Cascade Brewing releases Melonius Blond in bottle and draft

Courtesy of Cascade Brewing Co

PORTLAND, Ore. (March 9, 2018) – Cascade Brewing released Melonius Blond today, its first-ever bottled melon sour. The Northwest sour ale is a blend of blond and wheat ales aged in oak barrels for up to 14 months with cantaloupe and Summer Kiss melons. This limited offering is available in 750 ml bottles and on draft through Cascade’s regular distribution channels, as well as in-house at both its Portland area pubs.
Showcasing Oregon-grown fruit harvested at peak ripeness, Melonius Blond offers notes of fresh summer melons, orange blossoms and sour candies, with a touch of honeycomb and green peppercorn. The beer is 6.8 percent alcohol by volume.

Courtesy of Cascade Brewing Co

The brewery produced just 50 barrels of Melonious Blond, which is a Tier One offering; Cascade’s bottles have distinct label styles for each of the three Cascade Brewing pricing tiers, with each label within the tier utilizing distinctive colors to clearly differentiate each beer. The tiers differ by the style of beer used in the product, the type ingredients contained within, the time aged in the barrels and types of barrels used.

The next Cascade beer to be released is Pearpawsterous, a collaboration project with Upland Brewing in Indiana. Another limited project, Pearpawsterous features regional ingredients sourced from each brewery’s home state – Oregon-grown pears and Indiana-grown paw paws – layered over a base of sour wheat ales aged for up to 12 months in oak barrels. Paw paw fruit has a sweet, custard-like flavor somewhat similar to banana, mango, and cantaloupe. Look for this release March 25.

About Cascade Brewing
Cascade Brewing has been a pioneer in the sour beer renaissance since 2006 and the proud innovator of the Northwest Sour Ale. Its distinctive sour beer blends feature fruit forward, barrel-aged ales with an emphasis on project year-to-year variation. These beers offer a complex array of flavors derived from the acid, the fruit and the residual flavors present in the barrels in which they age. The resulting beers offer a complex array of flavors and aromas derived from with each project year, capturing the unique subtleties of that year’s growing season. Cascade Brewing’s sour ales are brewed and blended in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit CascadeBrewing.com and join the brewery on social media @CascadeBrewing, #CascadeBrewing and #HouseofSour. Cheers to the sours; enjoy in a profoundly wise manner.

3 days of St. Paddy’s Day with McMenamins

Courtesy of McMenamins

Did you know that McMenamins is Celtic for St. Patrick’s Day? Almost had you, right? Guess we were feeling lucky. But McMenamins IS going big for the green this year with three-day events at several locations, a special-release can, seasonal ales and an aged rye flask of whiskey.

Party all weekend (March 16, 17 and 18) at the stops listed below or drop by any McMenamins location on Saturday, March 17 for seasonal Irish Stout, food specials, bagpipers and more!

Feeling foggy? Grab a can of Foggy Dew Irish Lager to go – a first time release! More of a whiskey fan? At select locations, a limited supply of McMenamins 2018 Devils Bit Whiskey will be available but sells out fast. 

Courtesy of McMenamins

McMenamins St. Patrick’s Day Events

All McMenamins locations will be celebrating on March 17. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/184406-st-patricks-day

Three-Day Celebrations – March 16-18:

·         Edgefield:
Irish or not, you're invited to join in our celebration! Irish dancers start at 1 p.m. and live music will be playing at the Loading Dock, Little Red Shed and Winery Tasting Room (21 & over) throughout the day. Specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben, Irish Stew, and Corned Beef & Cabbage. There’s a Distillery tasting from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. and make sure to check out the Golf Tournament; tickets can be purchased here in advance.

·         Grand Lodge:
Join the party at Grand Lodge on St. Paddy’s. Jam to some live music at the Garage Door from 5:30-10 p.m. by Anchor & Reel followed by Hawthorne Roots. Food specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Irish Reuben and Irish Stew.

