All of the breweries participation in the event are required produce or blend a specific beer for this event or bring out a vintage beer. In addition they are not allowed to release that beer, even in their own brewhouses, before or during the event. This means there will be nothing you have tried before here. For a $35 entry fee you get entrance to the event all 5 days, your own govino shatterproof, reusable, and recyclable beer glass, and 12 drink tickets (1 ticket = 1$ and gets you a 4oz taste of a beer, so 4 tickets for a 16oz glass and 2 tickets for 4oz pours of higher end beers). If you buy your tickets online in advance you can wait in a shorter line to get in and receive two extra drink tickets. There is a also a VIP package which gets you tastings of special selected beers that are not offered to the rest of the public for $100. I really recommend getting your tickets in advance and not waiting till the weekend to attend as the lines will be extremely long.
Be sure to have something to eat before this festival because most of these beers are high in alcohol. If you forget they offer food venders inside as well as a cheese shop and those lovely candied nuts you always see at fairs. Everyday you attend there is also a different brewery that is featured that day in the upstairs area that is offering tastings of more vintage and special release beers for your enjoyment. This years featured breweries were Firestone Walker, Deschutes, Stone, Rogue, and New Belgium. If you really want to sample a lot of beers in one stop see the the beer festivals are the way to go and very cost effective.
Although I did not get to try all the beers some of the ones I’d like to highlight are; my personal favorite of the bunch Cookies for Papa by Alameda. What can I saw I am a sucker for those dark porter and stout style beers. This olde ale tastes like a cranberry chocolate chip cookie. It was not too sweet but exceptionally smooth and flavorful. The Winter Abbey Spice from Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider really warmed up the heart and soul with its holiday spices it was infused with and was served hot. Fat Head’s Holly Jolly Aged on Plums really stood out from the rest of the holiday ales by aging the beer on plums in addition to the holiday spices used in the batch. And 2 Towns Nice & Naughty: Bourbon and Candied Ginger Edition Bourbon Barrel Aged Holiday Spiced Cider drank as easy as a cup of cold apple cider but with the warmth of the ginger and taste of the bourbon barrels made it suitable of the hardcore beer drinkers. Not to mention the 11% ABV will take you down quick.
Here is the full list of the beers served to the general admission as well as the tasting notes supplied by the breweries as printed in the programs.
13 Virtues Brewing – Portland, OR – 2015 Whiskey Barrel Aged MAX Stout | Imperial Stout | 9% ABV | 65 IBU : Take a deep breath and dive into this rich, complex Imperial Stout. The brewers used a mammoth malt bill – Thomas Fawcett Maris Otter, chocolate, roasted barley, Munich and caramel malts and flaked wheats and oats _ to impart big roasty, burnt chocolate flavors and a smooth mouthfeel. The beer was then aged in Eastside Burnside bourbon barrels to add subtle notes of oak, vanilla and heat. Go ahead – get MAX Stout.
2 Towns Ciderhouse – Corvallis, OR – Nice & Naughty: Bourbon and Candied Ginger Edition Bourbon Barrel Aged Spiced Cider | Spiced Cider | 11% ABV | 0 IBU: This extra-special version of Nice and Naughty honey-spiced cider was aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels for one year. In addition, each barrel was infused with crystallized ginger. Integrated and complex, this holiday treat boasts lavish aromas of caramelized sugar, subtle ginger, spices and baked pie crust.
54º 40′ Brewing Co. – Washougal, WA – Snowball Headed for Hell | White IPA | 6.66% ABV | 70 IBU: 54º 40′ Brewing Co. crafted this bright and citrusy White IPA to remind us all of the faded warmth of Summer, back when Coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be. Mandarina Bavaria hops and tangerine peel mingle with seasonal spices of peppercorn and mace in this wheat based IPA. Raise a glass to the season and let’s all ring the Liberty Bell.
Alameda Brewing Co. – Portland, OR – Cookies for Papa | Olde Ale | 8% ABV | 32 IBU: What’s better than milk and cookies? Cranberry chocolate chip cookie beer! Starting with its Papa’s Olde Ale, the brewers bumped up the ABV and body with honey malt and oats. They then added cranberries, cocoa nib and bourbon vanilla beans to create a sweet holiday treat. Set this beer by the fireplace and you’re sure to wake up with plenty of presents under your tree.
