It’s that time of year again – Oregon Brewers Festival is back celebrating its 29th year of back-to-back beer from renowned brewers from across the world. Roughly 80,000 lovers of beer just like yourself will journey to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland which extends over the course of five days.
Craft delights will be served today through Sunday with 88 carefully crafted beers from select brewers across 15 states and five countries. Foreign beers aren’t forgotten – there will be two-dozen craft beers from small brewers in Japan, China, Germany and the Netherlands. Feel free to ask anyone about their beer, they’d love to explain.
Although the focus is beer — lots of local beer — there will of course be food booths, live music, craft vendors, homebrew demonstrations and even a craft soda garden. We picked out a few of what we are looking forward to, but it is only a small preview of what attendees will experience, for the glory of beer.
Culmination Brewing Deutschland-Down Under || Portland || German beer meets tropical fruit. A classic Berliner weisse recipe is patched with a “liberal addition” of fresh kiwis for this young and celebrated brewery. Tangy sour fruits and a wheat base make this an ideal sipper for the sun.
Fat Head’s Brewing Sunshine Daydream || Portland || Flavors of tropical fruits and citruses, peach and orange throw themselves at you in a way that reminds you of none other than a real sunshine daydream. This session ale refreshes and satisfies that specific thirst.
Full Sail Brewing Capsize Imperial Pilsner || Hood River, OR || The blend of Northwest hops used in this brew carries a flavor that only Northwest-lauded varieties can provide. Cascade, Crystal and Citra hops bring out citrus, spice and pine flavors which assemble this well-done golden lager.
Georgetown Brewing Gusto Crema Coffee Ale || Seattle || This ale holds a heavy coffee flavor which comes from beans roasted by their friends at the nearby Caffe Umbria. With traits resembling the black morning elixir itself, in sight, smell and taste, this rich and creamy brew is sure to hit the spot. It’s all thanks to the oats and Munich malt for the texture it emits.
Pelican Brewing Chongie Saaz || Pacific City, OR || Inspired by and named for Pelican brewery rep, Maia Chong (who was at the helm of this beer’s conception), the Bohemian-style Czech pilsner is hopped with the noble Saaz hop, a spicy variety that pairs nicely with the clean Vienna malt flavors of this zippy beer.
Three Mugs Brewing Co. Mo’ Honey Ale || Hillsboro, OR || Close your eyes and imagine smelling an orange blossom honey aroma but tasting a liquid with a malty, yet gentile flavor. This beer is great on its own, with food, in the sun or out in the rain. It truly is an all-season ale.
