OBF 2006 - Beer List and New Event Info

The initial list was posted a while ago, but they've added several more in the last few days. Besides the "Usual Suspects" [man that's a good movie] like Widmer, Deschutes, and Rogue, there's a nice mix of non-local breweries bringing things we can't generally get here in PDX. Some of the highlights include Bells (MI), Sprecher (WI), Russian River (CA), Flying Fish (NJ), Magnolia (CA), and Boulevard (MO).

Click here to see the full list.

On top of everything else they've added a new event this year:

"The Blind Tasting and Test"
When: Wednesday, July 26 2006 from 5-9 p.m.
Where: Tom McCall Waterfront Park
How Much: $40 per person with a maximum of 5000 people
Why: The Oregon Brewers Festival will donate $5 from every ticket sold to the Oregon Commission for the Blind Foundation, with the goal being a $20,000 donation.

Here's the deal:

The Blind Tasting & Test begins with the tasting portion, in which a total of 24 different beers will be served: 12 IPAs brewed in Oregon, and 12 Pale Ales brewed in Oregon. Beers will be served on a tasting tray in two-ounce samples. Patrons will be encouraged to vote for the “People’s Choice,” one vote for each of the two styles. Following the tabulation, the winning brewery from each beer category will be announced, with the two winners receiving a trip to a European Beer Festival for the brewer and a guest.

For the Blind Test, patrons will be asked to identify each of the 24 beers served. Votes will be tabulated, and a winner from each category will be selected. The two winners of the identification test will also receive a trip each to a European Beer Festival for themselves and a guest.

At the conclusion of the blind test, all 24 of the beer taps will be opened and the attendees will be invited to sample beer in their souvenir mugs until the taps close at 9 p.m.

For $40 you get to help blind folks, drink 48oz of beer, flex your beer geek muscles, and maybe win a trip to Europe. Then after the competition they open the taps for MORE beer. Sounds like a deal to me. Start practicing folks, your knowledge of Oregon Beer could mean a free trip to Europe for you and a guest, plus the admiration of the other 4,999 people in attendance.

---

Tags: beer, Belmont Station, Oregon Beer Festival, OBF, Rogue, Deschutes, Widmer, Bells, Sprecher, Russian River, Flying Fish, Magnolia Brewing, Boulevard Brewing