Septembrew's Journey Part I

 It has been a few days now since I have written anything to appease the Beer or Movie Gods. But it doesn't mean that I haven't been busy drinking and watching away for the sake of brewers like you. So to start I would like to sum up a few brews and a few movies I watched. My time didn't allow for both so I hope you will forgive me. September was a month of suggestions for me, readers and friends threw many suggestions at us and I went to work getting to the bottom of the barrel and the film canister. Bill already covered our journey through the canyon that is Hell or High Watermelon...bottom of the canyon that is. I can't say anything that Bill didn't already cover. We had a great time trying it however we found a way to make something out of nothing. My favorite taste test came via a suggestion from a reader. Fearless Brewing out of our own backdoor of Estacada. The brew of choice for our trying was Scottish Ale. This is a malty caramel  beer with a slightly nutty and roasty flavor. It was a very pleasant experience one that will have me going back for more. I had the canned version of the beer but I am very excited to make the pilgrimage to Estacada to try the many other beers that they brew from the upper Clackamas (for those keeping tabs that's the good part) especially now that they have unleashed the Scottish Strong Ale last weekend upon the world so stay tuned we will see if we can get our hands on that. Let me mix it up by tossing in a movie to throw ya off.

Click to view trailer

  I recently sat down to watch the movie Ted (2012) Starring Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. A story about a boy who makes a wish on Christmas Eve that his teddy bear will come alive and be his best friend forever and ever. Well his wish it comes true and over time he becomes a local celebrity and eventually becomes a has been and blends right in to the world around him.Well like all good best friends they grow up and change and like life does it throws them curves. It's a great movie even if ya took the bear and turned him into a person. I don't really wanna give away more I laughed my ass off and really enjoyed myself. To be continued....I recently sat down to watch the movie Ted (2012) Starring Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. A story about a boy who makes a wish on Christmas Eve that his teddy bear will come alive and be his best friend forever and ever. Well his wish it comes true and over time he becomes a local celebrity and eventually becomes a has been and blends right in to the world around him.Well like all good best friends they grow up and change and like life does it throws them curves. It's a great movie even if ya took the bear and turned him into a person. I don't really wanna give away more I laughed my ass off and really enjoyed myself. To be continued....

Beer Cupcakes?

One of our fans on Facebook wanted a suggestion on a beer to use to make Cupcakes.

 click here to see more

O̶m̶s̶i̶ ̶A̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶D̶a̶r̶k̶:̶ ̶B̶u̶r̶g̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶B̶r̶e̶w̶ Until Next Time

Burgers and Beer

We get serious about warm buns, frosty mugs, and hot, dripping patties. Discern the difference between grain- vs. grass-fed beef, delve into the science of skunky beer, and experience the magical action of yeast. Drink up with beer samples from local breweries while learning how the beer is made. Fourteen breweries are participating in the second annual brewfest. Brewfest tasting packages include event admission, souvenir pint glass, and 10 tokens for samples. Science nerds unite for childfree, brain-building science fun at OMSI After Dark! 

OMSI After Dark Brewfest

Taste the difference with samples from 14 local breweries. Tasting includes event admission, souvenir pint glass and 10 tokens for samples. $25 for non-members, $15 for members, $5 for OMSI After Dark members.  Additional tasting tokens will be available for purchase for $1 each.

Participating breweries:2 Towns Ciderhouse

Come Hell or High Watermelon? Door Number One, Please!

   

This last weekend I decided to go ahead and give 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon a try. I could easily sum it up in 4 words; DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. It is officially the worst beer I've ever tried.  The packaging is quite clever and artistic, promising something special. Special is one way to describe it. Maybe it's the fact they only sell it in the can (and on tap), I haven't liked too many canned beers I've tried. To be completely honest, I felt as though I was drinking a Budweiser with a slightly fruity aftertaste. If you are a Budweiser aficionado, you may enjoy it but this is one beer I won't be trying again.

