BridgePort Brewing Tilikum Crossing Orange Line IPA

Today atop the soon to open Tilikum Crossing that spans the width of the Willamette River, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and BridgePort Brewing Brewer Eric Munger announced the partnership and the first-tastes of Tilikum Crossing Orange Line IPA. When Tilikum Crossing opens to the public on September 12, it is quite fitting that Oregon’s oldest craft brewery named after the bridges in our city has the official beer of Tilikum Crossing.

The Tilikum Crossing Orange Line IPA, the official beer of Portland’s newest bridge, is Bridgeport’s first ever White IPA. Dry-hopped with Lemondrop hops for aroma, this beer is made with 25% wheat, giving the beer a hazy light color. This new brew also uses Belgium yeast and is infused with orange peel, delivering a slightly sweet, lighter and more refreshing take on an IPA. Tilikum Crossing Orange Line IPA is available on draft and in 22oz bottles.

“The whole city is excited for the opening of this bridge, so you can imagine how honored we felt when TriMet asked us to brew the official beer,” commented Jeff Edgerton, BridgePort brewmaster. “Our team thought a lot about the actual visuals of Tilikum Crossing, specifically, the white-coloring of the bridge and TriMet’s Orange Line that will cross over the Willamette. With that in mind, we also wanted to make a beer for the people, since ‘Tilikum’ means ‘of the People’.”

To celebrate the September opening of the Tilikum Crossing bridge, the official beer will be served at events beginning on Wednesday, August 19. Here’s a rundown of the four events.

BridgePort Brew Pub
August 19, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Tilikum Crossing Orange Line IPA Launch Party

Zidell Yards
August 22, 5pm – 10pm
MAX Orange Line Fireworks Spectacular held at Zidell Yards

Zidell Yards
September 10, 6pm – 10pm
First Light held at Zidell Yards

Zidell Yards
September 12, 11am – 6pm
Grand Opening Celebration held at Tilikum Village

The Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People is the first bridge of its kind in the U.S., carrying MAX light rail and Portland Streetcar trains, buses, bicyclists and pedestrians, but no private vehicles. Tilikum Crossing is part of TriMet’s MAX Orange Line that opens on Sept. 12, 2015 between Downtown Portland, South Waterfront, SE Portland, Milwaukie and North Clackamas County. The Orange Line will improve transit and make more connections for riders and expands the MAX system to 60 miles and 97 stations.For more information about the MAX Orange Line, visit catchtheorange.com.

Below are more photos that Nick Rivers captured from today’s event on Tilikum Crossing.