Just because Bridgeport is awesome enough to send me free stuff doesn’t make me a bad person. It’s not like it’s Coors or something. And just because I like so much of the Bridgeport lineup doesn’t make me a shill does it?

In truth, I think this package of goodies was actually the result of me entering into one of the myriad contests the Bridgeport marketing folks do on twitter. If you aren’t following @bridgeportbrew on twitter, you really should. They have been pretty relentless lately giving away free stuff through the ubiquitous social service. I mean where else could you get $100 bucks just for finding a guy with a crown on.

It hasn’t been all fun and games though. That previously mentioned Hop Czar ended up being way too much for my newbie IPA taste buds. Having just entered IPA land, I decided to go all in and try something fancy. Bad choice. I was no more ready for that cheek smash than if I had gone in the ring with Mike Tyson. Live and learn. The flavor isn’t bad, just intense from a hop standpoint (for me anyway). Also, a recent a trip to the Bridgeport Brewery made me sick, the details of which I will spare you. Word of advice: don’t order the catfish po-boy.

But I digress. Now, if you excuse me, I have to finish my Stumptown Tart and find a hanger for this shirt. Whore? Ha! The nerve of that guy….

Samuel Smith’s Organic Strawberry Fruit Ale (0/6)
Don’t drink this. Its terrible in a way that only bad fruit ale can be. Rancid sharp strawberry flavor, in otherwise fine ale. Admittedly, I didn’t expect it to be any good, but even I was surprised just how little I was able to drink before I had to pour it out.

Red Hook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale (1/6)
Your mileage may vary on this one, but I just didn’t like it. There was something about it that didn’t jive with my taste buds, and I was generally unhappy with the results. It’s not terrible, rather just the epitome of “That boy ain’t right”.

Full Sail LTD 02 (4/6)
Yay LTD! I just love this stuff. It’s on the maltier end of the Easy Drinkin’ spectrum, but it definitely qualifies as a cooler filler if the occasion arises.

Bridgeport Blue Heron Pale Ale (4/6)
Up to this point, Bridgeport’s Haymaker was holding the crown as one of my favorite Easy Drinkin’ beers. But now that I have had this, I think Bridgeport may have unseated itself. It’ll be perfect for the July 4th BBQ, when you force those family members who drink Budweiser products (…sorry I just threw up a little in my mouth…) to drink quality beer. Easy, non-offensive, tasty.

Great Divide Collette Farmhouse Ale (5/6)
I like Farmhouse Ales, but usually just for tasting. They tend to be a bit strong for a six pack or even a full 22. Collette, however, is an exception. This ale is great. And, although being farmhouse tasty (mmm…farm taste), its mellow enough to be had regularly. Or in large quantities *drunken stumble*

Widmer Sunburn Ale (2/6)
The blogosphere gave this beer a lot of happy thoughts recently, but I just didn’t see why. Widmer has decided to use some new “Citra-hop” variety of hops, which although novel, is super distracting to the taste. Its like beer flavored orange juice. Not a fan.

Dick’s Pale Ale (2/6)
Despite promising to do a huge run of Dick’s posts, I purposefully didn’t mention this one. Not because it’s bad, but just because it practically non-existent. It takes Pale to a new level by being the taste equivalent to translucence (see I know big words!).

Jonathan Edwards “Lost Finale” Lager (4/6)
I round out this blast of posts with a nod to our favorite local homebrewer Jonathan Edwards. Recently, he dropped this German Lager down on my desk, and I can happily say it was yet another notch in his impressive homebrew collection. Its crisp yummy taste helped drown out the sorrows of watching the Lost Finale. And made me buzzed enough to not care about the cheesy cork in the island scene. Prost!

The original marionberry Stumptown Tart set a new standard for fruit/beer integration. In addition to being wildly delicious, it was a great “ale” flavor that used the flavors of the marionberry without being too overboard. When the second ST came out, it was a Cherry Wheat. This time, the cherry played a more prominent role, since the wheat element of the beer made for a much lighter beer flavor. This time around, however, good ol’ Stumptown Tart has gone all in with Oregon red raspberry. Or rather, OMG ITS RASPBERRY!!!!

