Yesterday afternoon, I visited Hopworks Bike Bar with my new buddy Valery. It’s a nice little location with a full tap list and a big patio. I had a mug of the IPA and we shared a pint of pretzels. The IPA was floral and bitter like jasmine or violet. There was a hint of crackers and white bread, crisp. I followed that up with a lager, which has the same crisp bread and cracker flavor. The bitterness is not light, but it’s dry and refreshing. Every sip left me wanting more. Valery had the Berliner Weiss. A traditional — if dying — German beer that is slightly tart. A wheat beer with a hint of raspberry syrup that even Sarah would like.

High-res We’re at Hopworks drinking some beers after yoga. I had a HUB Lager followed by their Secession Cascadian Dark Ale. Both were very refreshing and interesting. The lager recently won the Willamette Week Pils Off comparing different pilsners from around the state. The HUB lager definitely deserves such distinction. It’s crisp and tasty with a little bit of bread and a healthy dose of bitter with a clean dry finish. It’s so nice. On the other hand I have never thought a black IPA sounded that great. Hops and black malts? At the same time? Actually pretty great. Definitely surprising, the dark smokey, burnt malt flavor melds perfectly with the bitter, grassy hop flavor. It has a porter like darkness and a great green hop flavor. Really interesting.

We’re at Hopworks drinking some beers after yoga. I had a HUB Lager followed by their Secession Cascadian Dark Ale. Both were very refreshing and interesting. The lager recently won the Willamette Week Pils Off comparing different pilsners from around the state. The HUB lager definitely deserves such distinction. It’s crisp and tasty with a little bit of bread and a healthy dose of bitter with a clean dry finish. It’s so nice. On the other hand I have never thought a black IPA sounded that great. Hops and black malts? At the same time? Actually pretty great. Definitely surprising, the dark smokey, burnt malt flavor melds perfectly with the bitter, grassy hop flavor. It has a porter like darkness and a great green hop flavor. Really interesting.