Portland’s Beer Holiday
The Holiday season is my favorite time of year with all of the decorations, lights, and getting together with family and friends. There are many different ways to celebrate during the Holiday season. Christmas is celebrated over one or two days, Hanukkah gets eight, and the holiday that I love to celebrate gets five. I am talking about the Holiday Ale Festival which has been an annual tradition for me for the past 5 years.
Last year the festival expanded to five days and added a new level to accommodate all of the people who pile into the large tents in Pioneer Courthouse Square. This year the celebration begins on Wednesday December 2nd and runs through Sunday December 6th. Expect over 45 delicious beers and over 17,000 winter beer fans in attendance. At the Holiday Ale Festival the beers range from IPA’s to Belgians and Barleywines to Winter Warmers. When attending this festival you will find that the beers are rich, robust and often complex.
The entry fee to the festival is $20 for a package that consists of one mug and 10 beer tickets. Like most beer festivals in Oregon it costs four tickets for a full pour or one ticket for a taste. If you need more tickets, and you will, they cost $1 a piece. There will also be a few hard to get beers there that will cost two tickets for a taste. The event organizer Preston Weesner never disappoints with his unique and rare selection of beers that he brings to the Holiday Ale Festival. The hours of the festival are the following 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Insider Tips: Get there early. This festival has limited space since it is located in a tent in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Be sure to dress warm as you may have to wait in line for a bit. However; once in side you will be plenty toasty. Be smart and take the max to the festival because these beers are strong and will really catch up with you fast. Have fun and Happy Holidays.
Photo Credit: Holiday Ale Festival
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