Longtime writer & Portlander. I write The Beer Here online and in The Oregonian. Also: oil painter; reader; motorcyclist, bicyclist, mechanic, etc.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by John Foyston
Bock of Ages: The art of the brew
History by the glass: Mike McMenamin, Alan Sprints, Brian McMenamin. Photo: John Foyston BOLD DECEIVER, the IPA brewed for the 39th anniversary of McMenamins Barley Mill Pub on June 25, contains no fewer than 57 ingredients – 63, actually, should you be a stickler and count barley, hops, yeast and water, the only four allowed by Reinheitsgebot, the ancient Bavarian beer purity law.
On tap: 200 years of Oregon beer
Oregon’s brewing industry is robust and growing, with nearly 300 breweries, hundreds of pubs and taprooms, and legions of fans thirsty for its hoppy, craft-brewed beers. But all that great beer had to start somewhere, so it’s instructive to put that pint down for a while and tour the new exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society that details the 200-year history of Oregon brewing.
OPB's "Beervana" Debuted 11 Years Ago Today
John John Foyston is Oregon's longest serving beer writer, and wrote a weekly beer column for The Oregonian until just recently. His work has appeared on CNN, and in Beer Connoisseur, Celebrator Beer News, Oregon Beer Growler, Mix Magazine and other publications and will occasionally appear on these pages, at least until Angelo and DJ get tired of him too...He can be followed on Twitter at @beerherejohnny.
Like Lagers? See You at Tonight's Widmer Collaborator Release...
Widmer Collaborator Release 5-9 pm Wednesday July 18, Widmer Brothers Brewing, 929 N Russell St.; The Widmer Collaborator program continues with the release of two of the 2017 Collaborator winning beers: McPolanders’ Czech’s Mex Lager and Sean Sanders’ RaspBEERy Lemonade…as a bonus, look for happy hour pricing all day.
The Beer Here - New IPAs and a Raft of Belgian-style Ales, Beer Events for the Week of May 30
New IPAs on tap and a raft of Belgian-style ales at Cheers To Belgian Beers; beer events for the week of May 30, 2018.
The Beer Here - Craft Beer Events for Memorial Day Weekend 2018
We enter this extended Memorial Day Weekend with many beer events in and around the Portland area. Look for events with Reverend Nat’s and Alesong Brewing at The Upper Lip, Sixpoint at Belmont Station, Hopworks, and a Coin Toss and Bent Shovel collaboration beer.
The Beer Here - New beers at BridgePort, StormBreaker Opens In St. Johns - Beer Events for the Week of May 17
New beers from BridgePort Brewing, StormBreaker opens a new pub in St. Johns, Firestone Walker visits Belmont Station, Samuel Smith Salute and the rest of the beer events for the week of May 17th. Pilot Party: New Beers at BridgePort 4-7 pm Thursday May 17, BridgePort Brewing Co., 1313 NW Marshall St.; Help BridgePort celebrate it new beers and the pilot brewing system that made them possible.
The Beer Here: FredFest, Film Fests, National Homebrew Day and More - Beer Events the Week of May 3rd
Anniversaries, film fests, FredFest, National Homebrew Day, even zombies and more; craft beer events for the week of May 3rd. Gigantic Tap Takeover 5-8 pm Thursday May 3, Loyal Legion, 710 SE 6th Ave; Gigantic is getting an early start to its sixth birthday party with this HUGE tap takeover at Loyal Legion featuring 25 different brews for your drinking pleasure.
The Beer Here: Sip of Spring, Nano Beer Fest, Deschutes Portland Pub 10th Anniversary - Beer Events for the Week of April 26
New spring beer fest with Sip of Spring, Nano Beer Fest, and Deschutes Pub turns 10 years old plus the rest of the beer events for the week of April 26.
