Running and Jumping in May

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Thebeerchaser

Welcome back to Thebeerchaser. This is a long post. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title at the top to see all of the photos and so the narrative is not clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post. #1 – #2)

May is a great month for Thebeerchaser although my birthday reminded me not only of how long I have been pursuing this hobby (since 2011) but more importantly, how many times the earth has rotated on its axis with me on it (in contrast to making trips around the sun) – that would be 28,490. (You can calculate how old that makes me and don’t forget leap years…)

In terms of hours that would be 683,760 on my birthday, although I think the time in sophomore geometry at Oregon City High School should add an additional increment for each period.

What’s in a Name?

My retired journalist friend, Kirby Neuman Rhea, who you may have read about in my post in June 2025 is an original and creative thinker.

In a conversation we had when Beerchasing in McMinnville a few years ago with my fraternity brother, Craig (The Dude) Hanneman, I mentioned as we were raising a mug, that breweries were running out of names for new beers.

The Dude in the center and Kirby on the right.

I’d read an article and then saw a newsletter from an Intellectual Property law firm entitled, “Craft Beer Names Worth Protecting” which said, in part:

“A recent search of the records of the US Trademark Office revealed over 63,000 active registrations and published applications for beer names alone.

This number is up from the 22,000 we found in 2015. Registration of your brewery and beer names is vital to protecting your brand and to prevent others from using the same or similar names in a way that may confuse your customers.“

Kirby, in a moment of inspiration, then suggested that brewers should use the names of racehorses for their new brews. Although we’d each only had one brewski, we unanimously affirmed the creativity and brilliance of that idea.

I decided to test that hypothesis using a number of the entrants in the 2026 Kentucky Derby and with the on-line help of an expert on beer styles and characteristics. Rich Carbonara. He has an outstanding website and business in Munich, Germany. (#3 – #5)

Beerwanderers.com is a site for lovers of new beers in Franconia, largely a region in northern Bavaria where close to 300 breweries are densely dotted across a timeless landscape. Since 1997, Rich has been leading tourists on hikes and visits to the breweries.

He is also the author of an excellent book Beerhiking Bavaria. (Here’s hoping he’ll forgive me for this sacrilege in describing beers!).

See if you think these hypothetical beers with the actual names of seven horses in this year’s Derby would make the tap list in your favorite bar:

“Renegade” IPA – A strong contender out of the gate which maintains flavor throughout the entire race (mug). From wire-to-wire this horse sets a comfortable tempo, though there are consequences if you drink too fast too early.

“Commandment” Helles – This thoroughbred is versatile, possessing enough speed and taste to keep up with the front-runners but able to save energy to take the lead with the final mug

“Right to Party” Bock – A steed which can be considered a “closer” to the last brew. May remain at the rear of the field in the early stages, saving energy for a “closing kick” or strong finish for the final furlong or stein.

“Golden Tempo” Pilsner – (The Winner!) – A champion mount with a commanding head and a golden yellow hue. Comes out of the tap with unbridled enthusiasm and positions in the middle of the pack, staying just off the pace, monitoring the front-runners until it crosses the finish line as the winner. (#6)

Golden Tempo – Winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby

“Pavllovian” Porter – After this bangtail fell out of flavor with its stablemates, it has had a bit of a resurgence. Gallops rather than competing with noble hops to a semi-dry, semi-bitter, but impressive finish notwithstanding the handicappers.

“Litmus Test” Lager – An unfiltered chestnut filly with a light roast in the nose. Fairly balanced in a malty way but it’s a little thin on flavor and energy overall. Meanders a bit in finishing but not sticky.

“Great While” Ale – This mare has made strides with its spicey character and interesting complexity. A strong competitor, but doesn’t overpower in the final stretch.

This Book is Definitely Not a Flop!

Oregon State University alums bemoan the demise of the Pac 12 and the current state of athletics in Corvallis. Beaver teams have a rich legacy from the 1967 Oregon State Giant Killer Football Team to three NCAA Titles in Baseball (2006, 2007 and 2018), the 1980-81 Orange Express Basketball Team which went 26 and 0 and had a #1 rating, to the 2001 Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame to name just a few.

Individual OSU athletes have made their mark in both college and professional sports from 1962 Heisman Trophy Winner Terry Baker, to NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, to Gold Medal Olympic gymnast Jade Carey, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and NFL lineman and then mountaineer (Seven Summits) Craig Hanneman.

I would suggest, however, that none brought the notoriety and lasting impact on his or her sport than the late Dick Fosbury – the originator of the Fosbury Flop. (#7 – #8)

Since I met Foz at OSU in 1967, I knew about his accomplishments, but gained new insight earlier this year when my former Schwabe law firm colleague, Brian (Brain) King gave me the book The Wizard of FOZ – co-authorized by Foz and author, columnist and teacher, Bob Welch.

And what an excellent read! I couldn’t stop, although it may have been more meaningful to me, because I was at OSU during the time the legendary high jumper was and actually met him on the track – and not because I was an athlete….

Dick was one year ahead of me – he started undergrad school in 1965. The book talks about how he struggled mightily with the concurrent demands of track and being an engineering major, although his fraternity activities didn’t help in the equation.

The authors talk about how in 1967, to keep from flunking out (and then being drafted and headed for Viet Nam), Foz was forced to work out on the OSU track (Bell Field) at night to fit the engineering labs and studies in during afternoons. (#9)

My sophomore year was not a good time in my life. I was struggling with second term calculus and physics required for my NROTC scholarship and longer-term, trying to figure out what a Political Science major was going to do with that degree after my naval service.

My counselor told me: “Shape up and get some exercise – every day! With classes, my Navy drills and fraternity obligations, the only time I could really do this was at night. Bell Field was less than a mile from the SAE house, so I would jog down and then put in a couple of miles around the track.

Usually, the only other guy there was a high jumper practicing. I marveled at his grace in clearing the bar with his unique style. Dick Fosbury already had some notoriety, but was not an Olympian until 1968. One night, I went up to him and introduced myself and complimented him on his success to this point.

He was extremely humble and friendly and we often had quick chats during our mutual routines. (#10)

The book also captivated me because I knew or know a number of people who are quoted or mentioned multiple time in the story of this Medford, Oregon native. Steve Davis, who was a primary competitor of Foz at Medford High School and lettered in both track and football at OSU, was an SAE fraternity brother:

“At sixteen. Dick had no illusions of athletic grandeur. He knew he was no Steve Davis, a fellow sophomore who had already cleared 6’0″.”

“Steve Davis, Fosbury’s high jump rival at Medford High School became a special agent with the US Secret Service with responsibilities for protecting presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. He lives in San Diego, California.”

Fred Spiegelberg was the coach of the legendary Medord Black Tornado Football Team for over thirty years starting in 1952. He was a decorated WW II hero and played college football at Washington State in addition to being a nationally ranked intercollege light-heavyweight boxer. In 1979 he was named to the High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. (#11)

“At forty-three, Spiegelberg had the presence of General Patton and the looks of Charlton Heston. He was tough but fair…Nobody in Medford was more revered than Fred Spiegelberg.

Though autumn was his season in the sun, he played a far less visible, and prestigious role in the Medford High School athletics come spring: assistant track coach…He was the high jump coach.” Page 42 – The Wizard of Foz

Thus, “Spieg” was Dick’s coach and they debated the traditional straddle style verses the flop, which no one else in Oregon – or the country was using.

“…but Spiegelberg thought Fosbury’s method was flat out crazy, akin to kicking a field goal backward with your heel….’he’s never going to be a jumper unless he gives up this god-awful whatever you call it. If we teach him to straddle maybe he can score for us at district.'” Page 52

He had the same friction with Berny Wagner during his years at Oregon State although both coaches ultimately acquiesced when they saw his determination and ultimate success with his “invention.” And Fosbury respected both men which made it more difficult for him to persevere.

Scott Spiegelberg, like his dad, Fred, and Dick Fosbury, is a member of the Medford High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He played quarterback for Medford and earned All-State and even All-American honors for his accomplishments on the high school gridiron. (#12 – #13)

Upon graduation, he went to OSU and played two years for Coach Dee Andros becoming the Beavers’ starting quarterback in his sophomore year.

His memory of Dick Fosbury’s ill-fated high school football career in a practice involving future NFL star, Bill Enyart, when Scott was a sophomore and Foz was a senior at Medford is quoted in the book:

“The quarterback faked a handoff to (Bill ‘Earthquake’) Enyart meaning Wild Bill would be blocking. He rumbled in Dick’s (playing defensive end) direction like a runaway boulder down Mt. Ashland.

‘Broke his helmet in four places,’ remembered Scott Spiegelberg. Three of Dick’s teeth were chipped’…Fosbury never played another down of football.” Page 45

Scott has had a wonderful professional career in both the private sector and primarily in various positions for Oregon State University both in the Business School and the Athletic Department. He pledged SAE in 1971, after I had graduated; however, I’ve gotten to know him through alumni functions.

He has remained active in fraternity and civic affairs ever since graduation including assisting students at Corvallis High School and serving as President of the SAE Housing Corporation for over fifteen years. He believes in giving back to the community.

I told him at the SAE Founders’ Day Dinner celebrating the fraternity’s 170th anniversary in March, that I enjoyed reading about his dad and his interactions with Dick Fosbury in the book. (I also told him that unlike his dad, he didn’t resemble Charlton Heston.)

It was a great dinner and there was a national officer who flew to Portland to address the assembled group of 88 ranging back to the sixties and fourteen brothers from the class of ’76 receiving their fifty-year certificates.

Unfortunately, Dick Fosbury passed away from lymphoma in 2023, after first being diagnosed in 2008. Although the book talks about how challenging the goal was for him, he graduated from OSU in 1972 with his civil engineering degree. He moved to Ketchum, Idaho in 1977 and became co-owner of Galena Engineering.

He was elected to public office and received numerous awards and honors, both for his athletic and humanitarian activities. He leaves a great legacy, and his name will always be associated with the predominant high jumping style used throughout the globe.

Cheers!

External Photo Attribution

#1. Wikimedia Commons (File:Kentucky Derby race, Louisville, Kentucky.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Milk’s Favorite Cookie. Author: The original uploader was Sayeth at English Wikipedia. 31 March 2005.

#2. Image courtesy of Pam Williams

#3. Chat Gpt (https://chatgpt.com/c/69febe61-efc4-83ea-8e99-c2b85b50ce7c).

#4 – #6. Beerwanderers (Franconian Beer Breweries Trails).

#7. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Dick Fosbury 1968.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) This work is in the public domain in the United States. Author: Unknown – 1968.

#8. Wikimedia Commons (File:FosburyFlop.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Author:
Respublika Narodnaya – 31 August 2017.

#9. Wikimedia Commons (File:Bell Field (6443605231).jpg – Wikimedia Commons) This image, originally posted to Flickr, was reviewed on 5 September 2013 by the administrator or reviewer File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske), who confirmed that it was available on Flickr under the stated license on that date. Author: OSU Special Collections & Archives : Commons – 27 April 2005.

#10. Wikimedia Commons (Dick Fosbury at the 1968 Olympic trials – Category:Dick Fosbury – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Source: https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/zz0002vq8n Author: The Los Angeles Times – 1 July 1968.

#11. Medford Athletic Hall of Fame (Fred “Spieg” Spiegelberg: 1985 Medford Sports Hall of Fame Inductee).

#12. Medford Athletic Hall of Fame (Scott Fredric Spiegelberg: 1990 Medford Sports Hall of Fame Inductee).

#13. Linked-in (https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-spiegelberg-a565b234/)

#14. Oregon Alpha Chapter of SAE Newsletter (https://saeoregonstate.com/).

Should Old Acquaintances be Forgot?

Posted on January 28, 2023 by Thebeerchaser

Besides Wayfinder Brewing, which I reviewed in my last Beerchaser post, I’ve been back on the trail the last two months and had first-time visits to a number of breweries and bars that I’ll be sharing with you in future posts.

These include Binary, Von Ebert, and Pono breweries, the Wildwood Saloon and the Basement Pub – the latter a wonderful neighborhood bar on Portland’s SE side. Stay tuned and here’s a preview with some photos below:

That said and without trying to be maudlin at the start of a new year, I feel compelled to recognize three great Portland establishments – two that recently closed and one that will in the next few months. No glitzy brewery with shiny taps and sleek modern furniture can replace them.

“And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!

and surely I’ll buy mine!

And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for Auld Lang Syne.”

The Jolly Roger

A June, 2022 Willamette Week article entitled, “Beloved Southeast Portland Dive the Jolly Roger Is on Its Final Voyage,” relates how co-owners for the last twenty years, Rob and Starr Jackson, negotiated with their landlord for an early exit on their lease.

“Admittedly, civic preservationists may have reason to worry about the Jolly’s truly irreplaceable feature.

Jackson admits there’s no clear plan on what will become of the bar’s justly treasured signage—a majestic freestanding pylon sign shaped like a ship’s mast at a height no longer sanctioned—but it’s evaded the wrecking ball before.”

For twenty years, an eastside landmark!

“….the property was bought by developers whose plans are for a five-story, 100-plus-unit residential complex……’We got destroyed during all the conflicts,’ (Portland protests and riots) Jackson tells WW.

‘No matter how much we tried to fix the building, people kept hurting it, and the police were unavailable to help.’ “ (emphasis added)

(Another sad commentary on the City of Portland’s disastrous inability to protect its streets and businesses during the pandemic.)

Portland’s permitting process is notoriously slow – a blessing for regulars at the JR because the original closing was supposed to be on Super Bowl Sunday. A bartender told me in a phone call today, however, that it has been extended to April or until the developers get the final go-ahead for their project.

I hit the Jolly Roger with my friend and Beerchasing Regular, Hillary Barbour, whose other Beerchasing exploits have included The Verne and Mad Hanna – a Reed College alum who appreciates dive bars….

And the Jolly Roger certainly fits the definition of a classic dive as you can see from the photos below – the cheap beer, video machines, dark and windowless rooms, historic beer signs and the restrooms which are consistent with dive bar standards. It is memorable and Portlanders will be sorry to see it set sail.

While the SE location will be missed, fortunately the Jackson’s have two other locations – the Jolly Roger at John’s Landing and the Sports Page in Beaverton.

Perhaps the historic ship’s mast should be placed at the top of Portland City Hall. Then all the City would need is a rudder……..!

A Buried Treasure Disappears

Photo Nov 15, 5 08 29 PM (2)

One of the establishments I reviewed in 2016, was one I visited for lunch many times while I was working at the law firm before retirement in 2011. The Schwabe firm was only two short blocks away from Mummy’s – an iconic Egyptian Lounge and Restaurant in the basement of another building.

It was owned by two unforgettable Egyptian brothers, Ghobvial and Phillip Mounir. They bartended, cooked and served the food – they were the only “employees.” They opened Mummy’s in about 1986.

Photo Nov 15, 5 48 26 PM

I used to take some of our Summer Associates (law school clerks) there for lunch. Since we were competing with other law firms to recruit them, these top students were typically wined and dined at Portland’s finest restaurants – Higgins, the Heathman Grille, Jake’s, etc.

To our Recruiting Director’s initial horror, I would usually take them to Mummy’s – that is until without exception, they would tell her that they loved the “tomb experience,” – the ambiance, Pyramid Beer, the brothers’ hospitality and the good Egyptian cuisine:

And the Schwabe managers and my family surprised me after hosting my 2011 retirement dinner at nearby Nel Centro, with an after-dinner reception at Mummy’s – it was memorable – in fact, there is a video someplace in the Ethernet of me reluctantly sharing the floor with a belly dancer, who was performing that night.

The last time I was there was for late afternoon drinks with two of my favorite Schwabe lawyers, Brian (Brain) King and Margaret Hoffman – both skilled litigators who have since retired. We met at the firm at 5:00 and headed on our two-block journey – like a reverse exodus of the Children of Israel.

Even though it had been five years since I had been to their establishment, when I walked in, Ghobvial immediately exclaimed, “Schwabe!” and pointed towards what had been my favorite booth.

Photo Nov 15, 5 22 12 PM

Whether it was the pandemic or the brothers deciding to forsake the daily grind, Mummy’s closed permanently in 2022.

Another possible theory was one I came across today in the Morning Brew newsletter – the ubiquitous arbiters of political correctness conceptually assigned the establishment to the same fate as one of Egypt’s most famous mummies Ramesses the Great, who was evidently ready to depart at the age of 90 after reigning for almost sixty years:

“Because of the many battles he fought, Ramesses’ body showed evidence of healed injuries and arthritis; his arteries were hardened; and he had a large dental infection that might have killed him.” (Photo attribution #1)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ramses_i_mummy.jpg

You see, the word “mummy” itself has now been banished or exiled to the toxic waste dump of no-longer acceptable terms.

Examples include “manhole” – now “maintenance hole” ; “unemployed” – now “involuntarily leisured”; “master bedroom” – now “primary suite”; or “wrong” – now “differentially logical”; etc. etc. etc.

And don’t forget elimination of “The Civil War” for the annual Oregon State vs. U of Oregon football game.

“Some museums want you to remember that mummies were once—a really long time ago—people, too. A trio of British museum organizations said they will avoid using the word “mummy” whenever possible, and swap it out with “mummified remains of” or “mummified person.”

Well Mummy’s may be gone, but it will not be forgotten – neither the name, the brothers, the food nor the ambiance and charm.

Sloan’s Tavern – Goodbye and Keep on Truckin’

One of Portland’s most iconic neighborhood bars closed on December 30, 2022 as reported by Willamette Week in an article: “Sloan’s Tavern is Remember by Regulars and Former Employees Following Its Closure“:

“(Sloan’s) closed for good Dec. 30 following Sloan’s sale of the property to developers— they plan to build a seven-story apartment building on the land, and (Shirley) Sloan will settle into a well-earned retirement.

Nostalgic well-wishers spent the last few weeks of 2022 coming by for one last visit and often to learn just how little they really knew about the establishment.”

And why do I describe this establishment as “iconic”? Well, just check the photo of the exterior wall on its west side in the photos I took when I reviewed the bar in 2016 – you can also view a younger Beerchaser from that visit….

Co-owner Bob Sloan also owned a body shop (Sloan’s Custom Body and Paint) next door and did skilled body and restorative work on classic autos. His specialty, however, was working on Freightliner Trucks which is evident from the exterior wall and a Freightliner grill built right into the bar.

When a café next door to the body shop run by an elderly lady closed, they bought the property and opened the bar in 1979. (The entire property was originally a creamery that opened in 1926.) Some reviews labeled it a “dive bar,” but it is no such thing.

When I interviewed this charming and classy lady in 2016, Shirley described Sloan’s as “My living room.”

The Bridgetown Bites blog conveys the décor aptly:

“Notable elements of the décor there at Sloan’s is the ‘frozen in time’ 1970s look inside; the semi-truck cab jutting out from the building; and the Chicago Coin Band-Box jukebox, a rare thing to find anywhere in the U.S. (it’s estimated there are only about 10 of them operating around the country).

Put in a quarter and you’ll see the figurines at the top dancing and playing the musical instruments in their hands, in time to whatever tune you picked (mostly Country music).”

P1040022

I was joined on my visit to Sloan’s by friends “West Coast” Dave Hicks, a San Francisco consultant with whom I worked in law firm days and John Horvick. People in the NW will recognize< John as an oft-quote political and polling consultant at the respected firm DHM Research and with whom I served on the Board of the City Club of Portland.

The three of us enjoyed the ambiance and the food (essentially home-cooked since it’s Shirley’s living room….). I’m sure they join me and other Portlanders who said farewell to this Albina area neighborhood institution. It’s one of a number of bars that will now exist only in our good memories.

P1040014

May Shirley Sloan have a wonderful retirement and let’s hope the Oregon Historical Society or some other protector of historical artifacts gains possession of the Chicago Coin Band-Box jukebox.