Before I get into the notes, Oregon Business Magazine has a thorough piece on the Oregon craft beer scene in this month’s issue. A lot of recent craft beer articles that feature the Beaver State have naturally had something to do with hop production because of the time of the year. This article, instead, largely features commentary on the state of craft beer (with an emphasis on growth, independence, and consolidation of breweries) from the voices of four major players in the state: Rogue Ales, Deschutes Brewery, Widmer Brewing, and Full Sail Brewing. Full text available at the above link. Onto the organic beer notes…

Portland-based Laurelwood Brewing released its flagship Free Range Red Ale in bombers this week. Belmont Station, among others, has it on shelves. Billed by the brewery as its most popular beer, the organic red ale won a World Beer Cup gold medal back in 2004. The beer features Cascade as its sole hop and hits an IBU level of 60. The brewery’s aptly-named winter warmer, Vinter Varmer returns in bombers early next month. Finally, Laurelwood Himmelbrau Helles just won the brewery a gold medal for the third year in a row and was on tap at the Portland Pizza Co. location as of earlier this week.

Meanwhile…Fortuna, CA’s Eel River Brewing, the first certified organic brewers in the U.S., will release a unique beer later this month, in Acai Berry Wheat. Sessionable at only 4% ABV, the beer is “a light-bodied wheat ale brewed with organic acai berries from Brazil, and a flavorful mix of four other organic berries. Acai berries boast high antioxidant properties […]” Eel River will also soon debut a winter seasonal, Climax Noel, an 8% ABV Doppelbock.