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25th annual Oregon Brewers Festival July 26 29, 2012 Tom McCall Waterfront Park

MEDIA KIT

Welcome to the 25th annual Oregon Brewers Festival


The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation's longest running and best loved craft beer festivals. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, with towering Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for anyone who loves craft beer. With a laid back attitude and scores of award-winning beers, the festival reflects the essence of the city of Portland, and is the crowning jewel of Oregon Craft Beer Month. Better known as the OBF, the festival was the brainchild of Art Larrance, co-founder of Portland Brewing Co. Art had traveled to the original Oktoberfest in Munich and knew what a big beer party was like. His goal was to re-create a similar atmosphere here in Portland and bring attention to the resurgence of microbrews. Art collaborated with craft beer veterans Dick and Nancy Ponzi of BridgePort Brewing Co. and Kurt & Rob Widmer of Widmer Bros. Brewing Co. to produce the first Oregon Brewers Festival in 1988. Despite the limited number of microbreweries nationwide at the time or perhaps because of that fact the festival was overwhelmingly successful and has never looked back. Craft beer has come a long way since then according to the Brewers Association, 1,940 craft breweries operated for some or all of 2011, comprised of 1,063 brewpubs, 789 microbreweries and 88 regional craft breweries. Small and independent craft brewers have propelled the number of U.S. breweries from less than 100 to more than 1,900 in 30 years. You can find craft beer in grocery stores and service station marts, on restaurant menus and hotel mini-bars, on airlines and trains, in cans, bottles, growlers and kegs. The OBF was at the forefront of exposing craft beers to the public, and it continues to do so. This July 26 through 29, 82 craft breweries from all parts of the nation will serve more than 30 beer styles to nearly 80,000 beer lovers from around the world. There will be 84 beers in the main tents, and another 50 specialty beers in the Buzz Tent. We are also thrilled to debut a Sour Tent this year as well. We encourage everyone to gather with friends and raise a mug in celebration of great craft beer. We realize that it is the media that helps spread the word about our successful event, and we are extremely appreciative. If there is anything we can do to help you with a story, please call or email me at any time. Cheers!

Chris Crabb 503-314-7583 chris@oregonbrewfest.com

Event Name 25h annual Oregon Brewers Festival

FACT SHEET

Venue Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon Main entrance at S.W. Oak Street and Naito Parkway Dates July 26 - 29, 2012 "Always the last full weekend in July" Times Thurs through Sat, taps are open from Noon to 9 p.m. Sun, taps are open from Noon to 7 p.m. Token & mug sales close one-half hour prior to the taps shutting off Admission Admission into the festival grounds is free. In order to consume beer, purchase of a 2012 souvenir mug is required and costs $6. Mugs from previous years will not be filled. Beer is purchased with wooden tokens. Tokens cost $1 apiece. Patrons pay four tokens for a full mug of beer, or one token for a taste. The festival is cash only; there are ATMs onsite. Description The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation's longest running and best loved craft beer festivals. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, with towering Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for anyone who loves craft beer. With a laid back attitude and scores of award-winning beers, the festival reflects the essence of the city of Portland. The Oregon Brewers Festival exists to provide an opportunity to sample and learn about a variety of craft beer styles from across the country. Eighty-two craft breweries from all parts of the nation offer more than 30 styles of handcrafted brews to 80,000 beer lovers during the four-day event. A Buzz Tent offers another 50+ rare and specialty beers, and this year will feature the debut of a Sour Tent as well. The festival's focus is craft beer, but there's more than sampling involved. The event features live music, beer-related vendors, beer memorabilia displays, beer writers and publishers, homebrewing demonstrations, and an assortment of foods from a variety of regions. The Crater Lake Root Beer Garden offers complimentary handcrafted root beer for minors and designated drivers. Minors are always welcome at the festival when accompanied by a parent. The Oregon Brewers Festival strongly encourages responsible drinking, and urges patrons to take advantage of the MAX Light Rail line, located just one block west of the festival on SW Oak Street. Go by bus, train or taxi, just don't drink and drive. The festival also offers free, on-site bicycle parking. Contact Information

www.oregonbrewfest.com www.facebook.com/oregonbrewersfestival www.twitter.com/oregonbrewfest

Oregon Brewers Festival raises a mug in a toast to its 25th annual year of celebrating craft beer
Festival to feature 84 beers in main tent, another 40 in the Buzz Tent and debut a new Sour Beer Tent
PORTLAND, Ore. On a sun-soaked July afternoon, theres no better place to sip suds with friends than the Oregon Brewers Festival, one of the nation's longest-running and best-loved craft beer festivals. Nearly 80,000 fans will travel from points around the world to take part in the 25th annual event, July 26 through July 29 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. Event hours are Noon to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. From Belgians to Browns, Doppelbocks to Dunkels, Pales to Pilsners and Scottish ales to Stouts, the Oregon Brewers Festival serves up more than 20 beer styles from 82 craft breweries from around the country. There are 84 beers in the main tent one per brewery plus two gluten-free offerings and another 40+ in the Buzz Tent. This year, organizers have also announced they will add a Sour Beer Tent to the festivities, bringing awareness of one of the latest craft beer trends to a massive audience. The Oregon Brewers Festival is first and foremost a celebration of beer, but the event also features four days of live music, food booths, craft vendors, and industry displays. The Crater Lake Soda Garden provides complimentary handcrafted root beer to minors and designated drivers. Minors are allowed into the event when accompanied by a parent. Admission into the festival grounds is free. In order to consume beer, purchase of a 2012 souvenir mug is required and costs $6. Mugs from previous years will not be filled. Beer is purchased with wooden tokens, which cost $1 apiece. Patrons pay four tokens for a full mug of beer, or one token for a taste. Alternative modes of transportation are encouraged, with free monitored bicycle parking available each day. The main entrance is at SW Oak Street and Naito Parkway, one block from the MAX Light Rail line. The Oregon Brewers Festival takes place during Oregon Craft Beer Month, a celebration of craft beer by Oregon's specialty breweries. During the entire month, a variety of special events will take place at craft breweries throughout the state, culminating with the Oregon Brewers Festival. The Oregon Brewers Festival was founded in 1988 as an opportunity to expose the public to microbrews at a time when the craft brewing industry was just getting off the ground. Today, that industry has flourished, especially in Oregon, which has 107 brewing companies operating 139 brewing facilities in 55 cities. Portland alone has 48 breweries more than any other city in the world. For more information about the Oregon Brewers Festival, visit www.oregonbrewfest.com.

