Oakridge Keg & Cask Festival

This Saturday join the fun in Oakridge, Oregon, one of the coolest towns in the Northwest to enjoy a Victorian pint of handcrafted beer. The Oakridge Keg & Cask Fest promises great scenery amidst the forested foothills of the Central Cascades. Just 45 or so miles east of Eugene on Highway 58, the town is home to Brewers Union Local 180, Oregon’s only all-cask brewpub. Run by Anglophile and East Coast transplant Ted Sobel, the gorgeous brewery site will expand to the outdoor area from 2-8PM on this fine late August day.

Honing his brewing skills while in England, Sobel began at what is 180’s sister pub Hardknott Brewing/Woolpack Inn at The Lake District brewery in Cambria. Inspired by a Cumbrian event called Brewers Weekend at the Prince of Wales, this event could very well be a Northwest-tilted microcosm of such a gathering. On his blog, he speaks of budding optimism betwixt some struggle in revving up the inaugural event:

For breweries, I had the idea of selecting around a dozen within a 100 mile radius of the pub. Not the big guys, but the smaller crafts willing to send a brewer and/or an owner around to serve and discuss their products. I was hoping for around eight breweries, but so far we’ve only ended up with four. A couple of wineries also. I was a little disappointed with some of the brewers/vintners that took either a wait-and-see attitude, or just gave the cold shoulder. Nevertheless, we shall have a good time all around, and there will be music and food vendors and, I think, games involving fruits and vegetables.

If you make the pilgrimmage out to Oakridge not only will you be blessed with delicous pub suds from the old handpump, but there will be live music and a peaceful atmosphere where real people and real ales congregate.

This event will serve as a fundraiser for the Oakridge Food Box and Chamber of Commerce.