The Beer Here - CBD Beers, 420 Beers; Beer Events For the Week of April 19th
CBD beers, Japanese beers, Hopworks beers–it’s a big beery weekend; beer events for the week of April 19th. The Day Before 20 Tap Slam 6 pm Thursday April 19, N.W.I.P.A., 6350 SE Foster Rd; Sunriver Brewing Co. are back again, after crushing last years GABF awards btw, and this time dropping their new Nelson IPA & Super Spurberry Haze IPA along with trusty faves Rippin and Vicious Mosquito.
The Beer Here - Space Tacos, Rogue Redux, & Beer Events for the Week of April 5th
Space Tacos, Bad Precedent Release, Rogue Redux, beerthdays and more; Beer Events for the week of April 5, 2018. Space Tacos Fiesta/Espacio Mexican-Style Lager Release Party 5 pm Thursday Apr. 05, Ecliptic Brewing, 825 N. Cook St.; Originally brewed for the 2017 Oregon Brewers Festival, Espacio Mexican-Style Lager with Lime Zest returns as an official part of the Ecliptic Brewing Seasonal Series line-up.
The Beer Here – Beer Tastings, Old vs New, and Melvin 2×4 Day – Week of March 29th
Lots of tastings, including old vs. new at Roscoe’s and Melvin 2X4 Day; beer events for the week of March 29th. Montavilla Lager Tasting 5-9 pm Thursday March 29, Montavilla Brew Works, 7805 SE Stark St; Michael Kora and crew are pretty happy with their lagers and they’re definitely appreciated by our good brewing friends in Portland. Come by and taste our Pilsner, Amber Lager and Dortmunder Lager.
The Beer Here - A Fine, Funky Weekend of Farmhouse Fest and Orval Day - Week of March 23rd
A fine, funky weekend with Farmhouse Fest and Orval Day – Portland beer events for the week of March 23rd. Holy Mountain/E Nine Showcase 5-8 pm Friday March 23, the Tin Bucket, 3520 N Williams Ave.; Holy Mountain Draft: Three Fates – Czech-Style Pilsner Solarian – Foudre Fermented Saison Plague of Angels – Imperial Oatmeal Milk Stout Afterswarm – Rye Saison brewed with Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey E Nine Draft: Pogo Stick Hazy IPA Puppies vs.
New IPAs, Barleywine Fest, Firkin Fest and New Hall-of-Famer
Look for new IPAs from Hopworks Urban Brewery, 21st Annual Lucky Lab Barleywine Fest, 11th Annual Firkin Fest and new Oregon Beer Hall-of-Famer as John Harris is inducted. Here are this week’s Portland area craft beer events. 10th annual “Brew Hog” beer tasting and BBQ 6-9 pm Thursdays through April 5, North 45, 517 NW 21st Ave.; This popular series invites folks to meet local brewers, enjoy free beer tastings, $4 pints, and delicious bbq specials.
A Busy Thursday in Beervana: Beer Events for the Week of February 8
A Busy Thursday in Beervana: Beer Events for the Week of February 8th. Pono Brewing Co. Tap Takeover 6 – 9 pm Thursday Feb. 8, Beer Store Milwaukie, 10610 SE Main St, Milwaukie; Meet the Pono brewers and try some of their fine beers… 10th annual “Brew Hog” beer tasting and BBQ 6-9 pm Thursdays through April 5, North 45, 517 NW 21st Ave.; This popular series invites folks to meet local brewers, enjoy free beer tastings, $4 pints, and delicious BBQ specials.
'Tis the Season for Coffee Beers
‘Tis the season for coffee beers with the NW Coffee Beer Invitational along with Hamerhead’s 32nd Birthday, Beers and BBQ, Barrel Aged Beer at The Civic Taproom, Meet the Brewer at Bailey’s Taproom and beers from Fieldwork Brewing all the way from Berkeley, California. A listing of beer events for the week beginning January 25th. Hammerhead’s 32nd Birthday Thursday Jan.
CellarFest IX, Gorge Breweries Tap Takeover - Beer Events Week of January 18
A full schedule of Portland area beer events will take place beginning January 18th. Look for CellarFest IX at Bailey’s Taproom, Gorge Breweries Tap Takeover at The Civic Taproom, beer releases from Gigantic Brewing, a collaboration from Royale Brewing and 54 40 Brewing and more.
