Whether you enjoy a crisp pilsner or sipping slow on an imperial IPA, the Emerald City’s wide variety of breweries leave no hop, yeast, malt or wacky natural ingredient combination untested. Here are some local favorites that keep pushing the limits of what it means to be a microbrewery. So grab some friends or your growler and get some beer that might actually be of nutritional value for a change.

Falling Sky

With two locations to choose from (13th Avenue and Oak Alley/ Blair and Monroe), Falling Sky is a great place to grab a beer and sandwich with some friends after work or a quick Sunday lunch when your parents come to town. You can impress your beer-snob dad by ordering a single batch or dry-hopped pale ale followed with some pulled-pork tacos. He doesn’t have to know your mini-fridge is usually filled with PBR or Rainier.

Make sure to try:

-Upside Brown Ale

-Hey Hay ISA (India Session Ale)

Ninkasi

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Hey man, Ninkasi’s a huge operation. How is that on the list?” You’re right, Ninkasi is a big operation these days, but that hasn’t changed things when it comes to making deliciously innovative new brews. Ninkasi has its usual suspects that you can find just about anywhere in Oregon, but to fully enjoy its craft brew genius you have to to go check out its tap room on 272 Van Buren St. Its porch seating area has heaters and cover for year-round use, making it a great place to gather for birthdays or a first date.

Make sure to try:

-Quantum Pale Ale

-Wunderbier Kolsch

Oakshire

Oakshire is another one of those Eugene breweries that has grown exponentially over the past four years, but that hasn’t changed its adherence to making quality beer. Its tap room on 207 Madison St. is a fun place to grab an Oatmeal Stout or Cascadian Dark Ale with some friends after hitting the Washington-Jefferson skate park. It’s also a good place to start The Whit brewery crawl since street parking isn’t terribly hard to find around it.

Make sure to try:

-Galaxy IPA

-Oktoberfest Lager

Hop Valley

Hop Valley’s tasting room and patio area on 990 W First St. is a great place to meet up with friends or grab food during a lunch break. It has over a dozen of its beers on tap and even more available for sale in bottles and cans. Hop Valley definitely has something on its tap list for everyone with a wide variety of styles, gravities and flavor profiles. Grab a flight and figure out which ones you like best or have everyone in your group get something different for some old-fashion lunch room sharing.

Make sure to try:

-Citrus Mistress IPA

-V.I.P (Vanilla Infused Porter)

Viking Braggot Co.

Viking Braggot Co. is fairly new, but it found its identity and went from zero to 100 real quick. Braggot is technically honey mead, but Viking does it better. All of its beer is made with all natural ingredients and its honey is harvested locally by its brewmaster. Its tap room is a little further than the others at 520 Commercial St, Unit F, but a quick drive out there won’t leave you disappointed. Make sure to bring a couple growlers because you’re going to want more than just a pint. You can also find its brews on tap around Eugene. Find a full list of locations on its website.

Make sure to try:

-Valhalla Belgian Pale Ale

-Reverence Dry Hopped Red Ale

Follow Sam Sites on Twitter @samS12

The William W. Knight Law Center became the University of Oregon’s third Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certified building from the U.S. Green Building Council in June. Now the fifth-best environmental law program in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report, resides in a building committed to the ideals of its students.

The certification falls in line with the UO’s blueprint for energy efficiency, the Climate Action Plan — a document established in 2008 and updated every two years, that outlines the goal of a 17 percent reduction of emissions below 2005 levels by 2020 and estimates a 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below the expected 2050 levels.

Jim Horstrup, building manager at the Knight Law Center, said the building would have come in at a low silver rating initially before he and the others teamed up with campus operations to make slight improvements. The improvements included adjustments to the use of steam and chilled water in the winter and summer months, timed and motion sensor lights and encouraging the building’s occupants to travel to and from the building using car pools or bicycles.

On a scale of 100 points, the Knight Law Center broke “just barely into the gold certification,” Horstrup said, with a total of 61 points.