Awesome Ales – Silverton, OR – Brett Trois the Great aka the Inebriated Phrunken Elf | Imperial Stout with “Bruxellensis” Trois | 10.2% ABV | 60 IBU: The brewers at Awesome Ales decided to create this truly “untraditional” BIG inky black stout with the unique finish of the widely misunderstood Saccharomyces “Bruxellensis” Trois. Used traditionally for wild yeast-like fermentations, the strain produces a slightly tart profile with delicate characteristics of mango and pineapple, which pairs nicely with the vanilla and Bergamot used during the final stages of the boil.
Baerlic Brewing Co. – Portland, OR – Hotfoot | Smoked Imperial Porter | 8.3% ABV | 60 IBU: With aromas of nuts, dark fruit and campfire that transcend interlayers of chocolate, toffee and caramel, this beast of a beer will fire up your belly and make you howl. Brewed with house-made Dulce de Leche.
Base Camp Brewing Co. & Eastside Distilling – Portland, OR – Bourbon Barrel TripleBock | Bourbon Barrel Aged TripleBock | 9.5% ABV | 38 IBU: Base Camp Brewing Co. – in collaboration with Eastside Distilling – is proud to unleash its Bourbon Barrel TripleBock Lagerbier, a decoction mashed, 100% Munich malt, extra strong doppelbock lager, melted out over four months in Eastside Distilling’s Burnside bourbon barrels. Inviting, malty, comforting and smooth.
Bear Republic Brewing Co. – Cloverdale, CA – Cuvee du Santa | Sour Brown Ale | 8.5% ABV | 15 IBU: Bear Republic’s blenders – together with Santa’s Little Helper Preston Weenier – collaborated to bring this special holiday treat to life. The team selected five outstanding Cuvee de Bubba barrels and added a bit of heft with the addition of a barrel aged Scottish Wee Heavy. This was brought to life with toasted marshmallow, cinnamon, vanilla and figs.
Burnside Brewing Co. – Portland, OR – Rum-Tum-Tumbly | Spiced Rum Barrel Aged Eisbock | 9.6% ABV | 32 IBU: This is a strong, full-bodied malty beer brewed in the Bock tradition. The brewery chilled the bright tanks to below freezing for a number of days to create and “icy” atmosphere prior to cold aging in spiced rum barrels for three weeks. This lager-fermented treat will warm your tummy during the cold winter months.
Chetco Brewing Co. – Brookings, OR – The Busman’s Holiday | Imperial Porter | 7.9% ABV | 13 IBU: Chetco Brewing and Busman Cranberries are kindred spirits: two small, family-owned operations located on the gorgeous Southern Oregon Coast that have come together to create a delicious Imperial Porter made with Busman’s own fresh cranberries and organic coconut. This rich, creamy Porter has just the right amount of sweetness from 60 lbs of organic coconut and is finished with Busman’s gorgeous cranberries.
Coin Toss Brewing Co. – Oregon City, OR – Santa’s Pie Hohl | Cherry Ginger Stout | 6% ABV | 35 IBU: Santa’s Pie Hohl Coin Toss Brewing’s inaugural brew for the Holiday Ale Festival. Two-row pale malt, roasted barley, crystal and flaked oats, and ginger root made up the mash. It was then hopped with Nugget, Galena and Northern Brewer and finished with sour cherry puree. Drink it down your Pie Hohl!
Deschutes Brewing – Bend, OR – Pacific Wunderland | Munich IPA | 6.2% ABV | 55 IBU: Bavarian Oktoberfest meets American IPA! The malt character is driven by Munich malt with support from Vienna and Pilsner malts, providing a smooth, soft and complex malt character. Hops lend in with berry and fruit aromas, light spice, and finish with balanced bitterness.
Drake’s Brewing – San Leandro, CA – Zin Barrel Aged Drakonic | Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Blend | 9% ABV | 40 IBU: Exclusively for the Holiday Ale Festival, Drake’s barrel program manager Travis Camacho worked with festival manager Preston Weenier to create a blend of Drakonic Imperial Stout that was aged for eight months in Zinfandel barrels along with another zin barrel of Drakonic soured with Lactobacillus. The final blend showcases a balanced chocolate and bright berry profile with mild acidic tartness that bolsters the wine barrel characteristics.
