Oregon produces a ton of great beers, and Oakshire is part of that scene and legacy. They’re a relatively new brewery, and don’t have a ton of capacity, but the fact that they already have a GABF medal means that they’re a small but mighty player to be reckoned with.
Name: Oakshire Brewing Company
Location: Eugene, OR
Type: Production Brewery
Available in DC Market?: No
What you need to know: Started in 2006 by two brothers, this brewery produces three beers year-round and swaps in a fourth seasonally. They bottle only in 22oz. bomber bottles, which is something you don’t see entirely too often. This is a brewery whose distribution is entirely within the state of Oregon. Although some retail shops will ship it, unless you want to mail order this beer, SAVOR will be a rare opportunity to try these brews.
Beer #1: Line Dry Rye
Notes: This is the brewery’s summer seasonal. A rye pale ale, this beer contains 10% flaked rye and 10% rye malt. This should lend it a nice spiciness with maybe a hint of caraway in the finish. The rye is balanced out by American hops that give it a citrusy finish. The beer is finished with blackberry honey to round out the bitterness with a touch of sweetness. This beer gets its name from the “energy saving practice” which is only viable for a short period of time because of the climate near the brewery. It’s a shame that the ratings for this beer are so lukewarm. Rye pale ales are some of my favorites; whether this one will stand up to the venerable offerings in the same style from Founders and Bear Republic remains to be seen, but I’ll definitely be there to give it a try and see for myself.
BeerAdvocate Grade: B- (15 reviews)
Ratebeer Grade: 57 overall; 59 style
Beer #2: Overcast Espresso Stout
Notes: This beer was a 2009 GABF Silver Medal Winner in Category 6 (coffee flavored beer). I’m intrigued by this beer because it weighs in at only 5.8%, which seems low for a typical coffee beer. That’s fine though, it’ll give you a little pep during your SAVOR experience! Also exciting about this beer: it’s a coffee oatmeal stout, so it should have a nice chewy mouthfeel to go along with the locally-roasted espresso beans that go into the mash. This is a highly rated beer on Ratebeer, so if you’re a coffee beer fan, don’t miss this one!
BeerAdvocate Grade: B+ (44 reviews)
Ratebeer Grade: 98 overall; 98 style
Summary: Oregon produces a ton of great beers, and Oakshire is part of that scene and legacy. They’re a relatively new brewery, and don’t have a ton of capacity, but the fact that they already have a GABF medal means that they’re a small but mighty player to be reckoned with. Stop by and say hi and try the Overcast Espresso Stout. It’ll put some pep in your step, no matter what the cloud cover on June 3 or 4 is.
This profile is a part of the DCBEER.COM SAVOR Brewery Profile series. For more information, follow the link to see profiles of all 2011 SAVOR participants.
Beer Review Disclaimer: The beer reviews found on Beer Advocate and Rate Beer do not represent the opinions of this site. We provide these in the hope that they will serve as a resource showing what some craft beer fans have thought of the beers. These reviews can be a helpful guideline, but are not the be-all end-all about a beer’s strengths or weaknesses.
