Leftbank’s own Alex Ganum (of Upright Brewing) has teamed up with Ben Meyer (of Ned Ludd) and restaurant designer Marcus Hoover to bring Portland Grain & Gristle. Tony Perez reviewed G&G for Portland Mercury here last week. Back in December the New School offered an early look that included some lovely photos, and Yelpers love it, on the whole. I confess I haven’t made it there yet, but it’s absolutely my next night out. Perez says: “Alex Ganum’s beer is reason enough for a visit. Not only are his own Upright brews among my favorite in town, but he administers his tap list with all the care and knowledge of a good sommelier.”

Way to go, Alex. Can’t wait to come check out your work.

Interested in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development, and environmental sustainability?

Join us for a special event co-hosted by the Marylhurst University and Portland Professional Net Impact Chapters for an evening to hear local businesses discuss the importance of building community together.

Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world.

Interested in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development, and environmental sustainability?

Our mission is to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world.

If you have questions, please contact the Marylhurst University (marylhurst@netimpact.org) or Portland Professional (portland@netimpact.org) Net Impact Chapters.

Next Tuesday Upstream is hosting a casual happy hour screening of an amazing new film at the Leftbank, and Alex of Upright has graciously agreed to open his tasting room the hour before. Come hang out with your neighbors!

Just a reminder that the Leftbank Cafe will be open this Thursday, 12/10 until 8pm.  We will have Happy Hour from 2-8pm with some wonderfully delicious, piping hot soups together with palate tingling local beers and regional wines.  Check out this week’s Happy Hour Menu.

Stop by and see us.  You’ll be happy you did.

I wanted to share some good news with my fellow Leftbankers:

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week (December 2nd, 3rd and 4th) the Leftbank Cafe will be open all day until 8pm with HAPPY HOUR from 5 - 8pm - so come down and join us for some happiness!

We will have an assortment of beer (and Upright, of course) and local wines - with pairing suggestions to go with our wonderful soups.  There will also be a very tasty charcuterie plate that can be paired with just about anything.

And, of course, being as this is happy hour - the prices will make you happy too.

Upright Brewing specializes in farmhouse inspired beers rooted in France and Belgium but made with local ingredients and a Pacific Northwest twist. The name is a reference to Charles Mingus and his primary instrument. Mingus was a musician whose compositions defy categorization. At Upright we use a special saison yeast and open fermenters to produce beers that are a true hybrid style, sharing Mingus’ spirit of exercising creativity and craft.

The tasting room is open every Friday from 4:30 - 9pm and Saturday/Sunday from 1 - 6pm.

No confirmation yet, we’re waiting to “cross the t’s and dot the i’s” but Leftbank is well on the way to having an on site craft brewery. Plans call for a small production facility specializing in progressive farmhouse style beer with open tank fermentation. This traditional brewing method will be unique to Portland and captures the essence of the great rustic breweries of France and Belgium. For craft beer enthusiasts there are few things more exciting than watching the vigorous rumble of fermentation in the tank.

Hops for the process are set to come specifically from family operated Oregon farms while the bulk of the brewery’s malt will be certified organic from Great Western Malting in Vancouver Washington. Some of the beers will be matured in used oak barrels secured from local wineries. Many of these special barrel-aged beers will have fresh fruit added during the extended fermentation combined with special yeasts and bacteria to produce beers of exceptional complexity.

Seeing these traditional methods combined with hybrid geek/tech management and utilizing local agriculture is something Leftbank is proud to stand behind, and heck what’s not to love about great beer.

the 3500 sf Suite 002 is currently the home of Upright Brewing.

in their words:

So, what kind of beer will we be crafting? That’s a difficult question to answer, but imagine combining the spirit and methods of rustic French and Belgian style farmhouse brewing with the positive energy and downright beautiful ingredients the Pacific Northwest offers us. These are beers inspired by historical records and the dedicated few who have kept traditions alive, drawing from our city and region for resources and raw materials. In addition to the year-round brands expect to see several unusual special releases including barrel-aged beers, sour beers, fruit beers, smoked beers, and many other distinct brews. Upright Brewing Company will always be a hands-on, local producer of honest craft beer.