The North American Organic Brewers Festival (NAOBF) returns to Portland’s Overlook Park on June 27, 28, and 29, 2008. Entrance Fee is $5 and includes a reusable yet compostable cornstarch tasting glass. Entrance Fee Discount of $1 off with validated MAX ticket or three 4 oz cans of food.

The North American Organic Brewers Festival celebrates the diversity and range of beer styles being brewed organically; from pilsner to pale ale, saison to stout, amber ale to lambics. Brewers from across Cascadia, the heart of organic brewing, pour their beers alongside organic pioneers from Europe, such as Pinkus Mueller from Muenster, Germany. Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Northern California, often referred to as Cascadia, lead the continent in the number of organic breweries, with nearly half of Oregon’s 80 breweries having produced an organic beer since the first Organic Brewers Symposium in 2002.

In its fourth year, the festival will again feature organic beers from across North America, and Europe. The 2007 event poured 50 organic beers to 7000 people and raised over $2000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Oregon Tilth (a certification body dedicated to organic agriculture), and also brought in hundreds of cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank.

Organic brewers have hewn out a market for themselves, with organic beer growing by leaps and bounds along with the organic foods sector. In 2006 North American organic brewers made over 40,000 barrels, with 2007 production expected to increase by more than 25%. Brewed with ingredients grown without pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, organic beer is good for the environment, the farmer, and the consumer.

In addition to pouring organic beers the NAOBF features sustainability oriented vendors, live music, and local and organic food. The festival is powered by biodiesel, composts food waste, and will use biodegradable tasting cups.

Overlook Park, located on North Interstate Avenue between Failing and Fremont Street has its own stop on the MAX Yellow line. Riders of MAX, Portland’s award-winning light rail system may present their validated ticket for a $1 discount on the tasting mug. Use the Tri-Met website for directions from your door to Overlook Park (1301 N. Fremont St. Portland, OR 97227). Overlook Park features a view of the Willamette River and downtown Portland.

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