[pdx] Oregon Brewers Festival

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by NWer, Jul 20, 2014.

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  1. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Almost here. Who's going?
    What are your favorite offerings? re: http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/index2.php?p=beers
    I'll be serving during the first day, first shift. Won't know what until I get there. See you there.
    PS. No "I avoid the amateur drunks" crap. Not interested.
     
  2. dphi

    dphi Zealot (534) Apr 14, 2013 Oregon

    Strawberry rhubarb gose sounds interesting, as do some of the berliners.

    Jalepeno tripel? Hmm...

    Definitely not going to trust OMP to do a decent kriek.
     
  3. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll be going for a quick look on Wednesday and a longer session on Thursday. Here are a few I'm really looking forward to:

    Caldera Toasted Coconut Chocolate Porter
    Cigar City Mangosteen Florida Weisse
    Gigantic Who Ate All The Pies? (great name, btw)
    Payette Blood Orange IPA

    And all saisons.
     
  4. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Going after work on Wednesday. Looking forward to trying the saisons from Upright and deschutes, and the tripel from Sprecher.

    Was down at Caldera this past Thursday, and want to throw out a strong recommendation for the coconut chocolate porter. At least on tap, that beer was absolutely delicious.

    Speaking of coconut porters, was really hoping that Maui Brewing would send out a keg of their imperial coconut porter for OBF. Best thing I've tasted from them, by far. Oh well...
     
  5. eatabagofbooger

    eatabagofbooger Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2009 Oregon

    If you don't want to hear people whine about obnoxious drunks, don't start a thread about Oregon's biggest frat party :slight_smile:

    I haven't been in about 5 years, but the addition of Wednesday and an unusually good looking taplist will probably draw me out this year. Having said that, I'll probably only make it on Wednesday, and will probably be gone by 3 or 4. Still, I'm pretty dang stoked about the Sixpoint BA 3Beans and the Cigar City Florida Weisse (not really my style, but these guys consistently impress me). There are a bunch of other brews that sound intriguing from breweries I've never had anything from (The Dudes, Nimbus, Fitgers, Boundary Bay). And Golden Valley is bringing a Kellerbier, which is a style I love and am happy to see making a resurgence. Plus the return of the specialty tent.
     
  6. Charliechu

    Charliechu Pundit (794) Jul 1, 2013 California
    Trader

    Really glad someone posted this thread because I was about to post something.

    I actually booked a trip a few months back to Portland for this festival so I hope the locals can give me some pointers on when to go and what to check out along with the events that may be taking place in the surrounding breweries and bars. From what I heard so far from people I met at FWIBF that going on Wednesday is the best since you avoid all the crowd . However we don't land until 10am Thursday.

    We will have a car so transportation wouldn't be a problem but we will try to use public transport as much as possible.

    Thanks All!

    Charlie.

    P.s. I will be packing some RR and Sara beers with me to Portland :wink:
     
  7. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm sometimes in the same situation where I check in to a hotel and use public transportation to get around. Places like Bailey's and Deschutes, even HotD and Upright are an easy walk but you will need light rail or the bus for Saraveza which is North and other places West and South such as Belmont Station, Horse Brass, Beer Mongers and Apex.
    Have fun. I will.
     
  8. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    One of the
    Thursday is usually a pretty light day as well, especially if you go in the afternoon. In my experience, the really bad times to go (in terms of crowds and level of drunkeness) are Friday afternoon and pretty much any time on Saturday. Sunday is typically a bad time to go, because a lot of breweries have run dry by that point. Any other time and you really shouldn't have too much of a problem.

    Personally, I usually park my car across the Morrison bridge by HOTD and walk over from there (it's a warehouse district, and usually you can find street parking without too much problem). You're still plenty close to the fest from there, and there's the added bonus of being right by the HOTD tasting room. In the past, Alan usually puts on something interesting/special during OBF (cask AFTW, cask Bob, multiple vintages of doggie claws, etc.), so it's nice to finish up OBF with a stop over there. If that's not sufficient for you, you're also no more than a couple miles from the Cascade Barreh House, Green Dragon, Beer Mongers, Apex, Tin Bucket, 5th Quandrant/Side Bar, Lucky Lab, etc. Even the Horse Brass and Belmont Station are no more than a 10 minute drive from HOTD, so you really shouldn't lack for options during your stay in PDX.

    Good luck.
     
    Charliechu, vurt and NWer like this.
  9. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    To make things even easier, there's a Streetcar stop right in front of Upright. And if you're at Upright, you're a short walk from Ex Novo.
     
  10. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Going wednesday for SURE! Helps that I work across the street :slight_smile:

    Taplist looks great this year. My coworker who isnt even that in to beer says the Caldera Coconut porter is awesome. Logsdon Staffe Dreiling, Cigar City, Green Flash Citra session, Deschutes Farmhouse.

    Wednesday and Thursday are definitely the best time to go.

    no more buzz tent though....damn
     
  11. maltmaster420

    maltmaster420 Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2005 Oregon

    I typically go on Saturday every year, and in my experience it's usually pretty relaxed until 2pm, but by that point I've tried the things I wanted to check out and can escape before the lines get ridiculous.

    Also, I think they've solved the issue of Sunday being bad by allocating a certain number of kegs for each day. The trade off is that things start kicking by 6-7pm on Friday and Saturday, but if you're willing to brave that time period you're probably not too concerned with what you're drinking.
     
