The festival is December 2nd to the 6th
and is open 2-10PM on December 2nd, 11AM-10PM December 3rd to the 5th and 11AM-7PM December 6th.
For those of you who have never been, the event is held in a huge tent and there is no worry if Jack Frost is nippinig at your nose in the rest of the world outside the tents have a fine heating system.
The website sums up the festival being "more than 50 potent winter ales...all of which are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. (Not)beers you'll find in the supermarket - brewers have put together special recipes just for the Holiday Ale Festival. From Belgians and Barleywines to Porters and Stouts, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors."
My best advice is to show up early! This is a BIG event in a place that is rather too small for a place like Portland. Things get very-very busy as the evening pushes on. Showing up early will insure your chances of trying a number of great beers without the long lines.
The beer list is a massive one and can be checked out fully by clicking here.
But, some of the high points should come from such brewers as Astoria, Oregon's Fort George Brewery & Public House with their "North III" a brew described as being a Belgian Tripel and being "brewed strong, bold and sweet with honey malt and maple syrup, then fermented with our jolliest Belgian yeast, this beer then rests in the bright tank with 60 pounds of finely chopped sugar plums...onyx in hue with hints of oak and spice..."
Other great beers should be Portland's own Hopworks Urban Brewery with their "Kronan the Barbarian" (and not just because it reminds me of a co-worker known by the same name). This beer is said to be a "Baltic Porter" with a "frothy tan head and rich malty aroma with notes of chocolate, caramel, dark fruit and toasted marshmallow. As its garnet color mesmerizes, the rich flavors engulf the senses.... made with bottom fermenting lager yeast."
And last... but, I am certain not least, Hillsboro's Vertigo Brewing with their "Arctic Blast". This fine selection, from a relative newcomer, is a "Robust Vanilla Porter" and is described as being a "Briess Pale malt balanced with Roast, Dark, Crystal and Munich malts (that) allow for the perfect mix of malted barley for this Robust Porter with Madagascar vanilla bean. Lightly hopped to allow a slight roast, dominant chocolate and vanilla bean character to come through, this beer borders on the low end of the IBU scale and the high side for Original Gravity."
There will also be a variety of "Limited Release" kegs...usually single kegs...that will pop up on a schedule of sorts.
Cheers!
-William