Ecliptic Brewing – Portland, OR – Frosty Leo Winter Ale | Winter Ale | 8.3% ABV | 65 IBU: Frosty Leo brewed in the English Old Ale style: beers brewed for the cold months. Frosty Leo is reddish brown with big, sweet malt flavors. The beer has a full, rich body with loads of hop flavor and aroma from Sterling and Citra hops. The beer is named after the frosty Leo Nebula in the constellation Leo.
Eel River Brewing Co. – Fortuna, CA – Gargantua III | Imperial Barrel Aged Strong Ale | 12.3% ABV | 80 IBU: This third generation of Gargantua started its life as an Imperial Strong ale brewed with floor malted Marris Otter barley and premium English and German specialty malts. It was then blended with a strong ale that was aged for six months in bourbon barrels. This final blend was then aged on Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans and figs for a rich and decadent holiday twist.
Ex Novo Brewing Co. – Portland, OR – Weapons of Mass Fermentation | Belgian Quad | 11.5% ABV | 18 IBU: The brewery used European malts and Belgian rock sugar to create a complex malty beer. Deep garnet in color, an extended boil crates rich and complex caramel and fruit notes punctuated by the addition of cranberry for a tar and clean finish. The subtle use of cardamom and higher alcohol create a nice warming beer for a cold winter day.
Fat Heads Brewing – Portland, OR – Holly Jolly Aged on Plums | Spiced Brown Ale | 7.5% ABV | 28 IBU: The brewers created this beer with aromas and flavors of Christmas day in mind, including sweet malt, ginger, honey, nutmeg and cinnamon spice. For this special release, it was then aged on plums.
Feckin Brewery – Oregon City, OR – Top’ O The Mornin | Barrel Aged Imperial Espresso Milk Porter | 10.5% ABV | 30 IBU: This delicious monster of a porter is sure to have you feeling feckin great. Copious amounts of cold brew coffee from Happy Rock Roasters is added to an Imperial Porter. Vanilla beans, Irish steel cut oats from Bob’s Red Mill and Irish ale malt all play a role in this robust brew. The beer was then seasoned in bourbon barrels from Eastside Distilling. Slainte!
Finnriver Farm & Cidery – Chimacum, WA – Barrel in the Forest | Barrel Aged Botanical Cider | 6.5% ABV | 0 IBU: A blend of select organic Washington apples robustly infused with locally gathered Grand and Douglas Fir tips as well as raw, organic fair trade ginger root, resulted in a cider with resinous lemon rind aromatics and undertones of ginger warmth. This small batch release was aged five months on straight rye American oak whiskey barrels and blended with medium toast staves to call forth sweet holiday notes of vanilla and bourbon.
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. – Paso Robles, CA – Imperial Smoked Walker’s Reserve | Imperial Smoked Porter | 10% ABV | 50 IBU: This beer is a throwback to an original staple in early Firestone history: Walker’s Reserve Porter. The brewers enhanced the original recipe and incorporated the addition of Weyermann Beech smoked malt as a majority of the base malts, lending a noticeable yet subtle smoke profile complementing the rich chocolate and caramel flavors. The body is thick and chewy, a classic characteristic resulting from the use of rolled oats in the mash.
Fort George Brewery – Astoria, OR – Deck the Helles | Barrel Aged Helles Lager | 9.5% ABV: Deck the Helles for Holiday Ale Fest, Fa La La La La, La La La La; Fort George Brewing sends their very best, Fa La La La La, La La La La; See the rolling boiling kettle… Toss in fragrant Hibiscus petals… Fermented with Bohemian Lager… Makin’ beer here, not egg nogger… Aged all fall in Pinot barrels… Bet you’re tired of Christmas Carols… Fa La La La La, La La La La!
