in other words
january11
2011
19
Another Round: More Words of Wisdom About Beer
By Scott Laird
“Why
we
are here: To
tremble at the
terrible beauty
of the stars, to
shed a tear at
the perfection
of Beethoven’s
symphonies,
and to crack a cold one now and then. “
-- David Letterman
Another Brewpub-- Last month, I
talked about places to have a beer when
in Portland. Obviously, there is no end
to the great pubs and taverns where you
can find a microbrew in P-town. But we
just found another one last week that we
thought deserved a mention.
The Mash Tun, located just off
NE Alberta Street is a casual place-- a
small microbrew with very good beer
and food.
First of all-- if you go looking,
their address is 2204 NE Alberta, but
the entrance is around the side on 22nd
Street-- don’t be fooled like we almost
were. It’s there-- just not exactly where
it’s supposed to be.
Next-- the name.
A mash
tun is the large vessel or vat in which
grains and water are mixed together
at different temperatures during the
process of making beer. This process,
called “mashing,” activates enzymes
which convert starch into sugar, forming
a sweet liquid called wort (pronounced
“wert”). It is this wort that is drained off
into the kettle, boiled with hops and then
fermented into beer!
OK, about their beer. I had a
Concordia Creme Ale that was light,
flavorful and refreshing. Very well
done! We also tasted their Penfold
Porter which was dark and flavorful,
but a bit on the bitter side. They were
also pouring their Alberta Pale Ale,
Watership Brown and Razorback Red.
All their beers are not heavy on alcohol
content, so you can enjoy a pint or two
while taking advantage of the free pool,
darts and jukebox. And their great food.
Being
vegetarians,
it’s
sometimes hard to find good pub food.
You can almost always count on finding
a Gardenburger on everyone’s menu, but
that gets a little old after a while. We
specifically searched this pub out because
they offered vegetarian and vegan
options. Known for using fresh, high-
quality and local and organic ingredients
(when possible), apparently The Mash
Tun takes their food as seriously as
their beer. Yes, we ended up with their
veggie burger, but it was handmade in
the kitchen with mushrooms, nuts and
oatmeal and was excellent. We also tried
their Grilled Veggie Sandwich which
was also very good. Hand-cut fries and
a starter of Tempeh Strips, Buffalo Style,
served with mayo/mustard dipping
sauce, along with especially friendly and
good service, made the meal complete.
If you haven’t been out to NE
Alberta recently, you are in for a shock.
It is the new NW 23rd, with great shops,
art events and happenings, excellent
restaurants and food carts. And some
really good beer!
Going Gonzo-- Again!-- OK, I guess
the theme of this month’s column is
referencing past columns. A few months
ago we talked about Flying Dog Brewery
and their Gonzo Imperial Porter that
we picked up at the Birkenfeld Store.
Well, just last week we noticed that it
is now available at the Bear Creek Pub
in Vernonia, along with Flying Dog’s
Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale. These
are great beers and worth checking out
next time you’re in town. And it just
makes going Gonzo even easier.
New
Years
Another Round, we’re not big on
promises we won’t be able to keep. So
here are some words of wisdom about
the New Year and resolutions, all from
one of our favorite wise men, Mark
Twain.
-”Yesterday, everybody smoked
his last cigar, took his last drink and
swore his last oath. Today, we are a
pious and exemplary community. Thirty
days from now, we shall have cast our
reformation to the winds and gone
to cutting our ancient shortcomings
considerably shorter than ever.”
-”New Year’s is a harmless
annual institution, of no particular use
to anybody save as a scapegoat for
promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls
and humbug resolutions.”
-”A new oath holds pretty well;
but...when it is become old, and frayed
out, and damaged by a dozen annual
retryings of its remains, it ceases to be
serviceable; any little strain will snap it.”
-”New Year’s Day: Now is the
accepted time to make your regular
annual good resolutions. Next week
you can begin paving hell with them as
usual.”
See you next time for Another
Resolutions--Here at Round!
Vernonia Citizens Rise to the Occasion Again: The Gift of Warmth
and Dignity for 47J Students
Our wonderfully generous community came
gift. Not only did the kids get to receive a gift, they
together once again for students in our District who
got to fill a goody bag with tangerines, cheese sticks,
were in need of some extra help.
candy canes, cookies and of course milk. Once the
During the month of December, a Giving
kids walked into the room, they were surprised by
Tree was set-up at U.S. Bank on which 68 tags for
some special guests who were waiting for them.
coats and shoes
Santa and Mrs. Claus
were hung on the
were there to greet the
tree with care, along
kids, get pictures and
with numerous tags
tell Santa what they
for dignity bags and
wanted for Christmas.
dignity bag supplies
Complimentary pictures
for
Vernonia
were taken and given
students of all ages.
to Mrs. Kelly, Mr.
After talking with
Spackman and Mr.
District 47J staff, it
Weisel to hand out to
was identified that
students after Winter
as a way to support
Break.
families and students
It was a magical
this year, we offer a
event to be a part of
gift of warmth with
and could not have
coats and shoes.
happened
without
Kids where referred Catherine Helmer of the Skein Slayers; Marilyn Nicks of the generosity of the
by school staff, the Kiwaniis; Sandy Welch of Vernonia Cares and DeAnna Vernonia Community,
parents and/or they Pearl of Vernonia Prevention Coalition hold a card signed and the organizational
referred themselves. by gift recipients of the Christmas Giving Tree. Items pic- efforts of DeAnna Pearl,
Santa hand-picked tured were donated to Dignity Bags and Vernonia Cares.
Catherine Helmer, Scott
the donated scarves
and hats hand knitted/crocheted by the Skein Slayers!
We saddle shoe. Do you?
to students who weren’t on the recipient lists. It was
obvious those kids were thrilled with their scarves
and hats when they put them on right away!
All this was done in an effort to help students
950 Bridge Street
and families to embrace positive self care; keeping
Vernonia, O8 97064
warm helps support healthy choice making. “Young
503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050
and old, get overwhelmed with day to day life and
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find ways to “medicate” themselves through drugs &
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alcohol just to get through the feelings of helplessness
and or hopelessness,” states DeAnna Pearl, VPC
Director. “Dignity at any level is imperative to
positive self care.” In addition to all of that generosity,
other items like dish soap, fabric softener, bath salts,
etc. were donated. We were able to extend those
donations to the Vernonia Cares Food Bank.
On December 23 and 24, the Trillium
Room of the VCLC was turned into a bit of a winter
wonderland, complete with snowflakes and Christmas
music, which welcomed the students to receive their
Muffy’s
Helmer, Nicole Larke and the other super helpful staff
at U.S. Bank. Thank you also to Mike’s Tree Farm for
the donation of the Christmas tree used for the Giving
Tree, Mrs. Kelly from Head Start, Mr. Spackman the
VSD Elementary and Middle school counselor and
Mr.Weisel the VSD High school counselor and last,
but certainly not least, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Do you crochet, knit or wind yarn or have a
closet full of yarn to give away? Join the volunteers
of the Skein Slayers! every other Monday night.
Further, if you would like to know more about how
you can help support students and families throughout
the year, contact DeAnna Pearl @ 503 369-7370 or
DeAnna@vernonia-or.gov.
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