Battling Over Beer in 14th Century Poland
Beer and war? That’s what happened in medieval Wroc?aw, in western Poland, in 1380, according to Atlas Obscura in one of its reliably fascinating posts on the oddities of history. Wroc?aw was then the capital of Silesia, a region that corresponds to portions of today’s Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland and beer was such a part of life at the time, that the city has a brewery in the basement of city hall.
Martin Luther reformed brewing, too...
As Protestants celebrate the 500-year-anniversary of Martin Luther’s revolt against Catholicism, NPR tells us that beer drinkers might well raise a pint to the father of the Reformation, too: “Every hip craft brewery today peddling expensive hoppy beers owes a debt of gratitude to Luther and his followers for promoting the use of hops as an act of rebellion against the Catholic Church.
Beat Brain Tumors With Good Beer: Two Fundraisers for Team BREWPUBLIC & NBTS
Beat brain tumors with good beer at two fundraisers for Team BREWPUBLIC this week. Plus the rest of the craft beer events in the Portland area with Lagunitas, Migration Brewing, Little Beast Brewing, and Ex Novo Brewing for the week beginning July 6th. Lagunitas Super Sour Popcorn Pop-up 6-8 p.m. Thursday July 6, McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop, 2290 NW Thurman St.; Lagunitas will pair three of their Sour Beers with popcorn treats.
420, Earth Day, Nano Beers, New Breweries - Beer Events For The Week of April 20th
Beer fests, new breweries and new beers, must be a week in Portland beer… Celebrating Dank & Smoke 4:20 p.m. Thursday April 20, The BeerMongers, 1125 SE Division St.; 4/20 has always been a special day for the Mongers…here’s what’s pouring this afternoon: Block 15 Dab Lab “Doomglass” IPA Claim 52 Super Salad IPA Culmination Final Cut Double IPA Fat Heads Dank Zappa IPL StormBreaker Embrace The Dankness Double IPA Sunriver Double Dank Double IPA Aecht Schlenkerla Lentbier Reverend Nat’s Smoky...
Have You Had Your Two Beers This Week???
April 7 is, apparently, National Beer Day, marking the effective date of the Cullen-Harrison Act, when, prior to the official end of Prohibition on December 5, 1933, Americans could return to purchasing beer that was no stronger than 4.05 percent ABV… Here’s what a very nice flack sent me this morning…read the stats and ask yourself “Have I truly done my part for American beer consumption???” Did you know: 69 percent of Americans drink two or more bottles of beer a week.
SheBrew, Barleywines, Ecliptic Cans and Hopped Cider: Beer Events for the week of March 2nd
SheBrew Beer Fest, Barleywine Festival, Ecliptic can release and hopped cider, the week of beer events beginning March 2nd. Ecliptic Can Release Party 5-7 p.m. Thursday March 2, Belmont Station, 4500 SE Stark St.; The Station features the new cans just released by Ecliptic Brewing: Starburst IPA (a beer that before was draft only) and the new seasonal Quasar Pale Ale.
Caution Beer Writers: Never Drink and Spell
John John Foyston is Oregon's longest serving beer writer, and wrote a weekly beer column for The Oregonian until just recently. His work has appeared on CNN, and in Beer Connoisseur, Celebrator Beer News, Oregon Beer Growler, Mix Magazine and other publications and will occasionally appear on these pages, at least until Angelo and DJ get tired of him too...He can be followed on Twitter at @beerherejohnny.
Abyss Brunch, Burnside Fancy Party, Solstice Parties and more: Events for the week of December 15
Abyss Brunch, Burnside gets fancy, solstice parties, gluhbiers, krieks and more Portland’s beer events for the week of December 15th. Lauren Salazar’s Favorite Things 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, The Upper Lip. 720 SW Ankeny St; $5 cover. Meet master blender and cellar manager Lauren Salazar of New Belgium Brewing, who was recently named Imbibe Magazine’s 2016 Beer Person of the Year.