“As this campus grows, we begin to create a larger and larger carbon footprint,” Horstrup said. “I think it’s only responsible for the existing buildings to go through and look at their operations and try to determine where they can save without reducing the end product to the students.”

Horstrup said collaboration between his team and campus operations was crucial to getting the improvements and emissions analysis done on the building. Associate Vice President of Campus Operations George Hecht said his office drew inspiration from a U.S. Forest Service analysis that found the operations and maintenance cost of a building, over the span of 30 years, greatly exceeds the initial construction costs.

“If you want to cut costs and make an environmental impact, it’s important to have a well-constructed and environmentally sound building, but it’s even more important to operate and maintain it in line with these LEED principles,” Hecht said.

UO Director of Sustainability Steve Mital believes this is another good step toward a climate-neutral campus and the meeting of goals laid out in the Climate Action Plan. Mital said he envisions a UO campus where all buildings are LEED certified, and LEED’s existing building operations and maintenance standards provide a plan for that dream to become a reality.

“We’re releasing fewer by-products like greenhouse gases. On the other hand, our products — students and research — are greener and greener all the time,” Mital wrote in an email. “Both will be consequential in the future.”

UO’s LEED certified buildings:

Lillis Business Complex – Silver

William W. Knight Law Center – Gold

Matthew Knight Arena – Gold

White Stag Building (Portland) – Gold

Lewis Integrated Science Building – Platinum

Ford Family Alumni Center – Platinum

Dear readers and University of Oregon community members,

It has come to the attention of the Emerald’s newsroom management that Thursday’s cover story (Eugene’s Sweet Potato Pie and Greater Goods lead the charge to carry Fair Trade clothing) had a falsified source. The story began with a fictional account of two University of Oregon students combing through their closets. The author went on to falsely quote a source whom she had not interviewed.

The newsroom’s management was unaware of the error until the source who was falsely attributed contacted myself asking that her name be removed form the article. We immediately started an investigation into the situation and the story was pulled from our website on Thursday mid-day.

After following up with the source we contacted the reporter responsible for the incident. The reporter came to the Emerald office around 2 p.m. to leave a note for their editor confessing to have fabricated the interview.

It would be easy to point blame at any of the editors involved in the production of this story, unfortunately it’s not that easy. One of the basic agreements between an editor and a reporter is that you are seeking the truth and reporting it. At a fundamental level, this situation was a breach of trust in an isolated incident and does not reflect the hard work and talent demonstrated by our staff. The author is no longer employed by the Emerald and hopefully understands the gravity of the mistake.

We discussed the situation with our staff, added a few steps to the process to ensure this won’t happen again and we have faith that we will be able to prevent future incidents. With that said, we do believe there is some work to be done to regain the trust of our readers and community.

This was unacceptable for any publication, student or professional. We apologize to our readers and the source who was falsely represented in the story.  Our news editors are verifying the legitimacy of the sourcing in the rest of the story and auditing the reporter’s previous work in order to ensure its validity.

We regret the error and will strive to continue serving our community with the highest regard for ethics and professionalism as a institution recognizing the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics. Unfortunately, this is a problem across not just college media, but the sphere of professional journalism as well.  The Emerald will take measures to prevent this mistake from happening in the future through even more rigorous quote and fact checking systems.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

We hope to represent the values of our community in our future actions.

– Sam Stites, editor in chief

Sstites@dailyemerald.com — (541) 346-5511 ext. 346 — EMU Suite 300

What do Sports Illustrated and the New York Times have in common? Besides the fact they are two of the most highly circulated national publications in the United States, they both received early invitations to tour the University of Oregon’s new $68 million football operations building, a building that the University can hardly call its own.

The Emerald, and other local media were denied a chance to tour the building — dubbed the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex after the project’s benefactor Phil and Penny Knight’s mothers’ maiden names — until today. Why, you might be asking? Well, It’s all part of the University’s push to solidify its continued national spotlight.

