Brewery)
• 19: Marshmallow Bonbon Imperial Stout (Kennedy School Brewery)
• 21: Peach Saison (Monroe Brewery)
• 23: Barrel-Aged Smoked Scotch Ale (Edgefield Brewery)

New Releases of Note

Ferment Brewing Co. releases three barrel-aged beers, each conditioned in wax-dipped 500ml bottles. All three beers can be purchased at bottle shops throughout Oregon and Washington as well as at Ferment Brewing’s tasting room, 403 Portway Ave., Hood River.

• Barleywine (11% ABV). This winter warmer is brewed with a blend of seven different malt varieties from England and aged for a year in French oak wine barrels. Brewery notes: “Showcases deep layers of dried cherries, raisins and toffee flavors.”
• No. 22 Stout (14.3% ABV). Ferment’s third collaboration in the Zupan’s Farm to Market Series was aged for seven months in fresh Colorado whiskey barrels. Brewery notes: “Big bodied with sweet fruit and whiskey notes with an oak backdrop.”
• Imperial Stout (11% ABV). Aged in Hood River’s Camp 1805 bourbon, rye whiskey and rum barrels and blended to taste. Brewery notes: “Dark dried fruit, coffee and caramel malt character is met with oak and delicate whiskey notes.”

Figaro 2022, Cascade Brewing (9.5% ABV). Features sour triple blond ales aged in oak barrels for up to 15 months with dried white figs, bergamot peel and lemon peel. Brewery notes: “Elegant and complex, Figaro showcases flavors of dried figs with delicate hints of citrus fruit and a crisp, clean finish.” Figaro comes in Cascade’s new 250ml can and is available starting today at the Cascade Brewing Barrel House, 939 S.E. Belmont St., and in Cascade’s regular distribution channels.

Auténtica, Bauman’s Cider (5.5% ABV). From the Gervais cidery: “We finished a batch of our Authentic Cider in the can, resulting in a pét nat with lively bubbles, tart green apple notes, and a little bit of funk reminiscent of a Spanish Sidra.” Available in Bauman’s distribution channels.

Lemon Drop Cider, Portland Cider Co. (6.0% ABV). This limited run cider is tart but not sour, supported by the sweetness of Northwest-grown apples. Cidery notes: “Sweet-tart Meyer lemons provide a balanced citrus flavor, which is enhanced by delicate notes of cider-steeped elderflower, adding complexity.” Now available on tap or in 19.2-ounce cans at Portland Cider’s three locations and retailers throughout their Oregon and Washington distribution channels.

Bong Igloo, Fracture Brewing collab with Via Beer. This Belgian winter warmer will be released today from 5-8 p.m. at the Fracture Brewing taproom, which officially opened last weekend at 1015 S.E. Stark. St.. Bong Igloo will be served with a special menu item: traditional Belgian mussels and fries.

Lichen WC IPA, Grand Fir Brewing (7.4% ABV). This hoppy West Coast IPA delivers 60 IBUs along with “ruby grapefruit, dank, ripe pineapple,” the brewery says. Available at the brewpub, 1403 S.E. Stark St.

Threshold Brewing & Blending delivers three in cans and draft. Hopterra is being released today and New Western and Jack Knife: Tiramisu will be released Saturday during the Montavilla Holiday Market, featuring over 15 local artists and makers. Noon-5 p.m., 403 S.E. 79th Ave.

1. Hopterra Hazy IPA (6.1% ABV). Brewed with Anne Hubatch of Helioterra Wines/Alter Ego Cider, the brewers used over 120 pounds of her spent grape skins, which possess a yeast-activated precursor to some “gorgeously enhanced passionfruit and grapefruit flavors and aroma,” the brewery said.
2. New Western West Coast IPA (6.2% ABV). A modern West Coast IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops. Brewery notes: “Excellent clarity with pine and citrus predominating.”
3. Jack Knife: Tiramisu Dessert-inspired Milk Stout (7% ABV). Brewery notes: “Our highly approachable milk stout infused with rich Tiramisu flavors of creamy espresso and cocoa, beautiful body and finish.”

Massive! Barleywine, Gigantic Brewing. The Southeast Portland’s annual barleywine was released late last week, with various varietals from various types of barrels, including bourbon, rum, rye, Highland Scotch, Islay Scotch and Irish whiskey barrels. Available in bottles at Gigantic’s three locations.

Away Days Brewing releases a slate of winter beers. From the brewery: “There’s something for everyone whether you like it mild or strong, on draft, cask or in cans. Pop into our taproom and try our winter beer flights, or sample some delicious cask ale you can’t get anywhere else. Our winter beers (apart from the Bucket Hat Barley Wine) are all available on draft or cask in our taproom now.” Cans will be available the weekend of Dec. 10-11

• Milner’s Mild Ale (3.7% ABV)
• Petr Czech Dark Lager (5.1% ABV)
• Brown Ale (5.3% ABV)
• Hi-Viz Winter Ale (7% ABV)
• Bucket Hat Bobby English Barley Wine (9% ABV)

Gorges Beer Co. releases two:

• Mt. Defiance IIPA (7.5% ABV). This double IPA is being released at 3 p.m. Friday at Gorges’ Portland location, 2705 S.E. Ankeny St. Brewery notes: “Big IPA with notes of zesty grapefruit and bright tropical fruit that finishes dry with soft floral and spice.”
• Ponente Pilsner (4.7% ABV). An Italian-style pilsner being tapped at a 5 p.m. release party next Friday, Dec. 16, at Gorges’ Cascade Locks location, 390 Wa Na Pa St. Brewery notes: “Ponente means a dry westerly wind, and you’ll know why we named it Ponente, when this crisp Italian-Style Pilsner blows your mind.”

— Andre Meunier; ameunier@oregonian.com; sign up for my weekly newsletter Oregon Brews and News, and follow me on Instagram, where I’m @oregonianbeerguy