Full Sail Brewing Co. – Hood River, OR – Bourbon Barrel Aged Wheat Wine | Wheat Wine | 12% ABV | 42 IBU: Bourbon barrel aged Wheat Wine was brewed in the Barleywine style, using 100% malted wheat and left to age in Wild Turkey bourbon barrels for 10 months. It pours a rich honey hue and opens up with complex oak aromas of vanilla and caramel blended nicely with notes of toffee, marmalade and dates. Barrel aging rounds out this big beer by adding a rich tannic structure.
Gigantic – Portland, OR – Black Pieter | Belgian Style Strong Black Ale | 8.4% ABV | 23 IBU: If you’re good, Santa will give you an orange. If you’re bad Black Pieter will put you in a sack and take you to Spain, where you can enjoy this strong, richly malty ale with a light spicy counterpoint to the fruity yeast esters.
Golden Valley Brewery – McMinnville, OR – Whiskey Barrel Aged Old Relic | Barrel Aged Scotch Ale | 8.5% ABV | 26 IBU: This is a blend of two separate batches of Old Relic Scotch Ale. The first, brewed in December 2014, was aged eleven months in Oregon Whiskey barrels from Ransom Wine and Spirits. Batch number two was brewed in September and aged two months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, The result is malty, yet balanced, with notes of oak, whiskey and peat.
Hopworks Urban Brewery – Portland, OR – 2 Fest 2 Furious | Imperial Marzen | 8.5% ABV | 45 IBU: Hopworks Urban Brewery brewed an Imperial version of its Oktoberfest beer “Fest of Fury”. This souped up Marzen features caramel and toasted malts, with dark sugar and candied flavors from Garnet and Apache yams. Ya’ might want to keep your eyes on the road!
Kells Brew Pub – Portland Oregon – Golden Winter | Kettle Soured Golden Ale | 6% ABV | 33 IBU: Starting with lots of organic ginger for hints of spiced gingerbread cookies, the brewers added turmeric for a golden color deep earth notes, adding another level of spice to this winter ale. A hint of fresh lemon juice adds tartness to the palate and extra depth to the sour flavors of the ale. These same ingredients also play a role in winter health tonics, so by adding a bit of sour beer, this could possibly be the cure for the common cold!
Klamath Basin Brewing Co. – Klamath Falls, OR – Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stout | Oak Aged Imperial Stout | 9.1% ABV | 64 IBU: The name says it all: this is a big, bold Imperial Stout clocking in at 9.1% ABV, so treat it with respect. Aged on American white oak staves in the conditioning tank for over a month, this beer has plenty of toasted oak and vanilla character to complement the roasted and chocolate malt backbone and oatmeal, leading into a dangerously smooth finish.
Lompoc Brewing – Portland, OR – Whores & Amateurs | Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer | 6.5% ABV | 30 IBU: Aged in bourbon barrels for six months, this beer is not for the faint of heart. Brownish red in color, this winter warmer has a big malt presence with notes of oak, raisins, toffee and coffee. Ladies of the night and rookies should steer clear of this awesome beer.
McMenamins Edgefield Brewery – Troutdale, OR – Lord of Misrule II | Barrel Aged Imperial Nut Brown Ale | 8.4% ABV | 26 IBU: Appointing a Lord of Misrule – the official in charge of Christmas revelries and the Feast of Fools – is a holiday-time peasant tradition that can be traced back to Roman times. A new lord is elected every year, and so must a new beer be brewed. This complex Imperial Nut Brown Ale was brewed with cacao nibs and roasted hazelnuts and aged in rum and whiskey barrels post-fermentation with fruit and a house-made hazelnut extract.
Migration Brewing – Portland, OR – Black Hearted IPA | Black IPA | 7.3% ABV | 80 IBU: This IPA is dark as night with a medium body and a bready malt profile. Huge additions of Centennial, Amarillo and Sorachi Ace hops give this Black Hearted beer stand out notes of citrus, pine and spice.
Natian Brewery – Portland, OR – Pumpkin is the New Black | Pumpkin Ale/Imperial Milk Stout Blend | 7.2% ABV | 47 IBU: Natian has brought back its Imperial Milk Stout from festivals past, but with a blend of pumpkin ales to help spice up the offering. The imperial Milk Stout is brewed with lactose and chocolate malt then aged on Kahlua soaked oak, while the pumpkin ale is slap brewed with lactose and mild additions of spice to allow the actual pumpkin flavor to come forward.
