Unique Beer Fest at Portland, Oregon's Oaks Amusement Park



Unique Beer Fest at Portland, Oregon's Oaks Amusement Park

Published 09/06/2019 at 4:13 AM PDT
By OREGON TRAVEL DAILY STAFF

Unique Beer Fest at Portland, Oregon's Oaks Amusement Park

(Portland, Oregon) – Look for the 16th annual Portland Fresh Hops Festival to return to Oaks Amusement Park in September, bringing in a few surprises and what organizers call “wrinkles.” The Portland, Oregon highlight hits the grounds again on September 27 and 28.

This time around, you’ll find a collaboration of beers between farmers and breweries, conversations with innovative brewers, early-entry tickets, live music, and food carts, all paired with more than 50 fresh hop beers from Oregon.

New this year is the Cone Wars, a decidedly different yet friendly competition between Oregon hop farms, where each pairs up with an Oregon brewery to craft a special fresh hop beer. A crowd vote determines the winner of the event.

For this inaugural time around you’ll find the following collaborations:

Baerlic Brewing Co. and Indie Hops, Portland’s Hopworks Urban Brewery working with Goschie Farms, Eugene’s Ninkasi group and Goschie Farms, and more. Some are still to be announced.

“Brewing with fresh hops presents particular challenges,” say organizers. “There are tight timelines, logistical issues and other factors that make it unpredictable, but uniquely rewarding.”

The fest also features a kind of storytime from brewers: beer-makers will share stories from this unique process, which includes Breakside Brewmaster Ben Edmunds and other Oregon brewers.

Minors are not allowed on Friday, but are welcome from noon-5 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a small children’s play area – not to mention a huge one next door, as Oaks Amusement Park is open for business through September 29. For the kiddies and designated drivers they will serve craft root beer from Double Mountain Brewery.

Friday admission is limited and is $25, including tasting package. Saturday admission is free. A tasting package is $20. Additional tickets are available. Tickets go on sale soon. Friday/Saturday combo package is $35. Hours: Friday, 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, Noon-8 p.m. Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, Oregon. oregonbeer.org.