Vortex IPA by Fort George Brewery

Vortex IPA by Fort George Brewery


ABV 7.4%

can find much wrong in this beer. even with its high hops amount it seam balanced and in harmony. I liked it better after letting it sit out of the cooler to knock the chill off. Theron and i split a 4 Pack of 16oz can shortly before the demise of Northwestern Lake, at the White Salmon take out. when we run the lower White Salmon river to the confluence with the Columbia river we will toast with Vortex IPA.


RRCBR Class V

Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale by

Anderson Valley Brewing Company

ABV 6.9%

This was the first  Anderson Valley Brewing Company beer i have tasted. I tasted it after a naked October swim at our takeout on the north Santiam. After a freezing swim i felt that i was ready for a winter ale.

Its richness makes you say "wow". It has almost no hops bitterness and is full of maltness without the "strong spice flavor" of other winter ales. It has a caramel and vanilla taste. Theron said it is like "cream soda for adults" and i couldn't agree more. I enjoyed "Winter Solstice" but with its richness I couldn't see myself drinking more than 1 can in a sitting. 

RRCBR  Class III+

Caldera IPA

Caldera IPA by Caldera Brewing

ABV 6.1%

One or mine and Theron's few differences is IPA. I love IPA, all IPA: British IPA, American IPA, Belgian IPA, Double IPA and Imperial IPA. I am always looking for the fresh and strong hop taste i love. In contrast Theron rarely chooses an IPA (never turns one down though) and he seems to prefer his bitter beer to be a lager.We both loved this beer: i cant think of a fresher tasting IPA, and the flavor of grapefruit was surprising and satisfying. And then we felt a little unmanly-like : talking about fruit flavors in our beers, alone on our raft. So we talked about hockey instead, silenty agreeing on the rating of this beer. 

RRCBR  Class IV

Mama's Little Yella Pils

Mama's Little Yella Pils by Oskar Blues Brewery

ABV 5.3%

Thank you once again Oskar Blues! This is fast becoming my Favorite Brewer! If any beer could remind me of eating my father's "Pork Shoulder Cooked in Sauerkraut" then here it is. It is a simple refreshing pilsner, exactly just what i want with my heavy German meal. I couldn't help but thinking of celebrating Oktoberfest when drinking "Yella". It was a good Pils usually only found in import beers. I could find myself in a lawn chair up to my knees in river water and enjoying a 6 pack on a long slow day, just waving at the boater traveling down the stream.

RRCBR Class III

How to build a can crusher.

it is important to pack-it out! recycling our cans so there will be more cans to drain. the joy of the can is in the convenience to crush it and make it simpler to haul it out of our favorite "wild and scenic river".

To build a can crusher you will need

• A Rock
• A Child: you can breed your own or borrow your friends' one, usually a boy (they are full of destructive behavior)  between the age of 8 and 13 is best; think "lord of the Flies"!
• see Pics for Assembly 

1. Give the boy a rock
2. place empty can in front of the boy
3. back away quickly because the can crusher is automatic

your can crusher will never grow tired 

small and easy to pack out

G'Knight

G'Knight Imperial Red Ale by Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery

ABV- 8.70%

Wow what a incredible caned beer. We drank this on a cold October day on the North Santiam. Its rich amber taste, dry hopped flavor and high alcohol content warmed the body and soul.  This strong ale would be a great dinner beer or Christmas Eve festive drink.  This was a surprise in a can; I now know there are great caned beers to enjoy.

G’Knight is brewed in tribute to the late Gordon Knight, who died in a helicopter crash while fighting a forest fire.  Gordon was a Vietnam Vet, Pilot and Brewer, we appreciate Gordon’s fine brew

Thank you G'Knight the River Runners.

RRCBR  Class V+

PBR

Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) sold by Pabst Brewing Company

ABV- 4.74%

I don’t understand many things; fixed geared bikes, $200 pea-coats at Andy & Baxs, The MacBook and drinking PBR.

I have long ago grown out of drinking beer by price: taste is what I want.  I can’t find it behind the blue ribbon. I am surprised by the flood of “hipsters” dinking PBR- a cough syrup flavored beer. I see it all over town - $1 PBR ice cold. It has to be ice cold, cold enough to shock your taste buds into not tasting it! After a few sips Theron and I used most of the contents of the tall boy to toast our “Dead Homies”.

PBR doesn’t even have the image of the little brother brewery anymore. Once owned and brewed in Milwaukie Wi ; now Pabst brewing is based in LA and owned by The Miller Brewing Company. I would be hard pressed to buy or even drink a free PBR. I think if I was in Rome Station Store preparing for an Owyhee trip’ and they sold out of Bud and Coors I would go dry before choosing PBR.

RRCBR- Class I