Portland Spring Beer & Wine Fest

WHAT: One of Portland’s original beer festivals, the 16^th annual Spring Beer & Wine Fest returns to the Oregon Convention Center for another year of exceptional artisan food and drink.

New this year, the festival will partner with the Portland chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to send kids, who are battling neuromuscular diseases, to summer camp.  Multiple local craft breweries and wineries will generously donate one-of-a-kind specialty beers and wines that will only be available at the MDA booth.  Festival attendees can help send a kid to camp by making a $5.00 donation in exchange for a 14 oz beer or 5 oz glass of wine.  All fundraising proceeds will help local MDA families.

Festival-goers will enjoy samples of more than 80 craft beers, 30 regional wineries and many local artisan spirits, plus delectable tastes of specialty cheese and handcrafted chocolate, all while mingling with brewers, winemakers and other craftspeople.  In addition, the festival will also offer a global shopping marketplace, cooking demonstrations and educational seminars on the Chef’s Stage, and live music featuring Northwest bands including Keegan Smith & the Fam.

WHEN: The Spring Beer & Wine Fest will be open Friday – Saturday, April 2-3, 2010, from Noon – 11 p.m. both days at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd., Portland, Ore.).

COST: Admission is free the first two hours each day, or $5 after 2 p.m.  Tasting packages are available for $20, which includes admission, a wine glass or plastic beer mug and 10 tokens.  Purchased individually, sampling tokens are $1 and may be used for beer, wine, spirits and food.  A mug or glass is required for beer tasting.  The festival features Rastal glasses.

Minors accompanied by an adult are permitted until 7 p.m. each day; children ages 12 and younger are free.