North American Organic Brew Festival, Portland Oregon.
Our trip to Portland was pretty cool. When we pulled into the city after a 13 hour drive, you would have been surprised to learn that I went to college there and lived there for 4 years. I couldn't find my way around ANYWHERE. It was like I had never been to the city. Nick couldn't take getting lost in downtown and driving around in cirlces, so it wasn't long before he handed me the keys.
After recovering on Thursday from serious sleep deprivation, and visiting with family and friends on Sauvie's Island, I awoke on Friday a new, refreshed beer girl. We visited Ager Tanks and drooled over equipment that we can't yet afford - bottling lines, jacketed brites, keg wizards, etc. Then we visited John's Market in Multnomah Village and I about hit the floor when I saw our beers lined up perfectly at eye level in the cold storage. John's Market is THE LIQUOR store where I used to buy beer when I was in college and it is still THE PLACE to buy beer if you are a beer lover in Portland. They have the most amazing selection!
After a quick trip to Steinbarts (the first place that Blake and I purchased ingredients for our first batch of brown ale), we were ready to shake our tail feathers to the rhythms of Lions Of Batucada (my uncle Blake's band) at PGE park.
Saturday, after breakfast with friends, we hit the North American Organic Brew Festival at the World Forestry Center.
What a crazy event - it started out slowly, but I guess that is what you should expect with an event that lasts 9 hours. We were the first to run out of beer, and being so far from our brewery, we couldn't run out for more. After 4 kegs ran dry, we started pouring from bottles that we had, but in less than 1/2 hour, 3 cases were gone as well. By 7pm we had to pack up because the masses of beer hungry folks were growing and getting loud, demanding more Santa Cruz Mountain Brew!
The event had the coolest organic breweries - Butte, Ukiah, Laurelwood, Lucky Lab, Fish Tail, Bison and the guys from Roots are amazing and put on a great event. I was lucky enough to meet the esteemed Fred Eckhart - he even sampled my ales. Nick poured ferociously, shrugging off the taunts from beer drinkers and criticisms from the infamous OLCC alcohol monitors. I, personally was chastised four times for breaking OLCC rules. Brother! My uncles worked the event - Blake finally wore the badge, "Brewer" - it took all of us, Craig, Jennifer and Kurt to handle the crowds, talk the talk and pour that beer. All in all, a great day in the Portland Sunshine.
We finished off the evening with plates of nachos and pitchers of Steelhead's Bombay Bomber at Acapulco Gold in Multnomah Village. Bombay Bomber is the "most coiffable summer IPA" according to Blake, and he hit the nail on the head with that one. Aromatic, lightly balanced, and suitable for any occasion.
