Goodbye Chowdah, hello Hop Head

It’s another beautiful day in Portland! Sidebar is the perfect option on days like this – cool down inside if you want some shade, or soak up the sun at the outdoor picnic tables. We’ve got a great lineup today, and an amazing lineup for the weekend…

Today, stop in for a pint of 2009 Dark Side Porter, brewed in July 2009 and cellared for 2.5 years;
Organic Cluster Fuggle IPA, a mild IPA that finishes moderately bitter and clean; Saison The Beach, featuring grapefruit zest, candied ginger and black peppercorns; 2010 Old Tavern Rat Barleywine, aged for almost a year prior to its release; Bomb.com, our Kick Axe fermented in Maryhill Winery Port barrels with 45 pounds of sour cherries, Cherry Bomb and a three-year-old guezue; and Kick Axe Dry Hopped Pale Ale, our tribute to the Timber’s Army.

This Friday & Saturday, we’re serving 2010 Franc’ly Brewdolph Belgian Style Red Ale, Organic Cluster Fuggle IPA, Saison The Beach (a preview of our Oregon Brewers Festival beer), Green Monster IPA, Kick Axe, and a guest tap: Pints Brewing Next Generation Strong Ale, brewed by former Lompoc brewer Zach Beckwith.

Tomorrow is also the going away party for Head Brewer Dave Fleming. After three fun years, Dave Fleming – aka Chowda, Squirrel, Richochet, Flem, Flemdog -  is saying goodbye to Lompoc Brewing. Please join us for a final toast to Dave at Sidebar from 4 to 10 pm. It’s a no host bar, but we’ll have some complimentary snacks. Dave is leaving to sell for Willamette Valley Hops, a family owned and operated hop farm in St. Paul, and are one of the top producers of premium hops in the United States. He’ll be based in Portland, so you’ll still see him around town. We wish him all the best!

The Portland Timbers play the LA Galaxy this Saturday at 8 pm. How will they do following the firing of Coach Spencer? All eyes will be on this game for sure. If you don’t have tickets, then come watch the game at any of the Lompoc pubs with a pint of Kick Axe. RCTID!

Lupulin lovers, this one’s for you: next Wednesday, July 18, is the return of Hop Head Night at Sidebar from 4 to 10 pm. We’ll be serving up six of our hoppy favorites, including 2011 Bourbon Barrel Aged C-Sons Greetings, brewed in February 2011 then aged in Heaven Hills Bourbon barrels for seven months and cellared for an additional seven months; 2011 C-Son’s Greetings; Organic Cluster Fuggle IPA; Flower of the Gods IPA; Double Dry Hopped C-Note, dry hopped in the fermenter with Cascade, Crystal and Centennial hops and then dry hopped in the keg with another addition of Cascade hops; and Kick Axe Dry Hopped Pale Ale.