Celebrate Gigantic Brewing’s Mill Ends Red with a .15K Race to Paddy’s Bar and Grill
The duo of Gigantic Brewing Company and Weird Portland United are back to kick off the month of March with the return of Mill Ends Red as part of the Weirdtastic Beer Series. Mill Ends Red was first launched last year to coincide with Portland’s shortest parade that began at Mill Ends Park, located at 56 SW Taylor Street, that just so happens to be the ‘World’s Smallest Park’! This parade ventured a mere 500 feet from Mill Ends Park and ending at Paddy’s Bar & Grill.
As the beer makes its return this year, both Gigantic Brewing and Weird Portland United will host Portland’s shortest race. Just as the parade started at Mill Ends Park, this race will follow the same route that’ll end at Paddy’s Bar & Grill, just 0.15k away.
Mill Ends Park has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the ‘World’s Smallest Park’ at just 452 square inches. What is now the park, it was originally intended as a hole for a light pole. The park was born in 1948 when Portland newspaper columnist Dick Fagan planted some flowers in the pole hole after the light failed to appear.
Eventually the park was designated official by the city during the county’s bicentennial in 1976 as it was dedicated as “the only leprechaun colony west of Ireland” by Fagan himself. In recognition of Dick’s can-do attitude and ability to take matters into his own hands, Gigantic Brewing and Weird Portland United took it upon themselves to honor his legacy with a brew as unique as the park itself.
“Our Irish Red is a dance of malt sophistication, with decadent caramel sweetness and a hint of hop bitterness, delivering a smooth libation,” said Gigantic Brewmaster Ben Love.
The return of Mill Ends Red marks the 9th collaboration between Gigantic Brewing and WPU since 2022, following a string of much hyped and celebrated Portland-centric beers including Unipiper Hazy IPA, PDX Adult Soapbox Derby Summer Ale, Mike Bennett’s Day Off IPA, Darcelle Blonde IPA, Bud Clark Coffee Stout, Poison Waters Beermosa, Portland Elvis Gold Lager, and Santa Clone Winter Warmer. Through these efforts, the team has raised over $6,000 in support of Weird Portland United’s efforts to sustain a normal level of weird for the Rose City. Those efforts will continue throughout 2025, culminating in a celebration of everything weird that PDX has to offer with the return of Portland Weird Fest this September. Mill Ends Red is available on draft and store shelves everywhere Gigantic is sold.
Mill Ends Red .15k Race & Beer Release Celebration
Everyone is invited to join the biggest celebration of the world’s smallest park with Portland’s shortest race (0.15k or ~2 blocks) to the city’s oldest Irish Pub. Allowable forms of movement for the race include dancing, jigging, or walking, but absolutely no running! Costumes are encouraged. Interested racers should meet at Mill Ends Park located at 56 SW Taylor Street for signup at 1:30pm. The race will kick off promptly at 2:00pm, while the official beer release afterparty will commence at Paddy’s immediately following the race at 2:05pm. There will even be trophies awarded for Fastest Time, Best Costume, and a secret surprise category. Plus, all participants will get to spin the Gigantic wheel of prizes, while entertainment will be provided by Portland’s famous The Unipiper.
All Ages | March 1, 2025 1:30-4:30pm | Paddy’s Bar & Grill, 65 SW Yamhill St | Join the Facebook Event
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.