Oregon Beer Festival Starts Tomorrow!

Portlanders - in case you hadn't noticed yet, Tom McCall Waterfront Park is now decked out in white tents and other associated gear. The reason why? The Oregon Beer Festival!

Things kick off officially tomorrow morning with the Oregon Brewers Brunch & Parade. The festival doors open at 12 noon and the fun continues daily through Sunday! I've posted the "festival facts" below from the Oregon Brewers Festival Web site to help you get started on enjoying this great event. Cheers!

Event Name:	21st Annual Oregon Brewers Festival
Site:	Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon Main entrance at S.W. Oak Street and Bill Naito Parkway.
Dates:	July 24, 25, 26 & 27, 2008 - Always the last full weekend in July.
Times:	Thursday through Sat, taps open Noon to 9pm Sun, taps open Noon to 7pm Token & mug sales cease half hour prior to closing
Entertainment:	Entertainment schedule now available >>>view
Admission:	Free for entry to the festival. A one-time purchase 2008 souvenir mug costs $5 and is required for consuming beer. Mugs from previous years will not be filled. Tokens are required for purchase of beer. Tokens cost $1 apiece. Patrons pay four tokens for a full mug, or 1 token for a taste.
Description:	Celebrating its 21st year in 2008, the Oregon Brewers Festival is regarded as one of the finest craft beer festivals in the world. Seventy-three breweries offer handcrafted brews to more than 60,000 beer lovers during the four-day event. One reason for the popularity of the OBF is that it is a non-judging event, designed to instead allow the public to sample and savor brews from some of the nation's finest breweries and draw their own conclusions. Beer is the focus of the event, and both classic and innovative beer styles are represented. There are hoppy pale ales, malty Belgian ales, creamy Scottish Ales, nutty brown ales, potent bocks, rich porters, refreshing pilsners, and charismatic ambers, just to name a few.
Points of Interest:	Joining the breweries are industry exhibits by hop growers, homebrewers, breweriana collectors, and national beer writers. For designated drivers or parents of minors, we're pleased to bring you the Crater Lake Root Beer Garden in the north end of the park.And our very talented face painter will be offering her services to children on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm. Seven restaurants offer light meals and snacks, and vendors sell beer-related products. Free bicycle parking is offered each day. The event is one block off 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. There will be a variety of special events taking place at craft breweries all month long throughout the state, culminating with the Oregon Brewers Festival.