Deep in the heart of ancient woods, modern instrumentalists are devising songs of grandeur and epic scale. Wielding axe-and-hammer melodies like the bards of Sherwood Forest, the band Midlake takes a set brake. They gnaw dried meat and gaze forlorn into the glowering fog of midmorning. You are stunned by their significant musical contribution to this ethereal setting but recover enough to offer them an appropriate thirst quencher—the Wry Pale Ale from the Woods of Laurel.

Hundreds of years later, skeptics will say anecdotal evidence suggests there may or may not have actually been beer. Or musicians. Or forests. Rather dower, no?

Thankfully, future archaeologists will rescue our groggy, sobering culture by unearthing historical kegs, labeled “LAURELWOOD” in fading, rusty orange. Huzzah! A clear and tasty indication of rye, malts, heavy carbonation and fruit juice flavors. All consumptive observations perfectly consistent with the (badly) written records of early 21st century.

Dang the skeptics!

A final note from the future: though limited in the scale of its geographic distribution, the ale seemed to have positively engulfed all cultures it contacted with beguiling inventiveness and pleasantly warm syrup feelings. That and the ability to consume many Wry Pale Ale’s in one sitting.

By our Good Friend  Peder Engelstad

Sometimes people forget that we’ve got two breweries, the production facility at 51st and Sandy and the original brewhouse at Pizza Co.  Though much of the beer line up is the same between all of our locations, Pizza Co has a few unique styles of their own like 40th Ave Amber and Wry Pale Ale. Brewer Paul Bergeman leads the effort to bring some very cool new beers to the Portland brewing scene. Last week Paul and fellow brewer Hans Gauger spent the day brewing Altenburg smoked lager. The two were also bottling a Framboise that has been fermenting in oak barrels for the last two years. Chad and Paul filled those same oak barrels with a new beer  which will be ready sometime in early 2012. On top of all that Paul has just released Organic Deranger Imperial Red, with Himmelbrau Helles coming out this Wednesday. Sounds good to me.

Micah Bell

This month the BAM Festival is taking place at local theaters.  This Thursday, February 18, we are going to have our own movie night in our new building next to our location on NE Sandy Blvd (5137 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland 97213).  We will be showing locally made short films, having movie trivia, serving pizza and hot dogs and releasing Alien vs. Pale Ale.  Check out our poster.

Need a great place to eat this Valentines Day?  If you are going to be in or around our Battle Ground location this Sunday, these are the specials we will be running.  With love from us to you….Cheers!

Manilla Steamer Clams

Fresh manilla clams steamed with garlic, white wine, lemon, crushed red pepper flakes and butter.  Served with baked garlic baguette.

$10.95

Sole Farcie au Crabe

Fresh Dover Sole filet filled with crab meat, caramelized shallots and asparagus. Finished with a pinot noir  béarnaise sauce. Served with a roasted red pepper and smoked tomato risotto.

$16.95

Applewood Smoked Prime Rib

Cracked pepper and garlic rubbed 12 ounce Prime Rib loin, slow roasted, served with whipped potato and celery root, grilled asparagus and horseradish cream sauce.

$16.95

Chocolate Hazelnut and Chambord Frozen Truffle

Organic vanilla ice cream blended with toasted hazelnuts, Callebaut chocolate and Chambord, topped with a Marionberry ganache and white chocolate lattice, served with Crème Anglaise.

$8.50

First bottling of the year for our espresso stout. Brewed with Organic coffee from Portland Roasting this is a balanced stout with a great coffee character in the aroma and flavor. This beer is available throughout Oregon and Washington in 22 oz bottles and draught. Stop by one of our locations for a pint of this brew!