·         Old St. Francis School:
Get your green on in Bend this St. Paddy’s at Old St. Francis School! Live music will be playing all day at O’Kanes, Father Luke’s and the Fireside Courtyard. Make sure to check out the Bend Fire Pipes and Drums! Food specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben and Irish Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage.

·         Hotel Oregon:
There’s three days of fun to be had at Hotel Oregon for St. Paddy’s celebrations. In Mattie’s room, enjoy live music from 7-10 p.m. by Dirty Revival. If you’re 21 & over, head to the Cellar Bar for a live performance by Thom Dudley & Eddie Pareute. Food specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben and Irish Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage.

·         Anderson School:
Enjoy a performance by Stark Raving Plaid in Haynes Hall from 7-10 p.m. or listen to live music in the Shed from 1-7 p.m. by The Home Rules and Pickled Okra. Food specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Sheppard's Pie and Irish Stew.

·         Kennedy School:
It’s St. Paddy’s at school! Check out The Murray Irish dancers from 11:30-1 p.m. in the gym followed by live music the rest of the day. We’ll be serving Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben and Irish Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage.

Two-Day Celebrations, March 16-17

·         Olympic Club Hotel:
Join the fun at Olympic Club for a 2 day celebration. Dance to live music from Dirty Revival from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and enjoy our seasonal Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben and Irish Stew.

·         Wilsonville Old Church:
At McMenamins Wilsonville you can listen to live music by Biddy on the Bench in the Old Church from 5-7 p.m., followed by O’Harmony from 8-10 p.m. Our food specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben, Irish Stew and Corned Beef & Cabbage.

·         Gearhart Hotel:
Party by the coast at McMenamins Gearhart this St. Patrick’s Day. Food specials include Irish Stout, Irish Coffee, Irish Reuben, Irish Stew and Corned Beef & Cabbage. We Three will perform in Livingstone’s Room from 7-10 p.m.

New Belgium Brewing Announces Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza

Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Co

Collaboration with Mexico City-based brewery blurs borders to create drinkable work of art

Fort Collins, Colo. (March 7, 2018) - New Belgium Brewing and Mexico City’s Primus Microcerveceria have teamed up to capture the spirit and flavor of Mexican street culture and art with their newest collaborative release, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza. Inspired by the refreshing, fruit-infused drink popular throughout Mexico, Agua Fresca, this super crisp beer is brewed with hibiscus, agave, watermelon juice and whole lime puree.

“Last year I went to Tijuana on this exploratory trip where I was looking for ingredients to bring back to New Belgium,” recalled New Belgium Brewer Cody Reif. “I kept coming across this one drink [agua fresca] that was in all the food stalls. I was so inspired by the flavors, I thought this would make a great beer.”

Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza defies traditional beer categories; instead it’s an innovative new style, creating a sweet flash with a touch of tart that evokes Mexican tastes and flavors. To create such a breakthrough beer, New Belgium collaborated with their friends at Primus Microcerveceria to craft a liquid as authentic as it is delicious.

“Mural is an expression of a true friendship between our teams, our breweries and our countries,” said Jaime Andreu Galvan, co-founder of Primus. “Mural Agua Fresca Ale depicts in its flavors authentic craft beer innovation, much like my country does every day with our gastronomy.”
Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza pours a bright amber and a light pinkish white head drifts atop. Watermelon, lime, lemon and fresh green apple aromas complement a sweet, slightly tart taste with a light mouthfeel and crisp finish.

Available now in 12 oz. bottles and on draft as a year-round offering, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza can be found across Mexico and currently in five select US markets: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. Other US markets may soon be added due to interest from select distributors.

Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza
Malts: Pale
Hops: Nugget
Yeast: Ale
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 11
Special ingredients: Hibiscus, agave, watermelon juice and whole lime puree
In celebration of this new beer, New Belgium will be hosting a series of beer dinners showcasing high-end food pairings inspired by the liquid. For more information about New Belgium or any of its beers, visit www.newbelgium.com. 

