The last weekend of June marked the return of one of Oregon’s best brew festivals, the North American Organic Brewers Festival (NAOBF). Held at Overlook Park off North Interstate Avenue in Portland, the eleventh NAOBF’s grounds are arguably the best venue for an outdoor beer festival anywhere. And, despite some early humidity and the expected occasional rainfall that comes with late June in Oregon, the fest again came out a winner.

It was apparent that Oregon craft beer festival organizer and media coordinator Chris Crabb was a big force behind the success of this year’s NAOBF. Crabb also is a key component behind both the Holiday Ale Festival and the mother of all Northwest beer shindigs, the Oregon Brewers Festival. Working long days in preparation and during the fest, Crabb saw to it that all the ducks were in a row for this, the only organic festival of its kind (at least to our knowledge). She was at the fest at 4 a.m. on Thursday to coordinate television interviews with brewers and representatives. At 11 a.m. a media tasting that provided samplings of some of the festival’s highlights began. Here, Lisa “The Beer Goddess” Morrison directed a group of us through about a dozen recommended picks that would be featured to the public when the gates opened at noon. Here’s a look at some of the brews showcased for the 2012 NAOBF: Read More…

Posted under beer events, beer reviews, California Beer, craft cider, Oregon beer, places to drink beer, Washington Beer, weekend in review

Two of Portland’s beloved industries – organic beer and sustainability – come together in an annual celebration designed to raise awareness about organic beer and sustainable living. We serve up organic beers and ciders from around the world, accompanied by live music, organic food, sustainability-oriented vendors, non-profits and a children’s area – all in a beautiful tree lined setting that overlooks downtown Portland.

Come visit the North American Organic Brewers Festival and see why we’re Portland’s best kept secret of beer fests!

Admission

Admission into the event is free. The purchase of a reusable, compostable cornstarch glass is required for tasting beer, as are tokens. A full glass of beer costs four tokens (more for select beers), and a four-ounce taste costs one token. Patrons receive a discount toward the tasting glass with a validated MAX ticket, a ticket from the onsite bike corral, or three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank.

Children are allowed all hours when accompanied by a parent.

Animals are not allowed on the festival site with the exception of ADA animals.

Ride the Max! or Ride your Bike!

Pedal and Park

Ride your bike and park it in the Hopworks Bike Corral, where volunteers will watch over your wheels while you savor some of the country’s best organic brews. Bicycle parking is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

The Interstate MAX/Yellow Line “Overlook Park” Station is directly across from Overlook Park and is the second stop from the Rose Quarter transit mall, heading North. Use the Tri-Met website for directions from your door to Overlook Park (1301 N. Fremont St. Portland, OR 97227).

Posted under beer events, events, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

Two of Portland’s beloved industries – organic beer and sustainability – come together in an annual celebration designed to raise awareness about organic beer and sustainable living. We serve up organic beers and ciders from around the world, accompanied by live music, organic food, sustainability-oriented vendors, non-profits and a children’s area – all in a beautiful tree lined setting that overlooks downtown Portland.

Come visit the North American Organic Brewers Festival and see why we’re Portland’s best kept secret of beer fests!

Admission

Admission into the event is free. The purchase of a reusable, compostable cornstarch glass is required for tasting beer, as are tokens. A full glass of beer costs four tokens (more for select beers), and a four-ounce taste costs one token. Patrons receive a discount toward the tasting glass with a validated MAX ticket, a ticket from the onsite bike corral, or three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank.

Children are allowed all hours when accompanied by a parent.

Animals are not allowed on the festival site with the exception of ADA animals.

Ride the Max! or Ride your Bike!

Pedal and Park

Ride your bike and park it in the Hopworks Bike Corral, where volunteers will watch over your wheels while you savor some of the country’s best organic brews. Bicycle parking is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

The Interstate MAX/Yellow Line “Overlook Park” Station is directly across from Overlook Park and is the second stop from the Rose Quarter transit mall, heading North. Use the Tri-Met website for directions from your door to Overlook Park (1301 N. Fremont St. Portland, OR 97227).

