I have been on a Nano kick in the past few days and not because of what I earn.  Click the link it will take you away to the blog-sphere of Nano Brewing.
Article of Nano Brewing

Late notice another beer event this weekend.  – Shelton WA

Come kick off Little Creek’s 1st Annual Brew Festival with Chance McKinney & Crosswire! Come on Saturday, August 28th at noon for the Brew Festival and sample beers from over 15 of the finest Brewers from all over the Pacific Northwest, then stay and watch Chance and the boys rock the stage! Still thirsty? Brew Festival opens back up Sunday, August 29th at noon. Concert is General Admission – $15 includes entry into the Festival & a keepsake pint glass. Concert starts at 8pm.

http://www.little-creek.com/entertainment.html

Brewer lineup -
Alaskan, Alaska
Blue Moon, Colorado
Pyramid, Washington
Deschutes, Oregon
Sam Adams, Massachusetts
Oskar Blues, Colorado
Sierra Nevada, California
Dick’s, Washington
Bridgeport, Oregon
Ninkasi, Oregon
Rogue, Oregon
Full Sail, Oregon
Harmon, Washington
Laurelwood, Oregon

The Green Dragon
928 SE 9th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 517-0660

From the International Beer Day Web site- http://internationalbeerday.com/

International Beer Day is a Glorious August 5th Celebration of Beer, taking place at pubs, clubs, bars and breweries all over the world.

That’s right, folks. Come this August 5th, Makers, Lovers and Sellers of beer all around the globe now have another reason to raise their frosty mugs. Along with hundreds of bars, restaurants, pubs and breweries worldwide, we have declared the aforementioned International Beer Day!

The purpose of IBD is threefold:
1) To gather with friends and enjoy the deliciousness that is beer.
2) To celebrate the dedicated men and women who brew and serve our beer.
3) To bring the world together under the united banner of beer by celebrating the beers of all nations and cultures together on this one remarkable day.

International Beer Day is our chance to let the breweries and bars of the world know how much we appreciate them, all while participating in one of the activities ever — drinking beer!  Perhaps even more than the beverage itself, International Beer Day is about celebrating the establishments who produce it, sell it and give folks a place to enjoy it.

So raise your glass on August 5th to celebrate these heroes behind each tasty brew. Cheers, and Happy International Beer Day!

The 2010 International Beer Bloggers & Online Media Conference will take place November 5-7, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. Beer bloggers, industry bloggers, and other beer and social media professionals will gather from throughout North America and beyond to meet, learn, and share. This will be the world’s first large gathering of beer bloggers. This is a conference you will not want to miss.

http://beerbloggersconference.org/

Over the years I have volunteered for day shifts in the heat, night shifts with beer running out and closing shifts when the crowds are few, mid Saturdays and Fridays, but never the beginning of the Oregon Brewers Festival (OBF). What a difference a day makes.

Wednesday July 21 The Oregon Brewers Guild Brewers Dinner was a great way to start the festivities. Getting to chat it up with brewers and drinking great beers – that’s how it started for this beer geek. How does one pick amongst 24 beers and only have 6 tickets? You choose carefully and wisely. Beers included: Calderia Brewing – Mogli, Deschutes Brewing – Quasimodo, and Hopworks Urban Brewery – Velvet Underground. When tasting The Guillotine by Pelican Pub & Brewing, we were informed by Darron Welch, the head brewer, it was made with a special one-of-a-kind French hop they were asked to try. Fantastic brews lined up with salmon, pork, salad, vegetables medleys and chocolate brownies, all ending with great Shakespeare Stout from Rogue. Held under the same tents that in just hours would hold thousands drinking, it was a magical way to start the OBF.

Thursday July 22

The official opening day for the OBF. First on the agenda was the Brewer’s brunch at the Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House. Great food and even beer was available to the early crowd. 500 people were in attendance and I heard rumors that Rogue Public House and the Green Dragon were also opened for the overflow crowd. We stuffed our faces and drank from “Woody” the Deschutes big wooden traveling keg. Then the music started up with Transcendental Brass Band and people gathered at the top of Davis and 5th. Portland Mayor Sam Adams and the Head Cheese from Deschutes, Gary Fish, led the parade to the Oregon Brewers Festival.

It was a great time and a wonderful crowd as we walked down to the tapping of the firstkeg at the OBF. There were musical groups and people carrying signs of different beers and breweries. I even saw a sign to help the Oregon Homebrewers who recently lost their rights. After a good 15 minute walk, we arrived to the stage where the first keg was celebrated and then tapped by the Mayor. A few pints for the big wigs, and then it was time for those of us who walked the parade. Deschutes had Super Juble to tap: a big sweet dark barley wine style beer that has been in the barrel for over two years. I pushed my way to the front and was one of the lucky ones to have a glass of the sweet nectar.

Then the festival opened, the crowds poured in, and the lines formed, but you could sense this was a different kind of crowd. It was the professional beer drinking crowd and they knew what they were doing. No huge lines, just people having a great time and it was calm and fun. Sure, a few “Woooos” went through the tents, but not the usual drunken five minutes worth each time. The Buzz Tent was a blast and being able to get the beers for just an extra token was great. For this beer geek, the 2010 OBF was off the hook! I am ready for next year’s festival and already looking forward to the parade, brunch and dinner. Thanks Portland, I had an awesome time.

Beers for Boobies – a benefit for breast cancer
featuring Four on the Floor
Where:
Big Al Brewing
9832 14th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98106
MAP
When: Saturday, July 10^th 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Thanks Kendall for the info.

Summer is upon us now and we finally tipped over the 90 degree mark it is time to think camping. With camping there is always the great debate of what beer(s) to bring. This being my first camping trip in quite some time I am have now a whole plethora of new beers to bring on this trip. Cause with camping you always have to brig can beers. The craft beer world has come along way in the past years and there are some rockin beers in cans.

So for this camping trip I am going to be bringing along a mix of great craft brews and all are going to be canned. What’s the big deal you say? Cost is better, no light gets through and less oxidation. In other words great craft beer in a can. Easier to chill in my humble beery opinion. Remember with camping always “pack it in and pack it out.” This is much easier with a crushed empty can.
Got ideas, comments what’s your best camping

beer? Canned or bottled? Let us know.

Wow time goes by so fast these days. I am behind 5 brewery reviews, 4 beer related stories and 3 other sub beer stories what and where shall I start first?

How about this weekend the Washington Brewers Festival is coming up and I am excited to be attending. This will be my 4^th year of attendance and every year it seems as thought the beers increase and more and more brewers show up. If you have not been this is quite the event. Be ready for any type of weather Kenmore, WA can be unpredictable. I have been when it is a cold wet March like day. Or go back to the second year I attended and it was hot August roasting. There is a great line up of brews and if you’re in the area Friday night is going to be truly a big event. All special brews from Washington Brewers only this will prove to be a must go to. Note Friday is for 21 and over. The other days your kids are welcome and there are kid play areas.

I for one am excited as I’m volunteering for the first time to help pour. I have poured at many other events but not the Big Fathers day festival. Come by and say howdy as I pour some awesome brews. Later I will be hitting the libations myself and hoping to be sipping some truly awesome beers. I have my list ready of what I am seeking to try.

So get ready this is as they say – “The Mother of all Fathers Day Beer Festivals.”

Washington Brewers Festival 2010 is in 2 days. Full details soon to follow.

Prost…