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2011 Oregon Brewers Festival Generates $23.2 Million for Local Economy
A recently completed study estimates the economic impact of the Oregon Brewers Festival on Multnomah County
PORTLAND, Ore. - June 5, 2012 - A recently completed study estimates the economic impact of the 2011 Oregon Brewers Festival (OBF) on the local economy at $23.2 million. Jeff Dense, Professor of Political Science at Eastern Oregon University, and his Politics and Beer class administered 628 on-site interviews at the 2011 event, July 28-30 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland. The analysis utilized IMPLAN (IMpact Analysis for PLANning) data and software package to estimate the economic impact of the Oregon Brewers Festival on Multnomah County. The OBF generated $16.24 million in direct and $6.97 million in indirect (additional input purchases made by local businesses) expenditures. Additionally, the OBF generated $5.9 million in induced expenditures (local business owners, suppliers and employee expenditures related to direct and indirect expenditures). "The study highlights the economic impact of the Oregon Brewers Festival, and Portland's role as one of the premier beer tourism's destinations in the United States," Dense said. Respondents were queried on demographic factors, along with estimates of OBF-related expenditures in tourism-related categories, including transportation, lodging, meals, gasoline purchases, non-beer related recreation, beer purchased to take home, and expenditures at the OBF. Findings of the study include: Out-of-state (Southwest Washington excluded) and international visitors accounted for 56% of OBF attendees. 64% of OBF attendees were male; 35% of attendees were 21-29 years of age. The average local attendee spent $104. The average out-of-state and international attendee spent $750. 82% of respondents indicated they were staying 2 or more days. In addition to the estimated $23.2 million economic impact on Multnomah County, local residents spent an estimated $7.97 million related to the OBF. 53% of respondents were attending the OBF for the first time. This year marks the 25th annual Oregon Brewers Festival, which will take place July 26 through July 29 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. Event hours are Noon to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Nearly 80,000 fans will travel from points around the world to sample from more than 120 beers at the annual event. ###

Contact: Jeff Dense, Eastern Oregon University, (541)-962-3854, jdense@eou.edu

2012 PARTICIPATING BREWERIES


Brewery, Beer Name, Beer Style 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Raspberry Crush, American-Style Sour Ale 21st Amendment Brewery, Bitter American, Session Beer Alameda Brewing Co., Huckleberry Hound IPA, Specialty Beer Alaskan Brewing Co., Alaskan Oatmeal Stout, Oatmeal Stout Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Summer Solstice Cervesa Crema, Summer Cream Ale Ballast Point Brewing Co., Sculpin IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Bayern Brewing, Inc., Bayern Dark Doppel Bock, German-Style Eisbock Bear Republic Brewing Co., Black Racer, American-Style Black Ale Beer Valley Brewing, Oregonberry Wheat Ale, Fruit Wheat Ale or Lager with or without Yeast Bison Brewing, Honey Basil Ale, Herb and Spice Beer Boulder Beer Co., Mojo, American-Style India Pale Ale Boulevard Brewing Co., ZN, Belgian Style Witbier Boundary Bay Brewery, Double Dry Hopped Delta Pale Ale, American-Style Pale Ale BridgePort Brewing Co., Stump Town Tart, Fruit Beer Caldera Brewing Co., Caldera Hop Hash, American-Style Strong Pale Ale Cascade Brewing Co., Razberry Wheat, Raspberry Wheat Coalition Brewing Co., Rooster's Cream Ale, American-Style Cream Ale or Lager Collaborator, Pineapple Express, Light American Wheat Ale or Lager without Yeast Columbia River Brewing Co., Rye Not IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Deschutes Brewery, Armory XPA, American-Style Strong Pale Ale Deschutes Brewery, Gluten Free, Gluten Free North West Pale Ale Dick's Brewing Co., Dick's Dubbel Trouble, Belgian Dubbel Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Positive Contact, Experimental Beer (Lager or Ale) Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom, Goliathon, Dark American-Belgo-Style Ale Dunedin Brewery, IPA Chronicle: FL-Oregon Trail, American-Style India Pale Ale Eel River Brewing Co., Climax Extra Pale, American-Style Pale Ale Electric Brewing, Electric Beer, German-Style Klsch/Kln-Style Elysian Brewing Co., Space Dust IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Epic Brewing Co., Epic Hop Syndrome Lager, Session Beer Fearless Brewing Co., Fearless Scottish Ale, Scottish-Style Heavy Ale Fire Mountain Brew House, Tan Line Summer IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Wookey Jack, Rye Ale or Lager with or without Yeast Flat Tail Brewing Co., White Light / White Ale, American-Style Wheat Wine Ale Flyers Restaurant and Brewery, Pacemaker Porter, Robust Porter Flying Fish Brewing Co., Exit 16 Wild Rice IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Fort George Brewery and Public House, Quick Wit, Herb and Spice Beer Full Sail Brewing Co., Brewers Share Chris' Summer Delight, Berliner-Style Weisse (Wheat) Gigantic Brewing Co., Dynomite!, Imperial or Double India Pale Ale Golden Valley Brewery, Rose` de Vallee`, Fruit Wheat Ale or Lager with or without Yeast GoodLife Brewing, Traditions Oak Aged Pale Ale, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Pale to Amber