About New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work, one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses and tops Bicycling Magazine’s Best Companies for Cyclists. The 100% employee-owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses, and a Certified B Corp. In addition to Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale, New Belgium brews fifteen year-roundbeers: Citradelic Tangerine IPA, Fat Tire Belgian White, Voodoo Ranger IPA, Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop Pale Ale, Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, Sour Saison, Honey Orange Tripel, Dayblazer Easygoing Ale, Tartastic Fruit Beer Series, 1554 Black Lager, Bohemian Pilsner, Abbey Belgian Style Ale, Trippel and a gluten-reduced beer, Glutiny Pale Ale. To learn more, visit NewBelgium.com and follow the brewery on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

About Primus Microcerveceria
Primus Microcerveceria was founded by cousins ​​Jaime and Rodolfo Andreu in 2006 with the idea of brewing culture in Mexico by developing and promoting beer styles little known in the country. It currently makes the Tempus and Jabalí brands, which have more than 20 national and international medals including being named Best Beer in Mexico in 2015. Their mission is to “make beer an extraordinary experience.”

Double Mountain Brewery Releasing Pale Death - Belgian Style Imperial IPA

Courtesy of  Double Mountain Brewing Co

Hood River, OR - March, 2018 – Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom is proud to bring back our popular Belgian Style Imperial IPA, Pale Death. This aromatic IPA is currently available in bottles at the downtown Hood River Taproom and SE Portland Taproom in the Woodstock neighborhood. Double Mountain Pale Death can also be found throughout the Northwest.

"This is my go to beer to savor while waiting for the coming apocalypse. The fourth rider was death! Man, it’s a great time for a beer…" Brewmaster/Owner Matt Swihart

Pale Death                                                                                                                                                8.5% ABV, 88 BU

Courtesy of  Double Mountain Brewing Co

Description: Open the Fourth Seal and partake in the luminous pungency of a dank tropical forest.  Ripe kiwi, mango, and pineapple consort with the coriander and orange peel of the Ardennes yeast. A noticeable bitterness hangs in balance with a hint of malt sweetness hiding in the vast pale orange foundation. 

About Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom: Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom was established in 2007 in the heart of downtown Hood River, OR. Founder Matt Swihart opened the brewery with a clear mission: make great beer for craft beer fans. Their unique location lends to not only using pure and clean glacial water for their beers, but they also take advantage of regionally grown hops. With their reusable bottle program, customers love the softer environmental footprint and know they are part of a solution to sustainability. They can be found on tap and in bottles throughout the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Learn more at www.doublemountainbrewery.com

Portland Plays Home To Homebrew Con 2018

Courtesy of the American Homebrewers Association

WHAT: Homebrewers from across the country will come together in Rose City for Homebrew Con, also known as the National Homebrewers Conference. Hosted by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), the three-day event—which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year—is the ultimate experience for anyone interested in homebrewing and understanding beer, mead and cider. Homebrew Con features interactive sessions, workshops and demonstrations that cater to beer enthusiasts and amateur brewers of every level.     

 

The conference culminates with the National Homebrew Competition, the world’s largest beer competition, which recognizes the most outstanding homebrewed beer, mead and cider produced by amateur brewers worldwide.    

WHO: An estimated 3,000 attendees will have the opportunity hear from over 90 presenters, including keynote speaker Charlie Papazian, who founded the AHA 40 years ago and is widely regarded as the “godfather of homebrewing.” Presenters include other pioneering and veteran homebrewers, beer industry professionals, mead makers and more.

                        WHEN: Thursday, June 28 – Saturday, June 30

Times vary. For a full schedule of events, visit the conference schedule.

                        WHEN: Oregon Convention Center

777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

Portland, OR 97232

 

WHY:The American Homebrewers Association has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of 46,000 homebrewers and beer enthusiasts. This fun, educational gathering pays tribute to the craft of homebrewing and unites all levels of homebrewing aficionados to expand their brewing skills and knowledge, while embracing the community’s camaraderie and spirit.

 

MEDIA: A limited number of press passes are available. Media wishing to attend and cover Homebrew Con must apply for credentials.

