Jon Abernathy
Beer writer, blogger, web developer, beer geek. Wrote Bend Beer (bendbeerhistory.com). Also thebrewsite.com. He/him/his.
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Articles by Jon Abernathy
Salem Brew Week runs October 24–31
I recently learned about Salem Brew Week, a celebration of the beer scene in Salem, Oregon that takes place October 24 through 31 and centers around a digital passport used to check in to up to 19 locations for a chance to win prizes. During the Week there are several events planned as well, and it’s an opportunity to check out some new spots you may not have visited before. You can sign up for a passport here, just by creating a free account; you’ll scan a QR code at each stop to sign in.
McMenamins hosts its first-ever Autumn Ciderfest at Edgefield this Saturday, October 24
This Saturday, October 24, McMenamins Edgefield will host its inaugural Autumn Ciderfest, a celebration of the harvest season featuring ciders, apple-inspired cocktails, caramel apples, live music, food specials, and more. The event runs from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. and a portion of the ticket proceeds will go to benefit Portland Fruit Tree Project. Tickets for the fest are $48 in advance (which you can purchase here), or $53 the day of; this gets you the tasting glass plus 10 tokens.
Central Oregon brings home GABF medals
The Great American Beer Festival took place last weekend, culminating in the competition awards ceremony announcing this year’s best beers and ciders from across the country. Oregon breweries fared quite well this year, and Central Oregon was well-represented among the state’s winners, with 14 medals awarded among six breweries. Bend’s UPP Liquids led the pack with four medals total, three gold and one silver; UPP also won the 251–500 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year category.
Dogfish Head RTD cocktails
This spring Dogfish Head Brewing (and distilling) rolled out 570ml sizes of its RTD canned cocktail lineup, with two flavors first to feature in the larger-format cans: Strawberry Honeyberry Vodka Lemonade and Blood Orange Mango Vodka Crush. I’ve long been a fan of Dogfish Head, but these particular RTD products were not really on my radar, so I requested samples to try them out.
Knox & Dobson RTD cocktails – quick notes
I’ve got a backlog of reviews and notes to clear out, and among these are quick tasting notes about the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails from California-based Knox & Dobson, which offers a variety of premixed cocktails. Early in the year I received samples of the full lineup from the company, and I confess I hadn’t gotten around to drinking them until the weather was nicer. But I will say, while I’m sure these drink great year-round, they do taste especially good in summer.
Finding Success After the Storm
Steep Slope RoofingRoofing Technology Another storm season is largely winding down for roofing contractors in several markets across the country, but there’s still plenty of opportunities out there to finish the peak roofing season strong.
Finding Success After the Storm
Steep Slope RoofingRoofing Technology Another storm season is largely winding down for roofing contractors in several markets across the country, but there’s still plenty of opportunities out there to finish the peak roofing season strong.
Owl’s Brew Spiked Pop Hard Soda – reviewing a variety of flavors
I’ve never really reviewed hard soda before, nor have I had much experience drinking any; there were the “Not Your Father’s” line of Root Beer and Vanilla Cream some years back, and maybe one or two others over the years, but it’s not a category I see much presence of in the market, so I’ve never really had the opportunity. However a few months back I received a collection of hard sodas from Owl’s Brew, a company that crafts canned cocktails, which had just released its line of Spiked Pop.
Public Coast Farms Blueberry Jams review
At the end of last month we headed up to the Public Coast Farm in Banks, Oregon, to visit the first Blueberry Jams event hosted by Public Coast Brewing, featuring live reggae music, U-pick blueberries, and plenty of Public Coast beer. We’d never visited the Farm before, but during the summer months it opens up for self-serve berry picking, farmstand produce sales, and beer.
Revisiting the Hazy IPA Pack from Firestone Walker Brewing (received)
Last year I reviewed the beers of the Hazy IPA Pack from Firestone Walker Brewing, a mixed 12-pack featuring three beers built around the company’s Mind Haze IPA and marketing campaign. This year the Hazy Pack is back, with a bit of a remix, and the company sent me the beers to review. This year’s edition of the Hazy Pack swaps out Brain Melter Hazy Imperial IPA for Galaxy Bender Double Hazy IPA, but keeps Mind Haze and Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA.