On first pour, the raspberry makes its presence known with a real strong “fresh raspberry” smell. And the first sip? RASPBERRY! This beer has the distinction of being one of the first beers I’ve had that tastes exactly like it smells. Sweet, sweet, alcoholic raspberry. Not the lame “raspberry flavor” you are used to mind you, or even raspberries you may buy at a local Big-E-Mart. This is earthy, fresh, real raspberry flavor, and it’s fantastic.

Now you may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned the beer aspect of this. There’s a reason for that. In what seems like a trend, this year’s ST has even less “beer-y” flavor than the year before. Although it’s made with a Belgian Tripel, they advertise it as a “Framboise”, which in my book defines itself as “Really F-ing Alcoholic Fruit Juice”. And boy is it. In an article on Wikipedia, they make mention that “Framboise is usually served in a small glass that resembles a champagne glass, only shorter”. Stumptown? Nah, that comes in a 22oz. So at 7.7% ABV, you can imagine how high I was flying when I finished my bottle. Just a word of warning.

I now realize that I’ve made in pretty far into the column without ever mentioning if it was any good. For that, I apologize, because it was really good. Crisp, light, refreshing, and wickedly fruity. I imagine it might mellow with age, but for now, drinking it immediately makes me wish to be outside on a warm summer day, instead of watching the rain and hail abuse my patio cover. This beer is perfect for those occasions when you are outside goofing with friends, burning steaks on the grill, and setting your neighbors bushes on fire with a stray bottle rocket. I highly recommend stocking the July 4th BBQ cooler with several of these refreshing beauties. Just be careful not to think that the fun fruit flavor is a tame one. Prost!

Lets just say… I’ve fallen in love with porters and Bridgeport’s is no exception.  The smoky smooth taste made for a flavorful, yet easy to drink beer.  I honestly can’t think of anything that wouldn’t taste good with a porter.  I’d even drink a porter with chocolate cake!  (Ohh… that sounds so good….) Ok… maybe I should change my name to “PorterSlut.”

It’s always a little scary to go into a sequel when you loved the original so much. As you may remember, the original Stumptown Tart still holds as my favorite beer of all time. So when I heard they were remaking it with a new formula, I was super hesitant. I was also however super impatient, so without waiting for it make it to the local store, I drove downtown to pick up a bunch of bottles from the Bridgeport Brewery. (Before I go on, I would like to point out that buying beer at the brewery is ridiculously cheaper than buying it at the store. Still love you — Belmont Station!)

So I fired up the BBQ, poured a bottle into a cool glass, and took a sip. Now, when I went to the new Star Trek movie last week (awesome!), it took a while to really get into it, because I had to put out of my mind the movies and shows that had come before it, and accept it on its own (Winona Ryder?). This beer was much the same. I finished the whole bottle, but actually refused to do any reviewing at all until I had a second bottle (not right away…geez I’m not that much of a drunk).

It was after finishing off the second bottle with Grandpa Goodbeer that I decided this beer had really come into its own. It’s a cherry wheat, which if Sam Adams is any indication, can be done very, very wrong. Luckily, Bridgeport knows how to do what so very few brewers do, and that is to make a fruit beer that doesn’t feel like you are getting a swirly in a beer tinged fruit salad. This stuff is great. The fruit is really low key, and the aged ale gives just the tiniest hint of sourness.

The only downside was reported by the wife, who had a real problem with the smell of the beer … which to be honest did have a hint of ‘wet dog’. Luckily I’m a mouth breather with allergy congestion, so this issue evaded me. Still, I figured I’d mention it just to warn you ’smell endowed’ folks.

In all, although ST2 isn’t quite the elixir of love its predecessor was, its still a super awesome beer. Not Wrath of Khan, but way better than Matrix Revolutions. Movie analogies now exhausted, it’s further proof that Bridgeport is the ‘awesomest of awesome’ craft brewery around.

