Brewmaster’s Corner: Reflections on Oregon Craft Beer Month

Well, another Oregon Craft Beer Month has passed and we are on the wind down period of summer. As my thoughts turn towards the Great American Beer Fest in September and our fall and winter seasonals, I thought I’d look back on the crazy July. These thoughts were prompted by a handful of recent critiques from various beer writers/bloggers on their lack of joy from what has now become OCBM. I first noticed it on Brady’s site, The Daily Pull. (also see The New School Beer Blog, Dr. Wort, and Beer Around Town) There were further complaints that we are falling behind the glitter that is many new Craft Beer WEEKS like in Seattle or San Francisco. Heck, even my old town of Chicago has a beer week now. But what of Oregon? We celebrate for an entire month! Others for a measly 7 days. We throw hundreds of events, from fests and tastings, to unique beer events like the Brewing up Cocktails developed by Ezra at the New School. There were pub crawls, beer dinners, beer releases, and meet the brewers. Sounds great, right? Well, what you will find in most critiques is that there are far to many ho-hum events. There are already “meet the brewer” events all year long. The beer releases are not unique. The fest are starting to be a drag. The OCBM website listings are hard to navigate. Too many events. Too little events. Been there done that events. The list of complaints goes on and on.

Well, I’d like to take a moment and respond. But first, go read the blog posts that I linked above. Then read the comments. Go on….. I’ll wait here. Alright, some of the points made by other beer writers certainly have some validity. For all the whoop-de-doo Oregon gets as the beer Mecca and Portland as Beervana (it is, for sure) there are some things that seem to keep us in the 90′s…or at least the “aughts” when it comes the craft beer events. Perhaps some of the critiques will serve as not only a wake up call but a spark to start unique and interesting beer events. One commenter on Ezra’s blog is the head brewer at Pyramid. He seems stoked to help plan more beer events in July. This is the type of activism that is needed to continue our strong beer culture. And it is the kind of activism that helps the Oregon Craft Brewers Guild do more to promote craft beer in our state. The Guild (and in particular the Executive Director) worked very hard to get brewers on TV, in the newspaper, and to bring beer to the local and national media. They did a great job of building the story of beer in Oregon and of putting a face behind the beers that we drink. For that, he should be applauded. BUT also helped to do much of the legwork involved in promoting beer in our state. I think we take for granted much of the behind the scenes work that was done to pull off the hundreds of events that happened in July, even if you didn’t think they were good events.

And that leads me to one of my biggest point in this whole debate of, “Is Oregon Craft Beer Month broken??” If you are coming at it from an uber beer geek (that is used as a compliment-not a negative) perspective, then perhaps this is true. What do I mean? I was recently interviewed for a foodie website about cooking with beer and pairing with beer. I was asked what the “off the radar” beer scene is like and what “off the radar beers” I would cook with. Confused at first, I realized that “off the radar” meant beers and beer culture that the commoner doesn’t know about. I thought about that for quite some time. You see, I am in the same boat as many if not all of the beer writers and bloggers. My career is beer. It is my job to know styles, breweries, and all things beer. Both in my brewery, in my state , nationally, and internationally. I follow the beer rating sites when I have time. I read the beer blogger sites. I am NOT the buyer of 1.99 craft beers (they are fine for what they are, I just don’t drink them). What I realized is that there are a TON of people in this state, and definitely in this country who drink lots of craft beer, BUT they have no clue what a lambic is. They look in amazement when I mention aging beer in Pinot Noir barrels. They wouldn’t drink an Imperial Stout if you paid them. But they like fresh local beer. Sure, they might only drink Widmer Hef, or Mac’s Amber, but they know good beer and they are not afraid to spend their dollars on it. Furthermore, they like to go to “commoner” events like OBF and try a few new things. They would love to “meet the Brewer” and they don’t get offended by a salesman from Oakshire pouring bottles at a grocery store. You see, we have a LONG way to go, even in the great beer mecca of Oregon, in bringing fresh and unique beer experiences to the entire population. Remember, nationally, we are but a mere 5% of the entire beer category. There are many people who could use a “boring beer event” like a meet the brewer or a grocery store event. Many, Many other states and cities don’t even have this type of thing to call a “beer culture”.

Now, don’t hear me wrong. I’m NOT saying rest on your laurels and settle for the fact that we are good enough and better than most. What I’m trying to get at is that perhaps the critics of OCBM are coming at it from the wrong perspective, from a bored beer connesieur perspective. We can’t put on hundreds of events during a month and have them all be Barrel Aged beer fests, Beer and cocktail events, or 4 chef beer dinners. Can they be there? Yes. Do we need other events that aren’t for the experienced “off the radar” crowd? yes. Is there room for improvement? yes. Is there any other state that has the volume of events and beer flowing as Oregon? I’d wager not.

In closing, I would not argue that a Portland beer week, as some have suggested, is a bad idea. I think compacting uber beer geek events into 7 days would be awsome. I would participate. However, in July, I will still have beer and cheese classes at my brewery, I will still send my crew to the grocery store to do a tasting, and I still hope you’ll come out to meet me, the brewer of Oakshire beer. I still have some “on the radar” craft beer drinkers that I would like to expose to Oakshire beer. OCBM is a great vehicle for doing that. And by the record crowds at the fest, and at the record sales for many brewers and distributors in July, I’d say Oregon Craft beer Month was a resounding success. And furthermore I will continue to age beers on oak and experiemnt with styles so I am prepared for Portland Beer Week. But until we get the people power to plan the Portland Beer Week, you’ve got two choices. 1) Go crack a fresh Oregon Beer and be glad you live in one of the best regions for beer, or 2) move to San Fransisco and enjoy their beer week. Seattle’s an option….Chicago’s an option… Philly’s an option…… Peace!