The amount of information can be overwhelming at first, but thanks to the sharp minds at GreatBrewers.com it has been organized into an easy to navigate platform. It all starts with the search. BeerCloud gives you the option to search by beer, brewer, or barcode. With 3 different search avenues it shouldn’t be hard to find the beer you are looking for.

Not only does it give you beer descriptions but it also shows you where you can purchase your favorites or try something new. Once you find the beer you are looking for click “Find this beer” and it will take you to a list of retailers near you. After locating a retailer you can click on “Map it” and it will show you a Google map of where the retailer is located. Did they make it too easy?

Now that you know all about your favorite beers and where to buy them, what can you eat with them? GreatBrewers.com thought about that too. They created a food pairing tab on BeerCloud to help you make the best food choices to pair with the beer you are drinking. Let’s say you are eating beef tonight, you could use BeerCloud to select the type of beef and it will give you a list of beer choices to complement your meal.

With so much information you may be wondering how to keep track of everything. BeerCloud gives you the opportunity to create tasting notes and save all of your favorite beer, brewers, and beer retailers.

Where does all of this information come from? BeerCloud is based on the idea of cloud computing which means the information comes from several sources and is aggregated into one place. GreatBrewers.com collects their information from beer wholesalers, brewers, retailers, and consumers to create the ultimate interactive beer tool.

BeerCloud is an amazing resource to a novice beer lover as well as a beer expert.

Video Demo

Start using BeerCloud

BeerCloud on the Web

Welcome to our Fourth episode of Over a Pint. We are drinking with Justin Rizza of Independence Brewing Co. I just realized that our fourth episode is with Independence brewing. That was unintentional.
We met wt Justin at the Clementine Coffee beer tasting event where he was hawking his wares, mainly a newly retooled Stash IPA (of which we were fans, but have had a hard time finding the same “batch” on draft).

Justin has brewing cred from Colorado and Washington. We talk about the differences in brewing and drinking in those places than Austin, his adaptation to Texas weather, and what’s new at Independence.

We are both drinking the Stash IPA.
So pour a cold one and join us.

Enjoy!

Part One

Part Two

First, the beer

Portland is home to 28 local breweries and unless you’re replying to that CL ad right now or planning an extended stay, you’re probably not going to see them all. So, before you go, visit portlandbeer.org and make a game plan. If you find yourself downtown, may we suggest the Deschutes and Rogue Public Houses? Also visit Belmont Station to pick up all the beer you can’t find here in Austin (or anywhere in TX for that matter) and sample as you see fit. There is no shortage of beer bars to stumble into and you’re going to be hard-pressed to find one that’s not pouring a wide selection of local brews.

The McMenamins Empire

So what is McMenamins? A better question might be: What isn’t it? The local chain boasts an impressive lineup of brewpubs, restaurants, theaters, hotels, and a legendary music venue. There are about sixty locations overall, and most of them are in the Portland area. The McMenamins brothers have done a great job of picking some extraordinary sites to transform into their signature style including an old Elementary School (The Kennedy School), a former Multnomah County Poor Farm (Edgefield) and an abandoned Masonic Lodge (Grand Lodge). Most rooms at the hotels are cheap, and you can dine and catch a second-run movie on-site at most locations. Try the sampler, and if you get a room, take the Mason jar down to the pub for a pint-priced Mason-Growler to go. If the McMenamins clan could show first runs and some special events, they might just be able to give a certain local theater chain a run for it’s money. www.mcmenamins.com

Powell’s Books

This bookstore is so big you need to pick up a map to make your way through all of its color-coded rooms. In fact, it’s the largest independent in the nation. Plan to spend a few hours looking through/buying classic copies of used books. And even if you only read a few chapters of said books before they end up on your bookshelf, you can at least take comfort in knowing that Half Price will always take them off your hands later turning that tattered paperback into a Pint at the Draught House. www.powells.com

The Doug Fir

This local Diner/Music Venue has been described as a 1970’s era log cabin combined with a spaceship. If that’s not enough to get you there, the lumberjack approved breakfast menu is pretty damn good too. Also, check out the mural rooms next door at the Jupiter Hotel. www.dougfirlounge.com, www.jupiterhotel.com

Keep Portland Weird

That’s right, they stole our mantra. But Portlanders love their independent merchants just as much as we do. So hit up Hawthorne, Burnside, and Downtown to take in some of the unique stores. Don’t spend too much time doing this though or there’ll be no time or money for beer.

Get Outside. The scenery is spectacular. Austin’s got live music and heat; Portland’s got forests, mountains and rain. You can’t win them all. Check out the 400+ acre Washington Park and the Downtown Waterfront as well. www.portlandonline.com/parks

So I think that’s it for this beer blog post turned travel review. If you find your way up to Austin’s slightly cooler but maybe jaded sister city, enjoy the beer, enjoy the weather, but don’t forget where you came from.