“For this particular project, we were hoping to get national recognition,” Phil Weiler of the UO’s strategic communications office told The Register-Guard. “We were concerned that if we gave local media (first access), that national media wouldn’t want to come (later).”

According to The Register-Guard, the University contacted Sports Illustrated and offered exclusive access in return for a multi-page spread. On July 25, SI photographer John McDonough, two freelance assistants and Register-Guard photographer Paul Carter — who was invited by McDonough — took an all-day tour of the complex led by a representative from the project’s architecture firm, ZGF Architects out of Portland.

McDonough produced six pages of photos for Sports Illustrated’s feature photo essay section, a section that usually features more than one subject. The Register-Guard — fortunate enough to have an accomplished photographer invited to the party — ran their photos last Wednesday, a day after Sports Illustrated.

When the Emerald attempted to get original photos, we were encouraged to wait until Monday when local media would be allowed to tour the building for the first time.

Today marks the official start of the 2013 football season, with interviews from key staff and players this morning and media tour of the new building this afternoon.

The Dow Wilson Inspirational Award is one of the most coveted accolades a male Oregon track and field athlete can receive. It’s given annually to the team member who has proven to be inspirational and tenacious through hard work and leadership. Of all the story lines and hard work put in by the men of Oregon this year, two runners stood out — and one of those men was Mac Fleet.

Fleet, a redshirt junior from San Diego, Calif., is seeded number 11 (3:45.08) in the 1,500-meter run for the NCAA Track and Field Championships set to take place at Hayward Field this week, an impressive feat considering his two-year rebound from a navicular bone issue that could have potentially ended his career.

“When you look at what he did,” teammate Ben DeJarnette said, “the amount of time he was out with an injury that really showed no signs of getting better for two years, it speaks to his commitment and dedication that he was able to come back and now have what’s been an amazing season so far.”

Fleet describes his rehabilitation process as humbling. He isn’t afraid to admit the depression that came with being sidelined from his passion for months on end.

“I would get healthy, try to run and end up hurting myself again,” he said. “Then I’d start the process all over. It was frustrating.”

He says his agony only intensified by watching his teammates train and compete without him.

Men’s distance coach Andy Powell says that his similar battle with injury as a student athlete at Stanford played a role in helping guide Fleet back to health, physically and emotionally.

“He was pretty down, and it certainly helped having gone through some of the same struggles he went through,” he said. “Knowing from personal experience the types of things that happen (when you’re injured), I would talk with him.”

He says he remembers seeing Fleet attempt to return to the track multiple times, only to find that the simplest runs left him in acute pain, making it hard for him to revel in his favorite pastime.

“It got to the point where he started enjoying it again, so we worked on getting him fit and got him back out there,” Powell said.

After qualifying for the championships at the western regionals in Austin, Texas, Fleet and his team return to Hayward to finish the year on their home turf and cap off another successful season.

He says he’s excited to come home for the championships as well as to have his parents in the crowd. He and his father share a special bond, being the only father-son pair to both hold California state championship titles.

“It’ll be nice to see my parents watching me again, especially if it’s on this track,” he said. “There’s nowhere like Hayward in the country.”

At 6-foot-3, people look up to him, but not just physically. Over the past few years, he has proven to be a dedicated leader by example, and the Dow Wilson award is a recognition of the facet of his personality that coaches, teammates and friends see every day.

“I think Mac is a natural leader,” DeJarnette said. “He’s a guy that even as a freshman felt at ease being someone people would look up to.”

Alex Rovello

University of Oregon tennis player Alex Rovello died Saturday at Tamolitch Falls near the Trailbridge Campground, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said. The 21-year-old Rovello was a junior journalism major at the UO.

Update, 5:52 p.m.: The Oregon athletic department released a statement regarding Rovello’s death Sunday afternoon.

