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Even those who live in the deepest and darkest caves of Portland realize that July is the month when all the hop-heads in town come out to enjoy some of America’s finest craft beers down by the river. Oregon’s Craft Beer Month has gotten bigger with every passing year, and now that 52 brewers call the Rose City home, an even wider variety of festivals are popping up. If ever there was a cause for celebration, it’s all the craft beer festivals that take place in Portland in July.
The Oregon Brewer’s Festival has been a staple of downtown Portland’s Tom McCall Park since it started 26 years ago, when there were only four brewers in town. The Brew Fest (or OBF, for short) brings in thousands of heads each year, features live music, a plethora of local food vendors, 10 semi-truck trailers filled with 8 beers each, and 10+ high-gravity specialty brews each day in the “Buzz Tent.” Of all the events that happen each summer, this one is the busiest and has more of a music festival atmosphere.
A lesser known festival happens the weekend prior, The Portland International Beer Fest. This gathering offers a wider range of beers, both in bottles and on tap, from all over the world. Last year, they offered more than 180 varieties, including samples from $20+ bottles of Belgian Saison to the freshest samples of local seasonal offerings. With a smaller turnout and the more pastoral setting of the Pearl District’s North Park Blocks, this festival sports more of a small town Oktoberfest vibe.
The weekend before the month of July even starts, you’ll find one of the most unique festivals in the county – the North American Organic Brewers Festival. Now in its ninth year, this is the world’s largest festival of its kind, serving up more than 50 organic beers. It all takes place at Overland Park and includes live music, family-friendly activities, sustainably oriented food vendors, easy public transit access – not to mention that it’s arguably the most earth-friendly festival around.
A few weeks later, you’ll find one of the few festivals that cater to styles of beer that are brewed with wild yeast or brettanomyces – the foundation for the finest sour beers. The third annual Puckerfest takes place at Belmont Station, lasting nearly a week from July 12-18, with tastings of 10-14 different beers each day. There are segments of time each day where specific styles or brewers are featured, often with the brewers on hand to discuss their beers as well. This is one of the only festivals that primarily takes place inside.
Most of Portland’s craft beer events are “cash only” when purchasing tickets and/or souvenir mugs, but are often free to enter. Portland’s fest organizers have perfected the art of the beer festival, offering attendees a variety of ways to enjoy the day that caters to everyone’s unique tastes, whether in the type of beer offered, the style of the event, or in many cases, the venue itself. Portland’s summer festivals aim to please, offering a craft beer variety unlike any other place on earth come July.