Beer Green Flash Brewing Co., Hop Head Red, American-Style Amber/Red Ale Hale's Ales Brewery and Pub, Hale's Supergoose IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale 2012 PARTICIPATING BREWERIES Page 2 Brewery, Beer Name, Beer Style Hopworks Urban Brewery, Evelyn's Imperial Sunshine IPA, Imperial or Double India Pale Ale Kona Brewing Co., Big Wave Golden Ale, Golden or Blonde Ale Lagunitas Brewing Co., OBF Fusion, Oregon Specialty Laurelwood Brewing Co., Portlandia Pils, Out of Category - Traditionally Brewed Beer Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Kili Wit, Farmhouse Ale Lompoc Brewing Co., Saison the Beach, French-Style Bire de Garde Lucky Labrador Brewing Co., Ale X, Experimental Beer (Lager or Ale) Maui Brewing Co., La Perouse White, Witbier McMenamins John Barleycorns, Freewill IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Moylan's Brewery & Restaurant, Pomegranate Wheat Ale, Fruit Beer Mt. Emily Ale House, Organic Strawberry Honey Ale, Fruit Beer Natian Brewery, Elephante' Red Ale, American-Style Amber/Red Ale New Belgium Brewing, Somersault, Golden or Blonde Ale Ninkasi Brewing Co., Lady of Avalon, International-Style Pilsener Oakshire Brewing, 25, Imperial Oregon Ale Occidental Brewing Co., Occidental Kellerbier, Kellerbier (Cellar Beer) Odell Brewing Co., St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale, American-Style Pale Ale Old Market Pub and Brewery, Cherried Alive, Fruit Beer Omission, Omission Pale Ale, American Pale Ale Oregon Trail Brewery, Oregon Trail Lavender Ale, Herb and Spice Beer Paradise Creek Brewery, Dirty Blonde, Golden or Blonde Ale Pelican Pub & Brewery, Winema Wit, Wit Phat Matt's Brewing Co., Klsch Ale, German-Style Klsch/Kln-Style Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub, Splendor in the Glass V: The Splendor Under the Stairs, American-Style Pale Ale Pyramid Breweries, Outburst Imperial IPA, Imperial or Double India Pale Ale Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Berry White, Fruit Beer Red Rock Brewing Co., Red Rock Elephino Double IPA, American-Style India Pale Ale Redhook Brewery, Peach Trippel, Tripel with fruit added Rock Bottom Brewery, Teddy's Sunburn Red Klsch, German-Style Klsch/Kln-Style Rogue Ales, Rogue 23, Baltic-Style Porter Russian River Brewing Co., Row 2 / Hill 56 - The Story of Simcoe, American-Style Strong Pale Ale Seven Brides Brewing, Lil's Pils, International-Style Pilsener Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Beer Camp Imperial Pilsner, American-Style Pilsener Sprecher Brewery, Sprecher Mai Bock, Maibock Stone Brewing Co., Dogfish Head / Victory / Stone, Saison du BUFF, Herb and Spice Beer Summit Brewing Co., Unchained #10 Belgian Abbey Ale, Strong Ale Terminal Gravity Brewing, X IPA, Double Hopped Double IPA Uinta Brewing Co., Hop Notch, American IPA Upright Brewing Co., Upright Alt, Alt Vertigo Brewing, Tropical Blonde, Fruit Beer Wasatch Beers, Wasatch White Label, Belgian Wit Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., Smooth Cream-N-Ale, Specialty Beer

STATISTICS
25th year of the festival 84 handcraft beers are poured in the main tents; two of these are gluten-free. There are 82 participating breweries, including Collaborator.

14 states are represented: 1 from Alaska, 1 from Arizona, 13 from California, 3 from Colorado, 1 from Delaware, 1 from Florida, 2 from Hawaii, 2 from Minnesota, 1 from Missouri, 1 from New Jersey, 44 from Oregon, 4 from Utah and 7 from Washington and 1 from Wisconsin. Kona Brewing Co traveled the furthest at 2,600 miles; Maui Brewing Co was a close second at 2,566 miles; Dogfish Head was third at 2,439 miles The highest alcohol beer is Dogfish Heads Positive Contact, an experimental beer style, at 9% ABV. The lowest alcohol beer is a tie between Beer Valley Brewings Oregonberry Wheat Ale, and Full Sail Brewing Cos Brewers Share Chris Summer Delight Berliner Weiss, both at 4% ABV. There are nearly 40 beer styles represented. The most popular styles are India Pale Ale and Pale Ale, followed by fruit beers and herb and spice beers. Number of volunteers at the festival: 2,000+

There are 6 breweries bringing organic beers: Bison Brewing Co, Eel River Brewing Co, Fort George Brewery, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Mt. Emily Ale House, Old Market Pub & Brewery. Number of beers in the Buzz Tent: TBD. Number of beers in the Sour Tent: TBD.

