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Good beer: what Oregon does best
Oregon's thriving culture of microbrewing makes it stand apart from anywhere else in the country
by Andrew Greif | Freelance Reporter |
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But they might as well read, "Beervana."
That's the nickname the Oregon Brewers Guild is pushing for state recognition and, after looking at the state's bevy of international-caliber beers, it's hard to find anything outlandish with the suggestion.
"Oregon is, you know, the place we make good beer. The brewing renaissance is here," said Willamette Brewery co-founder Jeff Althouse.
Since 1979, when then-President Jimmy Carter legalized the act of home brewing, beer is what Oregon has done best. Last year, 14 Oregon beers from eight breweries won medals at the Great American Beer Festival, which had more than 2,800 beers competing in 75 categories. At the 2006 Brewers Association World Beer Cup, Oregon had 11 wins out of a 2,200 beer field.
Moreover, Portland is recognized as the microbrewing capital of the world, being the home of the most microbreweries and pubs than any other city. A microbrewery is defined as one that produces less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year. The city is also home to more than one-third of all Oregon's breweries. Hosting North America's largest beer festival - 60,000 people attended the 2007 Oregon Brewers Festival - seems only appropriate.
Eugene beer lovers will be glad to know that their city isn't far behind.
The five breweries that do business within the city limits - Ninkasi, Willamette, Steelhead, McMenamins and Eugene City Brewers - only add to the already famous stable of Oregon microbreweries that includes Widmer, Deschutes, Full Sail and Rogue.
"Portland gets credit on the international level as being one of the utmost amazing places ever to go to drink beer," said Jamie Floyd, one of Eugene's most well-known beer makers and founder of Ninkasi Brewery.
"What I kind of envision Eugene as is kind of like in Germany where they've got these communities that have pretty amazing and important brewing communities. In Munich, within 100 miles are all these crazy breweries … and Eugene is kind of like that extension."
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Bryan
posted 9/18/07 @ 3:29 AM PST
Please proof read your posts!
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