                       

 

About the American Homebrewers Association:

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of 46,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association organizes events including Homebrew Con and the National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy^® magazine and offers the Brew Guru™ mobile app. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association (BA), whose independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA’s Brewers Publications™ division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, and join us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

Fuji to Hood - A Japan/Portland Collaboration Beer Festival

Courtesy of Fuji to Hood Beer Festival

3/6/2018 Portland, OR -

Fuji to Hood is a Japan - Portland collaboration beer festival featuring ten Japanese breweries (and one cidery) collaborating with eleven of Portland's finest brewers/cidermakers on original recipes using select Japanese ingredients. Presented by Culmination Brewing, the Fuji to Hood festival also features Sake from SakeOne, Japanese cuisine from Marukin Ramen and Bamboo Sushi, plus Japanese Taiko drumming groups with partial proceeds going to benefit JASO - the Japan-America Society of Oregon. Beer, Japanese Cuisine, and Sake come together in Portland on April 21st, 2018.

Advanced and VIP Tickets (one hour early entrance for only 100) are now on sale for the festival that takes place Saturday, April 21st, 2018 at the The Bindery Annex and Culmination Brewing. Tickets include a one-of-a-kind collectible and branded glass and 12 drink tickets good for 4oz samples of all ten beers and one cider and an extra ticket to go back for a favorite.

Entertainment includes live Japanese Taiko music, decorative Japanese arts, sushi from Bamboo Sushi and ramen from Marukin Ramen for an additional cost.

Participating Portland Brewery - Japanese Brewery:

Burnside Brewing - Yokosuka

Cascade Brewing - Y.MARKET

Widmer Brothers Brewing - Spring Valley

Reverend Nat's Hard Cider - Son of the Smith

Ex Novo Brewing - RISE & WIN

Breakside Brewery - Far Yeast

Upright Brewing - Kyoto Brewing

Hopworks Urban Brewery - Nihonbashi Brewing

Culmination Brewing - Ise Kadoya

Ecliptic Brewing - Heiwa Shuzou

Gigantic Brewing - Harvest Moon

WHEN: Saturday, April 21st Noon - 4pm, VIP Session 11am - Noon

WHERE: The Bindery Annex and Culmination Brewing, 2117 NE Oregon St,

Portland, OR 97232

WHAT: Fuji to Hood: A Japan/Portland Collaboration Beer Fest

COST: $25 General Admission, $30 VIP Early Entranace

MEDIA: FujiToHood.com

Fuji to Hood on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/fujitohood/

Alex Kuyper Wins Reuben’s Brews Second Annual Hop Idol Homebrew Contest

Courtesy of Rueben's Brews

Competition triples in size in its second year; winning beer will be brewed for Pacific Northwest distribution

SEATTLE, Wash. (March 8, 2018) – Reuben’s Brews has named the 2018 winner of its second annual “Hop Idol” Homebrew Contest: Alex Kuyper. Beating out 116 total entries, Kuyper’s “Dwayne IPA” took home the title. This hazy Northeast style IPA will now be brewed at Reuben’s Brews in Seattle and distributed in Pacific Northwest region.

“This year’s contest was fiercely competitive as our judging panel received amazing home brews from not only Washington and Oregon, but also from as far away as Alabama and Wisconsin,” said Adam Robbings, co-founder and brewmaster. “Alex’s winning creation has a fruit-forward nose with notes of sage, floral, jasmine, a juicy body and balanced bitterness. It will be fun to make this at the brewery alongside Alex and share it with the craft beer community.”

Hop Idol is a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) certified homebrew competition. All entries were blind tasted and scored against the BJCP style guidelines, focusing on hoppy styles. The judging panel included BJCP-certified beer judges, Reuben’s team members, some of Reuben’s wholesale customers and representatives from Reuben’s distributors.

In addition to brewing “Dwayne IPA” with the Reuben’s team at their brewery in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, Alex’s beer will be distributed throughout the Northwest and will be entered in the Washington Beer Awards Pro-Am competition as well as the Great American Beer Festival. The distributed brew will available on tap in the Reuben’s taproom and in bottles starting in May.

