Another Hood River Gem: Double Mountain Brewing!

Beer Luvvas,

I am happy to report that team I Want My Two Dollars! finished a respectable ninth at the 2008 Oregon Cancer Ski Out! Unfortunately we underestimated the slowing effect of the new snow Mt. Hood Meadows received on the second day of the competition. However, I'm happy to note that OCSO raised over $25,000 this year - the 20th annual - for cancer research at Oregon Health Sciences University, Willamette Falls Hospice, Candlelighters, and Hospice of the Gorge. In total, OCSO has raised over $500,000 for these charities in the last 20 years.

This year's winning team, Brian's Team, had dedicated their race to a team member's son - Brian - who was lost to cancer this year at the age of 21. Please take a look at the sponsor list and find opportunities to patronize their businesses. Without them, and their donations, OCSO would not have been able to raise $0.5mil over the last 20 years.

Now onto the brew news...

Over the last couple years, Team I Want My $2 has added it's own tradition to bring empty growlers down from the mountain after day one, and fill them up at a local Hood River brewery to enjoy while soaking in the hot tub, before hitting the hosted hospitality room for OCSO participants.

This year we sampled three beers from Hood River's newest addition to the field: Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom. It was unfortunate that they were out of their IRA, which I've heard is fan-tastic! But we were able to quaff the Hop Lava - a great new addition to the NW tradition of over-hopped IPAs; Alpenbrew - a extra-malty version of the traditional brown ale; and the prize winner of the three - the Dark Rye.

This beer was exquisite! It was rich and creamy like a smoked porter, but also had strong characteristics of traditional rye beers, all mixed together in 64oz of extreme-beer-goodness!

For those of you in the greater Hood River area this weekend, stop by the taproom to celebrate their One Year Anniversary on Saturday (3/15). Til next time..

Prost to Oregon Cancer Ski Out and Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom!