Doc Worts 2010 Beer Predictions - Revisisted!

The late Jean Dixon.... Headache, Soothsaying or just Constipated?

It's time to review Doc Wort's beer predictions. Back in January 2010, the Doc made his beer predictions.

A copy of the perdiction's and current status in beer world.

Within the beer world (not local), the Doctor predicts an increase in Beer Dinners and new upscale Gastro Pubs.

Yes... We've seen an increase in local and national Beer dinners. Gastro pubs have been popping up all over the nation and few in Oregon.


Barrel fermented beers have run their course, but some will continue to tweak the present.

Boulevard Brewing and others have continued to brew barrel conditioned beers, but it seems to be petering out. This years Holiday Ale Fest showed a drastic decline in Barrel Fermented beers , but an upswing in Belgian and Sour beers.

Sour Beers (Oh, how I hate the terminology! I'd prefer Wild Yeast better) will continue on the rise.

Sour Beers are being produced around the nation in small batches. We have seen baby steps in some national regions and at home. Oregon has caused a tidal ripple with Cascade brewing's version of a singular Soured beer. A singular Souring agent called Lactobacillus which is usually an agent known for spoiling food and turning Wine to a rancid mess. While Lacto can be found in some Belgian Styled Sour beers, it is usually "one" of many different bacteria and yeasts that produce a complex taste profile to these beers. Initial versions of the Lacto beers were more reminiscent of Vinegar based salad dressing with hints of Fingernail polish. Thankfully, Cascade has toned and balanced out these intense negative flavor notes and the beers have become more pleasant. The Doc is still not a major fan, but has had some quasi interesting beers from Cascade. I couldn't believe a raving brain dead alcoholic would have enjoyed the original versions, but considering some of our Portland local drinkers.... I wasn't to surprised. ;-} While far from as complex compared to a Belgian Spontaneous fermented or Wild Yeast infused beers and even less complex than other national Belgian sour imitations; These beers are continuing have a strong and even new following with their simplistic linear moderate sourness and acidity. Other Belgian or American Styles Sours are few and far between in the NW.... and that's a shame. Phillie's Monk Cafe, Roots, Jolly Pumpkin, New Belgian and HOTD all have attempted successful Flanders Red styles, but most Traditional Belgian Sour styles have remained untouched by Oregon brewers. Let's not even talk about some poor NW versions of cloyingly sweet Belgian-ish styles being produced.

Remember when breweries only made standard ales?

Standard Ales will continue to be explored at nauseum..... It's all been done, so everybody will try and tweak their standards ales into funky dimensions. Not all will be satisfying!

You can see Jeff's post on unsuccessful beers that have been taken into funky dimensions. That said, NEW Brewpubs continue to open with the Standard ale fare at nauseum. Some decent New Standard ales are being produced..... but when there's 100's of Great IPA's or Porter, why do we continue to dwell on this shit? There is a vast sea to explore, lets not stop now.

We will continue to see a path of high alcohol beers. Why? It's America! Bigger must be better and we have lots of beer drinkers who are it for the buzz.

Yep.



Beer Cocktails will make a short but dying appearance in 2010.

Yep. Personally enjoy all promos for beer cocktails that do NOT include recipes. Come on! If we want to spread the word, people have to be able to enjoy them at home too.


Increase in sell outs and buy outs. Creating even more boring homogenized standard ales.

Rock Bottom/Gordon Biersch.... need I say more?

LOCALLY? That's the big questions, eh?

I'd like to say that the IPA will die a slow death like the Hoola-Hoop, the Pet Rock or the VHS, but considering the ongoing relentless barrage from IPA Nation in the NW it will be a slow and embarrassing death.

The word is getting out and glimmers of the end are coming! I've seen bloggers toting the phrase, "Yet another IPA?" YAY!

New NW Belgians?

With the interest in Cascade Brewing's lacto-infected beers and our hopeful Upright Brewing, I see more Belgian beers being brewed in 2010! This is a great thing to the doctor. How far will they advance? Lost Abbey? Russian River? Jolly Pumpkin? Allagash? Eh, I don't think so... It'll be a slow progression and Uprights Belgian entries have been moderate to unsuccessful attempts. Of note, "Turkey on Rye!" WTF was this? Some people loved it, the Doc thought it tasted like science experiment gone A-RYE. Not a lot of ground being made there.

No breakthroughs... but things are progressing.

New local brewpubs round up!