Continuing trend: Fruit Beers. For years, 21st Amendments Watermelon Wheat has been the festivals top seller. This has not gone unnoticed by other brewers, and fruit beers have increased every year. Although 21st Amendment decided to bring a nonfruit beer this year, there are plenty for the fans to choose from, including beers made with cherries, raspberries, pomegranate, strawberries and more. Of interest: Brewers are finding inspiration in innovation, rather than just piling on ingredients and alcohol. This year's lineup averages 6.2% ABV and 39 IBU, which is fairly moderate compared to years past.

OREGON BREWERS FESTIVAL HISTORY


Oregon has a love affair with beer that stretches back to 1888, when Portland brewer Henry Weinhard offered to pump beer from his brewery through the pipes of the Skidmore Fountain to celebrate its unveiling. In the days before Prohibition, every beer was as individual as the brewmaster who made it. Back then, a strong thirst would send a man or woman down to the corner saloon for some cool lager drawn fresh from the tap. Usually the beer was made at a nearby brewery, and it was distinctive - rich in malts, hops and character. Then came Prohibition, wiping out nearly all the Pacific Northwest breweries. A handful carried on, but by the end of World War II, most local beer was poured from just a few regional kettles. Then, starting in the early 1980s, a group of entrepreneurial beer lovers with a taste for beer and a head for business started individually opening small, commercial beer-making enterprises known as microbreweries. The microbrewery, today more commonly referred to as the craft brewery, has brought back much of the old-style tradition of beermaking. Beers are once again made with allnatural ingredients: malt, hops and yeast. The beer is produced in small, handcrafted batches according to recipes that are far too costly and time-intensive for huge commercial breweries. But this time, ales, stouts and porters are the beer of choice rather than less-flavorful industrial lagers. Craft brewers didn't want to make the same product as the big brewers. They turned to ales, because the yeast provided more distinctive and varying flavors. Ales were also preferred because they took less equipment and one-third the amount of time to ferment. The craft brewing movement was slow to start, but once it caught on, it exploded. In 1985, there were 21 craft breweries in America, including microbreweries, contract brewers (beer brewed by an entity that is not owned by the brewing company whose name is on the label) and brewpubs (a restaurant and brewery on the same premise). Today there are more than 1,400. Here in the Pacific Northwest, there is a concentration of microbreweries unmatched anywhere in the country. Portland itself holds the honor of being America's unofficial brewpub capital, with more microbreweries and brewpubs than any other city in the world. It was in Portland that Oregon's first microbrewery was opened. Charles Chuck and Shirley Coury operated their own winery for fifteen years before turning to beermaking. They founded Cartwright Brewing Company in 1980 at 617 SE Main St. in Portland. They produced and marketed a light ale called Portland Beer, which they sold in area taverns and restaurants. The beer sold for about $1 a bottle. The Courys began brewing Portland Beer by keeping the beer under pressure through the bottling stage. After running into too many technical and financial difficulties with

this method, they emulated other small breweries using traditional methods of natural conditioning in the bottle. The brewery closed at the end of 1981 - the beer wasn't great, and supposedly the bottling was downright poor. According to beer writer Fred Eckhardt, Courys last brew was auctioned off at $1 per case to help pay off the countys personal property tax lien. OBF HISTORY Page 2 In 1984, Dick and Nancy Ponzi, a local wine making family, teamed up with brewer Karl Ockert, graduate of the University of California at Davis Malting and Brewing Sciences program, to establish the 600-barrel Columbia River Brewery. Setting up shop in a threestory, century-old former rope factory (the historic Portland Cordage Company Building), in Portlands industrial Northwest neighborhood, they founded what is better known today as BridgePort Brewing Company. The Ponzis used word of mouth to invite people in to the pub, since microbrews still were so new to the general consumer. "People were so intrigued with the idea that they overlooked our klutziness!" explained Nancy. Two brothers, Kurt and Rob Widmer, having trouble finding beer in the U.S. that they like to drink, began making beer for themselves and their friends. Tired of working for the man, Kurt and Rob decided to turn their hobby into a vocation, quit their jobs and cobbled together a brewery. They scrounged up parts wherever they could, and built Widmer Brothers Brewing Company in an industrial part of NW Portland. The brewery officially opened on April 2, 1984. Brewmaster Kurt Widmer had traveled to Zum Urige, a prestigious brewery in Dusseldorf, German to learn about Altbier (old beer). As a result of his research, the brewery featured an altbier and a weizenbier, their interpretation of a filtered wheat beer. The idea of microbreweries began to catch on in Oregon, and so did the cooperative spirit. Brewers began working together to change the laws to allow the concept of a brewpub, citing that it was no different from having a tasting room in a winery. Oregon legislature viewed microbrewing as a homegrown industry that needed the help; thus, in 1985, the law changed. That same year, Mike and Brian McMenamin opened Oregon's first pro-prohibition brewpub, the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House in SW Portland. That same year, McMenamins became the first brewery in the USA to legally use fruit in the brewing of ales raspberries for Ruby Ale, one of their standard ales. Art Larrance and Fred Bowman opened Oregon's fourth microbrewery, Portland Brewing Company, on March 28, 1986. High school buddies, the two started as homebrewers who decided to go commercial. They signed a consulting agreement with (the now late) Bert Grant and rented a building at 1339 NW Flanders. At first they brewed Grant's Scottish Ale, Grant's Russian Imperial Stout, and Grant's Winter Ale under license from Bert Grant's Yakima Brewery in Washington. Bowman and Larrance then added their own Portland Ale to round out their repertoire. In 1987, two Hillsboro High alums decided to put on the Papa Aldos Blues Festival. They approached Art and Fred with the idea of selling the beer at a one-day festival at Waterfront Park. Art and Fred agreed and got a permit from the OLCC. The pair thought theyd sell 16 to 20 kegs that day. In the end, they sold 76. Art would load 10 empty kegs in his truck, run up to the brewery, fill them up and run them back. By the time he arrived, the 10 hed previously brought were already gone. The beer sold $3 for a 12-ounce glass, and that festival sold out the brewerys supply.

