Since the start of the week, 16 Tons has been celebrating the Week of Wild, a wild ale festival to celebrate the Taphouse’s second anniversary. All week they have had 30 varieties of wild ales on tap from breweries up and down the coast. The Week of Wild culminates on the 28th and 29th, when they’ll be offering $1-$3 samples of over 70 wild ales. @@http://sixteentons.biz/blog/?page_id=772@@
Wild ales (also known as “sour ales”) are a style of beer created by adding yeast while the beer is still wort. Classically, this was done by leaving the barrels to brew in non-sterile environments, but modern science allows brewers to understand which strains of yeast add what types of flavors and spares the brewers from the unpredictable methods of the past. The inclusion of these microscopic critters causes the beer to take on a tart, acidic flavor. Oftentimes, these flavors are accentuated by the inclusion of fruit (such as cherries or raspberries).
An ale I’d recommend is the Flat Tail Raspberry Beret, an uncommon porter by Flat Tail brewery in Corvallis. Those fond of McMenamins’ secret menu classic, the Rubinator, will find a lot to love here. The tartness of the raspberry and the roasted porter flavors play off each other wonderfully, bringing balance to what could be an overwhelming combination. The savory and sweet flavor notes had me thinking of buffalo chicken at first,@@?@@ but as I got further into the beer, the raspberry became sweeter and clearer. Though I’m usually more partial to stronger, harsher beers, I have to admit Flat Tail has a winner on their hands here. @@http://www.mcmenamins.com/@@

I’d even recommend this to non-beer drinkers, as the tartness overshadows the normally bitter taste associated with beers. At eight percent alcohol-by-volume, this beer is a little too potent to be drunk in large quantities (16 Tons only offers eight-ounce servings), so expect to sip responsibly.
Other beers of note include Oakshire’s Frederic’s Lost Arm (of which 16 Tons has several varieties brewed with different strains of yeast) and Upright Brewing’s El Coloquio de Cervantes (a barrel-aged Sour Imperial Rye Saison) — both of which are high-quality anniversary beers for 16 Tons, commemorating their second year of operation. @@http://www.facebook.com/events/132725170185917/@@

16 Tons has been offering a wide selection of imported and domestic microbrews since April 2010. They have everything from upscale grocery store standards to obscure micro-micros you’ve probably never laid eyes on. If you’re looking for something in particular, the servers are knowledgeable and eager to help you locate the one brew you’re looking for. The startling variety of beers and helpful staff compares favorably to the other Eugene heavyweight when it comes to microbrews: The Bier Stein. So, if you’re looking for an excursion into the hallowed halls of craft beer, this weekend will provide you an experience quite unlike any other. @@http://sixteentons.biz/blog/?p=2550@@

16 Tons is located on the corner of East 13th Avenue and High Street, across from the Circle K. @@http://maps.google.com/places/us/or/eugene/e-13th-ave/265/-16-tons-beer-&-wine?gl=us@@