Holiday Ales, Hemp Ales, and Anniversaries at The Commons and Cascade Brewing - Beer Events For The First Week Of December
Holiday ales, hemp ales, and anniversaries at The Commons and Cascade Brewing; all of the craft beer events for the first week of December. 21st Annual Holiday Ale Festival Through 5 p.m. Sunday Dec. 4, Pioneer Courthouse Square; $35 includes glass and 12 tix. Oregon’s premiere winter ale festival features special beers from dozens of regional brewers. À Tout Le Monde Beer Release 4 p.m. Thursday Dec.
Black Friday is Black Beer Friday In Beervana; Beer Events For Nov. 24 - Dec. 4
We enter the Thanksgiving weekend with lots of Black Friday beer events here in the Portland area for the week beginning November 24th. Roscoe’s Black Friday Holiday Summit Noon Friday Nov. 25-Sunday Nov. 27, Roscoe’s, 8105 SE Stark St.; Roscoe’s celebrates the season and its big beers all weekend with a list that includes vintage beers, holiday beers, and holiday flavors on tap.
Jubelale Then And Now
Big day: this is the start of an occasional Oregon beer history post in which I’ll sift through the eleventy-thousand beer fotos I’ve taken over 25 years and see if I can remember enough to write a cogent caption — that’s why I said “occasional” for the first installment, I dug out a picture from John Harris of the very first bottle of Deschutes Jubelale — as far as I know, it’s still in his cellar and unopened.
Big Stouts, Cherries & Chocolate, and Zoiglhaus Turns One, Beer Events For the Week of November 17
Big stouts, cherries & chocolate, Zoiglhaus turns one are a few of the top beer events for the week of November 17th. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp ChicoCabra Celebration 5-7 p.m. Thursday Nov. 17, Belmont Station, 4500 SE Stark St.; Belmont Station’s Neil and Dave, both big Sierra Nevada fans, were lucky enough to attend one of the brewery’s famous Beer Camps, where they brewed a fine stout they call ChicoCabra.
Hard To Imagine Anyone Ruining Corona's Rep, but Heineken Apparently Tried...
Likely few of us reading this are are Corona drinkers for many good reasons, and Atlas Obscura gives us another possibility…the rumor begun by Heineken in the 1970s that Corona was literally piss. “Though the brand had only arrived to the United States in 1979, its rise to the top was almost immediate. Its allure as the “California surfer/life by the beach” beer of choice, made it a national favorite.
Sierra Nevada Celebration Release and Vertical at Woodstock Wine and Deli On Saturday
As the country’s second longest-running holiday beer (Anchor just released its 42nd year of the subtly spiced Anchor Christmas Ale) Sierra Nevada Brewing’s Celebration is a welcome sign of the holiday season and always a lovely beer.
Portland Craft Beer Events For The Week Beginning November 3rd
A busy, beery weekend of anniversaries and beer releases, Portland area beer events for the week of November 3rd. Ecliptic Brewing & Fort George Brewery JH2 IPA Release Party 6-9 p.m. Thursday Nov. 3, Lombard House, 7337 N.
The Horse Brass Turns 40 Plus The Rest Of The Week’s Craft Beer Events Beginning October 27
The Horse Brass Pub turns 40, plus Killer Pumpkin Fest, poutine, and lots of Halloween along with the rest of the craft beer events for the week of October 27th. The Horse Brass Turns 40 Tuesday Nov.1 – Sunday Nov. 6, Horse Brass Pub, 4534 SE Belmont St.; When the late Don Younger bought the pub that became the Horse Brass in the 1970s, 45th & Belmont was the back of beyond, and nobody knew that what this town REALLY needed was a Northwest take on a classic Brit pub.
Killer Beer Week Continues, Ecliptic Turns Three + Craft Beer Events Beginning Oct. 20
Killer Beer Week continues, Ecliptic turns three and the rest of craft beer events for the week beginning October 20th. Killer Benefit Night 5-10 pm Thursday Oct. 20, Garrison Tap Room, 8773 N. Lombard St., St. Johns; This is a benefit for Brewpublic founder Angelo De Ieso and all proceeds from the evening’s generously donated beer will go to continuing fight against an inoperable brain tumor. The event will feature some rare kegs from eight outstanding breweries.