Public Coast Farm kicks off Blueberry Jams this Saturday, July 25
The Public Coast Farm, a 40-acre culinary farm that is part of the Public Coast Brewing family of companies, is hosting its premier event of the season as part of its Summer at the Farm celebration this Saturday, July 25: Blueberry Jams, featuring music, beer, and blueberries from 12 to 7pm. The festivities are part of Public Coast’s 10th anniversary, and guests to the Farm can enjoy Public Coast’s beer, picking blueberries, and listening to reggae music.
Calapooia Brewing hosts Ales for ALS beer release and fundraiser
Craft beer enthusiasts and philanthropists alike are invited to Calapooia Brewing for the Ales for ALS Beer Release Party, a celebration of community spirit and charity, set for Saturday, July 25, 2026, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 140 Hill St. NE Albany, Ore. 97321. Now in its fifth year, this event is a part of the Ales for ALS™ fundraising program, which supports the ALS Therapy Development Institute in their efforts to combat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Reviewing Stiller’s Sodas, “classic sodas made right”
Now for something a little bit different from the usual beer theme—soda pop! Earlier this spring I received samples of four flavors of Stiller’s Soda, a relatively new line of classic sodas co-founded by actor and comedian Ben Stiller. The selling point of these sodas is “classic soda made right” and highlight classic (or nostalgic) flavors made with organic ingredients and are low calorie.
New beer series from Explore Tualatin Valley launches, inspired by local hiking trails
Local breweries and taprooms team up with Explore Tualatin Valley to craft limited-edition brews. Hikers exploring the trails of Tualatin Valley this summer can pair their outdoor adventures with local craft beer as part of a new campaign. Explore Tualatin Valley, Washington County’s official tourism organization, launched its Summer Collab Beer Series on July 1. The three-month initiative brings together five local breweries and two taprooms to produce three limited-edition, collaborative beers.
McMenamins 23rd Annual Roadhouse Brewfest returns Saturday, July 18
McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse is hosting its 23rd annual Roadhouse Brewfest this Saturday, July 18, featuring 32 beers and ciders from McMenamins breweries along with guests, whiskey tasting, live music, and more. The fest takes place from 3 to 9pm and costs $35 in advance ($40 day of), with a brewfest glass and 10 tasting tokens included in the entry.
The Horse Brass Pub in Portland celebrates 50 years this month
I’m late posting this news by about a week and a half: The iconic Horse Brass Pub in Portland, Oregon, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this July, with a week-long celebration from July 10th through 16th. Yes, that means I missed what would have been founder Don Younger’s 86th Birthday celebration, which took place yesterday—but I wanted to highlight that there are still more days and plenty of beer to celebrate this golden anniversary.
Elysian Brewing Jacktail Hazy IPA
Jacktail is the latest year-round beer from Elysian Brewing, a hazy IPA brewed with Citra and Idaho 7 hops that the company released this spring. Based on the marketing, the new beer is “an homage to Elysian Brewing’s deep west coast roots, tapping into the mystique and nostalgia of the wilds of the Great Pacific Northwest” even as the label shows what is clearly a vintage motel sign featuring a jackalope.
Public Coast Brewing’s Summer at the Farm starts today (July 6)
Oregon’s beloved 40-acre culinary farm returns with u-pick blueberries and other farm goods, live music, and Blueberry Jams celebrating Public Coast Brewing Co.’s 10th anniversary Public Coast Farm, the 40-acre culinary farm nestled along Oregon’s historic Sunset Highway, West Dairy Creek and the base of Oregon’s Coastal Range, is welcoming summer 2026 with its most expansive season yet.
Corvallis has a Dive Bar Crawl digital passport
Visit Corvallis recently introduced a new digital passport activity in the vein of the beer/ale trail concept, but with a twist: the Corvallis Dive Bar Crawl. I haven’t seen one of these for dive bars yet and this sounds like a fun idea that’s definitely still craft beer adjacent (especially in Corvallis!). Experience the easygoing charm of Corvallis with the Corvallis Dive Bar Crawl, your guide to exploring the city’s most relaxed and welcoming watering holes.
It’s Not the Roof Costing You Storm Jobs
Key Takeaways A close-up photo of a hail hit does not mean much by itself. Homeowners need to understand where hail hit, how often, and if the same storm pattern caused further damage. Good documentation should make the roof easy to understand after you leave. Follow-up does not have to be complicated. It only has to be timely. In storm work, follow-up is not chasing. It is protecting the next step you already earned. The first few days after a hailstorm can be a blur of activity.
