The 23rd annual Oregon Brewers Festival takes place July 22nd through 25th at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
The beer list is impressive. For one thing only 25% of the beers fall into the IPA style, which is pretty low by Oregon beer festival standards. It’s nice to see more belgian and farmhouse style ales, plus plenty of wheat beers.
This is the Big One. Year after year it gets bigger, more crowded, and the good beers run out too damn early. My advice is to arrive early, try the unique beers not normally available in Portland, and then leave early and make your way to one of the many bars and taverns around town with fantastic beers and 16-20 ounce pints. If you enjoy the heat and crowds, by all means go Saturday afternoon, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Taps open at noon each day of the festival and pour until 9pm Thursday through Saturday. Sunday you’re cut off at 7pm. Standard beer fest conventions apply: buy the festival mug and $1 tokens for beer samples. $10 gets you a mug, a program, and four tokens. Visit the website for more information.
My strategy this year:
Volunteer Thursday night shift. Collect free mug and tokens. Try not to hurt myself at after-shift party.
Head over after work Friday. Bail before the rowdies show up (around 7pmish)
Get there at gate open Saturday. Hit the taps I missed Friday night. Head to the Horse Brass.
Mary Sue – Now *that’s* a plan! I’m going to miss this fest, for I think the 3rd year in a row. Heather and I are attending her sister’s wedding instead!