Killer Beer Week, WW Beer Pro/Am + Other Craft Beer Event for the Week of Oct. 13
Killer Beer Week begins, plus Willamette Week Beer Pro/Am and other craft beer events for the week of October 13th. Cloudy IPA Night 5- 9 p.m. Thursday Oct. 13, Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom, 3090 SE Division St.; Celebrate the return of our beautiful cloudy weather by drinking some delicious cloudy IPAs, including: Block 15 Brewing Co. Fluffhead and Story of the Ghost; Great Notion Brewing Juice Jr.; Coronado North Island; Claim 52 Brewing Fluffy; and Sixpoint Puff.
Fresh Hop Fest, Oktoberfests, plus Peaches and Oakshire's Tenth Anniversary
Last of the fresh hop fests and some great Oktoberfests, plus peaches and Oakshire’s tenth anniversary and more for the craft beer events for the week beginning October 6. Claim 52 Night Thursday Oct. 6, Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom, 3090 SE Division St.; The Imperial crew welcome Claim 52 Brewing from Eugene: they’ll be pouring a lineup of five beers, including: Mandi, You’re A Fine Girl Pilsner, Kölsch, Fluffy IPA, Not Everyone Wants to Be a Butterfly IPL and Admiral of the Red.
Wayfinder Beer Sneak Peak
John John Foyston is Oregon's longest serving beer writer, and wrote a weekly beer column for The Oregonian until just recently. His work has appeared on CNN, and in Beer Connoisseur, Celebrator Beer News, Oregon Beer Growler, Mix Magazine and other publications and will occasionally appear on these pages, at least until Angelo and DJ get tired of him too...He can be followed on Twitter at @beerherejohnny.
Wayfinder Beer Sneak Peek
John John Foyston is Oregon's longest serving beer writer, and wrote a weekly beer column for The Oregonian until just recently. His work has appeared on CNN, and in Beer Connoisseur, Celebrator Beer News, Oregon Beer Growler, Mix Magazine and other publications and will occasionally appear on these pages, at least until Angelo and DJ get tired of him too...He can be followed on Twitter at @beerherejohnny.
Five Fresh Hop Fests Including Oregon's Biggest + Wayfinder Beer Opens And More Craft Beer Events
Five fresh hop fests including Oregon’s biggest at Oak’s Park and Wayfinder Beer opens. All of the craft beer events for the week of September 29th. Occidental Oktoberfest Party 5-8 p.m. Thursday September 29th, McMenamins 23rd Ave.
Burnside Brewing Fresh Hop Pop-Up fest starts today; Hood River Hops this Saturday
Fresh hop season is upon us once again. I first wrote about fresh hop beers in 1998, when Bert Grant made one of the first fresh hop ales in the country. Since then, Oregon and Washington brewers have embraced fresh hop beers in a big, big way and given the world a new beer style — plus they’ve given beer fans a season to look forward to. There are several fresh hop fests upcoming, including the newest entry on the fresh hop calendar: Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday Sept.
Fresh Hop beers, Oregon's gift to the beer world: and beer events for the week of September 8
Fresh hop season is upon us once again: I first wrote about fresh hop beers in 1998, when Bert Grant made one of the first fresh hop ales in the country. Since then, Oregon and Washington brewers have embraced fresh hop beers and given the world a new beer style, and fresh hop season is upon us, beginning with last week’s backyard hop harvest at the Lucky Labrador.
Beer Collectors Come To Portland, Mongers Turns Seven, Mt. Hood Meadows Opens Oktoberfest Season; Beer Events for the Week of September 1st.
Beer Collectors come to Portland, Mongers turns seven, Mt. Hood Meadows opens Oktoberfest season and the rest of the beer events for the week of September 1st. The BeerMongers Celebrate Seven Years Friday Sep. 2 – Monday Sep.