      With that being said, I haven't given up on 21st Amendment brewing all together. I'm going to give some of their other beers a try. Maybe their Monk's Blood or Back in Black IPA. And I like the idea of a watermelon wheat, so I may have to try brewing some myself next summer.

      

Lawless:A Guest Breview

Cinema Brew has a treat for all of you. Today we have a guest reviewer in the form of Jon Nelson of Hooded Figure Productions and the web series Film Breach, has stopped in to give us a breview of the new movie Lawless.

Set in Franklin County, Virginia this Depression-era film is about three brothers who have formed a bootlegging business running moonshine throughout the county, but are threatened by a new deputy in town with the sole responsibility of putting bootleggers out of business.

The opening credits reveal a long list of talented actors consisting of Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman and Shia Labeouf. This cast might seem too good to be true, but they all perform top notch and there is also a surprising performance from newcomer Jessica Chastain, who you might remember from The Help. Guy Pierce’s performance as the film’s villain, Charlie Rakes, steals the show though. His overly proper portrayal of the deputy leaves you in wonder and fear from every scene he is in.
The film, although slow at times, has enough story and action spread throughout to keep the audience entertained. The action scenes seemed a little too brutal and graphic, but mixed with some of the slower scenes the emotional roller coaster that is Lawless has very high peaks and low dives. The family dynamic between Hardy and Labeouf is what drives the film. Hardy plays the protective older brother who is believed to be invincible, while Labeouf plays “the runt of the litter” and struggles with this hierarchy.
Altogether, I would recommend Lawless for any film buff, but it is not a family movie by any means. The graphic violence and nudity should keep the children and first daters away, but for true fans of film and Tom Hardy lovers this is a must see.
Being that this is a guest review for Cinema Brew I should probably recommend a brew to go along with this film, but being that this film is about bootleggers and their moonshine the recommendation seems rather obvious. The Original Moonshine Clear Corn Whiskey distilled in Culpeper, Virginia, only 100 miles east of where our film takes place. After the lengthy process to secure a license, Chuck Miller became the first official legal craft distiller in the United Sates in 1987. The taste is smooth, mellow and elegant. A mild warm sweetness of unrefined raw sugar, retaining the richness from freshly picked corn. 

Jon Nelson is a writer/director over at Hooded Figure Productions, a local up and coming film company as well as the creator of Film Breach. Film Breach is a weekly series that shows new filmmakers the tricks of the trade, understanding equipment and the jargon, and some fun effects. So head on over and check them out.

Our Commander and Chief enjoying a cold one!

Shocking Conclusion

After taking suggestions from Facebook fans, I picked up a half rack of Shock Top. I went with the variety pack, being that it was only $4 more than the 6-pack.
The variety pack contains 3 styles, Belgian White, Wheat IPA and Raspberry Wheat.
I decided to try the Belgian White first, as it was the beer originally recommended. It has a great aroma of citrus with a hint of anise. The initial flavor is of orange and coriander followed by a light taste of wheat, not much in the way of hops. It's a decent beer but nothing special, you can definitely tell it's a "domestic" beer trying to be a microbrew.
Next I tried the Wheat IPA. This too, smelled of citrus.  It's got a little more body to it and a bit more hops. Again, a "domestic" trying too hard to be a real beer. I doubt I'll try it again.
As far as Shock Top goes, Raspberry Wheat is where it's at, especially if you like drinking fruity beer. As soon as you pop the top you are hit with the aroma raspberries and oranges. The flavor is predominantly raspberry with a hint of citrus and spice. With a smooth finish, this beer goes on well. Perfect for a little "porch sitting" on a warm afternoon.
If I get a chance, I'll probably give their Lemon Shandy a try, too. Just for the hell of it.
The best thing about Shock Top is the creative labeling on their bottles, but worth a try if you want something a little different.
And when I find 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon, I'll breview it as well, though it may end up being next summer before I get the chance. If you have a can or 2 to share, let me know.

Super Awesome Fan Mail # 1 don't miss this!!!

