Portland, OR

Let me start by saying that I am not a huge fan of big crowds. I get a little anxious being surrounded by large chaotic swarms of people, and add alcohol and yeah, not a fan. So it was a surprise to me yesterday when I agreed to go down to the waterfront to the Brewfest.

Generic picture of the Brewfest Crowd

It was the 21st annual Oregon’s Brewers Festival, or so the poster said. I think originally there were lots and lots of breweries (maybe around seventy or so) that set up kegs in long semi-trailer refrigeration units, but by the time Sunday rolled around, well, it was the left-overs. The leftovers seemed to be the more local brews, by the way, so I am wondering if the locals knew better about how much beer to show up with, or they were closer to some stockpiles to re-supply themselves with.

Of course, Deschutes was there, and they are big time, as they had their own specially designed trailer from which they were serving.

And yes, there were more than just Oregon microbrews. Lots of California and Washington beer, but also I saw some Michigan beers, namely Bell’s and Michigan Brewing Company. It was a nice sight for a Michigan girl.

All in all, I am not sure if I would go back, and if I do return next year, I will be sure to go before Sunday at 4:30 pm. Like I said, a lot of beer was tapped out, but also the organization was a bit odd for me. Brewfest is asking a lot of drunks by asking them to line up for the appropriate beer, and the beers are lined up at tables pretty closely, so I can see how easy if would have been to think that you are standing in one line, only to find that the line sort of morphed into a grouping of people that got some beer and basically turned away from the table, but didn’t leave. The line is then a mad dash for getting around the drunks that have set up camp in the front of the line, rather than take your beer and get the heck out of the way. Whew, ok, that was my big rant.

Also, the “servers” are obviously volunteers that weren’t quite sure what they were pouring. When I got up to the table for my four ounce taster pour (for a $1 token), it seemed that the volunteer next to my line was pouring the same beer (Grand Teton’s Bitch Creek ESB) I was getting even though the sign in front of him said Woody’s IPA. No matter, I’m sure, as everyone seemed pretty drunk to me. So drunk that every few minutes a collective, “Whoooooooooeeeeeeeeewwwwwww” would erupt from the crowd. At first, I thought it was almost cute, but after ten minutes, I felt like I was at a frat party. Especially once the quartet of drunk girls started following me around…

So all in all, I would prefer the Brewfest to be more of a beer tasting event than a huge beer tent/party, but who am I to start saying what I would have done if I planned out the Brewfest? It wasn’t quite as rowdy as most beer tents I have been to, because Portlanders are a fairly polite bunch.

Also, I got my “mug” for free as the fest ran out of the 2008 mugs, so I got a left-over holiday mug.

Oregon Brewfest, Deschutes, Portland, Waterfront, California, Washington, Michigan, Bell’s, Michigan Brewing Company, Grand Teton