I almost never blog about bloggers, or blog about blogging, since this is a beer blog, not a blog blog. But the departure of Brewpublic founder Angelo De Ieso from Portland deserves special mention. For the last few years, during this great beer explosion in Portland, Angelo has been in the thick of it: writing about it, staging events, and most importantly, enjoying Portland beer. He's so much more than a blogger, he's one of the beer people that makes this place great.
Angelo's off to start a new life with his new wife Ashley -- a.k.a. The Beer Wench -- in the Bay Area. At least he didn't head to Maine or Michigan or someplace I'd likely never see him again. But he will be missed here.
I remember meeting Angelo -- and then-girlfriend Margaret Lut -- for the first time at the 2008 Lucky Lab hop harvest. I'd read some of Angelo's beer writing before that, but he and Margaret mentioned that they were about to launch Brewpublic. Can you remember a time before Brewpublic? There are more and more good beer blogs in Portland all the time, but if Brewpublic and/or the New School had been around in December of 2007, I would never have started It's Pub Night, because they document our beer scene the way I wanted to do it -- only better than I ever could.
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Three generations of Portland beer writing |
Brewpublic's Killer Beer Fest 3.5 last Sunday at Bailey's was an appropriate send-off to Angelo, with great beers at great prices, including the delicious and hilariously-named De Ieso Spades from Hopworks (it's a dry-hopped version of The Ace of Spades IIPA). Angelo, don't be a stranger, you're welcome back to Portland any time!
To get Angelo's story in his own words, read Sanjay's recent interview with him. I'm sure Brewpublic will keep going, either with a new California focus, or staying Oregon-oriented with its solid roster of local contributors. Now, if any of you Brewpublic writers want to switch loyalties and become writers at It's Pub Night, I'm happy to poach you, just send me an email.