Posted under beer events, events, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

Portland and the Pacific Northwest’s premier craft beer bottleshop, Belmont Station is raising a glass to 15 years of setting the standard for craft brew in Beervana. “It’s been five years since we opened the Biercafe” says proprietor Carl Singmaster, adding “Thanks to you we’re still here so we’ll be breaking out some vintage bottles to sell.”  Singmaster informs us that the Station is going deep into the coffers and pulling out vintages of Read More…

Posted under beer events, beer news, Beer personalities, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

When Old Town Pizza opened a second rather impressive location in 2008, proprietor Adam Milne was already thinking about installing a craft brewery.Now that thought has become a reality.
You may have noticed, if passing by the restaurant and pub at 5201 NE Martin Luther King, JR Blvd, that his goal is now coming to fruition. On the east side of the building, Old Town has allotted a cozy 20 x 17 foot to housemade craft beer. A 7-barrel combi-unit system features a hot liquor tank below a mash tun. “It is the nicest, most compact brewery” Milne says. Read More…

Posted under beer news, Beer personalities, beer releases, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

By Dan Culver

We hit the 2011  North American Organic Brewers Festival this past weekend, as we not only brought our three cans of food for a free token, but also used Tri-Met as was recommended (Patrons received a $1 discount toward the tasting glass with a validated MAX ticket, a ticket from the onsite bike corral, or three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank.). The weather was great and we dove right in to the sampling of organic brews. Read More…

Posted under beer events, beer reviews, Oregon beer, places to drink beer

News has just arrived from Maletis Beverage Craft and Import Manager Jerome Chicvara that the Burnside Brewing Company has agreed to terms with the Oregon based distribution company. Further, the brewery will also begin bottling their beer by the end of July. This will undoubtedly result in a greater presence around the state for the young brewery and is good news for craft beer lovers. Burnside, at the heals of their well attended Portland Fruit Beer Festival, was previously a self-distributed brewery. Chicvara released the following statement today: Read More…

Posted under beer news

Next week, the North American Organic Brewers Festival (NAOBF) returns for a seventh year, and again will be hosted at one of Portland’s finest outdoor venues, Overlook Park. The June 24-26 festival looks to serve up 50 different beers and ciders from across the continent.

Posted under beer events

As everyone knows, Roots Brewing sadly closed their doors in July 2010. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy some great Roots beer! The BeerMongers gobbled up and have been cellaring two of their kegs and some of their bottles for the last year, and will be releasing them at a special ‘Roots Resurrection’ on Wednesday, July 13th. Beginning at 5pm, The BeerMongers will tap Island Red and Porter Porter Stout Porter (the last beer they ever made) as well as offer 10 bottles of one liter 2009 Epic, and 4 bottles of three liter 2006 Epic. This may be your last chance to revisit these great beers from this great (ex) brewery! Don’t miss!

Posted under beer events, events

For a number of years Roots Organic brewery founder Craig Nicholls held annual vertical tastings of his big holiday ale at his Southeast Portland brewpub. Oregon’s first certified all-organic brewery showcases one last tasting of these five emboldened brews side-by-side at Portland’s premier bottleshop and tasting room, Belmont Station on Tuesday December 21, 2010 beginning at 5PM. This makes perfect sense since Roots has always unveiled new vintages of the Epic on the winter solstice. It’s bold ABV around 14% is enough to cut through the coldest winter chill and brighten the darkest and dreariest days of the year. With the Roots brewpub longer in existence, original founder Craig will be Belmont’s special guest as he taps every vintage (2005 through 2009) of Roots Epic ale for the final time. Belmont Station owner Carl Singmaster says “This is truly the last draft available of several of these vintages. We will serve flights of all five side by side.” Truly Epic!

Read our past articles about Roots Epic Ale:

A Beer of Epic Proportions

Roots Epic Ale Bottled

Epic Interview with Roots Craig Nicholls

Brewpublic Visits The 2009 Roots Epic Release. from Brewpublic.com on Vimeo.

Posted under beer events, Oregon beer, places to drink beer, vintage beers