Alesong Brewing: A decade of tasty excellence

Like a song, each beer is our expression;

The enjoyment and interpretation is yours.

That simple but empowering message adorns every bottle from Alesong Brewing & Blending. 

Alesong is a Eugene, Oregon, brewer celebrating its 10th anniversary and consistent excellence and creativity that’s something to treasure in this age of failing breweries and too many bad beers.

I remember first buying beer from Alesong in 2016, shortly after they opened their warehouse facility on Conger Avenue in Eugene. It was there that I experienced a food and beer pairing for the first time. I don’t recall the beer samples but I do remember tasting cheese in new ways. I also recall a terrific custom-made chocolate and beer pairing party at Alesong’s then new rural production facility and tasting room. Each quarterly release includes food pairing suggestions for each beer, and I’ve found most to be home runs. 

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The incredible ‘controlled chaos’ that goes into FOX Sports’ Indycar broadcasts

As you know, I am a longtime fan of open-wheel racing. I’ve watched every Formula 1 race since 1985 and probably every Indycar, Champcar and and Indy 500 race since that time as well. 

I follow motorsports intensely and one of my favorite sources of information is the Trackside podcast hosted by Kevin Lee and Curt Cavin. The podcast is typically weekly year-round, but ramps up to a daily schedule in May around the two Indycar races in Indianapolis. 

In addition, Lee, a terrific longtime Indycar and IMSA pit reporter and announcer, has launched a sister weekly podcast, Trackside Extra With Kevin Lee. 

The eighth and most recent episode is the most illuminating because it takes a deep behind-the-scenes dive into the FOX Sports production of its race broadcasts. In this episode, Indycar on FOX director Mitch Riggin describes the dozens of voices in his ears during race broadcasts, the 100-plus cameras in use for this year’s Indy 500 that he’ll have at his disposal, and why the world’s biggest motorsports spectacle is so special, both as a broadcaster and a fan. 

In my college years, I interned at KSEE 24 in Fresno, and spend many nights in the production room, marveling at how the director and his/her team navigated an evolving 30-minute newscast, juggling cameras, taped pieces and network feeds, and breaks to commercials. During that internship, I thought directing might be something I’d pursue as a career. I loved the manic, but controlled pace, and felt behind-the-scenes work would better fit my — at the time — introverted personality. 

Foos ride 'Sonic Highways' in highlighting hotbeds of popular music

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by what seems like an endless stream of musical documentaries but "Sonic Highways" is one I can't wait to experience. 

"Sonic Highways" is an eight-episode HBO series featuring Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters making weeklong stops in eight famed music cities around the U.S., immersing themselves in the sonic culture, then putting their experiences into a song at week's end. 

As drummer Taylor Hawkins says in the trailer above, that seems like a daunting task, particularly when the cities/locales are as varied as Seattle, the SoCal desert, New Orleans, Chicago, Nashville, Austin and Washington, D.C. Those are places with deep musical histories, with characters and stories aplenty. 

I'm hopeful the band stretches its chops in truly embracing the local influences. But the songs featured in this trailer sound very Fooish, so I'm hoping the band is saving the surprises for each show. Let's hope so.