Beer Lovers Celebrate Sustainably at the North American Organic Brewers Festival

With the world’s largest selection of organic beer, the North American Organic Brewers festival June 26-28th is a celebration of the earth. This year the festival is powered by a combination of solar panels, waste vegetable oil and biodiesel generators. The event benefits the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, the Oregon Food Bank, Oregon Tilth, and Willamette Riverkeeper.

Sustainable Celebration

Since its inception in 2003 NAOBF organizers have been striving to make the event as sustainable as possible. The event is located on the MAX light rail line, and aims to be car-free, providing on-site bike parking, and offering a discount for attendees who arrive via MAX. In 2008 the NAOBF introduced a 100% compostable corn-based tasting glass, and through partnering with the City of Portland’s Event Recycling Program and Cloudburst Recycling were able to provide composting facilities on site for the cups and all food waste from the event, diverting 4 cubic yards of material from the landfill. Glass, compostables, and cardboard are source-separated with help from the event’s volunteer “Recycling Czars.”

In 2007 and 2008 biodiesel generators powered the event’s music, cash registers, and food vendors. This year the music and beer coolers will be powered with 100% vegetable oil thanks to a partnership with Green Drop Garage, a local company dedicated to vegetable-oil engine conversions and eco-friendly car care. Imagine Energy, a local solar power-company is setting up solar panels on site to run the cash registers and ATM. A biodiesel generator provides power for the food vendors.

The Brews

The North American Organic Brewers Festival is proud to feature beers from around the world brewed with organic ingredients. From the crisp lagers from Lammsbraeu and Pinkus in Germany to Dupont’s spicy Foret saison from Belgium, to coffee stout from Wisconsin, to good old Northwest IPAs, there are a great diversity of beers to taste at the event. The majority of the beers are brewed right here in Cascadia, by brewers in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. A number of the beers are brought into the state exclusively for the NAOBF. Local organic brewers pour favorites and reserve beers at the event, and many other local brewers including Pelican, Laurelwood, and Widmer, brew special beers for the event.

For more information or to see this year’s beer list visit www.naobf.org

Quick Facts

WHAT: North American Organic Brewers Festival-The World’s Largest Organic Beerfest

WHEN: June 26-28th, 2009, Friday and Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 12-5pm

WHERE: Overlook Park, 1301 N. Fremont St. at Interstate Ave. MAX Yellow Line to Overlook Park stop

WHY: To promote sustainable living and celebrate organic beer.

HOW MUCH: Admission is free, to sample beer a $6 compostable tasting glass is required, a four-ounce sample is $1, and a full pint is $4. A $1 discount off the tasting glass is given for either 3 cans of organic food, or a valid Tri-Met ticket