Spoiled For Choice: Beaverton Craft Beer Fest Adds A Third Saturday Beer Fest Option
Along with the 12th Annual Organic Beer Fest and the 7th Annual IIPA Festival there’s another festival with the Beaverton Craft Beer Festival. 12th Annual Organic Beer Fest Noon-9 p.m. Saturday Aug. 27, noon-5 p.m. Sunday Aug. 28, Overlook Park, 1599 N Fremont St.; free admission, $7 for required tasting glass, tokens are a buck each and ID is required. Cash only (ATM onsite) minors OK with parents, service animals only. Seventh Annual IIPA Festival 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 & Sunday, 1-9 p.m. Aug.
Portland Goes Organic, Saraveza Doubles Down on IPAs; beer events for the week of August 25
Portland goes organic, Saraveza doubles down on IPAs and other beer events for the week of August 25. 12th Annual Organic Beer Fest Noon-9 p.m. Thursday Aug. 25 – Saturday Aug. 27, noon-5 p.m. Sunday Aug. 28, Overlook Park, 1599 N Fremont St.; free admission, $7 for required tasting glass, tokens are a buck each and ID is required. Cash only (ATM onsite) minors OK with parents, service animals only.
The Lotus Closes Tonight After 92 Years
7 p.m. Saturday Aug. 20, Lotus Cardroom, 932 S.W. Third Ave.; No cover. Portland is losing another grand old bar to the relentless wave of downtown development: The Lotus Cardroom closes tonight, Saturday August 20 with an End of (almost) a Century Party to make way for a boutique hotel.
Barrels, BBQ, Bach and Baerlic, Sunday Parkways with Coalition: craft beer events for the week of August 18
Barrels, BBQ, Bach and Baerlic, Sunday Parkways with Coalition and the rest of the craft beer events for the week of August 18. Goose Island Barrels Bash 5-7 p.m. Thursday Aug. 18 Belmont Station, 4500 SE Stark St.; Goose Island’s barrel aging project – perhaps the biggest in the country – includes Tequila Barrel-Aged Hombre Secreto and Hombre Sectro with Mango and the time spent in tequila barrels lends these Belgian-style pale ales a peppery, spicy note that plays well with the Belgian yeast.
Ninkasi Turns Ten, Vancouver Brewfest Features A Slew Of New Brewers: Beer Events For The Week of August 11
Ninkasi Brewing turns ten years old, the Vancouver Brewfest features a slew of new brewers and the rest of beer events for the week of August 11. Draft Chimay Tasting 5-9 p.m. Thursday Aug 11, Bazi, 1522 SE 32nd Ave.; $12 for four 5-oz pours, or buy a full glass of any of the beers. Join Manneken Brussel Imports for a unique opportunity to taste the Chimay Trappist collection on draft: Doree, Cinq Cents (Tripel), Premiere (Red), and Grand Reserve (Blue).
Chimay, Hofbrau, pFriem, National IPA Day and artisan hot sauce; Portland craft beer events for the week of August 4-11
First Portland Hot Sauce Expo 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday Aug. 6 & Sunday Aug. 7, OMSI Bridge Parking Lot, $15, kids under 10 free.
The Oregon Brewers Festival brings the beer world to Portland: beer events for the week of July 28-August 3
Attendees also loved this year’s International Beer Garden, which features two dozen additional beers from brewers from Japan, China, Germany and the Netherlands during the weekend. The half dozen Wednesday beers included such treats as an amazingly refreshing Imperial IPA brewed for the 10th anniversary of Japan’s Shiga Kogen brewery.
Beer Events Leading Up to the OBF: Oregon's Biggest Week in Craft Beer
Great Notion beertender and staunch advocate Andrew Robinson recently brought by a sample of the brewery’s new Whole Melon IPA and it was a revelation. It’s named after the only hop used, Hüll Melon, which was bred at the Hop Research Institute in Hüll in the Hallertau region of Bavaria. A moderate alpha aroma hop, “this hop variety has bold flavors,” according to the website “and is not necessarily associated with typical hop variety aromas.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with John
Contact John, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack