Ruse Brewing has collaborated with newish Hood River food truck Grasslands Barbecue on a pop-up event and special beer release this holiday weekend October 30 and 31st. Former Portland professional brewer turned pit master Sam Carroll is one of three friends that founded Grasslands in 2020 and their mix of creative and traditional smoked and grilled meals have proven to be a huge hit in the gorge so they are excited to bring it back to PDX with a beer to wash it down with.

Carroll worked in the craft beer industry for nearly a decade, starting as a beertender, pouring pints and cleaning kegs on the side before angling into a full-time job as a brewer. By the end of his career he had worked his way up to becoming the head brewer at N. Portland’s Occidental Brewing. His Grasslands partners Drew Marquis and Brendon Bain both have professional experience in the kitchen, and even before the pandemic Marquis was doing unofficial backyard cook outs under the name ‘Bootleg Barbecue’ before he got laid off due to the pandemic. When Carroll and Brendan both ended up in similar positions and were looking for a change, they joined Marquis and changed the name to Grasslands.

“COVID gave me (and both of my partners) the chance to break out into our own venture and we are all so glad we did,” says Carroll. Grasslands first pop-up was at Level Beer in March 2021 and they had a huge line and a quick sell-out. They later obtained a food truck and have parked it in a fittingly grassy field behind Ferment Brewing since earlier this summer where they regularly sell out their Texas inspired BBQ at lunch.

“I would describe our barbecue as carefully blending traditional Texas style with more modern, chef driven technique and flavors. Our smoked meats are fantastic but we are equally as proud of our unique, rotating sides. It’s so easy to get fresh, awesome produce from all the farmers in the gorge.”

Carroll for his part has loved barbecue since he was a kid, his hobby has now had a chance to manifest itself in the same way that his love of beer did. So the return to Portland for a collaboration with Ruse Brewing feels sort of like a homecoming. Naturally, the beer they chose to make is a lager - but make it black - for Halloween.

Offset Dark Lager is made with German Munich malts, roasted malts, and Pacifica hops. Although Pacifica are from New Zealand, they have ancestry in traditional German Noble spicy floral variety Hallertau Mittelfrüh mixed with Southern Hemisphere mellow fruitiness. You could say Offset is a modern American version of a Schwarzbier. Carroll says the secret to nailing the style is restraint, the roast malts and the hops should be mingling in the background behind a clean base malt.

“I am 100% a lager guy, so that’s a good fit,” says Carroll. “Lagers are the ultimate food beer, that’s why I love them. The fattiness and richness of barbecue can be both accented and cleaned up by a sharp lager. This one will do the job.”

Grasslands Barbecue will be firing up brisket, Tasso pulled pork, black pepper chicken, pork belly burnt ends, hatch cheddar sausage, jerk chicken sausage, for the weekend. You can also get sandwiches! pulled pork or smoked chicken on a bun, smoked burger, Frito chili pie, and a mushroom melt for vegetarians. Don’t forget the sides, they have mac Salad, Tex-mex slaw, and collard Greens.

“The beers at Ruse are incredible and it looks like the weather might be okay for the weekend, so we are hoping for a good turnout”.

The pop-up this Saturday and Saturday, October 30th and 31st is from 1-10pm or until the barbecue sells out. It’s billed as a Ruse & Grasslands Halloween Party, but the only scary thing about it is how fast it will probably sell out.

Ruse Brewing, 4784 SE 17th Ave, Portland, OR 97202