So far I have covered absinthe, brandy and a coffee-hazelnut vodka named “Cofia.”

In the future, I’ll clue you in to the Pacific Northwest’s small-batch distilleries, various vodkas, rums, whiskeys and something I found called “Ullr.”

I discovered these high-quailty, Canadian Belgian brews when I wrote a feature on the Yard House in Las Vegas last year and I recently saw these 750 ml (25.4 oz), cork-topped bottles at New Seasons priced at $7.49 each. This bargain-priced, four-pack features Maudite (pronounced Moe-dzit), meaning “the damned one;” this hearty red-amber ale is one of my favorites); Trois Pistoles (that’s Three Coins, not guns, and it’s the cognac of beer — perfect for after-dinner drinking with a dry, spicy finish and a hint of port); packaged with two I have yet to try, La Fin Du Monde and Don de Dieu.

Obviously I cannot guarantee availablity at your neighborhood Costco, but I will tell you I could not find this item at Costco-Tigard yesterday, which is why I made the trip to the Aloha location.

I started with the February beer tastings at Belmont Station. Enjoy!

This non-smoking property features 331 sleekly modern guestrooms atop downtown’s Meier & Frank Building which is ultra-close to Pioneer Square, Portland Art Museum and Powell’s Bookstore. You get a “Superior Atrium View Room” with either a king or two queen beds, a 42 inch flat screen TV and free wireless high speed Internet. The property is also pet friendly, with a maximum of two dogs per room (restricted to pets under 80 pounds).

I may have an idea of what I’d like to do for my birthday, finally.