As you know, the original Stumptown Tart is one of my favorite beers. When we heard the run was ending, SJ and I of course headed out and bought as many bottles as we could. As time has passed, we have dwindled down to the final bottle. (No!) But lo and behold, it looks like the Champion Brewers of Bridgeport have decided to bring it back! In name at least. This time around, instead of the beloved marionberries, local cherries will be used instead. Will it continue the trend of awesomeness? Bridgeport’s track record says yes, but we will reserve judgement until we get well drunk on it at the release party. Oh, yeah, the release party. Go, and let the guys know that fruity beer is what Oregon summer is all about.

Stumptown Tart Release Party
June 25th, 2009  5:30 – 8:00pm   (or until you pass out…ie: 5:45)

Bridgeport Brewpub
1313 NW Marshall St.
Portland Oregon

More details at their site.

Next up is Buzzsaw Brown from yin/yang brewery Deschutes. Wish me luck.

And with such great offerings as Haymaker, Stumptown Tart and Raven Mad, I officially declare Bridgeport to be the current holder of the coveted Frosty Goodness Awesomenessest Brewery Award. Congratulations to you and all of us who can drink your expert brews.

As for Raven Mad itself: it’s a strong tasty porter. Strong in the way porters can be, but then smooth and warm without any nasty sharp aftertaste. Plus, it’s oppresively dark, too dark to see through (which earns it bonus points for me).

This November 4th, vote Bridgeport. Because all these TV ads are making me ……… (wait for it) …….. Raven Mad.

In stark contrast to Walt’s testosterone fueled bottle art, this label not only wouldn’t kick your ass, but would most likely do something entirely different to it. But since this site needs to stay SFW, let’s move on.

The first pour of this told me how good it was going to be. The color alone was inspiring. Ruby-purple. I mean come on. I may be gushing a little too much because I just drank the whole big bottle, but I loved this beer. It takes fruity to the next level.  In all fairness, it’s probably closer to a lambic than an actual “beer”, but its damn good. It’s like drinking an alcoholic carbonated fruit juice.

My only semi-complaint about it, which may seem sort of nit picky, is that the serving size is too big. Because of the size of the bottle, and the desire not to have flat gross day old beer, you feel compelled to drink the whole thing. But man, is that a lot of sweet. I like a good tart as much as the next guy, but there can be too much of a good thing (chaffing?).

Still, super kudos goes to Bridgeport, who currently hold a 6 and a 5 on this site. I’ve been wary in the past since they sell beer at Trader Joes … but hey, everyone is allowed one mistake in life. With this and Haymaker, Bridgeport have climbed the mantle and can now hold on to the coveted “Frosty’s Official Portland Brewery” medal.

In closing, I bid you all to key an eye out for this sweet tart. And when you find her, grab her gently, take her top off, and wrap your mouth around … uh, er … you get the idea.

Here is where is gets really cool. The brewman we were talking to invited us back to take a tour of the brewery. Now, I know anyone can take a tour. Brewery tours are a part of all brewerys. This one was different. It was only the two of us and a brewman, not some tour guide or PR person. I don’t think we got to see anything more than anyone else does. However, delivery matters. And the perspective we got from our guide Tom was straight from the pits of Bridgeport’s 80 barrel brewing system.

We went from boiling tank to fermentation, to settling tanks, and then to the lab. We drank straight from the settling tanks (well, poured in to a glass), took in the sweet smell of hops in the hop fridge, and tasted some old beer in the lab to see what makes a skunky beer. Along the way we were educated on the finer points of beer brewing and drinking beer with the snarky, cynical delivery that only Tom could supply.

When you love beer like we do, you start to wonder why you love it so much. Of course, some would say it has to do with the alcohol in it. You know, the old Pavlovovian response to stimulus. But I’d like to believe it something more than just a chemical response to alcohol. Brewman like Tom are an inspiring beacon to all of us beer lovers. I learned something about where my beer comes from and why it tastes so good. I learned about the way lagers are brewed as opposed to an IPA or ale and why I like each differently.

So hats off, or better yet raise one up for Tom. His humble attitude and hard work is what makes great beer.