2008 Bend Brewfest

Coming out of Oregon Craft Beer Month in July, it's pretty easy to say how I'm feeling: worn out. I played many roles in July including host, photographer, writer, patron, and professional napper. Sometimes covering several events in a single day, I was ground up and spit out into August a weary soul. I'm not complaining about this because July is an exceptional time to be a beer lover in Oregon. It just that my anticipation for this time of year overshadows the exhausting reality of covering (and enjoying) all of these events.

And now, here I am, at another brewfest, in the middle of August, in Bend Oregon. And after all I've done during the previous months, it's still a high point for me. Maybe it's getting out of town for a few days. Maybe it's the great venue and music. Maybe it's the short lines and variety of beer. It must be some combination of all of those things.

The fact that I can try a few beers, stretch out in the beautiful grass, listen to the music, and take a quick nap without the fear of being trampled by a drunken mob is exactly what I needed. And that's why I did it a few times on Friday.

Brewery and Beer List:

Anderson Valley
Summer Solstice
Poleeko Gold Pale

Aspall
Dry Cider
Organic Cider

Baron Brewing
Pilsner
Schwarzbier
Helles Bock

Bayern Brewing
Dancing Trout Wheat

Bear Republic
Racer 5
Hop Rod Rye

Bend Brewing Co.
Axe Head Red
Met Golden Ale

Big Sky Brewing
Moose Drool Brown
Trout Slayer Wheat

Boulder Brewery
Hazed N Infused Amber
Sweaty Betty Bavarian Hefe

Bridgeport Ales
Haymaker
IPA

Caldera Brewing Co.
Ginger Ale
IPA

Cascade Lakes
Paulina Lake Pils
IPA

De Proef
La Grande Blanche Imperial White Ale
Zoetzuur Flemish Flanders Red

Deschutes Brewing
20 Anniversary Wit
Twilight Ale

Double Mt.
Hop Lava IPA
IRA

Eel River
IPA

Fox Barrel
Black Currant

Full Sail
Sessions Lager
LTD 02 Lager
Prodigal Sun

Great Divide
Samurai Blonde

Hales
Kolsch

Hopworks Urban Brewing
Crosstown Pale

Kona
Longboard Lager
Wailu Wheat

Lazy Boy Brewing
IPA
Belgien Strong

Lagunitas
IPA
Sirius

Laughing Dog
Huckleberry Cream
Dogzilla Black IPA

Lost Coast
Great White

Mactarnahans
Sling Shot Extra Pale
Amber Ale

Mad River
Steelhead Extra Pale
Double IPA

McMenamins
Copper Moon
Stingray IPA

Mt. Shasta
Mt High IPA
Weed Golden Ale

New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fat Tire Amber
Mighty Arrow Pale

New Old Lompoc Brewing
Dry Hopped Condor
LSD Lompoc

Oakshire Brewing
Espresso Stout

Pyramid Brewing
Apricot Ale
Crystal Wheat

Red Hook
Long Hammer IPA
Later Harvest

Roots Organic
Gruit Kolsch
Neverminde Pale Ale

Seadog Brewing
Blueberry Wheat

Shmaltz Brewing Co.
He'Brew Rejewvenator
Coney Island Lager
Coney Island Albino Python

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Pale Ale
Anniversary IPA

Snoqualmie Falls
Copperhead Pale
Wildcat IPA
Steam Train Porter

Stone Brewery
Arrogant Bastard
Stone Smoked Porter

Trumer Pils
German Pilsner

Victory
Prima Pils

Widmer Brothers
Oktoberfest
Broken Halo

Wildfire Brewing
Summer Golden Ale
Backdraft

Wolavers
Organic English Brown
Organic Wit


Check out the rest of the photos here.