#Aimsir Press

[sadbhkellett]

Over the moon to be able to share this essay on the seriously overlooked work of Meath poet Francis Ledwidge.

[nwbeerguide]

Coming to Culmination Brewing and The Bindery Annex, Fuji to Hood is a unique festival showcasing the fermented relationship between Japan and Oregon.

With May in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start pondering what your Summer might look like. If you are like the countless residents of the area or possibly across the country, you’re still looking for the opportunity to get out of the house and make way for a vacation. Which is why we’ve been asked to share a unique destination event - Fuji to Hood. 

WIth plans for July 16th, the organizers of Fuji to Hood are hosting a beer, cider, and spirits festival showcasing enthusiasm for fermented drink, shared between the United States and Japan. 

With their thoughts, the showcased drinks, and additional information, we’ve included their press release. 

… Portland, OR - Fuji to Hood is a beer and food festival between 40 like-minded breweries, cideries, and distilleries in the shadow of Oregon's Mt. Hood and Japan's Mt. Fuji. Portland, Oregon has nine sister cities and the relationship that has existed with Sapporo, Japan since 1959 is the longest standing.

Fuji to Hood is a mutual celebration of cultures comprising 18 Oregon and Japanese craft brewery collaborations, 1 cidery collaboration, and 1 distillery collaboration, as well as foods and art. Each partner team came up with a new unique collaboration beverage made in Oregon but using at least one special ingredient from Japan in each recipe.

This all-ages friendly event presents a casual, fun environment, with custom drinkware, Taiko drummers, creative local Japanese food makers, and one-off special beverages. Some of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Japan-American Society of Oregon. Hosted by Culmination Brewing, the Fuji to Hood beer festival takes place at The Bindery Annex building as well as the surrounding community lot and NE Oregon St. Advanced tickets recommended.

2022 Fuji to Hood Collaborations:

Beer

Boneyard Beer Co / Heiwa Craft

Cascade Brewing / RISE & WN

Breakside Brewing / Ise Kadoya

Culmination Brewing / Nara

Ecliptic Brewing / Y. MARKET

Ex Novo Brewing / UCHU

Fort George Brewery / Black Tide

Great Notion / Son of the Smith

Hair of the Dog Brewing  / Yokosuka

Level / Repubrew

Little Beast Brewing / Harvest Moon

Migration Brewing / West Coast Brewing

SteepleJack Brewing / Minoh

Threshold Brewing & Blending / Far Yeast

Ruse Brewing / Spring Valley Brewery

Upright Brewing / Fujisakura Kogen

Gigantic Brewing / North Island Beer

Von Ebert Brewing / Shonan

Cider

Reverend Nat’s / Fukuoka Craft

Spirits

Aimsir Distilling / Kozue

 The festival will take place primarily outdoors with an indoor area at The Bindery Annex and Culmination Brewing. Tickets will include a one-of-a-kind collectible and branded glass and 10 drink tickets good for 4oz samples of beers and cider with additional drink tickets and VIP early entry available. Additional drink tickets will be available for $2.50 each and food at an additional cost, priced per item.

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3wWTKi2

[ophelia-avalon]

Imbolc: Start of the Lambing season

To the Irish Celts, Imbolc marked the beginning of the lambing season and the return of fresh milk. One popluar ethymology of Imbolc is says that it comes from the Old Irish for "in the belly", referring to pregnant sheep (and possibly more metaphorically to the seeds in the earth waiting to sprout).

An alternative name for Imbolc is Oimelc, which is related to milk. At the beginning of February, most of the winter rations had been used up and the fields were still mostly barren. However, since the lambs of the previous year had been weaned in August and to breed the ewes, the first lambs were born at this time, before the first calves. This was on purpose, as sheep can survive on less green than cows.

The sheep's milk provided crucial nutrition in this time of scarcity and was worthy of celebration. Accordingly, a traditional Imbolc meal includes dairy products, especially those made from sheep's milk

Photo by Daniel Sandvik on Unsplash

Sources

MacLeoad, Sharon Paice. “Oenach Aimsire na mBan: Early Irish Seasonal Celebrations, Gender Roles and Mythological Cycles” in Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium, 2003, Vol. 23 (2003), pp. 257-283.

Nock, Judy Ann. “Imbolc” in The Wiccan Year. Spells, Rituals and Holiday Celebrations. Avon, MA: Provenance Press, 2007, pp. 65-91.

http://www.rabenclan.de/index.php/Magazin/MartinMarheineckeImbolc