Springtime lager shootout
I’ve received several lagers this spring for review purposes, two of them being limited-edition seasonals, so with the weather warming up I thought it would be interesting to do side-by-side reviews to see how they stack up. Sunglider was created with sustainability as a key factor, and is part of the Firestone Walker’s Brewing for Tomorrow initiative; it was brewed with California-grown “Butta-12” barley that is floor malted, and Salmon-Safe hops from Oregon’s Goschie Farms.
Great Divide Brewing Blueberry Muffin and Original Yeti Imperial Stout
Great Divide Brewing out of Colorado first introduced Yeti Imperial Stout in 2004, and since then the beer has become a year-round staple for the brewery. It’s one I’ve enjoyed a number of times over the years, yet in all that time I’ve never reviewed it here. That opportunity presented itself when the company sent me samples of both original Yeti and one of its seasonal variants, Blueberry Muffin Yeti.
Elysian Brewing introduces Jacktail Hazy IPA (received)
Elysian Brewing has a new year-round beer out, a hazy IPA named Jacktail, featuring fruity and tropical hop flavors with 6.1% ABV and 40 IBUs. It joins the company’s lineup on draft and in 12 and 19.2 ounce cans, and I recently received samples to review. Here are details from the marketing email: Hot off the heels of the non-alcohol Easy Dust IPA launch, Elysian Brewing is dropping a new permanent brew, just in time for enjoying the outdoors this Spring.
Reviewing the lower-alcohol lagers from Beer Girl
The beers from Beer Girl are lower-alcohol, gluten-reduced lagers with no added sugar, developed by husband-and-wife team Caroline and Griffin Foulk of Wagon Wheel Brewing of California. These are lifestyle brand beers, brewed with corn as an adjunct to help lower the over gluten content, and weighing in with only 3.5% alcohol by volume. I recently received samples of the two current beers, Amber Lager and Lighter Lager.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse releases Waterfall Rice Lager collab (received)
BJ’s Brewhouse has a new limited-edition seasonal beer out now, a collaboration with Sapporo/Stone Brewing, Waterfall Japanese-Style Rice Lager. Brewed with jasmine rice and Sorachi Ace hops, it’s currently available at BJ’s locations nationwide. It’s 4.5% ABV with 18 IBUs. As part of the rollout, BJ’s is hosting a five-course Japanese beer dinner featuring Waterfall on April 13 at what appears to be most or all of its locations.
Received: Stiller’s Soda selection
Stiller’s Soda, co-founded by lifelong soda lover Ben Stiller, is expanding its nostalgic lineup with the launch of Shirley Cola! Stiller’s fourth flavor and a bold, reimagining of the beloved classic, cherry cola. If the Shirley Temple is the wholesome childhood staple, Shirley Cola is her renegade sibling: a little dusty around the edges, confidently nostalgic, and designed for everyday drinking.
10 Barrel Brewing releases Pub Light Lager – received, with a blind taste test - The Brew Site
10 Barrel Brewing is introducing a “light” version of its popular Pub Beer, aptly named Pub Light; billed as a “lighter, baby brother” to Pub Beer, Pub Light is 4% ABV and 99 calories, directly positioned to compete in the American light lager market.
2 Towns Ciderhouse wins big at 2026 LA Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge
One of the most award-winning cideries in Oregon is 2 Towns Ciderhouse, with many awards earned across a wide selection of its ciders, and recently it brought home more metal from the LA Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. In particular, its new year-round Guava Get Down snagged three medals, and several of the Cosmic Crisp ciders earned silver medals as did two of the Craftwell Cocktails line.
Public Coast Brewing releases Peach Cream Soda and StackStock Candy Cap Stout
Public Coast Brewing is turning 10 this year, and is kicking off the year-long celebration by bringing back weekly live music as well as releasing special beers that “are going to be celebrations of the fan and brewer favorites from the last decade.” The brewery starts things off with the return of StackStock Candy Cap Stout and a new (non-alcoholic) Peach Cream Soda.
Bend Brews & Beyond returns for its second year on May 23
The Beer, Cider, Non-Alc and Hemp Beverage Festival Adds New Features and Lowers Ticket Prices From Last Year Grand Craft Bend is thrilled to announce the 2nd annual Bend Brews & Beyond which will again feature more than 50 Oregon breweries and cideries with every locally-owned Central Oregon hopped, appled, and honeyed beverage producer invited, as well as over a dozen non-alcoholic beverage makers, allowing everyone to celebrate together whether they feel like drinking alcohol moderately or...