Nectar Creek Mead – Corvallis, OR – Triple Brett | Sour Session Mead | 6.5% ABV | 0 IBU: Triple Brett is a 100% barrel fermented sour session mead from pure Oregon carrot blossom honey. Made by blending three different strains of brettanomyces, Triple Brett is tart and sour with aromas of honeysuckle and chamomile.
New Belgium Brewing Co. – Fort Collins, CO – Blackberry Barley Wine | Barley Wine Ale | 10% ABV | 50 IBU: Blackberry Barley Wine channels the elegant spirit of classic English barley wine, but with a kiss of blackberry to elevate the sip beyond convention. A deep wash of caramelized sugar and toasted bread, courtesy of caramel Munich malts, adopts subtle laces of floral, fruity berries for a paring as proper as sipping snifters besides a crackling fireplace. Warming, rich and complex, curl up to a pour of Blackberry Barley Wine this winter.
Ninkasi Brewing Co. – Eugene, OR – Bourbon Barrel Aged Ground Control | Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout | 10% ABV | 80 IBU: Ground Control boldly combines local and out-of-this-world ingredients. This rich, complex Imperial Stout is brewed with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs, and is fermented with an Ale yeast that survived a trip to space and back. This special Holiday Ale Fest batch has been barrel aged for two months in Four Roses bourbon barrels.
No-Li Brewhouse – Spokane, WA – Sloppy Donks | Barrel Aged Strong Rye Barley Wine Ale | 9.5% ABV | 20 IBU: Lime, ginger and rye from Copper Donkey provide citrus, spice and a underlying bready character. Wheat Whiskey Barrel Aged Barley Wine provides, sweetness, vanilla, oak and whiskey flavors. The combination is a unique winter beer with bright lime notes melding with an oaky, spicy character. Rye sweetness delivers the impression of gingerbread spiked with warming whiskey.
Oakshire Brewing – Eugene, OR – Hot Cakes, Brunch Ale | Imperial Breakfast Brown Ale | 8.5% ABV | 22 IBU: Inspired by the Oakshire Brewing team’s love of French toast, this big brown ales is crafted with a healthy dose of oats and maple syrup and then further spiced with cinnamon and vanilla beans. Notes of sweet maple syrup drip over a chewy ad silky full-bodied brown ale, while hints of spicy cinnamon and vanilla punctuate the background of this big, brown ale.
Payette Brewing – Boise, ID – Imperial Mutton Buster | Oak Aged Imperial Brown Ale | 8.7% ABV | 50 IBU: Imperial Mutton Buster takes one of the brewery’s staples and turns it up a notch. After doubling the ingredients in its Mutton recipe, the brewers aged this beer on oak spires and cherries to add layers of complexity to an already fantastic beer. The nutty and chocolate notes from the malts are complemented nicely by the added cherry sweetness to make for a perfect holiday beer.
Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider – Portland, OR – Winter Abbey Spice | Spiced Cider | 7.4% ABV | 0 IBU: This cider is a take on a very old recipe dating from early 1600s colonial America, with a modern twist of added carbonation. The cider used rains, unrefined cane sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and fermented this libation to dryness using oak. This special Holiday Ale Fest batch was made with prune juice and is being served warm to abate the winter chill.
Rogue Ales – Newport, OR – Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Chocolate Stout | Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Chocolate Stout | 9% ABV | 68 IBU: To craft this brew, Rogue Ales combined its Double Chocolate Stout with cacao nibs and vanilla from Madagascar in oak barrels previously used to age its Oregon Rye Whiskey, then barrel aged it in the ocean air of Yaquina Bay.
Rusty Truck Brewing Co. – Lincoln City, OR – Saison de Noel | Saison | 9% ABV | 25 IBU: One hundred and fifty pounds of simmered cranberries, along with orange peel and holiday spices, were added to this Noble hopped, Munich malt-based heavy French Saison.
Santiam Brewing Co. – Salem, OR – Sangre de Cristo | Imperial Stout | 10.7% ABV | 58 IBU: Conceived for the depth of an Oregon winter, Santiam Brewing’s Imperial Stout, co-fermented with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, is big and dark with chocolate and red wine notes. This batch is wine barrel aged exclusively for the Holiday Ale Festival.
