Learn about First Tech Credit Union. Now.

First of all, we're pleased to report that First Tech has won a national award for its incredible investment services group (these are the really smart people who can advise First Tech members about money and other grown-up stuff).

It's called th

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e Keystone Award and is awarded by CUSO Financial Services, LP (CFS). The award recognizes First Tech's dedication to CFS' Keystone concepts, which are awareness, integration and credibility.

Lots of good things are around the corner for First Tech (we can't talk about them yet) but one thing we can talk about is how R/West recently became First Tech members. Woot!

Here's a pic of our presidente Sean signing his official "papers" and becoming a First Tech member. Why are we so excited about this? Because belonging to a credit union means less money in bank shareholder's pockets and more in our piggy banks! Yay! We didn't get that at first, but First Tech is a not-for-profit organization. That means they don't charge ridiculously high fees for things like checking and over-drawing your account (not that we've ever done that...) Also, First Tech has sweet member rewards programs and really good rates on loans, CDs and all that jazz. Basically they rock.

So here's to you First Tech. We heart our new credit union. Fuzzies all around...

The Latest and Greatest in the World of BridgePort

BridgePort Brewery was at it again yesterday, brewing its next limited edition 22-ounce brew. However this time it is a little more special...yesterday's brewing marked the one year anniversary of the 22-ounce Big Brew series.

Lets take a trip down memory lane quick.

Hop Harvest 07

old Knucklehead

Stumptown Tart

Hop Czar

I think it is safe to say that the launch of this new series has been a success! A success that will continue to bring fun new labels, flavors and entertainment to all those beer lovers out there.

Hop Harvest 08, an amped up version of BridgPort's Blue Heron, is a double hopped imperial style ale made from fresh cone Centennial Hops.
For those of you, like me, who know more about drinking beer than brewing it...you will relate to this lingo...for those of you beer experts, well my apologies.

Basically what happened yesterday was this...The brewers come up with this mashed up liquid...its uber hot and is put together in the morning...then they drove out to B & C Farms in Woodburn, Ore., picked 250 pounds of fresh cone Centennial hops, brought them back to the brewery and within two hours they were added to this hot liquid.



Then Karl, the brewmaster, and his team used the "hop masher stick" (yes totally a technical term) to mix in all the hops and squeeze out their fresh juices and aromas...the way Karl explained it to me "its basically like a big tea bag."


The hops steep for a while and then the brew continues along its way into whatever tubes it goes through that will cause it to end up in those awesome big bottles on September 11th and 12th.

I can't wait to taste the new Hop Harvest!

Hop Harvest Celebration will be held at Bridgeport brewpub + bakery on Friday, September 12 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Come sample the new brew and enjoy some fantastic tunes by non other than the brewmaster himself, Karl, accompanied by his bluegrass band - BridgePort Reunion Band!

Yesterday's brewing event was also featured on Oregonlive.com's "The Beer Here"