Please Join us at Venti’s Cafe and Taphouse South Commercial St on January 11th at 6PM for a very special evening of fun featuring the beers of  Portland’s Widmer Brewing. We’ll be running specials on Widmer products all evening including a free pint glass for each initial Widmer purchase. The beers will also be unusual as we introduce the W12 series beer Dark Saison and tap kegs of Brrrbon, Imperial Strength Oak Barrel Aged Brrr, Pitch Black IPA, Drifter Pale Ale, Nelson Imperial IPA and one special “eclectic” (could be Gasthaus exclusive or an experimental) keg that has yet to arrive.  You can try a taster tray of all of them for just $7. So come join us.

Come out to the Taphouse anytime this winter and vote for your favorite winter ale. Here’s how it works: Each round you can sample four winter ales and vote for the one you like best. We’ll run four rounds and a final at the end of it all, so sixteen great beers in all.

Round One is on now: Terminal Gravity Festivale, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, Bridgeport Brewing Ebenezer and Laguintas Sucks Winter Ale. You’ll taste them all without the benefit of knowing which is which-then vote for the best tasting, by circling your choice on the taster pad and giving it to your server.

You can also order from the server by name of the beer you want or by the number you liked on the taster tray, but we won’t reveal which is which until the round is over. Once we finish all the kegs in one round we’ll start again.

Upcoming Rounds to feature: Full Sail Wreck The Halls, Fort George North V, New Belgium Snow Day, Fish Brewing Winterfish, Lompoc C Sons Greetings, Oakshire Ill Tempered Gnome, Alaskan Winter Ale, 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, Ninkasi Sleigher, Elysian Bifrost and Deschutes Jubelale and one more ale TBA.

Winter ales are spicy, darker, higher alcohol and warming and as such a great way of ringing in the holidays, appreciating the bounty of our land and taking the chill off the cold air and dampness. We hope you enjoy the contest and feel free to comment on this post about how it’s going. Updates will be posted here.

Winter Brew Ho Ho Round 1 votes to date: Term. Gravity Festivale 31, Lagunitas-27, Bridgeport Ebenezer 13, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice 25

Update 12-15-11 Winter Brew Ho Ho Round one is in the books as of last night. What a squeaker this round was, with the first, through third being separated by one vote. The winner in round one with 32 votes is Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, a beer with a deep amber body and a unique creamy sweetness that appealed to a majority. Second place was Terminal Gravity’s Festivale with 31 votes, a malty and smooth favorite of mine. Had Terminal Gravity garnered even a single vote since the last count it would likely have prevailed, as it had led up until the finish. A notable third was Lagunitas “Sucks” Holiday Ale with 30 votes. It’s a hoppy winter IPA with an interestingly earthy, spicy body. Round two will begin as soon as the remainder of the round one kegs are emptied. The remaining beers are Second through fourth are still available in pints and glasses.

Of note is that while the Anderson Valley gained more votes, the first keg to blow was actually the Lagunitas. Unfortunately, for our good friends in Petaluma CA, the contest metric was votes for the favorite this time, so they got edged.

Round two will consist entirely of winter beers inspired by the IPA style. The contestants will be Fish Brewing Winterfish, Full Sail Wreck The Halls, Lompoc C Sons Greetings and New Belgium Snow Day. With the popularity of IPAs these days I’ll bet this next round goes quickly.

Round two Update: 12/27/11 Fish Brewing Winterfish 3 votes, Full Sail Wreck the Halls 4 Votes, New Belgium Snow Day CDA 1 Vote, Lompoc C Sons Greetings 11 votes.  Quite a surprise that the Snow Day is lagging behind in such a way. This is a very nice CDA and just about anyone I’ve spoken to about it has really enjoyed it.

January 4th Update-Round Two is in the books and our winner was Lompoc C Sons Greetings, a slightly altered version of their C Note IPA made for the Hoildays. The lineup this time was: #1 Full Sail Wreck The Halls 38% of the votes, #2 New Belgium Snow Day 4% of the votes, #3 Lompoc C Sons Greetings 41% of the votes, #4 Fish Brewing Winterfish 17% of the Vote

Thanks to everyone who voted. Next round will feature Anchor X Mas, Oakshire Ill Tempered Gnome, 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, Fort George North V. This round will start when most of the prior round is gone and we’re almost there. As of now Anderson Valley and Lompoc in the Finals, who will join them?

Round Three is on as of  Monday 1-9, featuring contenders: 21st Amendment Fireside Chat, Fort George North V, Anchor Our Special Ale and Oakshire Ill tempered Gnome. This round cleaves toward the maltier, smoother spiced brews. Both the 21st Amendment and the Fort George are spiced, with the former reminiscent of pumpkin spice and the latter more like a fruit cake type spice. Both the Anchor and Oakshire have a dark, malty and vaguely spicy character as well. It’s always surprising how strongly beer drinkers  take to these winter specialty ales once the weather turns cold and gloomy. I too have had a growing affinity for these beers that only intensifies each winter. I think it’s because the quality and diversity of the selection has been steadily improving. We’re pleased to bring you some of the best winter ales the region has to offer.

Lips of Faith Super Cru was just featured at Portland's Holiday Ale Fest.

Venti’s Basement Bar at the Cafe and New Belgium Beer Ranger Mat Robertson will be hosting a New Belgium Brewing Party this Wednesday December 7th from 6PM to close featuring six rare New Belgium Beers: New Belgium Lips of Faith Fresh Hop IPA, Lips of Faith Super Cru Belgian Strong, Lips of Faith Prickly Passion Saison, Snow Day Winter CDA, Lips of Faith “La Fleur Misseur?” Belgian Pale Ale and Belgo IPA. We’ll be running Happy hour prices on New Belgium Beers and your first New Belgium Purchase will include a free New Belgium Pint glass. Also, you can get a sampler tray of all six New Belgium Beers for only $7. As always there will be other give aways and New Belgium swag to take home. So invite a friend and come join us at downtown for some fun.