The Book of Traps and Lessons

Best New Music

Kate Tempest | "People's Faces" | The Book of Traps and Lessons 

We're working every dread day that is given us
Feeling like the person people meet
Really isn't us
Like we're going to buckle underneath the trouble
Like any minute now
The struggle's going to finish us

And then we smile at all our friends


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Brew Detective: From Astoria With Love

Sitting along the southern bank of the Columbia River delta, looking north at the tree-heavy topography of Washington while nursing a cold one, is how you take in a Saturday sunset. The local co-op fueled us with edible calories as we rediscovered the small shops and boutique hotels. After exploring we ambled toward Buoy for a pint along the water.

Buoy 
Enjoying a delicious beer above the waterline outside is the best kept secret at Buoy. M went for a beautifully clear and crushable Cream Ale. Excellent customer service allowed her to test drive before going all in. I elected the single hop IPA which helps support the local animal alliance by donating a dollar per pint. El Dorado IPA's tend to be in my wheel house and this was no different, crisp and clear with a bitterness ever so perfect. This west coast IPA's characteristics are reminiscent of a hop-heavy pale ale. I thoroughly enjoyed the flickering moments of the late afternoon sun as the river's shipping lanes made space for massive container ships. Craft beers with my favorite person on earth kept everything tick tock.

Cream Ale | 5.7% | 19 IBU _____ El Dorado Single Hop IPA | 6.7% | 65 IBU

Fort George 
Later in the afternoon we went to the top floor of Fort George. The secret's out; Astoria is a dope beer town. We started out with a couple of Germanic inspired offerings. Lager in the Rye had an earthy, grain-like summer feel. The rye aided in the makeup of the body while keeping it crushable. Rye's an adult lager to say the least. Agent M went for the Cathedral Tree, a barrel fermented pilsner. Such creativity added a lot of complexity and a slight murkiness. Glowing with a lantern-like yellow this soft skunky pilsner is sunshine in a pint glass. Considering that we both went for session style ales, I was stoked to pick up on the many differences that the brewers were capable of achieving. Once again customer service was superb. We were offered to try anything multiple times and felt comfortable spurring conversation with questions. 

Lager in the Rye | 4.7% _____ Cathedral Tree | 4.8%

M went for Crysknife, a hazy IPA, with her final choice. The deep golden hue was opaque. Apparently this batch was brewed in collaboration with Mutual Friends Brewing in Denver. My notes included; the smell, down the hatch and all day yo. Every year since opening Fort George crafts an IPA with hops grown by local community members who then donate those hops to the brewery. I was struck by this idea. Why don't more breweries encourage this interaction? Aptly named the Co-Hoperative Fresh IPA. Co-Hop looked and tasted traditional with a unique color sparked by transparency. Agent M's take was in tune with seasonal change, "it's a holiday beer, a winter IPA," she' crafty and cool. The night ended with a delicious cast iron cookie and vanilla bean ice cream. Do yourself a favor and order one of these every time you're at Fort George, you should probably grab a pint to go too.

Crysknife | 7.2% _____ Co-Hoperative Fresh IPA | 6% 

Blue skies, sunshine and the power of the Columbia delta are both true and heavy. The bait has been set, now take the hook. Beautiful late summer days never hurt either. Enjoy craft beer responsibly. From Astoria with love.

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Everyone Hides

Best New Music |

Wilco | "Everyone Hides" | Ode to Joy |

If you're selling yourself on a vision
A dream of who you are
An idea of how it should be
And a wish upon a star


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Brew Detective: Little Beast | Wolf Camp

Little Beast Brewing in Portland is a favorite of mine, rarely do I find myself at their taproom. They possess a cool, minimal aesthetic, and craft tasty beer. I highly recommend grabbing a Little Beast offering. As for the findings on the following information, I need to thank Agent M for scoring a can of Wolf Camp. Say it again, just because it's cool, Wolf Camp.

This hoppy saison held a very subtle nose early on. Wolf Camp was oddly lacking the Ag-centric notes I was expecting. A nice foamy head forms atop the see-through straw-yellow liquid. Bubble gum aromas became noticeable after pouring. Wolf Camp jabs softly in lieu of a hop-heavy punch. The initial carbonation gets muddled along the way. It's light, slippery and has bubble gum notes, a narrative fit for a Kölsch. Interesting to say the least. Enjoy responsibly.

Wolf Camp | Hoppy Saison | 6.2% | Little Beast Brewing

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I am I am I am

Best New Music |

Bon Iver | "iMi" | i,i |

living in a lonesome way...
 Had me looking other ways
cause 
I am
I am
I am
 lost here,
 again
     - Bon Iver


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Sunflower

Post Malone & Swae Lee | "Sunflower" |

Enter the Spider-Verse...

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Level Up | Game On IPA

Well balanced IPA's are becoming a rarity. Thankfully Level Beer is crafting a superb example, Game On! This Portland IPA has great malt backing, a nice diversion. Don't worry, the hops are well represented, ultimately winning out. A nice jab of bitterness hits early and then fades into the smooth malt bill. I also picked up subtle notes of mango and traces of lemon. Always check the date on the can, these were fresh. Game On! Enjoy responsibly.

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Level Beer | Game On IPA | 6.5% 

My Walk

Best New Music |

Raphael Saadiq | "My Walk" | Jimmy Lee |

I've seen lawyers, judges, hustlers in my dreams
It don't mean nothin' if they ain't on your team
I've been takin' backstreets just to feed my soul
You don't know me and don't wanna see me cold
I don't bother nobody, I do what I do
What I do, I only do it for you
     - Raphael Saadiq


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