Farmers Market: Krugers & Captured By Porches

teeny, juicy, flavorful Oregon Strawberries from Kruger's Farm

Oh, Captured by Porches - you remain one of my favorite, crazy little breweries of the Portland area. After I discovered the goodness that was your Invasive Species IPA at Kruger's Farm, I look forward to the warmer weather and knowing that your happy vehicles will be pouring fantastic beer when I come to get my fresh, lovely produce.

out along the Multnomah Channel, you'll find a myriad of delights... Sauvie Island

big green beer bus

Now, I depart from my usual drink on this fine day - for Jen is serving a Brown Ale, an Apricot (which Suzanne tells me is essentially the Kolsch with apricots), and the Vaga Blonde. I don't generally like fruit beers. Shall we recount the myriad numbers which I have tried in recent weeks, with little success?

Suzanne & Jen of Captured by Porches, with new friend & his human

This changed today.

Paired effortlessly with a salmon burger and corn on the cob, the Apricot by Captured by Porches is what I always hope for (but can rarely expect) from fruit beer. Not too sweet, lots of fruit up front, a fine apricot nose, clear and well carbonated, soft on the palate and full of flavor. Absolute perfection.

I'll be on the lookout for this beer again. And if you're smart, you will too. Find Dylan, Suzanne, Jen & the rest of the Captured by Porches crew at various locales around our fine city - including

"The Mobile Public Haus) is now open at the D Street Noshery, at 3221 SE Division Street, Friday (2 to 10pm), Saturday (2 to 10pm), and Sunday (noon to 5pm).

The newest beer bus (ex-bread delivery, 1946!) is stationed at the NW corner of NE Alberta and 23rd Ave (behind the Burger Bus) and is open Friday to Sunday, 2-10pm.

The big giant beer bus (with lounge inside) is now open at Krugers Farm on Sauvie Island (17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd) and is open Sat and Sun noon to five or six, and for the Thursday concerts 5pm to 10pm. Whew!)"

Don't miss this little brewery who could. It's been a tremendous year for them, and they deserve every moment of success. 

Le Weekend...

Lantern Brewing Update! A weekend in Seattle!

This past weekend, I rode the train up to help Chris with the opening of his new booth for Lantern Brewing. I was so excited to help, but I never would have imagined such success for the first time out. We labeled and packed up beer like crazy on Thursday afternoon, after a trip to the World Market Spice store (some Indian Coriander & delicious spices were on his list - stay tuned for more of his special release beers coming this summer!!).

Thursday night we did some "research." Which also included a funny encounter at one of the local bottle shops, with the guy behind the desk whispering to Chris, "Hey. We're getting Pliny (the Elder/Russian River) in tomorrow. Around 11. If you like that kind of thing. Only one case." Which cracked Chris and I up, because it was like being shown the seedy underbelly of some sort of beer scene.

Friday, the weather was glorious. Slightly windy, not too hot, not too cold. I took the cloudless skies as an omen of good fortune.

Friday was tying up loose ends, and then off to load in at the Farmer's Market. An unbelievable amount of people showed up at the booth, exclaiming that they'd been looking for him due to a blog article posted the night before in the neighborhood blog. "We're so excited to have you here!" and "Wow! This is awesome!" were the familiar refrains of the day. The surrounding booths (Crystal of Tall Grass Bakery, Jake of the Edible Gardens, and the woman from Tahoma Farms) were all so excited. It was really fun to see Chris in his element, among the other vendors, and to see his beers in the same class as the top quality produce, baked goods, and plants. Phinney is really a special neighborhood.

His labels (designed by moi) were well received, and more than one person described them as "evocative." Whoop! By the end of the 4 hour market, Chris had all but sold out of all the beer he brought - only 8 lonesome bottles of Stout were left; the Pale Ale and the Tripel were all gone!

If you're out and about Seattle on Friday afternoons this summer, stop by and say hi to Chris at the Phinney Farmer's Market, open from 3 - 7 pm every Friday through the summer. In addition, he'll be at the Phinney Neighborhood Association's Summer Beer Taste (Sat. July 16, 4-7pm) and the 4-Corners.org Beer Fest at Innis Arden Clubhouse in Shoreline, Washington (also 3 - 7 pm) on August 13th.

I realize that I (might) be a little biased, but I am so stoked that he's making his dreams come true. Thanks to everyone who came out and made the farmer's market an outstanding event. It was awesome to be a part of, to talk with you all, to hear feedback about what Lantern's neighbors were thinking, and meet so many nice people! You made our weekend!

The other part that made my weekend was the funny little people I get to visit when I go up. They are a hoot, and they got new pet rats... So not only did I get to visit some of my favorite people, I also got to meet and play with their new ratty friends. I'd forgotten how sweet the little ratty hands and noses are and how clever they are.  Awesome time, in all. I can't wait to go back!

Lantern Brewing update!

This past weekend, I rode the train up to help Chris with the opening of his new booth for Lantern Brewing. I was so excited to help, but I never would have imagined such success for the first time out. We labeled and packed up beer like crazy on Thursday afternoon, after a trip to the World Market Spice store (some Indian Coriander & delicious spices were on his list - stay tuned for more of his special release beers coming this summer!!).

Friday was tying up loose ends, and then off to load in at the Farmer's Market. An unbelievable amount of people showed up at the booth, exclaiming that they'd been looking for him due to a blog article posted the night before in the neighborhood blog. "We're so excited to have you here!" and "Wow! This is awesome!" were the familiar refrains of the day.

His labels (designed by moi) were well received, and more than one person described them as "evocative." Whoop! By the end of the 4 hour market, Chris had all but sold out of all the beer he brought - only 8 lonesome bottles of Stout were left; the Pale Ale and the Tripel were all gone!

If you're out and about Seattle on Friday afternoons this summer, stop by and say hi to Chris at the Phinney Farmer's Market, open from 3 - 7 pm every Friday through the summer. In addition, he'll be at the Phinney Neighborhood Association's Summer Beer Taste (Sat. July 16, 4-7pm) and the 4-Corners.org Beer Fest at Innis Arden Clubhouse in Shoreline, Washington (also 3 - 7 pm) on August 13th.

I realize that I (might) be a little biased, but I am so stoked that he's making his dreams come true. Thanks to everyone who came out and made the farmer's market an outstanding event. It was awesome to be a part of, to talk with you all, to hear feedback about what Lantern's neighbors were thinking, and meet so many nice people! You made our weekend!