The Papa Aldos guys decided they didnt want to do the Blues Festival again in 1988, so they turned it over to the Blues Festival Assn, which made an arrangement with a national beer distributor. However, when the city issued the permit, it was good for two years. The Blues Festival Assn didnt want the date on the existing permit the third weekend in July; the association wanted the Fourth of July weekend. That left an open date at Waterfront Park with a permit. Portland Brewing bought the permit from the Blues Festival Assn for $500 for July 23 & 24, with the citys permission, had that date assigned to the Oregon Brewers Festival.

OBF HISTORY
Page 3 It was Art who came up with the inspiration of the Oregon Brewers Festival. "I had traveled to Oktoberfest in Munich and knew what a big beer party was like," explained Art. "I wanted to create that atmosphere and expose the public to the variety of good microbrews. The Great American Beer Festival started in 1987. According to Art, They were the first, and it was their show we didnt want to copy them. So whatever they did, we pretty much went the other way. They did judging, we didnt. They held their festival indoors, so we chose to go outside. They offered 1-oz samples. We decided to limit the beers and not take in all comers. Art approached Widmer, BridgePort and McMenamins to determine their interest in participating in a festival. McMenamins was busy with its own expansion plans and wanted to participate, but declined being an organizer. The remaining three, represented by Kurt Widmer, Nancy Ponzi and Art, established the Oregon Brewers Association and set off to plan the first festival. None of the three had ever done a huge event like this before. "We were all flying by the seat of our pants," said Art. "It was a great learning experience." Added Nancy, "it was great fun sitting down with no real plan or agenda as we each juggled tasks and ideas. It was a total unknown how it would happen." "We wanted to bring beers from outside this market for Portlanders to drink," recalled Kurt. "We wanted people to be able to compare our beers with other regions so they would see what was happening elsewhere in the nation." According to Fred Eckhardt, in an article in Celebrator Beer News, The Oregon Brewers Festival was to be a grand showing of Americas finest new-wave microbrewed beers. This was to be an entirely new approach to beer festivals. (T)hese entrepreneurs had invited a whole range of Americas smallest and most innovative brewers to bring their best to Portlands beautiful Waterfront Park on the banks of our Willamette River. The festival offered free admittance to everyone, including children, but required each drinker to buy a plastic mug (plastic, because the Portland Park Bureau didnt want broken glass across its most prestigious downtown park). The mug costs $1 the first year. Scrip was sold for the beer; $2 for a full serving in the mug, or $1 for a halfpint serving. The festival itself was sponsored by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The group has wanted to maintain a high-level kind of festivalan educational event,

said Cathi McClain, then domestic marketing specialist for the agriculture department. The ODA acted in an advisory capacity, offering volunteers to staff the event and help with displays from the Oregon Hop Commission and Oregon Historical Society. We have always been supportive of wine tastings and the fledgling wine industry, McClain is quoted in an Oregonian article from July 19, 1988. But when Id mention microbrewing to people they thought I was talking about some sort of biology study. Larrance, Bowman, the Ponzis and the Widmers enlisted the help of everyone they knew to pull off the event. Family members and friends pitched in wherever they could to make the event work. The Oregon Brew Crew, an independent group of homebrewers, took on the responsibility of volunteers.

