Oddbits…Writing this blog, I find myself torn between doing serious reporting on stories like my
post yesterday on the Jurassic Yeast or quick and dirty posts like Oddbits…which is emerging as a column of snipped from everywhere, woven together, hopefully with some skill, by me.

Today, I’m gong with Oddbits (a name I grabbed from What’s Brewing, the monthly Campaign for Real Ale newspaper)…First off.. Great Divide Brewing, one of my favorite Denver craft brewers (Oak Aged Yeti) is brewing a beer for the Democratic National Convention, which opens next week in Denver. It’s “Liberally Hopped American Pale Ale.”

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We wanted to create something special for the convention,” says head brewer Taylor Rees, “and we decided that of all possible styles, an American pale ale would be the best choice, in terms of both taste and symbolic value. It’s bold and flavorful, but still approachable and highly drinkable. It’s a populist beer that has plenty of substance; I can’t think of a better match for the Democrats in 2008.”

Charlie Papazian, founder of the Brewers Association, who writes the Beer Examiner blog and lives in nearby Boulder, CO. has a good wrap up of what Denver craft brewers are doing for the convention.

What? You’re gonna’ be in Denver next week. Great Divide’s tap room is open from 3- 8 p.m. Monday - Friday, with tours at 3 and 4:p.m., and the Tap Room is open from 2 - 7: on Saturdays with tours on the hour from 2 = 6 p.m..

…Have you heard about Ommegang Rouge, the “sour ale,” made with wild yeast – brettanomyces? According to Ommegang’s rep in the Bay Area, Josh Charlton, it’s been delivered to the Toronado and La Trappe San Francisco, and Monk’s Kettle in San Francisco and to The Trappist in Oakland and Hopmonk in Sebastopol. Haven’t tried it myself, headed to the Trappist this afternoon hoping for a sample.

Wanna’ go to Belgium? Funny that you asked, there’s a great tour leaving in October: The Lonely Monk’s Trappist Beer Tour of Belgium, Oct. 18-27. Ten days, nine nights. The tour’s led by comedian Stu Stuart, who lives in Mendocino in the winter and gives classes on Belgian beer at La Trappe SF, when he isn’t on the comedy circuit or doing Belgian beer tours. On this tour, which includes all the Trappist breweries in Belgium, Mike Smith, head brewer at Eel River, Fortuna, CA. will come along. Also Chris (Podge) Pollard, author of Around Bruges in 80 Beersl will join the tour for at least a couple of days. Cost: $2595 land only, $575 single supplement. Deadline to sign-up Sept. 18, 2008 Info: BelgianBeerMe.com or call (231) 215-0173.

More wild beer… Here’s one to look for in a month or so, at better beer stores in the Bay Area…The Dissident from Deschutes, Bend, OR.

Fermented for more than 18 months in isolation from the rest of the beers, The Dissident is a distinctive Oud Bruin, Flanders-style brown ale, with a fruity aroma and flavor, the first wild yeast beer made by Deschutes. Part of the beer in pinot and cabernet barrels for over 3 months. Another key flavor component comes from the Central Washington cherries that were added twelve months ago.
Due to the wild yeast , the beer was kept under lock and key apart from the rest of the brewery’s beers to avoid any cross-contamination. A secondary bottling line was also brought in from an outside contractor to facilitate The Dissident’s bottling and insure the beer and wild yeast never touched the brewery’s machinery.
Founder Gary Fish recommends pairing the Dissident with “anything chocolate, the darker the better, soft cheeses like Brie and creamy dishes like spaghetti carbonara, or macaroni and cheese.”
A very limited amount of The Dissident will be available September 1st as part of the brewery’s Reserve Series in hand-waxed 22-ounce bottles… 11% Alcohol by Volume (ABV). 30 International Bitterness Units (IBU).

I’ll drink to that.