“The Oregon tennis family is devastated by the loss of Alex,” said Nils Schyllander, Head Men’s Tennis Coach. “He was an amazing person and teammate and his spirit will live on forever with all of us who were fortunate enough to have known him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his parents, Geri and Jim Rovello, and to the entire family.”

Athletics officials confirmed the Rovello family is planning a memorial service for Sat., May 18, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Portland, Ore.

“Alex was so much more than a dedicated and exemplary student-athlete at the University of Oregon,” Director of Athletics Rob Mullens said. “He was a son, a brother, a friend, a teammate, a leader, whose warm personality brought everyone together and whose contributions to the extended Oregon community will resonate long after today. On behalf of the UO family, we extend our sympathies to Alex’s family, and we will honor his memory each and every day.”

Around 2 p.m. on Saturday, Linn County Emergency Dispatch received a 911 call requesting emergency assistance for a man who had jumped from a 60-foot cliff into the Tamolitch Pool (also known as the Blue Pool) on the McKenzie River Trail and had not resurfaced.

Witnesses at the scene told responders that he hit the water with his face and upper chest. Attempts by bystanders and friends to rescue him were difficult and ultimately unsuccessful due to his depth in the water and the 37-degree water.

A witness had to run nearly two miles to make the 911 call as there is no cell service in the immediate area. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the drowning.

UO men’s tennis assistant coach, posted “R.I.P. Alex Rovello” on Facebook earlier Saturday night.

Rovello hailed from Portland’s Cleveland High School and was one of the top tennis players ever to come out of the state. He won four consecutive state titles and finished his high school career without ever recording a loss — 50-0. He also appeared in the June 14, 2010, edition of “Sports Illustrated” in their “Faces in the Crowd” feature. At one point, he was ranked No. 24 in the country.

He has been written about frequently by the Emerald during his tennis career at Oregon. Here are more stories on him.

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus police officer was shot late Thursday evening and confirmed dead by the Cambridge Police Department, according to MIT’s student paper, The Tech. Suspects fled the campus and were engaged by police in Watertown, Mass., before one was taken into custody.

A shoot out — which involved explosive devices — between the suspects and police led to one being arrested and the other retreating into a neighborhood. Police are currently searching the area but have not yet caught the other suspect.

You can follow the Boston Police scanner here.

UPDATE: 11:32 p.m.

The Boston Globe is reporting the man taken into custody is a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing.

UPDATE: 1:27 a.m.

During an impromptu press conference held in Watertown early Friday morning, Boston officials confirmed the first suspect was killed.

Officials still haven’t released the names of the two suspects, but they said in the press conference they are currently looking for the second suspect.

“We have a video from the 7/11 in Cambridge last night,” said Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis. “He’s in a gray hoody sweatshirt. Caucasian male, with long curly brown hair. That’s the individual we’re looking for right now.”

A Eugene fire truck and EMS ambulance responded to a call at the Student Recreation Center around 10:50 a.m. on Monday, April 8. Reports from people at the scene confirm someone was taken away in the ambulance, but the Emerald has yet to identify the person or cause. Rec center Director of Facilities Bryan Haunert confirmed someone was taken away but was unable to comment on the situation.

Updates to follow.

We have officially passed the vernal equinox, and that means the days are getting longer and longer. With longer days comes more time to finish your work and get outside to enjoy the rare Oregon sun.

One way many students like to spend their sunlit afternoons is relaxed with a cold drink in hand. Here are a few local spots to make yourself an oasis for the day:

North bank of the Willamette River:

My roommates and I frequently head down to the Willamette River to either swim, relax or the hit rope swing that used to be located near the I-5 bridge (someone should rebuild that shit.) If you think the water’s cold, try swimming on the Oregon coast, and you’ll quickly appreciate Eugene’s main aquatic confluence. Various spots up and down the north bank provide sunlight or shade depending on your preference. You may have to hunt (or share if you’re nice) for an open spot. Some spots are sandy. Others not so much. Just be prepared with towels or a light chair so you’re not sitting with a rock in your tush.