  12. CaylorSwift

    CaylorSwift Initiate (0) Oct 20, 2013 Oregon

    Will be in attendance Friday and Saturday this year. Got a buddy flying in from SLC, so this is my first year attending during the weekend, we will see how it goes. Regardless I will be excited to try the Cigar City/Gilgamesh/Gigantic/Sixpoint/Sprecher offerings.

    If you spot a Seth Rogan look-a-like wearing a Double Mountain hat, say hello - lets have a beer.
     
  13. Charliechu

    Charliechu Pundit (794) Jul 1, 2013 California
    Trader

    Thanks everyone for the help. I just have a few more questions.How do one go about getting the beers? Do we pay at each brewers booth or do we buy a ticket at the door and go through that way. Secondly are there any events going on at the local breweries with special tapping ?

    Cheers ,

    Charlie
     
  14. Charliechu

    Charliechu Pundit (794) Jul 1, 2013 California
    Trader


    Thanks man we will definitely do this
     
  15. evoljetta

    evoljetta Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2005 Illinois

    visiting a friend in portland tomorrow for a week and will be hitting this up!!
     
  16. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The tasting mug is $7, and the tokens are a buck a piece. I typically get the $20 package, which means they give me my plastic mug with a small plastic bag inside it holding $13 worth of tokens. You can always go back and get more if you need them.

    There are long tables fronting storage/refrigeration trucks where the beers are poured. One token is required for each 2 or 3 ounce pour (each spot where you get a beer, you need to provide a token), or for 4 tokens, you can get a full mug.

    A lot of places will have special tapping during OBF (see my comment about HOTD). I never really know what to expect until I get there, but in the past, the Horse Brass has always put on some special beers during the fest.
     
  17. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just as a public service message...

    Portland's reputation for good food and fine dining is nearly as impressive as the beer scene. So to no great surprise, eating out is very, very popular in Portland, and I highly recommend that anyone coming to town for OBF, and planning to include a night of fine dining as part of the trip, make your dinner reservation NOW.

    Just as an example, this last weekend I took the GF out for a meal at Olympic Provisions. OP was my 6th choice in terms of places I wanted to take her, as even though I started calling around for a reservation on Thursday, places like Little Bird, Andina, Beast, and Paley's Place had no reservations left for Saturday, and Nostrana only had 5:00 and 9:00 left. If anything, I would expect that the situation will be even worse this week and weekend, with the expected onslaught of folks coming into town for OBF.
     
  18. 8eer

    8eer Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2010 Oregon

    On the topic of dining and the OBF I thought I'd mention two of my favorite places to eat near the fest...
    Tabor Food Cart (Czech) http://schnitzelwich.com/
    Karam (Lebanese) http://www.karamsrestaurant.com/
    Both are an easy walk, delicious, and affordable.
    Tabor makes some top-notch beer food and you can carry it into the fest.
     
  19. Gobigvt7

    Gobigvt7 Zealot (709) Mar 15, 2008 Oregon

    Worth mentioning a bevy of other PDX beer events going on this week if/when you get tired of OBF.

    Wed:
    Rare No-Li @ Beermongers [https://www.facebook.com/events/634172446690242 ]
    21st Amendment Meet the Brewers @ Saraveza [https://www.facebook.com/events/308504865986187 ]
    Elysian Pinball Social @ Shanghai Tunnel [https://www.facebook.com/events/271635653027408 ]

    Thurs:
    Drake's Takeover/MTB @ Beermongers [https://www.facebook.com/events/317731391715850 ]

    Fri-Sun:
    All-Oregon Craft Summit @Roscoe's [https://www.facebook.com/events/1494859484064869 ]

    Sat-Sun:
    Fire & Brimstone @ Hop & Vine and Saraveza [https://www.facebook.com/events/679254508817181 ]

    Sat:
    Coalition opens their new in-brewery taproom [https://www.facebook.com/events/1455933111331638 ]
    Mole & Ciderfest @ Bushwhacker https://www.facebook.com/events/724711097588963 ]
     
    #19 Gobigvt7, Jul 22, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2014
  20. PDX_dennis

    PDX_dennis Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2012 Oregon

    From the 2014 OBF Program:
    THE RETURN OF THE SPECIALTY TENT
    In addition to the 88 main taps, we offer a Specialty Tent featuring über-geek beers, cellared specialties,
    one-offs, and other brews you might never see again. These beers are highly prized, very expensive, and
    the selection is very limited in quantity. There is no separate ticket to get into the Specialty Tent, but only
    tasters are served and all beers are double tokens.
    The Specialty Tent is located just south of the glass/tokens sales tent, tucked back under the trees. Look
    for the “Where Do You Come From” map, and you’ve found the spot. It will be operating from Wednesday
    through Saturday (sorry, not running on Sunday) of the festival from Noon to 8pm. The European beers
    will be served exclusively for the first two hours of each day, and will continue to pour until 8pm. At 2pm
    each day, we will begin serving beers from the festival’s main participants; these will also run until 8pm.
    (Schedule subject to change.) There will be various Meet the Brewer opportunities as well.
    As these beers are provided in various keg sizes, we have no way of knowing how long they will last, so
    the best way to know what’s pouring at any given time is to follow OBFLTDTent on Twitter, or just stop
    by – we can promise you whatever’s on tap will be amazing!
     
    mrgabe and Gobigvt7 like this.
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