Coming to the end of another Portland Beer Month, I thought it might be fun to look back and reflect....It's been quite a month!
We had Puckerfest at Belmont Station, where locals had a chance to experience some Belgian styled Sour beers.
Concordia Ale House has taken over the IPA Fest and comp. I noticed the entries were less than at the previous Rose and Raindrop location, but was nice having this fest/tasting/comp continue.... Who will take on the Cask fest??
Our own Dean of Beer, the witty and ageless Fred Eckhardt provided a tasty night of beer and chocolates.
We also had a Sausage and Beer pairing, and other local beer events.....
The highlights of the month have become the Portland International Beer Festival and the Oregon Brewers Festival with it's Brewers Brunch and Opening Brewers dinner.
It appears the PIB fest has been pulling away from the pact, when it comes to providing a huge selection of interesting and diverse international beers. We can only predict this event will continue to grow to the size of the OBC, while increasing and educated the local palate!
As a local beer event hound, I riddle through a number different web sites and receive info from all over the Northwest. This year was no exception, but I started noting a strange trend...
After receiving lists of beers being poured at the Sasquatch Brew Am, Brewers Brunch and the Brewers Dinner; I then looked at the OBF beer list. It appears to me that these smaller events had the real diverse and interesting brews, while the OBF seemed to be inundated with IPA's, Imperial IPA's and very few other beer styles. Maybe, a Pilsner or a Maibock here and there, but in general, not a lot of diversity. I heard complaints last year about the off balance line up too.... The OBF seems to have something for everybody with the exception of a diverse beer selection. There's food, tents, water misters, vendors, live music and other attractions. Everything for a great Beer fest, with the exception of a great beer line up! I think the OBF should be throwing a bone to the OBF attendees too....Are we creating different playing fields??? The OBF for the general Public or the smaller Beer events for the brewers and those on a short list?? From the beer lists I've received, the interesting and diverse brews are going to these small venues and what left over goes to OBF. Not to say the beers at the OBF have less quality! The OBF is pouring quality beers, just not very interesting or diverse.... Mostly Flagship beers. I had four out of town beer guys come up for the OBF, but after they looked at the list of beers being served at the other events they were fairly disappointed with the selection at the OBF....
Looks like us cutting edge beer drinkers will have to be quicker the trigger to get into these smaller beer events. ;-}
Speaking of "Cutting Edge," Don Younger's "Over the Edge" beers and pub listings were sorely missed this year....
While attending a Private Party I had the wonderful chance to experience a sampling of Hair of Dog's small batch of Doggie Claws aged in JJ Lee's Calvados Casks! Densely rich and complex with wonderful oak... Wow! This is the kind of beer I hope to find at a beer fest.... Interesting, diverse and something different. A couple more of these beers could have easily replaced the Northwest Standard Hoppy IPA's on the OBF list..... ;-}
