Banner...check Table signs...check Extra warm clothes...check Beer to share.....check. Tomorrow morning I leave sunny Eugene Oregon where highs are expected in the 90's. My destination, the often sunny Denver Colorado and the Great American Beer Festival. Tomorrow's high in Denver, 48 with rain. Well, we at Oakshire hope to drag a little sunshine with us to the Rockies and have a great week at the largest beer festival and competition in this country. Preparations have been many as is the norm for this time of year. We all get to head out and that means get the work done early.

Sory for the late notice. If you are free Tuesday September 15th from 6-8PM, join us at the Bier Stein for our GABF send-off party. We'll be tasting out 5 beers, Watershed IPA, Overcast Espresso stout, Collaborative Evil, Line Dry Rye, and Bourbon Barrel Aged IPA. The latter three will be pouring from the Stein's taps. On Thursday, September 17th, join us in Corvallis at the Crowbar from 5-7 as we''ll be doing the same. Wish us luck as we fly to Denver next week!

On Monday we got to brew the first of our three fresh hop beers. Some people refer to these at Wet Hop Beers. But what really does that mean? A Fresh/Wet hop beer is a beer that you make using hops that were pulled from the field within 24 hours of brewing the beer.On Monday we got to brew the first of our three fresh hop beers. Some people refer to these at Wet Hop Beers. But what really does that mean? A Fresh/Wet hop beer is a beer that you make using hops that were pulled from the field within 24 hours of brewing the beer.

Team Schwa is who we roll with here in Oregon. Watch Ultimate, have an Oakshire. Check it:

Today marks one of the most stressful events in my year-bottling competition beers for the GABF. A brewer can spend hours planning, brewing, and tending to a fantastic beer, just to see the long wait in a package create havoc in your creation. As most people know, bottling beer can be devasting to the life of a beer. Light, Oxygen, heat and handling can all influence the taste of beers.

Saturday marked the one month anniversary of this crazy little thing we call "Project Bottle-a-lot." While the local feedback has been stellar (and thank you for that), we've found out that our planning ahead in brewery expansion, production schedule and bottling runs has allowed us to send two pallets of bottles to Portland. This should be the first of many shipments to Stumptown. And since we have beer flowing there, Jeff and I are hopping in the car Tuesday and making an appearance or two.

In the last post I listed the August 13th event in Corvallis as the Downward Dog. It is not there. It is at the CROWBAR. My apologies to both. This is why I am not the marketing and promotions lead. Thanks. Come on out tonight/Thursday for Oakshire beers and music. Peace!

You've likely seen Chris and crew out and aboutin the last month tasting out our new bottles. Well, we've got a lot still coming up with 'Shire libations in the next couple of weeks: Thur. August 13. CROWBAR in Corvallis. 5 beers pouring plus music. Saturday, August 15. Bite of Eugene. Alton Baker Park Tuesday, August 18. Bottle release. Belmont Station Portland.

Collaborate: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.

Last Sunday evening we got a chance to celebrate Oakshire Brewing's 3rd Birthday (and my 37th coincidently) with about 300 of our great friends. Thank you all for sharing our day with us! Started last year when co-founder Jeff Althouse's brewery had to make a quick name change from the original Willamette Brewing to Oakshire, the now annual party is beginning to get some buzz. Beer, Burgers and a Band. Throw in some good friends and a beautiful sunset and you've got the makings of quite a hootenanny.