Portland International Beer Fest 2009

This weekend ushered in the beginning of beer month heaven in Portland. The Portland International Beer festival (PIB) is my favorite beer event to go to. Beer from all around the world magically finds its way here. There are Imperial Stouts, Barley Wines, Strong Ales, Trappist/Belgiums, Bocks, Imperial IPAs, and on and on; there is even Mead.

On Friday me, Andi, and my cousin Joey made our way downtown to the North Park blocks where the event is held every year. I love the location....the large shady trees....the beautiful old architecture surrounding the park. However, this year began with a bit of a shock. We planned to get there at 4pm, right at the opening, but we were running a few minutes late. I always experience a little bit of anxiety when I show up to these events:“What if they tap one of their super deluxe beers early and I miss out?” “What if they are so full of people I can't get in?” “What if I forgot my ID?” “What if a random meteorite hits me on the head?”

Friday turned out to be a hot day by Portland standards. It was somewhere in the high eighties with no clouds in sight, but that was OK. Very soon we would be underneath trees sipping on a yummy beverage. As we approached, the sound of music and laughter greeted my ears; my heart started beating a little faster; my tongue started imagining all kinds of tasty sensations; a little nervous twitch started tickling my neck. But then we turned the last corner and that's when we saw it. A line of people went from the entrance, 1 block down the street, turned a corner, and kept going as far as the eye could see. Gulp! Oh no! Disaster. I've never seen the line here this bad. We shuffled against the slow flow of the line to the back. The little devil in me thought of the many different ways I could sneak to the front, but I knew that whoever I cut in front of would not be happy. I accepted my misfortune. I embraced my cruel fate. As we found our place at the back I began debating which of the better beers would be gone once we were inside. The heat weighed heavy on my soul. Time seemed to slow down. Joey and Andi were quiet as was I. Maybe an hour long line wait?

But then it happened. The magic that is this event tugged on all the hearts around us. The people in front of us were laughing and joking about the wait. The people who showed up behind us were smiling. Soon one of the beer volunteers walked by and assured us that the line was moving fast and that because we were in the line before 5pm we would all get the happy hour entrance special of 15 tickets and a glass mug for twenty dollars. My spirits began to rise. As we went around one of the corners a small sliver of shade running along the edge of the building greeted us. Finally, some relief from the sun! Within twenty minutes we were inside.

We were meeting some friends inside but first we needed some beer! For starters I wanted to try Rogue Brewery's new creation, “John John Hazelnut.” This beer was aged in rum barrels. It's a collaboration between the Rogue's brewmaster John Maier and their distiller John Couchot (yes, I know...beer from all over the world and the first beer I go after is locally born....well the Rogue makes some damn good beer!). Expectations were high and....and....it was a little disappointing. The rum was too subtle for my taste and at the same time the hazelnut seemed a little masked. It was still a tasty beer...I was just hoping for something more. Maybe it needs to be aged a little longer? But I was not complaining! Mmmmm...beeeer.

The next beer I went after was an Oregon product as well. Deschutes brewery had Mirror Mirror 2009 tapped. This oak aged Barleywine style beer uses twice the ingredients of their traditional Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Again, I felt a little disappointment creep in. But I think it's because I was comparing it to their Abyss beer (Imperial stout) that they put out in prior years. In my mind the 2006 Abyss is the best beer Oregon has made to date. But really, what it comes down to, is that these beers need to be aged longer to be fully appreciated. Give Mirror Mirror 2009 one year of aging and it will be a better experience.

My favorite beer that day was Nogne-O Dark Horizon. This imperial stout comes from Norway and is 16% ABV. It's dark, thick, bitter, with hints of coffee. My tongue was awash in sensations that lingered for some time after each sip.


We stayed until close, which is much longer than one should do at these events. At some point taste buds lose the ability to fully appreciate the beers being sipped and the mind loses the ability to function properly. But when you're having fun, and you're hanging out with friends drinking good beer, time loses it's hold.

Final Note:
We went back to PIB on Sunday for the 12pm opening. We made it in time to appreciate Dogfish Head's tapping of their 120 Minute IPA (21% ABV) and their World Wide Stout (18% ABV). We tried each alone, and as Black and Tans (both beers combined). The Black and Tans were amazing and had me returning for more. By 1pm both beers were gone. One hour of heaven. We meant to get some work done that day, but instead slept much of it away.