Tag: Holiday Ale Festival

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Holiday Ale Festival


I know that I am breaking my own cardinal rule about skipping over major holidays but one week from today the latest Holiday Ale Festival will take place in Pioneer Square in Portland. This is the place to be to sample rare and one-off beers that celebrate the cold time of year.

But don’t take my word for it, read this…..
“The popular event will feature four-dozen big, bold ales designed to fend off the cold chill of a long winter night. From IPAs, Belgians and barleywines to winter warmers, porters and stouts, these beers are crafted specifically for the event or are hard-to-fine vintages, helping secure the event’s reputation as one of the nation’s preeminent winter beer festivals.

What makes this festival standout from other similar events is the beer selection; the festival works with every brewery involved to make sure they can send a beer that has either been made specifically for the event, or is a rare or vintage beer that isn’t commonly tapped in the state. According to festival manager Preston Weesner, “It’s about the fans. This is a once-a-year event and these beer lovers are here to support their favorite brewery. When they get up to the taps and find something special, it further solidifies their support of Oregon craft brews and strengthens our reputation in the beer world as THE place to drink beer.”

For more information, visit their website or call 503-252-9899.

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Portland Holiday Ale Festival

The holiday seasonals seem to come earlier and earlier but to me, it is only winter warmer time when the Holiday Ale Festival arrives.

And not only can you get a wide variety of regular snowy offerings, there is an awesome amount of rare beers!

Check out some of last year’s rarities:
Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg • Samichlaus Bier (2005)
BridgePort Brewing Company • Old Knucklehead Batch #11 (2003)
Holiday Ale / Hair of the Dog Commemorative • JIM (2008)
Brasserie Dubuisson Freres • Scaldis Noel (2007)
Cascade Brewing Company • Barrel-Select Baltic Porter (2007)
Kona Brewing Company • Da Grind Buzz Kona Coffee Imperial Stout
Walking Man Brewing • Ho Ho Homo Erectus (2006)
Lompoc Brewery • Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pagan Porter
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company • Babushka’s Secret

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Kris Kringle – Day 6

holiday ale

From the Holiday Ale WEBSITE
“Held in the heart of downtown Portland, the Holiday Ale Festival keeps attendees warm and dry under a large clear top tent that covers Pioneer Courthouse Square while allowing for views of the city lights. Gas heaters create a cozy ambience under the boughs of one of the region’s largest decorated Christmas trees.

More than 40 potent winter ales are featured at this year’s event, all of which are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. These aren’t beers you’ll find in the supermarket – our brewers have put together special recipes just for the Holiday Ale Festival. From Belgians and Barleywines to Porters and Stouts, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors.

Come hoist a pint and toast to the spirits of the season. We look forward to seeing you at the Holiday Ale Festival…Cheers!”

EXTRA!!!  I just heard that they will be having some great (rare) beers at this event.  2005 Samichlaus anyone?  Or perhaps a 2009 Hair of the Dog Jim, a blend of Hair of the Dog beers which this year may be more Blue Dot-esque.  You had better try it out.