Cheers to Beers!

Ask any Portlandian, native or not, what their favorite cultural aspects of this great city, and chances are high that the beer scene will make its way into the conversation. Beer, especially of the microbrew persuasion, has always played a huge part in Portland and Oregon culture, as we are blessed to have many breweries which have gained national attention headquartered right here. And with weeks like this that have three consecutive days of weather over 100º F, there’s no better time to talk about Portland’s summer beer festivals.

My partner and I just went to the Oregon Brewer’s Festival this past weekend, and while trying to think of my next blog topic to write about, it was simple. Portlanders have had a love affair with their locally brewed masterpieces, and the summer beer festivals that seem to land on every weekend from June through September are the perfect place to showcase those talents. They range in size and venue, but so do the crowds that they draw.

The first beer fest we went to was right at the start of the summer on the first Saturday in June. Pints in the Pearl is a beer fest that celebrated its second successful turnout this year. For the past two years, the Pearl District Business Association has shut down a few blocks in the heart of NW Portland for visitors to flock to taste local brews and bites. You are given a metal cup and a couple beer bottle tops as tokens of payment for each cart. Each bottle cap is worth one full pint of beer, and the stainless steel cup is really great for keeping the beverage at the perfect cool temperature. Since the event drew quite a crowd, the lines did tend to be on the longer side. Luckily, they had a great lineup of live musicians on two different stages, as well as the opportunity for little ones to do chalk drawings or do a bean bag toss. According to the event website, their five participating Pearl District craft brewers — 10 Barrel, BridgePort, Deschutes, Fat Heads, and BackPedal — serve local craft beers, including special brews made exclusively for the festival. I’ve been to Pints both years they’ve held it, and I’ll keep coming back.

The next festival we went to was about a week later. The weather leading up to it was on the rainier side, but that didn’t keep people from flocking to the East side of the Willamette to the 7th Annual Portland Fruit Beer Fest. This festival was definitely the smallest and most unique of the beer festivals I’ve been to this summer, but it still drew quite a populace. It again featured local brewers, but focused on exhibiting those that were made using fruits like berries and limes, but also more tropical fruits like kiwi, mango, and guava. They also included cider in this festival, which was delicious. Since the beers were enhanced with fruit, they tended to be more on the sweeter than hoppier side. I also liked that it was over a whole weekend, so I wouldn’t feel like I was missing out if I went later.

Last but not least, the 30th Annual Oregon Brewers Festival could suitably be called the “Mac Daddy” of the beer festivals in Portland. According to the event website, the Oregon Brewers Festival got its start in July 1988 as the brainchild of Art Larrance, founder of Portland Brewing Co. Larrance had been to Oktoberfest in Munich and wanted to create a similar atmosphere while exposing locals to the variety of good microbrews. Since its start 30 years ago, it has attracted thousands to Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park to taste numerous microbrews on tap. With the opportunity to sample dozens of craft beer styles, with 80 craft beers in the main festival, and another 90 rotating small batch beers in the Specialty Tent, one shouldn’t be surprised at birds of a feather definitely flock to this 5-day fest. The event also offers live music, beer-related vendors, beer memorabilia displays, home brewing demonstrations and an assortment of food vendors.

As we started to get closer to the gigantic coolers from the lines that seemed to go for miles, every once in a while, someone would raise their glass and give a rousing “WHOO!”, which would in turn influence others to do the same. This festival is a reminder of the peak of the season, and that it would slowly come an end. While that might be true, we are grateful to our city for once again bringing us together on hot days. We celebrate our entrepreneurial energy, our creative spirit, and our drive to keep Portland on the map in the world of microbrewing.

Cheers!

 

What’s your favorite kind of beer? Let me know in the comments below!