McMenamins’ 17th Annual Hillsdale Brewfest
20 McMenamins brewers present 20 beers in competition at the historic “Battle of the Belt”
PORTLAND, Ore.—On Saturday, February 20, 2010, the notorious “Battle of the Belt” rages for the seventeenth time at Hillsdale Brewery & Public House (1505 SW Sunset Blvd.). McMenamins’ Hillsdale Brewfest is a day-long event featuring twenty original brews such as Au Pear Porter, Whatawit, The Elvis Conspiracy and The Viper, along with food specials, revelry, merriment and – most important – a competition for the coveted Belt. The Hillsdale Brewfest is free to attend, begins at 11 a.m. and is open to guests of all ages; those 21 and over may taste the ales.
Twenty of the finest ales from McMenamins’ breweries are sent into battle, their brewers vying for bragging rights, the notorious championship belt and a berth in the annual Oregon Brewers Festival. Patrons order “trays” of beer, arranged from lightest to darkest – each of the two trays offers ten 4-ounce samples and costs $8.75. It is our guests’ duty to decide who deserves the coveted title. With seventeen ales from Oregon and three from Washington, these beers cover the spectrum of brew styles – from hefeweizen to oatmeal stout, barleywine to smoked amber ale and beyond. Each taster casts one ballot that lists his or her top three choices.
The victorious brewer at this year’s Battle of the Belt will represent McMenamins at the 23rd Annual Oregon Brewers Festival in downtown Portland on July 22–25, 2010. For more information, visit www.oregonbrewfest.com.
And now… [drumroll, please]… the 17th Annual Hillsdale Brewfest entrants are….
Concordia Brewery (Portland, OR) * Organic Irish Red
Lucky Charms
Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Brewery (Hillsboro, OR) * German Lager
Pitchfork Lager
Crystal Brewery (Portland, OR) * Czech Pilsner
Pilsner Kristell
Dad Watsons (Seattle, WA) * Wheatwine
Paddle Bender Wheatwine
Edgefield Brewery (Troutdale, OR) * Rye
Hot Lips Chili Pepper Rye
Fulton Brewery (Portland, OR) * Pale Ale
Squirtie Pale Ale
High Street Brewery (Eugene, OR) * Porter
Pedal Power Mocha Porter
Highland Brewery (Gresham, OR) * IPA
Hop Apocalypse IPA
Hillsdale Brewery (Portland, OR) * Imperial Oatmeal Porter
Royal Oats Imperial Porter
John Barleycorns Brewery (Tigard, OR) * Imperial Red
Bishop's Gate Imperial Red
Lighthouse Brewery (Lincoln City, OR) * American Brown
Captain Neon's Dark Ale
McMenamins on Monroe Brewery (Corvallis, OR) * Stout
Truck Two Stout
Oak Hills Brewery (Portland, OR) * Vienna Lager
The Viper
Old St Francis School Brewery (Bend, OR) * Belgian Trippel
The Elvis Conspiracy
Queen Anne Brewery (Seattle, WA) * Belgian Wit
Whatawit
Roseburg Station Brewery (Roseburg, OR) * Porter
Au Pear Porter
Spar Brewery (Olympia, OR) * IPA
American Standard IPA
Thompson Brewery (Salem, OR) * Pale Ale
Bumble Blue Pale Ale
Vancouver on the Columbia Brewery (Vancouver, WA) * Stout
The Morning Grind Breakfast Stout
West Linn Brewery (West Linn, OR) * IPA
Hopping the Mash IPA
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About the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House
Opened in 1986, after state legislation was passed that allowed brewers to sell their product onsite, the Hillsdale was among the first to try fruit beers, unfiltered wheat ales and other concoctions that have become hallmarks of the Pacific Northwest craft brewing industry. It is McMenamins’ third location (following the Barley Mill and Greenway pubs). Additional history is available at www.mcmenamins.com.
About McMenamins Hotels, Pubs & Breweries
The name “McMenamin” is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest, signifying a great place to enjoy handcrafted ales, wine and spirits and Northwest pub fare with family and friends. The dream began more than 20 years ago and continues to grow in the hearts of brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. With 57 properties (and counting), the siblings are considered to be among the pioneers of the Pacific Northwest microbrew and historic hotels industries. See www.mcmenamins.com for photos, history, events and more.