OBF HISTORY Page 4 "Everyone knew how important this event was for the state and for the industry," explained Kurt. "It was a community effort that made it all come together." The first OBF took place on a Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, between the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges. Oregons then governor, Neil Goldschmidt, had declared July as "Oregon Microbrewery Month." There were 22 breweries from six different states participating that first year: Bayern Brewing, BridgePort, Deschutes, Full Sail, Widmer, Portland, McMenamins, Alaskan, Redhook, Sierra Nevada, Hales Ales, Anderson valley, Oregon Trail, Grants, James Page, Hart Brewing, Kessler Brewing, Thomas Kemper, Buffalo Bill's, Hibernia Brewing, Saxton Brewing Co, & Triple Rock. According to Stuart Ramsay, then in charge of sales and marketing for BridgePort, in an Oregonian article from July 19, 1988, This is a purist festival. No bottled beer or extract beers will be available, he said. (T)his unique event will feature only fresh, draft beers. The anticipated attendance at that first event was 5,000. However, when the weekend was over, more than 15,000 had poured through the gates. The festival was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. It was hot, there were limited coolers, and the coolers that were there kept breaking down. The beer was foamy and the festival ran out of it. Local participants kept running back to their breweries to keep beer in stock. But what the organizers learned was that people were tolerant, well-mannered and enjoyed the festival atmosphere. Despite the glitches, the event came off amazingly well for a first-year event. "The immediate feeling afterward was that we were ready to do it again," said Nancy. "We were delighted with the response and thrilled that we were able to pull it off!" The first festival was billed as an opportunity for sampling. The original idea was to bring in microbrews from outside of the region so people could sample what wasn't readily available to them. By exposing the public to microbrews, it gave legitimacy to the product. "Brewers wanted to come to this festival for a variety of reasons," explained Kurt. "We were the first non-judging beer event. And we were brewers ourselves, not outside promoters. The brewers supported us because the event was incidental to what we were all doing." In 1993, the City of Portland asked the festival to move its date from the 3rd weekend in July to the last full weekend in order to give the parks grass time to recover from the Blues Festival, which was on the 4th of July. Back then, the Blues Fest was held at the same location as the OBF. Other changes have taken place over the years. The festival expanded to three days in 1990, and went to four days in 2005. We werent sure anyone would come, but we were wiling to try. It turned out to be a huge success, said Larrance. Festival purists now swear that Thursday is the best day to attend. The festival added its second big tent in 1994, to increase circulation and allow for a more comfortable tasting ambience. More beer trailers were brought in the last few

years to spread out the number of taps and alleviate the lines. Other than that, except in terms of attendance and number of breweries, most of the festival has stayed the same. The festival is still very much a grassroots effort, despite being an event that annually draws 80,000 and brings in an estimated $23.2 million to the Multnomah County economy. OBF HISTORY Page 5 When asked if he could have ever imagined the success of the festival, Larrance replied,Yes and no. Having gone to Munich with its 200-year tradition, I could see where a lot of people liked to congregate around beer. But I never anticipated the OBF would grow to the magnitude of popularity and international recognition that it currently experiences. Thanks to the foresight of Art Larrance, Dick and Nancy Ponzi and Kurt and Rob Widmer, the Oregon Brewers Festival is a true craft brewing success story, one that all beer lovers hope will continue for many years to come.

OREGON BEER INDUSTRY FACTS


There are currently 108 brewing companies, operating 142 brewing facilities in 56 cities in Oregon.1,5 There are 49 breweries operating in Portland, more than any other city in the world.1 The Portland metro area is the largest craft brewing market in the US with the most number of breweries at 63.1,7 There are currently 3,871,859 people per the US Census Bureau and 142 breweries or 1 brewery per every 27,265 people.1 Oregons brewing companies employ more than 4900 full and part-time employees.1 Oregons breweries donated an estimated $1,230,000 in product or money to non-profits in 2010.1 Total economic impact from the beer industry on Oregons economy is $2.44 billion.3 Oregonians consumed 2.711 million barrels of beer in 2011 numbers for Oregon made beer consumed in Oregon, coming soon for 2011.1,5 US craft beer consumption is 5.7 percent by volume.2 Oregons brewers made 1.08 million barrels of beer in 10 or less than 0.5% of the beer made in the US.1,6 Oregon is the second largest producer of craft beer in the US.1 Oregon is the third largest craft beer market in the US.7 The Oregon market is the largest market for every craft brewer in Oregon. 1

Its estimated that 40% Percent of all draft beer consumed in Oregon is brewed in Oregon. 1 Oregon has the 4th highest percentage of draft beer consumed in the US.6 Oregon is the No. 2 hop growing state in the country with a 2010 crop value of $31,200,000.4 0regon is in the top 5 in the United States in the following: 0 Number of Breweries Breweries per Capita Craft Beer Production Craft Beer Consumption % of Draft Beer Consumed Sources: 1. Oregon Brewers Guild 2. Brewers Association. 3. John Dunham and

Associates 4. Oregon Hop Commission 5. Oregon Liquor Control Commission 6. Beer Institute 7. SymphonyIRI Group

