Back for another round: The North American Organic Brewers Festival

Last weekend, K and I once again ventured up to Overlook Park to attend our favorite beer festival of the year, The North American Organic Brewers Festival.  I love Overlook Park.  I love that tree. That magnificent tree. I love NAOBF.  Since K and I discovered it we have only missed it twice.  Once, for our daughter's wedding and once for an out of town family function.  The wedding was forgivable, after all, we were DIY catering the event.  After the second miss however I vowed, Never again.  It's that wonderful.

The  tap volunteers are conscientious and kind and willingly share their knowledge or honest lack thereof of any beer they are pouring.   Other volunteers at the event are warm, welcoming and keep the park in the tidiest condition. Keeping the beautiful park beautiful.  There have been vicious rumors that the event may change venues next year.  I pray not.  I feel like they have finally gotten into a sweet pattern with this place.  The layout is un-crowded and convenient. The giant Elm in the middle of the park is glorious. Yes, parking sucks but the Max train is RIGHT THERE.  Park at a Park and Ride and take the train.  That being said, I do not run the event and am not aware of any issues they may have with power, water, sanitation, etc.  But isn't that the point?  If I can't tell if there are problems, then someone, somewhere is doing a bang up job.  That's a good thing.

Farm to Fire folks working their tails off

We went on the busiest day, Saturday, and the only inkling of an issue that we were aware of was vendors running out of food early.  They were getting slammed and doing a killer job of feeding the hungry masses.  Lines never appeared too long and that is one of the reasons I love this festival. Even beer lines are moving quickly and efficiently.  Or perhaps I have just acclimated myself to the beer line.  Grab a taste, move on to next line, enjoy taster and the company of other patrons while waiting for next taste.  Seems simple enough.

Back to the food for a second.  Let's talk delicious options this year.  Vegan satay from Viva!Vegetarian?  Yes, thank you but wait- that  German Schweinbraten from Urban German Grill looks as amazing as the Wood-fired pizza from Farm to Fire.  And pork sliders from Bottles?  Forget about it.  I'm going to consume as many calories in food as I do in beer, it'll be a banner day.  I promise it was not I, who was responsible for the food selling out, although grabbing the second-to-the-last pizza was quite a score.

flying high pizza pie

Fellow beer lover putting her best fist forward

Now, for the beer.  This is a beer festival, after all.  Working my way through A-Z  I'm going to hit on my highlights.  Because I had tasted a lot of beer.  And some of it was just good beer.  And some of it was not so terribly good beer.  But some of it was stand out yummy beer. So here goes.

Ambacht Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged G++  I really wanted to like this beer.  You know I love Bourbon barreled beers.  Love 'em.  This one was not to love.  Too much cherry?  I wouldn't have believed there could be such a thing but with the extra cherry and the bourbon aging this Strong Golden was just too much.  And too much is usually just right by me.  Sadly not this one. 8.5% abv 18 ibu

Bison Brewing I admit, I've reviewed the Honey Basil Pale Ale (6% abv) before and loved it.  Still do.  The floral notes of the Hop Cuvee (5.5% abv) west coast style ale was also remarkable. Bison brings it, again.  

Ft. George Brewery from Astoria offered up their yummy Spruce Budd Ale (4.9% abv).  I'm a big fan of Spruce and this Pale Ale packs a refreshing pop.  Could be the hand picked 550 lbs of spruce tips they used for the 30 barrel batch.  Hug a tree, friend. 

800 lbs of organic sweet potatoes and 400 lbs of organic rye married and produced a Belgian Pale Ale, Sweet Potato Rye (6.4% abv 32 ibu), that is smooth and delightful.  Well, actually Gilgamesh Brewing out of Salem, Oregon produced it but you know what I mean.

Loowit, our lovely neighbors to the North unleashed Gaiabolical (5.3% abv 45 ibu).  With fury and form, this goddess of beers proves to be more seductive than destructive.  

The only dark I had at the festival was McMenamins'  Pavol, the Collector.  This Baltic Porter was boozy chocolate yum but a little heavy on this humid summer day.  Hopefully, I'll be able to find it in October.

German import Neumarkter Lammsbrau was a simply refreshing pilsner (4.7% abv) that paired wonderfully with the German food we had and was delightfully hoppy and floral.

Old Town Brewing served up one of my favorites of the day, Chemtrails are real, man! (5%abv, 65 ibu) No really, that is the truly given name of one fine wheat Ale with an amazing hoppy-ness and the cloudy citrusliciousness of a heffe.

That was one of my favorites but Thirsty Bear from San Francisco had the beer that stole my heart, PandaBear Ale (5% abv 20 ibu).  Dry-hopped with organic vanilla beans and cocoa nibs this is a deep, rich ale with amazing aroma.  I will search for this one.

Two Kilts from Sherwood, Oregon, brought out a French style Saison.  Now I know it was getting warmer and a little sticky and nothing adds to sticky like a deep, sweet, warm Saison but I decided to try it anyway.  Glad I did.  This particular saison was crisp and light and peppery.  Happy surprise!

The day then turned to night and I realized that with all of our eating and drinking and talking to marvelous people and listening to fabulous music we had been at the festival a total of six hours.  Not a terrible way to spend the day.  Highly recommended.