Mar 9, 2012 Posted by Kyle K.

Bottling Up with The Commons Brewery

The Twisted Snifter recently paid a visit to The Commons Brewery in Southeast Portland to learn about their upcoming venture in to the world of bottling.  Specializing in European and Farmhouse-style ales with a Northwest twist, The Commons has been making waves in the local beer scene ever since moving to their new location in Distillery Row. Formerly known as Beetje Brewing (Flemish adjective for... read more

Dec 23, 2011 Posted by Kyle K.

Review: North Coast Brewing – Old Rasputin XIV (Barrel Aged)

From the kettles and brite tanks of North Coast Brewing in Fort Bragg, California comes one of our favorite Russian Imperial Stouts, Old Rasputin.  A staple in snifters across the country, this big, bold and robust stout really defines the RIS style for us.  It’s widely available, fairly affordable, intensely complex and ages wonderfully.  A serious winner in our books.  This, you probably... read more

Dec 20, 2011 Posted by Kyle K.

Seasonal Drinking: Holiday Ales and Winter Beers

As the seasons change, so do people’s tastes and preferences for drink.  It has long been a tradition for brewers to produce beers that pair well with the time of year, weather or holiday.  Warm summer days call for light and refreshing brews while the cooler temps of fall and winter demand a heartier, more robust beer.  As we progress further into the winter months, I find that my snifters and... read more

Nov 18, 2011 Posted by Kyle K.

Review: Firestone Walker XV Anniversary Ale

This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of Firestone Walker’s barrel aging program.  Starting in 2006, the brewery has produced an anniversary ale to mark the occasion.  Always a blend of the past year’s barrel releases, the make-up of this beer changes annually. Some years are darker and lean towards a Russian Imperial Stout while other years are more similar to a Barleywine style. The... read more

Nov 15, 2011 Posted by Kyle K.

Brewer’s Reserve: Barrel Aged Beers at Oakshire Brewing

Welcome to the first installment of our Brewer’s Reserve series, where we take a behind-the-scenes look at popular breweries and their limited release projects. Recently, the Twisted Snifter made the trek down to Oakshire Brewing in Eugene, Oregon to meet with brewmaster Matt Van Wyk.  We inquired about their barrel aging program, tasted some upcoming projects and discussed the challenges of small... read more