2015 Oregon Brewers Festival- Picks & Pans

Now in it's 28th year, the Oregon Brewers Festival is a summer requirement for most Portland beer-lovers.

Yes, it's crowded and hot. The beer lines can be long and the bros are out in full force. But there's also lots and lots beer to drink, so really, why not join in?

With over 100 beers pouring at the festival, there's more than enough options. Here are our picks for the beers that are worth waiting around for and the beers that you shouldn't waste your precious tokens on. Oh- and it's Doug's policy to stay away from any beers that are available in the bottles, just FYI.

6 Must-Try Beers

Hamber from Melvin Brewing (Trailer 6)
This dry-hopped amber was Doug's favorite beer of the festival. It's the perfect balance of malty richness and hoppy bite. 

Hop Syndrome from Epic Brewing Co (Trailer 5)
A delicious, citrusy hop bomb. Wouldn't expect anything less from Epic.

Dump Truck Summer Bock from Bayern Brewing(Trailer 10)
This is what we want to be drinking all summer. Simple, but so good.

Lil' Raspy from Sixpoint Brewery (Trailer 4)
Sixpoint is not playing around with this refreshing, raspberry sour.

Evie Radshine from Hopworks Urban Brewery (Trailer 9)
Looking for a beer that doesn't feel too heavy for summer but still packs a good alcoholic punch? Evie Radshine's your girl.

Rainbows & Unicorns from Breakside Brewery (Trailer 2)
Sadly, this session IPA was gone by the time I made it to the fest on Thursday, but everyone in our group agreed that it was really, really good.


4 Beers to Avoid 

Vanilla Valley Pale Ale from OBC/Widmer (Trailer 2)
This one just wasn't doing it for us, especially with it's strange vanilla aftertaste.

1-Up Mushroom Ale from Old Town Brewing Co (Trailer 3)
Points for creativity- but man, this beer was weird and not in a good way. 

Gunnamatta from Yeastie Boys (IBG)
A pale ale with earl gray tea sounded interesting, but just didn't pan out.

Cold Pressed Pale Ale from Flying Fish Brewing Co (Trailer 7)
Do yourself a favor and avoid the long lines at this one. Good idea, poor execution.

Cheers!

Craft Brewers Conference 2015- Where to Drink this Week (April 14-17)

This week, Portland gets to show off our beer-crazed city to the rest of the country during the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC).

This yearly conference gives over 11,000 brewing industry professionals the chance to partake in a week of brewing events, networking, collaborating, and, of course, enjoying each other's creations. The CBC itself is a closed event but don't worry- there are still lots of events that those of us not in the craft beer industry can be a part of!

 Here's where resident HHH beer expert Doug suggests drinking this week:

Tuesday: Founders Brewing Tap Takeover at Bailey's The Upper Lip

Bailey's annex bar will be pouring KBS, Founders' very rare and highly sought-after bourbon aged stout. Released for only one week out of the year in Grand Rapids, MI, this stout scores a 100 on Beer Advocate and a world ranking of #14. Is it all hype? Portland finally gets a chance to find out.
Tuesday, April 14 from 4-10pm at Bailey's The Upper Lip (720 SW Ankeny St.) 

Wednesday: Sour and Wild Invitational at Cascade Brewing Barrel House

No craft beer week is complete without checking out a few sour beers- and there is no better place to do so than Cascade, one of the top sour beer breweries in the world. This week-long event has gathered together some of the biggest names in the sour beer world. The lineup will change throughout the week but highlights include Almanac, Jester King, The Bruery, The Rare Barrel, Wicked Weed, and, of course, Cascade.
April 14-16 from 3-11pm, April 17 from 3pm-midnight, and April 18 from noon to midnight at Cascade Brewing Barrel House (939 SE Belmont St.). Cash only. Free entry.

Thursday: The Drinking Lot

Bailey's produces one of the most unique and exciting events of the week with this pop-up beer garden. With an ever-changing line-up, a giant tented area for drinking, and local food carts, this will be a popular place to hang out near the conference. Thursday will be special with a tap list that includes Kalamazoo's Bell's Brewery, one of the oldest craft breweries in the country.
April 14-18 from noon-10pm at the (usually) empty lot at 419 E Burnside. 21+ and cash only. 

Friday: Pioneers of Craft Beer at Horse Brass Pub

Finish the week with a pint at Portland's original craft beer bar while rubbing elbows with some of the biggest names of industry- The Widmer Brothers, Deschutes founder Gary Fish, and Ken Grossman from Sierra Nevada, just to name a few. It's a chance to try a catalog of beers that helped shape the country's beer scene with the brewers who created them.
April 17 from 6-9pm at Horse Brass Pub (4534 SE Belmont St.). No cover.

Cheers!