Belmont Station’s 5-day celebration of sour ‘Puckerfest’ is back
Portland, Oregon bottleshop and taproom Belmont Station hosts the 5-day sour beer mini-festival Puckerfest from August 11 - 15th.
It’s been 3 years since the last Puckerfest, but the annual tradition returns to Belmont Station next week so get your tums ready. I was lucky enough to be a beertender at the very first year of Puckerfest back in 2006 before sour beers had any sort of consciousness in the public and when they were still obscure to most beer nerds. Back then then there was the odd experiment from local breweries, Belgian classics like Cantillon Geueze, and America’s early pioneers of the styles like Russian River and New Belgium Brewing. If I recall correctly there were only 6 beers on tap at one time back then, but as the draft selection blossomed so did the event and it’s popularity as it eventually became a week-long celebration leading up to the Oregon Brewers Festival in July. Things have changed, starting with later dates August 11th - 15th, 2022.
Photo from the 2012 Puckerfest
“Puckerfest this year will pay tribute to Puckerfests in the past and showcase new popular styles such as smoothie beers. Ultimately paving the way to future Puckerfests,” says Belmont Station general manager Ryan Fosbinder.
Similar to years past, each day will focus on different breweries or themes with a special flight pricing, but with less imports and direct brewery tap takeovers as there used to be. To kick things off on August 11th they will nod to their history of Puckerfests with long-time participants Block 15 Brewing and Double Mountain Brewery sharing the showcase. They will circle around again to the past tradition of highlighting all breweries/beers that they have not featured before on the final day.
Fosbinder says the event has been rescheduled from July to August to give the staff a break and make sure they are ready for big events again. “It's been a wild ride for the last couple years,” says Fosbinder. “We are in a great position right now. We have navigated all the twists and turns and have done it safely and successfully. And we are all ready to get back to the events that make Belmont Station truly stand out!”
Puckerfest 2022 Schedule:
August 11th - "A Fond Reminder"
We wanted to start things off like we used to. With the people that have helped us for many Puckerfests in the past. We wanted to remember what it used to be like and what it will be like for years to come. Here are some of the beers you will see on this day.
Block 15 - Pyrus 2019
Double Mountain - Tahoma Kriek 2014
Alesong - Oregon Sunrise
de Garde - DDH Ivy Cuvee
pFriem - Druif Rouge
AND MORE!!!
August 12th - "We're Goin Back Back To Sours Sours"
Sour and wild beers are a huge part of the California beer scene and some of the best are being made there. So let's celebrate our friends down South with a banger of a list on this day!
Beachwood - We Are Who We Pretend To Be 2021
Ghost Town - Devils Flanders
Russian River - Concecration 2018
Cellador Ales - Vine Of The Dead
AND MORE!!!
August 13th - "Whatcha Doin' All The Way Over There??"
Sour and wild beers aren't just a west coast thing by any means. In fact, the East Coast has some seriously amazing beers. And beyond the coast, over the water comes some truly unique and sought after beers.
The Referend - Alleuivers
Oxbow - Momoko
FOAM - Alien Observation
Tilquin - Gueuze
Creature Comforts - Common Things
AND MORE!!!
August 14th - "Let's Meet In The Middle"
Let's take a couple steps back and see what the middle of the US has to offer. Did you know there is a very popular style in beer now called Smoothie Beers? Well on this day you can experience this wildly popular style along with some other awesome beers between the West Coast and the East Coast.
Une Anne - Kriek
Mikerphone - Oingo Flamboingo
Drekker - Frose Chonk Cherryberry
Prairie Ales - Millennial Mansion
Great Divide - Strawberry Rhubarb Sour
AND MORE!!!
August 15th - "Group Hug!!"
And last but not least, we will feature breweries that are very close to our hearts as well as bringing back some beers you may have missed over the weekend. Let's all celebrate Puckerfest for one last day together till its return next year!!
Hopworks - Tequilla Barrel Aged Cactus Attactus
Culmination - Sour Flower
Fair Island - Alexandra
Urban Family - Nautical Dusk
AND MORE!!
Belmont Station | 4500 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97215