Dear Cinema Brew

 I am curious can you find a beer that would go well with the movies E.T. and The Sandlot?
                                                                                          Good Luck
                                                                                         Special Kay

 Well Special Kay we accept the challenge. E.T. (1982) is a tough one as it is a family film about an alien left behind on Earth by his species. It's not long after meeting young Elliot that our beloved E.T. finds himself alone partaking of a brew brought to you by the Coors Company. Now it would be too easy to pick the beer our hero imbibes. So I sat on it while I thought about the beers gone by when I was struck by a memorable scene in which E.T. lays on the bathroom floor as pale as the tile underneath him, then it hit me...an IPA was the way to go. I am not the biggest fan of IPA's so I had to go with one that I liked and would drink again. The hoppy Ninkasi Triceahops Double IPA would work just fine.

 Now The Sandlot (1993), the heartwarming story of a bunch of 12 year olds on the edge of becoming teenagers but still holding on to the dreams of their youth as they spend their summers playing baseball at the local sandlot. Summers past leave their impressions don't they? So does this lovable movie...one of my favorites actually. My summers where like this when I was 12 and can relive those sweltering days of youth whenever I pop it in the DVD player. This one was easy, it had to be a seasonal summer ale and I have tried the Citra Blonde Summer Brew  and loved it, so there it is Special Kay, hope we helped out. Please feel free to submit anymore questions or even suggestions of your own. Is it beer o' clock yet?

Drinking at the Speed of Beer

I came across this article about the rapidity of drinking beer based on glass type earlier today and wanted to get everyone's opinion on it. So go take a look and let me know.
Do you find yourself drinking beer faster out of a straight glass or a curved glass?
Do you drink your beer faster if the glass isn't filled to the top vs. a full glass?

Dead Guy Monday Night

Sitting up at Tom's Pizza watching a little Monday Night Football, having a Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Brewing. Rogue has some really good beers available, and their story is great. Just a couple of U of O Alumnus and former Frat brothers, Bob and Jack, along with the help of another buddy and Bob's accountant, started a Brew Pub in Ashland.
Dead guy is great from the moment you pick it up, the label on the bottle of a skeleton sitting on a oak barrel just screams try me, at least it does to me. The fruity, nutty aroma when you pop the top off the bottle beckons you to drink right from the bottle, but don't, you'll miss out on so much. The copper color as you pour it into your pint glass is worth the wait. Once you put the glass up to your lips, you'll be glad you did. The lack of hops for a German Style Maibock Ale will be the first thing you notice, followed by the fruity, nutty finish. Unfortunately tonight I'm having it on tap, still delicious though. Give it, or any of Rogue's other beers a try when you get the chance.
In fact,
       Excuse me Bar Keep, I'll have another.

