Oregon Brewers Festival 2012

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Wife and I are looking at this one to go to this year, anyone have tips on the event? One thing I don’t see mentioned is if you can bring a chair, can you or is there enough places to sit?

Go on Friday (crowds are not nearly a bad), AVOID Saturday. There are plenty of chairs and tables for use, so no need to bring one (I don’t even think they would allow you to bring one anyway).



As far as the beer goes, they do have a reserve tent for all of the "big" beers that are being released, but they are released at random, so you just have to get lucky.



Oh also, as far as food goes, avoid eating at the place, way to expensive. Your bracelet will allow you rentry, so head out and enjoy one of the numerous food carts a couple blocks away for cheap eats (usually cash only though).

Yea, no worries about a chair. Lots of tables and places to sit. I make a point to go right when they open. Mainly to avoid all the "frat boys types" that start to get there at about 4-5pm. Truth be told I haven’t gone in the last couple of years. I spend my money at Portland International Beerfest the weekend before OBF. Have fun!
Here is some more info if you haven’t seen it.

http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/

I sort of lost interest in it my last few years in Oregon, and back then, the beers weren’t really exotic, just lots of stuff you don’t see on tap in Oregon. So it wasn’t really a place for exotic beer, nor would I necessarily recommend that someone plan their first ever(?) trip around it for that reason. But it is a beautiful setting.

And it may have changed since my last time in 2004.

Originally posted by Erlangernick
I sort of lost interest in it my last few years in Oregon, and back then, the beers weren’t really exotic, just lots of stuff you don’t see on tap in Oregon. So it wasn’t really a place for exotic beer, nor would I necessarily recommend that someone plan their first ever(?) trip around it for that reason. But it is a beautiful setting.

And it may have changed since my last time in 2004.

With the addition of the "buzz tent" a few years ago, there are more heavy hitting/ harder to find beers at this event. That said, the fest is mainly Oregon (PNW) beers, so I usually have had the majority of the beers before. Great fest if you don’t get over to the area very often. Also if you keep an eye on the local blogs there is a TON of other mini fests going on all over Portland since July is Oregon Beer Month.

I didn’t get a chance to go but I heard that last year they only had about 90 beers and not nearly enough of them so they ran out quickly. Also that the Big Beer Tent or whatever they were calling it was kind of a joke. This is second hand knowledge so take it for what its worth.

Personally I always enjoy this event. I try to go Thursday or Friday so I don’t miss out on a lot of the stuff that goes early. I haven’t been since they changed up with new tent for big beers.

The fest is absolutely brutal on Friday after 3PM and Saturday all day. Unless you like hearing a bunch of morons yelling and whooping like it’s one huge frat party.

Personally, I’d come for the Portland International Brewfest and Puckerfest which are a week or two before. But if you’re going to go to the OBF, Thursday will have the best selection at the buzz tent and the smallest lines outside of it.

Well. Wife and I plan on going, will go with the arrive early leave at some point philosophy. Any recommendations on restaurants in the area???

When in PDX there are 2 places you have to hit. Cascade Barrel House and Pok Pok. Nothing else matters

Been several times and agree with everyone else that Thursday or early Friday are the only ways to go. Went once on a Saturday and it was one of the worst times I have ever had.

well, this is approaching rapidly, looking foward to it, looking at list of beers, don’t see hair of the dog on the list, do they not attend?