OREGON BEER HISTORY


Significant numbers of immigrants began to move to the Oregon Territory in the 1840s. It wasn't long before they had a thirst for beer, so when German brewer Henry Saxer arrived in 1852, tasted the clear, soft water from the nearby mountains and recognized the prime hop and grain growing potential, he started brewing. Fellow immigrant Henry Weinhard opened his brewery in 1856. For the next 50 years the new residents of the young state enjoyed the fresh, traditional German lagers brewed by Weinhard and others. In 1888 Henry offered to send beer through Portland fire hoses to the dedication of the Skidmore Fountain a dozen blocks away near the waterfront. But the City's valuable fire hoses would have run close to Portland's seedy Skid Road, and civic leaders feared that the rough district's thirsty residents would puncture the hoses for a free drink. Things changed when Oregonians voted to ban alcohol in 1914, five years before the 14th Amendment established a national prohibition. Weinhard's City Brewery switched to non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks and fruit syrups and managed to survive the nineteen dry years until Congress repealed prohibition in 1933. Along the way City Brewery merged with Portland Brewing Company, owned by Arnold I. Blitz. The resulting Blitz-Weinhard Brewery produced Oregon's best-known beer until 1999. During the economic boom following WWII, beer suffered from the same move toward national production and distribution that put more processed foods on American dinner tables. By 1980, the number of breweries in the entire country had shrunk to just 80, "and the prediction was that there would only be 10 left by 1990," said beer brewer and writer Fred Eckhardt. But American palates were in revolt. The social upheaval of the counter culture included the rejection of bland, processed, industrial food, and the college students of the 1960s were starting families and looking for alternatives. In Portland, a group of college friends started Genoa, an Italian restaurant that didn't even serve spaghetti. Young wine makers were planting Pinot Noir on the red clay hills fifty minutes south of Portland, and two brothers named McMenamin were satisfying a growing demand for beer with flavor with a dizzying array of imports at a little cafe called Produce Row. Cartwright's, Oregon's first craft brewery, opened in 1980. Aptly called a microbrewery since the production was miniscule compared to the industrial producers, its beer didn't attract a following and the brewery closed within a few years. But the response demonstrated that Oregon was ready for a different kind of beer, and when the state legislature made brewpubs legal in 1985, the brewers were

ready. Established winemakers Nancy and Dick Ponzi opened what would become BridgePort Brewing in an old rope factory located in the industrial district in NW Portland. A few blocks away, former homebrewers Kurt and Rob Widmer were pouring their first batch of Altbier. Mike and Brian McMenamin opened Oregon's first brewpub in the Hillsdale neighborhood in 1985.

OREGON BEER HISTORY Page 2

The beer-friendly Oregon laws, a growing awareness of the high quality local ingredients, and a seemingly voracious thirst for well-made beer triggered a microboom in microbreweries. Full Sail opened in Hood River and became the first craft brewery in the Northwest to bottle its beers. What started as a small brewpub in Bend in 1988 evolved into Deschutes Brewery. By 1990, with more craft breweries and brewpubs per capita than any other city in the United States, Portland is proclaimed "America's Microbrew Capital." Unofficially, it's Beervana. Over the past few years, a new generation of brewers has emerged. Trained in the region's larger craft breweries, they're opening small, independent brewpubs and making unique, individualistic beers. Oregon's now home to 81 breweries. There are more than 140 places you can go to and drink an Oregon brewed beer owned by an Oregon brewery. You can pick up a six-pack of local craft beer at almost any grocery store, and you can try special, seasonal brews right where they are made. So what are you waiting for? Put this down and start tasting!

STORY IDEAS
More breweries in Portland than in Munich One of Portland's nicknames used to be "Munich on the Willamette." But that's so last century. With 49 breweries in the city limits, Portland has more breweries than Munich - that Bavarian burg once regarded as the world's beer capital. And, as a matter of fact, back in 1997 the total of craft breweries in the United States surpassed the number in Germany. There are more than 1,900 craft breweries in the United States, while Germany has about 1,250. Brewers Association, 303.447.0816, www.craftbeer.com Homegrown ingredients set Oregon brews apart Oregon's mild climate, similar to that of Europe's growing regions, is ideal for producing plentiful hop crops. Oregon produces 17% of the nation's hops and 5% of the world's hops. Recognizing these benefits granted by Mother Nature, breweries throughout the United States and the world look to Oregon for hops that will satisfy the tastes of today's sophisticated beer drinker. The majority of hop growing entities include third and fourth generation Oregon growers. In the Willamette Valley alone, 10 different hop varieties are grown. Among the most popular are Cascade, Nugget and Willamette, developed at Oregon State University under the direction of the USDA. Oregon Hop Commission, 503.982.7600, www.oregonhops.org Collaborator Project In 1997, a group of homebrewers was quaffing some beers with Rob Widmer at Widmer Bros. Brewing Co. in Portland. The discussion turned to beer styles that weren't represented among the craft brewers in America. The brewers bemoaned the fact that they had to rely on European imports for esoteric styles. The Widmer brothers, Kurt and Rob who both began their career as homebrewers saw a unique opportunity. They went on to challenge the Oregon Brew Crew homebrewing club to hold an annual competition, in which the best of the club's beers, regardless of style, would be brewed and served by Widmer Bros. Brewing. The concept was simple: The Oregon Brew Crew would supply the creativity, while Widmer would provide the industry expertise to take a homebrew recipe and make it in a commercial facility. The cooperative project became known as Collaborator. From every barrel of Collaborator beer sold, $1 is donated to the Bob McCracken Scholarship Fund, which supports students at the Oregon State University Fermentation Science program under the direction of Dr. Thomas Shellhammer. This scholarship was set up by the Oregon Brew Crew in memory of a past club president to ensure that future Oregon brewers get a thorough education. The Oregon Brewers Festival always pours a Collaborator beer at the event, in support of the project and as a nod to its roots. Oregon Brew Crew, www.oregonbrewcrew.org

