Jon Abernathy

Zwickelmania!

Today marks Oregon’s second annual Zwickelmania event, a state-wide celebration of our brewers hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Since everyone has been talking up San Francisco Beer Week (and rightly so), and Josh covered the Vancouver, BC beer scene, I thought I’d spend a few words on Oregon’s big beer weekend.

Zwickelmania is a “free statewide event that offers visitors a chance to tour Oregon breweries, meet the brewers and sample their favorite beers”—but it doesn’t end at simple brewery tours: many of the participating breweries are going above-and-beyond for the celebration. And beer lovers in Portland, Eugene, and Bend will have a free shuttle bus available to take them around to various breweries.

The official time for the event is from 11am until 4pm. And, in case you’re wondering what a “zwickel” actually is, it’s the (sterile) valve in the storage tank that allows brewers to pull off samples of the beer.

Here are some of today’s highlights you’ll find across the state:

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): Tours on the hour from 12 until 5, with one of the brewers on-hand to answer questions, and they will be offering up samples of their 2009 Super Jubel.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School (Bend): “Enjoy 1000 Mile Journey Baltic Porter. This is a celebratory batch of beer marking the 1,000th batch brewed here onsite at the Old St. Francis Brewery! It is a big porter with sweet undertones and strong body, made with a lager yeast not typical for the porter style that gives a unique crisp finish.” (Source)

Double Mountain Brewery (Hood River): “Co-owner Charlie will be leading free tours at 12, 1, 2 ,3 and 4pm, with tank tastings and a beer & cheese tasting. You even get a complimentary pint glass, all FREE.” (Source)

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River and Portland): “Be sure to swing by Full Sail, take a tour and sample our new Brewer’s Share beer, Collin’s Dark Secret, paired with artisan chocolate. (A great Valentine’s weekend treat.) Guided Brewery Tours at 12, 1, 2, 3 and 4PM” (Source)

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland): “At HUB we’ll be giving brewery tours every 30 minutes, tasting beer directly off our tanks in the cooler and playing washoes.”

Lompoc (Portland): “Fifth Quadrant will have a few special beers available in the brewery, two brewers on hand for tours and questions, plus fresh zwickel pulls off the bright tanks. Sidebar will also be open with six taps pouring and special food available. Over at the New Old Lompoc on NW 23rd, there will be some special beers in the brewery and in the pub. Two brewers will be available for tours, zwickel tastes, special food and all around general fun.” (Source)

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (Portland): “At the Crystal, try a beer brewed specifically for the event and inspired by a performance by Storm Large with the Oregon Symphony happening the same day as Zwickelmania called “Crazy Love” — hence, our special brew is Crazy Love Belgian-Style Blonde Ale.” (Source)

Raccoon Lodge/Cascade Brewing (Portland): “For Zwickelmania, we will be tasting select beers from the oak barrels. We will taste the Spring Gose from the Zwickel, as well as the Noyeaux…a blend of White Port barrel aged Strong Blond Ale on Raspberries blended with Noyeaux…apricot nut infused Tripel.” (Source)

Widmer Brewing (Portland): “Widmer Brothers Brewing will have free tours of their state-of-the-art brewing facility, offering complimentary tastings and appetizers paired with the beers. They will offer special release beers not available anywhere else along with their standard beers. Kurt and Rob and their brewing staff will be on site giving tours.”

Southern Oregon Brewing (Medford): Tour and complimentary flight of tasters for people who take the tour at 4 pm.

Fort George Brewery (Astoria): “Open to the public for tours all day. 8 stouts on tap that you can order up individually or by tasters trays of 8. Stout and possibly IPA out of the Zwickel.” (Source)

Heater Allen Brewing (McMinnville): “We will be open and pouring free tastes of Smokey Bob out of the lagering tank.  We will also be releasing Hugo Bock and pouring the rest of our beers.  $4 to taste all 5 beers.  Noon to 5.” (Source)

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene): Will be open to the public and be doing tours of the plant, our new tasting room and will have some hard to find beers to taste.

Oakshire Brewing (Eugene): “At Oakshire, we’re cracking the doors one hour earlier than usual and waiting for your arrival. We’ll have tours, food to purchase and nearly a dozen beers on tap. Additionally, I saw kegs of Cascade Conundrum, Perfect Storm, and Bourbon Barrel Aged IPA-if I can claw them away from our sales force, I’ll see if we can include them as well!” (Source)

There’s something for everyone!

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Username (required) :
Email (required) :
Web Site :
Comment :

CAPTCHA Code