Von Ebert Brewing releases Volatile Substance IPA varietal: Tropical Substance
Throughout 2026, there will be three Volatile Varietals with the first release, Tropical Substance IPA dropping this week. [The first week of March], Von Ebert Brewing releases Tropical Substance IPA, the first in a series of three spin-off recipes of its signature, award-winning Volatile Substance NW IPA.
Reviewing several Firestone Walker beers
Let’s get into some beer reviews for Firestone Walker Brewing! Last month the brewery shipped out a variety of beers between its Mixed Pack and a six-pack of Double Barrel Ale to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Mixed Pack features a rotating selection of IPAs with four different beers; I reviewed it last fall and this iteration includes the two common beers (Union Jack IPA and California IPA), so I’m only reviewing the other two this time around.
Full Sail Brewing’s Session Lager turns 21 this year
Full Sail Brewing is one of Oregon’s oldest breweries, anchoring the beer scene in Hood River with a number of classic beers, including its Session Lager series, first introduced in 2005. Session was as much a marketing campaign as it was an easy-drinking lager, introduced in the iconic 11-ounce stubby bottles, designed to grab Pabst Blue Ribbon drinkers.
Reviewing Double Mountain’s canned beer and cider
In this day and age it’s quite mainstream for beer to come in cans (it’s not the novelty it once was), but when Double Mountain Brewery recently revealed that it’s (finally) canning its beer and cider, it warrants a closer look. Double Mountain famously resisted canning for a long time, focusing on its refillable bottle program in its sustainability efforts, and finally took the plunge this year. The three initial canned offerings are Hop Lion IPA, Dry Cider, and Czech Pilsner.
Received: Firestone Walker Brewing Sunglider Golden Lager
I recently received a six-pack of Sunglider Golden Lager from Firestone Walker Brewing, a limited-release seasonal beer brewed with sustainable malt and hops. Part of the company’s Brewing for Tomorrow initiative, Sunglider is brewed with California-grown “Butta-12” barley that is floor malted, and Salmon-Safe hops from Oregon’s Goschie Farms.
St. Patrick’s Day beers and cheers
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope everyone wore green today and enjoyed some Irish-themed beers. I’ve enjoyed a few over the past couple of days and thought I’d share here. Block 15 Brewing never disappoints and this Irish-style red ale, Charmed Life, is pretty tasty. Ancestry Brewing bucks the usual red-ale-or-stout trend with Dark Irish, an Irish-style lager. Away Days Brewing tends to brew lower-alcohol beers and this Irish stout, Sheedy’s Left Peg, fits that bill nicely at 4.1% ABV.
Pear Lychee cider from Portland Cider
At the beginning of the year, Portland Cider Company added Pear Lychee to its year-round lineup, a cocktail-inspired cider created with pear and lychee that had previously been released as a small-batch specialty cider. The company sent me samples to review; it’s packaged in both 12-ounce and 19.2-ounce cans. I don’t know what cocktail inspired this recipe, though googling seems to indicate a pear lychee martini. There’s also lime listed on the label.
Double Mountain Brewery releases Gravitar Galactic IPA from the vault
Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery is reaching back into the archives and blasting off into bold hop territory with the return of a fan favorite: From the Vault: Gravitar Galactic IPA. Part of Double Mountain’s rotating “From the Vault” series, which celebrates beloved recipes from the brewery’s 19-year history, Gravitar Galactic IPA revives a beer that helped define the adventurous spirit of the Pacific Northwest IPA movement.
Big Hazy Pineapple Beer Hug
The latest release in the “Beer Hug” series from Goose Island Beer is Big Hazy Pineapple Beer Hug, an imperial hazy IPA that joins the ranks of the bear-themed lineup. The series focuses on higher-strength IPAs with six variants so far; as the newest, Goose Island sent me Big Hazy to review. The website description says: Big Hazy Pineapple Beer Hug is loaded with ripe pineapple flavor and a smooth, hazy finish, delivering a juicy tropical blast with every sip.