To Beer and Back Again..A Hops Tale

 In honor of the recent news that The Hobbit would be turned into three movies instead of the original plan of  two I struck out on my own unexpected journey...a journey of flavor. Let's face it most of us have seen the Lord of the Rings dozens of times so the review is nothing new here. But the added twist of attempting to match a great beer to this great film seemed almost as difficult as Frodo's journey to Mount Doom (ok not really). The LOTR Fellowship of the Ring Special Edition runs about 3 hr 30 min so finding a beer that could endure the journey started at the beer section at the local grocery store...yes my local World Market would have been better to find a more international brew selection they have many. Seeing as the urge to watch this film struck me on my drive home I had but one option. But don't discount what I had access to was no mere domestic selection Fred Meyer has expanded there beer section to include many great micro brews as well as international selections. I decided to go with a German Lager cause in Europe the Germans GET beer better than any. I was naturally drawn to one of favorite choices one that until recently I had only been able to get at my favorite local German Food vendor Gustav's. The Warsteiner Premium Dunkel. It is a smooth and rich textured lager with a slight but sweet aftertaste, fantastic dark color and aroma that sits well at room temperature without losing it's pleasantness. The kick of flavor comes from the great barley roasting. It was a journey that paired well as I watched Frodo (Elijah Wood) inherit the One Ring of Power From his Uncle Bilbo (Ian Holm) at the willing of the wizard Gandalf the Gray (Ian McKellan) and leave the comfort of his home in The Shire to journey to take the ring to a council that will decide the entire fate of Middle Earth. This film is fantastic to say the least and sets the other films up so in it's right it is not as dark as those that proceed this one. We go from green pastures decorated for Bilbo's 111th birthday to the darkness of the road ahead and the town of Bree where our heroes come into contact with Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) who carries them away from the pursuing Ringwraiths who are desperate to reclaim The Ring for their master Sauron. Sword fights, chase sequences, spell casting, monsters, elves....I could literally go on for ever this movie has everything. I sipped down my last bit just as the finale of the film was getting gaining on me. As the credits rolled I was left wanting more....more of the Hobbits and company.... more of my delicious brew. In the War    of the Ring, the Warsteiner is the only choice for me. Out of the bottle its great but it's best out of the tap so prepare for war, stop in at Gustav's and get a growler of the Warsteiner and get ready to journey to beer and back again. The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey opens December 14, 2012  followed by The Desolation of Smaug on December 2013 and There and Back Again on July 2014 This has been a Cinema Breview drink safe watch happy.

Black Butte Football Day Breview

       I'm taking a break from movies today to enjoy one of my other great loves, NFL Football. It doesn't matter who's playing, Sunday is reserved for football. What does matter is the choice of brew to accompany the game.
      Today I picked up 2 types of beer. First is an old favorite of mine, Black Butte Porter. Deschutes has always impressed with their selection of fine microbrews, with the porters and stouts at the top of my list. Their Black Butte Porter is great and a little deceptive. Like any good porter, it doesn't get bitter when it gets warm and it drinks like a lighter beer. So if you like to nurse your beer, don't have room in your cooler or you just forgot to put it in the fridge, you can still enjoy your bottle of Black Butte.
      A nutty roasted malt start, with a chocolate, coffee finish, Black Butte actually goes down best just below room temperature. This medium body Porter really works for almost any occasion. I highly recommend you give it a try.
      And for those of you are scared of the dark beers, I also picked up some Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale. There's not a lot to say about Drop Top, it's a light bodied ale with faint honey tones and minimal hops. A good choice if you don't like bitter beer.It's an all around decent beer if you want to kick back and have a few mellow beer.
      So if you want to get your drink on while watching a game, a movie or even just relaxing around the house on a lazy afternoon, grab either of these beers and you shouldn't be disappointed.

RocknRolla with Noble Scot

  MacTarnahan’s Noble Scot Ale with it’s brown sugary, carmel flavor reminds me of Saturday mornings, buttered toast with cinnamon sugar and burning leaves. Well balanced and full bodied, it’s an all around good beer that you should try while it’s available, as it is a seasonal beer.

  Going back to his roots of British Crime Comedies, Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla (2008) while not as good as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, still packs a One-Two Punch.

  Lenny Cole(Tom Wilkinson) along with his right hand man, Archy(Mark Strong) are the “Old School” crime mob run the fast growing London real estate market . They find it hard to stay on top when Russian billionaire Uri Omovich(Karel Roden) moves into town . Uri along with his sexy accountant Stella(Thandie Newton) is planning an illegal land deal. But when Cole’s drug addicted, rockstar stepson, Johnny Quid(Toby Kebbell) steals Uri’s favorite painting, things go awry.

  The “Wild Bunch”, consisting of Mumbles(Idris Elba) and Handsome Bob(Tom Hardy), led by One Two(Gerard Butler),  a group of small time gangsters trying to get rich quick. With the help of Double-crossing Stella, the “Wild Bunch” steals  7 million Euros from Uri, twice.

  A movie about a stolen painting and duffel bag has never been so funny.

  I know, I know, you thought I was going to tell you more about the movie, but with the amount of “Who’s working with who?” and “Who’s really the bad guy?” I’d be here all day and you’d have no reason to watch it for yourself.

