Classic German beer style Kölsch gets it’s due this weekend as 7 local pacific northwest breweries compete with 1 true imported classic at the inaugural Kölsch Fest at Mayfly taproom and bottle shop in north Portland. This Portland Beer Week event features a bracketed style blind tasting flight, custom glassware, Oktoberfest food, and even some live music. It all kicks off on Friday August 20th at 5pm, with flights lasting through the Sunday, the 22nd.

The Kolsch Fest is a bit of a passion project from Mayfly co-owner Ryan Born, who is experiencing what many beer fans do after years of getting worn out by the beers that punch you in the face.

“For the past few years, I've noticed myself gravitating back towards lighter, more nuanced styles of beer. I still love the zippy bite of an IPA, or the big bold roundness of a stout, but every time I take a sip of a well crafted light beer I instantly think to myself, "This is all I want to drink!" When asked about desert island beers, it always comes down to a Kölsch or a Mexican Lager,” says Born.

The three day Kolsch Fest also breathes a little life back into the blind tasting challenge which used to be so popular at taprooms but has seemingly died off even before COVID-19.

“I thought it would be fun to do a bracket-style blind tasting of 4 Kölsch and give some sort of trophy to the winner. The more that I told people about the idea, the more it morphed into something bigger...custom Mayfly Kölsch Fest glasses, Dos Hermanos Pretzels, Festival Brass German Polka band...then more people wanted their Kölsch to be in the competition so we bumped it up to 8 Kölsch and capped it there.”

For $30 each person will receive 14 x 4oz pours in total, 4 different beers on 2 different flights that will go head to head, plus a custom .3L Mayfly Kölsch Fest glass to be filled with your #1 Kolsch pick and just to put you in the mood and keep you powered up, a soft pretzel with mustard. Fest goers will have the chance to submit a card with all of their match-ups and Mayfly will be emailing a $10 gift card to anyone who guesses correctly the brewery of the beer that they chose as their #1. So...in fewer words: "Choose your top beer, guess who brewed it, win $10!"

The bracketed score card goes a little something like this:

Flight 1: 4x4oz pours =16oz (Left side of bracket)

Flight 2: 4x4oz pours =16oz (Right side of bracket)

Championship Round: 2x4oz pours =8 oz (final 2 beers)

1x10oz pour =10 oz (champion in take home Kölsch Fest glass)

Total = 50oz of Kölsch

Kolsch Fest Schedule:

Friday August 20th: 5pm, Kölsch Kick Off!

Let's start the weekend off right from the source! Owners, brewers, reps, kölsch connoisseurs. Feel free to bring any schwag or games if you'd like.. OR just come by, hang out, and get to join in on the fun!

Saturday, August 21st: all day 12pm-10pm

Live music, games, and hangs throughout the day!

Sunday, August 22nd: all day 12pm-8pm

Last chance to get in on the bracket which ends at 8pm.

Monday, August 23rd: 10am

Kolsch Fest challenge winner will be announced. Winner will receive a custom prize to the "Best In Show" Kölsch brewer as well as a month-long dedicated tap to their Kölsch.

MAYFLY
8350 N Fenwick Ave, Portland, OR 97217