New Brewpubs continue to Beat a Dead Horse with Standard ales and repetitive banal food choices. With the exception of Burnside Brewery which promises new exciting food and beer combos, all the other new brewpubs are maintaining the status quo of crappy food and standard ales. Sandwiches, tiresome pub grub and standard ale tap lists. Why not just all get together and call yourself BJ's or Rock Bottom?

A tell-tale list of some new local brew pubs tap list:

Coalition Brewing

• KING KITTY RED
  5.74% ABV, 59 IBU, 11.6 SRM
• BUMP'S BITTER ESB
  5.5% ABV, 55.6 IBU, 7.2 SRM
• MR. PIGS PALE ALE
  5.0% ABV, 54 IBU, 6.4 SRM
• HANSO STOUT
  6.8% ABV, 71 IBU, 39.3 SRM
• TWO DOGS IPA
  6.1% ABV, 70 IBU, 8.0 SRM
• THE WU CREAM ALE
  4.8% ABV, 29 IBU, 6.0 SRM
• THE LOVING CUP MAPLE PORTER
  5.48% ABV, 38 IBU, 20.2 SRM

Mt Tabor brewing scores a Hit with their Stout but the rest of the taplist is rather tiresome.

Dragon Lounge Pale Ale - American Pale Ale with a Chinese twist. Custom Brewed for the Canton Grill. 5.6% ABV 41 IBUs.

Asylum Ave IPA - Bittered with Amarillo and finished with loads of Cascades, this beer will drive hop heads insane. 6.8% ABV 66 IBUs.

Amber Ale - Our interpretation of a classic American ale. Deep copper in color, balancing the line of maltiness with a focus on NW hops. 5.5% ABV, 36 IBU

Soapbox Blonde Ale - Pilsen malt with a dash of honey malt gives this beer a crisp but sweet taste. Finish that steep descent and this beer will reward you. 5.5% 28.2 IBUs.

Little Bull Stout - Dark, hoppy, and delicious, the only thing "Little" is the name. 7.0% ABV 100+ IBUs.

P5 Pale Ale - Named for the Historical Landmark located outside our brewery this Pale Ale embodies the spirit of the regions pioneers with it's look to the future. A generously hopped pale ale with a finish that leaves you wanting more. 5.8% ABV 32 IBUs

Migration Brewing Co.

*Migration Pale Ale

A smooth drinking pale ale that features biscuit and crystal malts blended with 3 different hops, this copper colored pale has a perfectly malty body coupled with a crisp hop finish.

abv: 5.6% ibu’s: 56

*Clem’s Cream Ale:

Light on the hops, big on the flavor this blond ale is made with oats which lend to the beer’s smooth creaminess. Rounded out with 2 different hops, the Clem’s is one laid back, easy drinking beer.

abv: 4.6% ibu’s: 22

*Luscious Lupulin IPA

Hoppy goodness! This dry hopped IPA exudes big citrusy aromatics followed by a well balanced blend of 3 different hops and malts that makes this beer simply luscious.

abv: 6.5% ibu’s: 77

*Old Silenus Ale

A unique twist to an Old English recipe, the Silenus is deep mahogany in color and fills the palette with a rich malt body and faint cherry & cocoa undertones. Dominated by fuggles hops and 5 different malts this is a beer that Old Silenus can be proud of!

abv: 6.3% ibu’s: 75

*Terry’s Porter

Big and bad is the way this porter plays the game! A robust deep brown body with a balanced, mild sweetness, Terry’s is the perfect compilation of 4 malts and hops making this one an instant Portland classic.

Even with the self-proclaimed gleaning descriptions, these lineup is just not very enthralling.

Lagers? Meh.

Heater Allen continues to produce some moderately good beers. Chuckanut is Washington seems to be holding the NW lager torch and running with their GABF now famed wins.

Beer and food pairing? There is great potential, but I don't feel there is the right audience for real quality. We'll see.

With the opening of Burnside Brewpub we are hoping for some quality food/Beer combos. Of course, with the opening of the new HOTD taproom, we can see a clear vision of where quality food and beer can go.

The Crystal Ball is brightly illuminating.... and what does it show? On yes! I can see it clearly! A second shameless anniversary party for one of our local blogs! Oh, the humanity! :-O

Shameless self promotion and chronic dick waving seems to be the local theme with some local bloggers. I can't be anymore embarrassed to be a beer blogger with these sell out antics and money grubbing schemes.

OK...... The Doctor is going out on a limb here!! A far off prediction! I see McMenamin's doing a premium series of beers and bottling them! Whew! That was a tough one.... anybody into that kind of gamble? What would the odds be?

Obviously the odds were pretty high, as we didn't see this come to fruition, let alone an increase in quality of their hopelessly poor quality menu's and food.