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!

2013 Pumpkin Beer Tasting: Elysian Wins Again!

You might remember that Doug and I hosted a little pumpkin beer tasting night last year. It was so successful that we decided to do it again this year... but turn it up a notch.

Last year we had 10 pumpkin beers, 6 people, and only candy corn to snack on.

This year we had 18 beers, 1 pumpkin cider, 10 people, and a whole spread of fall deliciousness. Much better.

Just like last year, we had everyone rank the beers on a scale of 1 to 5 and just like last year, Elysian Brewing from Seattle was the clear leader, with two of their beers coming in 1st and 2nd place. Here's a breakdown of the top five, with the other 14 listed after.

#1 Elysian The Great Pumpkin Ale (Seattle)- Ranked #2 last year

Elysian makes this ale by putting roasted pumpkin seeds in the mash and adding pumpkin to the mash, kettle, and fermenter. Think "pumpkin pie" and that's the flavor of this strong beer.








#2 Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale (Seattle)- Not tasted last year

Brewed with seven and a half pounds of pumpkin per barrel and conditioned with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, this pumpkin ale differs from The Great Pumpkin thanks to the addition of ginger and its significantly lower ABV (5.9% vs. 8.1%).






#3 Two Beers Pumpkin Spice Ale (Seattle)- Not tasted last year

Similiar to the Night Owl, Two Beer's Pumpkin Spice Ale is brewed with cloves, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and pumpkin and has the perfect balance of maltiness.





 #4 First Edition Good Lawdy Miss Gourdy (Portland)- Not tasted last year

Okay, so this is Doug's pumpkin beer that he brewed specially for our event. We both agree that there was not a lot of pumpkin flavor in this and that its high ranking might be because our friends are good at being friends... but it was a tasty fall beer nonetheless, so it's making the list!







#5 Shipyard Pumpkinhead (Maine)- #3 Last year

Pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon flavors abound in this very drinkable wheat ale.





#6 Elysian He Said Porter (Seattle)- brewed with 21st Amendment

#7 One Man Show Boooooo Careful (Portland)- Nathan's home brew

#8 Harpoon UFO Pumpkin (Boston)

#9 Epic Imperial Pumpkin Porter (Salt Lake City)- #6 last year

#10 Alaskan Pumpkin Porter (Juneau)

#11 Two Kilts Pumpkin Ale (Portland)

#12 Laurelwood Pumpkin Ale (Portland)- #7 last year

#13 Silver Moon Twisted Gourd Pumpkin Ale (Bend)

#14 21st Amendment He Said Belgian-Style Tripel (San Francisco)- brewed with Elysian

#15 Captured by Porches Undead Pumpkin (Portland)

#16 Tieton Cider Works Smoked Pumpkin Cider (Portland)

#17 Oakshire Big Black Jack Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter (Eugene)- #9 last year

#18 Midnight Sun Brewing TREAT Imperial Pumpkin Porter (Anchorage)

#19 Unita Punk'n Harvest Ale (Salt Lake City)- #8 last year

Doug and I also got a very special surprise this year. Sarah moved back to the Bay Area a few months ago, so when she texted me this photo, I was all "wish you were here to share your beer insights!"

And she was all "look closer at the picture I just sent you." I'm apparently an idiot because I stared at this photo for quite a few seconds before I realized Sarah was standing on our front doorstep! Yep, best surprise ever!

Do you have a favorite pumpkin beer?