  It’s good to see Ritchie making movies again, because after  ‘Swept Away’, I thought he was done. If you’re lucky, maybe we’ll breview Sherlock Holmes for you.

AND A LITTLE BONUS!

  If you live in the Portland area and can tell me why I chose the Noble Scot to go with RocknRolla, I’ll buy you a beer! 

Hint: It's related to the movie.

Suggest a Breview

The work week is finally over. It's amazing how a short holiday week can feel just as long as regular week. I'm going to be picking up a few brews and couple movies tonight. I'm looking for some suggestions on what I should get.
I will post breviews of whatever I choose.

Breview of Horrible Bosses and A Working Man's( or Woman's) Beer

Hello,
  I'm Bill Bartlett, the other half of Cinema Brew. I've always been a lover of movies... And Beer.
The following is my first Official Breview.
  I stopped at Laurelwood Public House and Brewery last night on my way home from work. I found a nice quiet booth and ordered a Workhouse IPA. I grabbed my Smartphone to see what movies I had on it and what do you know, Horrible Bosses (2011). I'm going to attempt to breview this movie without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it.
Jason Bateman, yet again, astounds me with how funny he is, this time with the help of Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. Then you add antagonists like Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston.
After nearly 2 hours of trying to laugh silently, I found myself hating Kevin Spacey because I almost believed he really was David Harken. I don't envy Nick Hendricks(Bateman) trying to move up in the ever competitive world of advertising with a sadistic boss like Harken always trying to keep him down.
  TORN is the only way I can describe how I felt watching Dale Arbus(Day) try to fend off his boss, Dr. Julia Harris(Aniston), who wants to sleep with him, even though he was engaged. The most seductive and immoral role I've ever seen Aniston. I'm glad I've never had a boss like her, I'm afraid I might have given in to her advances, she was HOT!
 Let's not leave out Kurt Buckman(Sudeikis). After his "good" boss, Jack Pellitt(Donald Sutherland) dies, Pellitt's son Bobby(Colin Farrell) takes over. The pot-bellied, comb-over sporting, cocaine addict new boss really makes Buckman's job a living hell.
  I fully understand why Nick, Dale and Kurt want their bosses dead. After talking with Motherfucker Jones(Jamie Foxx) a self proclaimed Murder Consultant, things really get out of hand, each planning to kill each other bosses. I'm going to leave it that, only saying that the outcome is pretty hilarious and everyone gets their "just desserts". Definitely a must see for fans of dark comedies.
   As for the beer, the bitterness of the hops blended with the citrus and pine undertones, Workforce IPA was the perfect beer to accompany Horrible Bosses.

An Introduction and a Cinema Breview By Ryan Lund

My name is Ryan Lund and I am a cinephile and beer lover. It is an honor to meet all of you. I would like to start things off by paying tribute to all things local...(kinda) by introducing a local brew and a local film ( I will be stretching this truth slightly). First and foremost we have the film, one of my true favorites The Maltese Falcon (1941) starring Humphery Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre. The film follows San Francisco detective Sam Spade ( Bogart) as he tries to work out a case involving three adventurers who are all in competition to gain ownership of a jewel covered falcon statue dating back to 1539. Not as heavy as some of Bogart's other films like Casablanca. One can really get lost in the excitement of the chase of this one. This gem of a film is to me as priceless as the statue our stars pursue. Now the film isn't local at all but I chose it cause of the long standing rumor that Bogart had a house here in Portland...I know I cheated and I am sorry but I can't take it back now. Now on to the brew perhaps my favorite beer brewed here locally at the Ram Brewery. Grab a half gallon growler and take it in to have them top it off for around 12 bucks. The sweet malty amber has the hint of caramel to it's finish and really hits the spot for any movie really so I kinda cheated again and picked a versatile beer but they are my favs so I can't change that. I hope you have enjoyed. This has been a Cinema Breview drink safe watch happy.