Fesival of Bens Returns

 

Not so much a festival as a party amongst beer friends, Ben Fest was put on last year at the Grain & Gristle with 5 different Portland area brewers that all share a common name. While you can't really call such a small event a fest, I respectively submit that it instead should be re-named "Ben Day" and be declared a citywide holiday by Mayor Sam Adams.

Ben Day, as it henceforth shall be named, will be a chance for each brewer to invite their friends to their own "Ben Day". You might be like, huh? 'It's your birthday?' No, it's their Ben Day, much like Father's Day, where all of us here in PDX give thanks for...Bens.

For those who know these brewers, they are some of the most personable in town, as well as makers of excellent and varied beers at their respective breweries. The event returns this year with all new beers and at a different location, this time North Portland's The Hop & Vine on Tuesday July 31st, neatly capping off Oregon Craft Beer Month.


Now some more info from the press release:The lineup this year is shaping up great, and there may be more Bens included as they just keep coming. The current Bens of Brewing have over 50 years of brewing experience between them, which makes for true talent and experience in brewing amazing beers. Along with the beers, Hop & Vine Head Chef Sam J. Reed has designed some great Ben inspired food that will be featured dishes during BENFEST.

The original inspiration for the event was a photo taken by Angela De Ieso of Brewpublic at the Cheers to Belgian Beers dart throw in January of 2011. The photo later known as, “The Stack of Bens,” aided in the realization of how many brewers named Ben are in Portland.

Ben Engler of Occidental Brewing: Fourth Option

Ben Dobler of Widmer Bros. Brewing: Smokey and the BENdit

Ben Edmunds of Breakside Brewing: Sour BEN

Ben Flerchinger of Lucky Lab Beer Hall: BENevolet Dictator

Ben Love of Gigantic Brewing: BEN TBD

BeerConnections.com: We are dedicated to connecting you with the Oregon Craft Beer Community. From cellar building to beercation itineraries to private parties with the most dynamic beer personalities in the state, Beer Connections can do almost anything to help you drink more Oregon Craft Beer.


BenFest 2.0 

Tuesday July 31, 2012 

The Hop & Vine 

1914 N Killingsworth 97217
5:00pm
Free Admission, Food and Beer prices vary