Logsdon's Szech 'n Brett: Beer Review

When it opened in 2011, Logsdon quickly won a reputation for making truly superb farmhouse ales. In fact, the fresh-hop seizoen from Dave Logsdon's farmstead brewhouse was named our Beer of the Year that December.

But things have changed. After long rumblings about ownership changes, in July the New School beer blog announced that brewer Chuck Porter was leaving and the brewery was being bought by Southwest Portland's Uptown Market and original investor John Plutshack, who owns Tin Bucket.

Portland Mercury writer Brian Yaeger later accused the New School of "misreporting" the sale and said that Logsdon would keep control. So what's going on there?

Based on an email from Logsdon, it seems the sale correctly reported by the New School was canceled, but could be back on the table. ("Partnering with Uptown was being considered, along with options that would keep the [company with its] the original investors," says Logsdon. "No final decision has been made to date, and discussion of all options do remain on the table at this time.")

The beer might be suffering from the distractions. My most recent batch of Szech 'n Brett, a 6.5 percent ABV Brett saison that debuted just after Porter's exit, was a gusher, exploding foam out of a cool, still bottle and pouring with more head than beer. Sichuan and pink peppercorns in the ale provided more heat in the digestive tract than spice on the tongue, and the lingering flavor was overripe peach flesh with a little of the bitter, nutty pit. Not recommended.

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