STORY IDEAS Page 2 Nano-Nano Microbreweries you've heard of, but what is a nano-brewery? A loose definition is small. A microbrewery is generally recognized as any brewery that makes 15,000 barrels of beer or fewer annually. Nano brewers brew about one to one-and-a-half barrels per batch. And there are a number of such brewers in the city, including Natian Brewery an OBF participant. For Natian to participate in the Oregon Brewers Festival, it has to brew 15 batches to supply the 20-keg minimum. Nano breweries are, without a doubt, the hardest-working breweries at the festival. Natian Brewery, www.natianbrewery.com The McMenamin brothers: Beer barons and preservationists too Mike and Brian McMenamin were pioneers of Portland's craft brewery renaissance, opening Oregon's first brewpub (Hillsdale Brewery & Public House in southwest Portland). In time, they began looking around for unusual locations for their breweries and restaurants. Then they began adding new features, such as movie theaters and lodging. Now the brothers have a well-deserved reputation as preservationists, saving old churches, schools and various other buildings in Oregon and Washington from uncertain fates and giving them new life as McMenamins properties. Good examples around Portland are McMenamins Edgefield, a 38-acre beer-lovers' resort that was once Multnomah County's poor farm; the Crystal Ballroom, with its magical "floating" dance floor; and the Kennedy School, a 1912 grade school where you can sleep in class and drink in detention. McMenamins, 503.669.8610, www.mcmenamins.com Green Beer Most Oregon brewers engage in at least some form of "green" practices in the brewing process. Spent grain and yeast from brewers is given to farm animals as feed. Other farmers and landscapers use leftover spent grain to augment their soil, so very little if any of the state's breweries' byproducts find their way into the waste stream. A number of the state's breweries also utilize organic ingredients -- barley malt, wheat and hops -- in at least a few of their beers. Laurelwood Public House and Brewery was among the first to make its award-winning organic brews. In 2008, Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) opened its doors as Portland's first Eco-Brewpub, offering all organic handcrafted beers and a sustainable building that incorporates all aspects of sustainability. HUB is Oregon's only brewery powered by 100% renewable energy. Laurelwood Public House & Brewery, www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com Hopworks Urban Brewery, www.hopworksbeer.com Trendsetter or Mad Scientist? Some call him a trendsetter, others, a mad scientist. Either way, Cascade Brewing brewmaster Ron Gansberg has emerged as one of Oregon's most innovative brewers, and is at the forefront of vanguard American craft brewing. In his own private battle against the "Northwest Hops Arms Race," he has turned to yeast and barrel-aging to produce flavor. Today, Cascade's inventory has swelled to more than 400 wine, whisky and port barrels, with another 100 in the wings. Once filled, these barrels age and condition along with bottles - in the Cascade Brewing Barrel House, a 7,000 sq. ft. former produce warehouse in Southeast Portland. The Barrel House also hosts a pub where you can taste no fewer than a dozen sour beers on tap at any one time. Cascade Brewing Barrel House, 503-265-8603, www.cascadebrewingbarrelhouse.com

STORY IDEAS Page 3 Oregon Brewers Guild In the early 1990s several local brewers met informally to discuss common issues, problems and opportunities. In 1992, this group evolved into the Oregon Brewers Guild, a dynamic trade organization that represents a majority of the state's craft breweries. Its primary mission is to promote the common interests of the members and the brewing industry in Oregon by supporting the marketing and promotional efforts of Oregon's breweries, and by educating beer enthusiasts about Oregon's indigenous craft beers. The Guild is also very involved with lobbying and legislative work. The Oregon Brewers Guild maintains an interactive website where craft beer enthusiasts can find the latest news from their favorite Oregon breweries and stay up to date on events happening around the state. The site offers brewery and brewpub descriptions, information on the styles of beer produced, and maps and directions to the many establishments. Oregon Brewers Guild, 971-270-0965, www.oregonbeer.org S.N.O.B.s One of the Oregon Brewers Guild's most popular programs is its S.N.O.B. (Supporter of Native Oregon Beer) membership. This program for the general public allows SNOB members to show off their impeccable taste in craft beverages and at the same time get a backstage pass to what's going on behind the scenes in Oregon's craft brewing industry. Annual membership dues include an official membership card, a T-shirt, a bumper sticker, an email newsletter, discounts on events, and invitations to regional gatherings. Oregon Brewers Guild, 971-270-0965, www.oregonbeer.org Homebrewing enthusiasts in Oregon The 21st Amendment that repealed prohibition neglected to legalize the homebrewing of beer. It wasn't until Nov. 1978 that Congress passed a bill repealing Federal restrictions on the homebrewing of small amounts of beer. President Jimmy Carter signed the bill into law in Feb. 1979, and most states soon followed suit. The opportunity to produce alcoholic beverages at home was seized upon enthusiastically, and the nation moved rapidly into the brewing of beer. The Oregon Brew Crew, located in Portland, is one of the largest clubs in North America. Founded in 1979, Oregon Brew Crew members are brewers of all experience levels, from the extract brewer just finishing his or her first batch, to brewers turned professional with successful craft breweries. The group's monthly meetings, workshops and classes are great places to learn more about beer, brewing, judging and history. www.oregonbrewcrew.com PDX Home Brewers Club is based out of Beaverton, Oregon and is open to one and all who share the common interest: to share and learn about the wondrous art of homebrewing. At its website pdxbrewers.com, you can connect with other brewers to exchange ideas, techniques, equipment and recipes. www.pdxbrewers.com Heart of the Valley Homebrewers is an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) registered homebrew club based in the Willamette Valley. This group hosts the Pacific Northwest's oldest homebrew competition every year, the Oregon Homebrew Festival. www.hotv.org Deer Island Brewers in Deer Island reaches out to homebrew fans in Columbia County. The group shares information, recipes and different brewing techniques, as well as sponsoring two AHA events each year. www.deerislandbrewery.com

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