OBF 2004

[Rich Pawlak]

Just returned form 4 great days in Portland, OR, to attend the Oregon Brewers Festival, Jul 23-25, the best run beer fest I've ever attended. Forget that everyone in Portland in unbelievbably friendly and helpful and welcoming, and that the setting is charmingly beautiful and clean, this year's OBF took place in 103 degree heat, as an outrageous heat wave hit the PNW. But not a scintilla of friendliness was lost, and the beers I sampled were all top notch, with some unusual offerings, from 72 different craft brewers. I'll post TNs shortly, as I sort through my notes and receipts, but, for now, some pics of the OBF, and a visit to the hop-strewn Bridgeport Brewery and Brewpub, as well as some of the, ah, colorful native artwork in town (well one example for now):

The welcoming sign, map and menu

The early crowd on Friday; the total attendance topped 80, 000 over 3 days

One of the two massive beverage tents

The Bridgeport Brewpub

The Bridgeport brewpub menu; ironically, our bartender during our visit had just moved there from the Philly area; small world.

Yes, those are hops, draped everywhere.

The local, ah, art scene. This thing seems to be known as "Art Car".

More to come, including a visit to Edgefield, the Mcmenamin-owned country resort that used to be a mental hospital, including its homages to Jerry Garcia no less.

[Susan in FL]

NICE! It sounds like an awesome event. Thanks for the great pictures.

[Rich Pawlak]

On my way to the airport, I stopped in Troutdale, OR to visiting McMenamins Edgefield, a 100-room resort fashioned from the buildings and grounds that once held a "poor farm" a mental hospital, and other facilities on its 38 acre spread. Now it is a full fledged resort, with a brewery, distillery, winery, 2 restaurants, 5 pubs, a movie theatre and 18 hold golf course, among other diversions. At the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, and in view of Mt Hood, it is a funky resort with an old hippie vibe.

The brewery at Edgefield, the largest in the McMenamins empire (and they call their group of brewpubs and hotels "The Empire" on posters and calendars!)

[wnissen]

I'll second the huzzah for the Oregon Brewer's Festival. I was blown away that there was not a bad beer I tried. So many that if I hadn't taken pictures I wouldn't remember any of them. A great selection of styles, served at the correct temperature, friendly folks, and plenty of water, what more can you ask for? Well, actually, I could ask for a smaller "taste" size. $2 got you a seven ounce taste, which is huge! Taste five beers and you've consumed a liter... Still, I realize that a smaller pour would have slowed down the pourers, so I can see why they don't do it. A very well run festival.

Walt

[malarkey]

*sigh* Bridgeport...

[Rich Pawlak]

More from OBF 2004, wandering around Edgefield resort:

The entrance to the Little Red Shed, maybe the smallest pub I've ever entered.

Just a few tables and chairs here, in what used to be the incinerator for the property.

The Little Red Shed is in there somewhere.....

The bar and bartender at the Little Red Shed

Then you wander a bit further and find "Jerry's Ice House"

Ive never seen so much Grateful Dead memoribilia in one place

It's pretty dense.

[Rich Pawlak]

They even celebrate the late Grateful Dead guitarist's birthday every year, and have memorialized his image in bronze:

Staffers there told me that on Garcia's birthday, people fill the bronze statue with candles and hemp beads and such and do a drum circle there. Wild.

[Rich Pawlak]

There is also a distillery at Edgefield, with its own unique tavern; they distill not only whiskies but eau de vie and gin and rum:

the Distillery Bar, which also acts as a clubhouse for the golf course. The pipework is purely ornamental.

the huge pot belly stove at the Distillery Bar

Lighting a ceegar at the always available flame there. Clever.