Sasquatch Brewing Co. – Portland, OR – Sister Skookum Saison | Imperial Saison | 8.5% ABV | 35 IBU: This Imperial Saison was made for the cold, dark months of winter. A simple base of Belgian pilsner malt and German wheat allows the complex, fruity esters of a house blend of two different Belgian yeasts to shine through. Czech Saaz, Merkur and Willamette hops offer a subtle bettering profile. Grains of paradise and rose hips were added to the boil for spicy white pepper notes and a floral, citrusy finish.
Seven Brides Brewing – Silverton, OR – Drunkle | Old Ale | 10% ABV | 60 IBU: Use extreme caution when dealing with the Drunkle. While sometimes hard to spot at first, you always know when you have been found by this bleary eyed fellow. Premium malt and Northwest hops blend to create flavors of toffee, caramel and chocolate in this delicious winter treat. Best consumed in groups to avoid yourself becoming the boorish and overly-talkative Drunkle.
Stone Brewing Co. – Escondido, CA – Wittier Moron | Imperial Black WitBier | 10% ABV | 40 IBU: Twice the wit, still the same moron. An Imperial version of the back to back GABF (2014 Gold, 2015 Bronze) medal-winning Witty Moron, this deceptive dark wheat ale features the sexy look of a stout, but with the refreshing flavor of a Belgian witbier. To help with the winter season, Stone made this version even wittier with a generous boost of alcohol ad flavor to keep all the morons happy.
StormBreaker Brewing – Portland, OR – Happy Marijuanica | Hoppy Smoked Ale | 7.5% ABV | 85 IBU: In honor of winter changes to weed; StormBreaker brewed a beer that everyone needs. It brewed something wintry and smoky, hoppy and dank too; for this holiday season the brewers offer it to you. The ABV is 7.5 with 85 IBU; but don’t worry, no bud was harmed in the making of this brew. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah; celebrate right with a pint of Happy Marijuanica.
Two Kilts Brewing Co. – Sherwood, OR – Earls of Orkney | Wheatwine | 10% ABV | 45 IBU: Amber in color with rich malty flavors and aromas, Earls of Orkney is a smooth, drinkable beer. A very big mouthfeel is present due to the insane amount of wheat malt that goes into this beer. Imbibe carefully as this one packs a little kick!
Vertigo Brewing – Hillsboro, OR – Insomnia Coffee Cream Ale | Cream Ale with Lactose and Coffee | 6.2% ABV | 13 IBU: The brewers are “amped” up about this year’s festival and have created ale for both beer drinkers and coffee lovers alike. This cream ale brewed with lactose produced a smooth, creamy and slightly sweet base beer which was then infused with copious amounts of cold brewed Tortoiseshell blend coffee. Beer drinkers and coffee lover unite!
Viking Braggot Co. – Eugene, OR – Skadi | Braggot | 7.5% ABV | 20 IBU: Skadi (pronounced SKAHD-ee) in Norse mythology is the goddess of winter who lives in the highest reaches of the mountains where the snow never melts. Viking Braggot pays tribute to this goddess with a double-style brag got brewed to be enjoyed during these cold winter months. An organic grain bill is paired with local clover honey and moonshine soaked raisins to lend to a complex balance of malty richness and fruity esters. Skol!
Wider Brothers – Portland, OR – Angel’s Reign | Imperial Rye Stout | 9.3% ABV | 60 IBU: Angel’s Reign is an Imperial Rye Stout aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels and is made with three types of malted rye to give a wonderful spiciness. Midnight wheat is added tot the malt bill, lending a hint of creaminess that rounds out the palate. Pilgrim and East Kent Goldings lend pleasing flavors of orange, pear, lavender and honey. The finish has hints of alcohol and vanilla, reminding you of who is the king.
Wild Ride Brewing – Redmond, OR – Hib Hop Hibiscus Ale | Hibiscus Ale | 5.5% ABV | 18 IBU: Hib Hop Hibiscus Ale is a lighter winter beer here to brighten your season. This blonde ale with a twist gets its flavor and color from the addition of hibiscus, which adds a cranberry-like tartness and a beautiful pink hue to this light-bodied beer.