Second place honors went to Tim Mattran for his “Opposite Saisons”, and third place was taken by the overall winner, Alex Kuyper for his “Carl Double IPA.”

“It takes time, effort and commitment to brew beer and send it out for a contest like this, and we’d like to thank everyone who shared their brews with us,” said Robbings. “This annual contest goes back to how I got started in brewing and it is close to my heart. Homebrewers out there are doing great work and we hope this contest draws some attention to that.”

About Reuben’s Brews
After the birth of their first child Reuben, Adam and Grace embarked on a mission to brew bloody good beer. Originally from the UK, Adam turned a passionate hobby into a family-run brewery crafting nationally and internationally recognized beers in a wide variety of styles. Since opening in 2012, Reuben’s has won awards for its beers around the world including at the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup, the US Open and was named Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year at the 2015 Washington Beer Awards. Find Reuben’s Brews in the Pacific Northwest and at its taproom located at 5010 14th Ave NW in Ballard, open 7 days a week. For more information, visit www.reubensbrews.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@reubensbrews).

Ninkasi Brewing Company Names Marty Compton As National Sales Director

Courtesy of Ninkasi Brewing

EUGENE, Ore.—March 8, 2018—Ninkasi Brewing Company proudly announces Marty Compton as its new national sales director. Effective this week, Compton will direct Ninkasi’s sales team covering a distribution footprint of 12 states and two provinces.

Compton brings more than 30 years of experience growing beer sales and market share from both the brewer and distributor perspectives. Most recently as the director of sales at Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Compton led strategic growth including the expansion of Bell’s distribution territory from 11 to 31 states and increasing the brewery’s sales team from six to a force of over 100 individuals.  

“Marty has a history of building customer-focused teams based on passion, collaboration, professionalism, and accountability,” says Cheryl Collins, Ninkasi CEO. “This approach speaks greatly to our company values and where we see Ninkasi thriving in the years to come.”

Prior to his nine-year tenure at Bell’s, Compton’s experience includes leading teams at the distributor level at Alaska Distributors Co., as well as managing a self-distribution team at Redhook Ale Brewery.

“A desire to craft strong, profitable, and lasting partnerships makes Marty the leader we want with us as we navigate this challenging craft landscape,” explains Sarah Johnson, chief customer officer for Ninkasi. “I look forward to working with Marty to elevate our practices and move our brand forward.”

Compton will report directly to Sarah Johnson to oversee Ninkasi’s sales team and wholesaler relationships. Celebrating 11 years of crafting independent beer, Ninkasi continues to operate wholly from Eugene, Ore. under its core purpose—Perpetuate Better Living.

About Ninkasi Brewing Company
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA to the 33^rd largest craft brewery in the United States. Independently owned and operated in Eugene, Ore., Ninkasi’s Flagship beers include Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Dawn of the Red IPA, Hop Cooler Citrus IPA, Prismatic Juicy IPA, Pacific Rain Northwest Pale, Yours Truly Easy-Drinking Ale, Helles Belles Helles Lager, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout. Ninkasi beers are sold throughout Alaska; Alberta; Arizona; California; Colorado; Idaho; Maryland; Nevada; New York; Oregon; Utah; Washington; Virginia; and Vancouver, British Columbia. Committed to community support and giving, Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers donations to 501(c)(3) organizations throughout its footprint. For more information, call 541.344.2739 or visit www.NinkasiBrewing.com.

Oregon Brewers Festival Toasts 31 Years of Celebrating Independent Craft Beer

Courtesy of Timothy Horn

Beloved festival announces details for 2018 event, adds cider and wine to the mix

PORTLAND, Ore. (March 8, 2018) — More than 70,000 beer lovers are expected to travel from around the world to attend the 31st annual Oregon Brewers Festival (OBF) this summer. Considered one of the nation's longest-running and best-loved craft beer events, the outdoor festival will take place July 26 through July 29 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the west bank of the Willamette River. Gates open at 11:30am daily, and taps are open from Noon to 9pm Thursday through Saturday, and Noon to 7pm Sunday.