Triangle Lake natural water slides:

If you haven’t been out here, you need to go. Some of my best summer memories living in Eugene are at this spot, and for those of you who are saying I’m blowing the exclusivity, you can buzz off.

Triangle Lake is just 35 minutes (depending on how fast you drive) northwest of Eugene out Highway 99 into the countryside. The slides are located in a small stream on the far southwest side of the lake and are super fun, especially if you have a knee or boogie board.

A big plus about this spot is that there is a ton of shade if it’s a super hot day, but it still gets plenty of sunlight. Just be sure to take your crappy swimsuit because you might rip your bottoms if you snag some friction.

Top of Spencer Butte:

Yes, we know its clichéd, but give it a try. There is seriously nothing better than a couple of buddies, brews and a hacky sack on top of Eugene’s tallest point to take your mind off that economics midterm coming up.

Not only is the view awesome, but the wind feels great on a hot day. Plus there are tons of places to sit and take a load off after that hike (depending on what route you take).

Your (or your friend’s) backyard:

Honestly, my favorite spot is my backyard. My roommates, my dog, my grill, my Sierra Nevada Pale Ale … What else do I need to have a nice Saturday afternoon other getting your hands on a Ninkasi keg for 30 percent off?

The best thing to do is a potluck barbecue. Tell everyone to grab one item (don’t forget the veggie burgers for those who don’t eat meat), and the cost is kept minimal. Also, you never know if your day drinking will turn into a full-fledged kickback when the sun goes down.

National leadership fraternity Pi Kappa Phi wants to change how the public views people with disabilities. Members took their mission to the next level Thursday when they organized an event to raise awareness about accessibility on campus.

Through their philanthropy — Push America, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — Pi Kappa Phi members sponsored 30 students to give up walking for a day and see what life is like for a person in a wheelchair. The goal of the event: to file a report for grant money to improve campus accessibility as well as give students firsthand experience of the difficulties of navigating campus with a disability.

“Our main goal was to show how accessible or not accessible the University of Oregon campus is on a normal basis,” said Eric Dawson, event coordinator and Pi Kappa Phi brother. “In a lot of cases we’re finding out that it is not accessible in certain buildings where you can get to the first floor, but not the classrooms.”

Dawson says he hopes to foster change through this event and show just how flawed this campus might be. He personally organized the wheelchair rentals and recruited fellow Fraternity and Sorority Life members to participate in the event.

“At the end of the day we’re hoping to possibly get grants for the parts of campus that are not accessible and make a change,” Dawson said. “Volunteering with Push America I’ve gotten a great chance to get connecting and realize there is nothing different about people with disabilities. I felt very strong about putting on this event because it hurts me to see them get mistreated.”

Gamma Phi Beta sister Jennifer Dodge was one of 10 sorority women who participated in Thursday’s awareness event. She said her experience was revealing because of how stressful it was to navigate campus without the use of her legs.

“I decided to volunteer because I thought it would be an eye-opening experience to see what it’s like for people on a daily basis,” Dodge said. “It was really tiring. After the first 20 minutes I was really overwhelmed having the anxiety to not know if I’d be able to get anywhere.”

Dodge says she fell at one point, triggering sympathy from passersby who helped her back into her chair. She was surprised by the compassion — and lack thereof — from strangers across campus.

“I got a lot of people brushing me off, but others who help push me and be friendly and ask how I was doing, so learning how people respond to disabled people firsthand was my biggest takeaway,” she said. “We need to not assume things about people because you never know what they might be struggling with throughout their day.”

Pi Kappa Phi’s media point person, A.J. Bell, says that his fraternity pushed for this event because they identified a lack of interest from other groups on this particular issue. Bell feels particularly passionate about the issue because of his personal connection through family and friends.

“We’ve never seen anything like this on campus from any group whether that be greek or non-greek,” Bell said. “I have friends who go here to the university who are disabled, so we thought it would change the way people looked at them.”