Portland Cider’s spring releases are out: Imperials Blackberry Lime and Passion Fruit
Portland Cider Co. is expanding its bold imperial lineup with two fruit-forward releases: Imperial Blackberry Lime joins the core collection as a year-round offering, and Imperial Passion Fruit arrives as the second installment in the cidery’s rotating imperial series for spring. Both ciders clock in at 8.4% ABV and showcase the fruit-forward intensity fans have come to expect from Portland Cider’s imperial style.
10th Annual Baker’s Dozen Fest returns on April 11
This year marks the tenth annual Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Fest which returns to Portland on Saturday, April 11, taking place at The ZED at Zoiglhaus Brewing. This specialty fest features 13 breweries paired with doughnuts from 13 bakeries along with coffee from 13 roasters. The beers themselves are brewed with the coffee, partnering the breweries with their local roasters for one-of-a-kind pours to pair with a wide variety of fried pastry goodness.
Beer Girl is a new low-ABV, gluten-reduced lager brand from California (received)
Beer Girl is a new lifestyle beer brand out of California, featuring low-alcohol, gluten-reduced, zero-sugar lagers, designed as a “lighter, more balanced alternative to traditional beer” for people who enjoy beer but not the feeling of heaviness or bloat that can accompany it. I recently received cans of the current beers to review, Amber Lager and Lighter Lager, both 3.5% ABV.
Received: Yeti Imperial Stout variations from Great Divide Brewing
Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide Brewing is one of the classics of the style, first released over 20 years ago, and is part of the brewery’s core lineup which is somewhat unusual as many breweries opt to release imperial stouts as specialties or limited editions. Over the past decade-plus or so, Great Divide has also been releasing special variants of Yeti, and recently I received one of these along with “standard” Yeti, a flavor I didn’t know existed until that moment—Blueberry Muffin Yeti.
Tap Season highlights and explores Oregon’s Tualatin Valley
Right now in northwest Oregon’s Tualatin Valley, Tap Season is underway, celebrating the beer and cider of the region with the Tualatin Valley Ale Trail and a new collaboration beer from 15 of the local breweries, Ale-Paca IPA, available in select taprooms and in cans. Promoted by the Explore Tualatin Valley, the region’s tourism marketing organization, Tap Season runs through next month with plenty of beer and cider to sample along the way.
Reverse Math West Coast IPA from Von Ebert Brewing
Portland’s Von Ebert Brewing is an award-winning brewery with a lineup spanning a range of styles, with a strong emphasis on IPA. For 2026 the company introduced a new core beer to the year-round offerings, Reverse Math West Coast IPA, a modern take on the style.
Received: A selection of IPAs from Firestone Walker Brewing
Firestone Walker Brewing is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and (presumably) to kick of the celebration, the brewery recently sent me a number of beers to review, including the revamped IPA Mixed Pack and a six-pack of its original beer, Double Barrel Ale, which was the first beer released back in 1996.
Upcoming Oregon weekend events (February 20-22)
Coming up this weekend in Oregon, there’s a a number of big beer events taking place starting Friday, February 20. It’s been awhile since I’ve done an event roundup, so let’s get right into it! The Oregon Brewers Guild’s statewide tasting event returns this Saturday, February 21, featuring nearly 60 participating brewery locations so far.
Welcoming the Year of the Horse with Tsingtao
Today is the start of the Chinese New Year in which are celebrating the Year of the Horse, and to mark the holiday, Paulaner USA sent me a rather large can of the classic Chinese pale lager, Tsingtao. I opened it up tonight to revisit this easy-drinking beer, which weighs in at 4.7% ABV. It’s not the first time I’ve reviewed Tsingtao here on the blog, but it is the first time I’ve had it in cans. The last time I wrote about it was in 2021.
Reviewing 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s non-alcoholic ciders (plus an alcoholic Mule)
In addition to award-winning ciders spanning a variety of styles, 2 Towns Ciderhouse also released a line of non-alcoholic ciders back in 2023, featuring two flavors: NA Cosmic Crisp and NA Pacific Pineapple. For the new year, the cidery added NA Guava Get Down to the lineup, showcasing the tropical character of guava.
Double Mountain Brewery releases beer, cider in cans (received)
For the first time ever, Double Mountain Brewery is releasing beer and cider in cans, expanding upon its refillable bottle program to align with customer expectations while still focusing on sustainability as a core tenet. The first beers in cans are Hop Lion IPA and Pilsner, and Dry Cider is the first cider. Hop Lion and Dry Cider are on shelves now. The brewery sent me cans of each to sample and review.
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