The OBF will serve 80 craft beers from small, traditional, and independent craft breweries located in 10 different states, as well as The Netherlands, and Baja, California. The northwestern Mexican state of Baja has defined itself as the country’s largest contingent for “cerveza artesanal,” and the festival is excited to present five breweries from that region.

The complete list of participating breweries includes 54-40, Agua Mala, Anderson Valley, Backwoods, Baerlic, Bayern, Belching Beaver, Boneyard, Boulder, Boundary Bay, Breakside, Buoy, Caldera, Cascade, Coin Toss, Crooked Stave, Depoe Bay, Deschutes, Double Mountain, Ecliptic, Everybody's, Fauna, Fort George, Fortside, Freebridge, Fremont, Gigantic, Golden Valley, GoodLife, Great Divide, Great Northern, Great Notion, Heathen, Heretic, Hopworks, Insurgente, Iron Horse, Kells, Laurelwood, Lompoc, MadTree, Maui, McMenamins, Melvin, Migration, Monkless, Natian, New Holland, Ninkasi, Old Town, Oproer, Oregon City, Pelican, Perennial, pFriem, Portland, RiverBend, Rogue, Royale, Rusty Truck, Sasquatch, Scout, Silver Falls, Silver Moon, StormBreaker, Sunriver, Terminal Gravity, Three Creeks, Three Mugs, Thunder Island, Transpeninsular, Upright, Uptown Market, Vertigo, Von Ebert, Wendlandt, Widmer, Wild Ride, Wolf Tree, and Zoiglhaus.

The festival will present more than two dozen different beer styles ranging from Berliner Weisse to Belgians, IPAs to IPLs, pales to Pilsners, and sours to stouts. For the first time ever, the OBF will also offer two ciders – one from Cider Riot! and the other from Reverend Nat’s – as well as one red and one white wine.

The vibrant festival will also feature live music all four days with no cover charge, six food booths, a number of beer related vendors, souvenir sales, and homebrew demonstrations.

The OBF is not a ticketed event; it is free to enter the festival grounds. In order to taste beer, the purchase of a souvenir tasting mug from the current year is required, which costs $7. Beer is purchased with wooden tokens, which cost $1 apiece. Patrons pay four tokens for a full mug of beer, or one token for a taste. The purchase of mugs and tokens is made on-site. The event is cash-only, with eight ATMs located on-premise.

The festival encourages responsible drinking and urges patrons to take Tri-Met; the MAX Light Rail has a station one block from the main festival entrance. Alternately, attendees who ride their bikes can park them for free in the Hopworks Urban Brewery secure bike corral. For those who bring a designated driver, the Crater Lake Soda Garden provides complimentary handcrafted soda (no mug purchase required). Minors, who are allowed into the event all hours when accompanied by a parent, also receive free Crater Lake Soda.

In celebration of their impact on Oregon brewing history, the McMenamins family has been chosen as this year’s ceremonial Grand Marshals to lead the parade and tap the official opening ceremony first keg. Soon after McMenamins opened Portland’s Barley Mill Pub on S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. 35 years ago, Brian and Mike McMenamin, along with other craft brewing pioneers, successfully lobbied their elected representatives to pass an Oregon bill allowing people to make and sell their beer onsite. The “brewpub” concept was born and McMenamins opened Oregon’s first post-Prohibition brewpub, the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House in S.W. Portland. Today, McMenamins remains a family run company and offers hundreds of varieties of handcrafted beers.

The Oregon Brewers Festival was founded in 1988 as an opportunity to expose the public to microbrews at a time when the craft brewing industry was just getting off the ground. Today, that industry has flourished, with more than 5,300 craft breweries in America, according to the Brewer’s Association. The economic impact of the Oregon Brewers Festival on the local economy is annually more than $20 million. For more information visit OregonBrewFest.com or follow @OregonBrewfest on social media, using hashtag #OBF18.