Brews for New Avenues; World’s Largest Rare Beer Auction and Charity Gala returns to Portland

Since their start in 2012, Brews for New Avenues (B4NA) has grown to become the world’s largest rare beer charity auction event, connecting the international and craft beer world with non-profit advocacy for at-risk and homeless youth. Portland, OR based New Avenues for Youth is an organization that has been around since 1997, with a board that includes numerous reputed beer aficionados that had a dream to harness the power of the beer industry and funnel it into their cause. This year Brews for New Avenues moves to a new indoor/outdoor venue in southeast Portland at The Redd that offers up new opportunities for their gala beer fest and auction this Saturday, August 27th.

During their inaugural year Brews for New Avenues had modest goals about a new way to raise funds in their mission to prevent youth homelessness, they raised $17K that year. B4NA has been more successful than they ever imagined. It now encompasses multiple small and VIP fundraiser events like Oysters & Geueze leading up to the big beer fest style main event on August 27th 2022 in which they hope to raise $250K.

​”The event started with a goal to raise awareness among a different, younger demographic, and maybe raise a little bit of money,” says Brews for New Avenues chair and co-founder Jeremy Herrig. “But, it has progressed into a major source of funding providing critical support to many aspects of New Avenues' various programs.”

To date New Avenues has helped over 30K youth by helping them to overcome barriers, pursue their goals, and realize their potential. They accomplish this by supporting basic needs like meals and counseling to providing opportunities for education, job training, employment, and housing.

The B4NA auction items are supplied by a group of ardent core supporters called the “Cap & Cork Crew” who donate atleast 12 bottles or cans each year. Over their 10 year history Brews for New Avenues has raised $1.4 million dollars for the non-profit, $200,000 + in 2021 alone. Rare bottles and collections regularly sell for hundreds of dollars each, even thousands, with a handful of single bids reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars each year. The cause to prevent and end youth homelessness has inspired brewers to get involved, donating and even brewing and packaging specialty beers for the event, and even generous enthusiasts who donate entire cellars to keep the beer and funding flowing year-to-year.

The silent auction involves receiving an anonymous bidder number when you enter the festival, then manually entering your bids on the sheets accompanying every offering in the massive selection on display. Part of the fun of the event is watching the live auction take place by perusing the tables to see the ultra rare bottles and vintage collections with bids stacking on top of each other commanding increasingly high amounts. But to avoid playing the game of bidding and then being outbid, there is a buy-it-now option for a preset price, as well as an online auction for those who cannot attend in-person. “The Live Auction contains our very best big-ticket items, often going for $1,000 or more,” adds Herrig.

One item sure to raise big bucks at this years event is the “Belgian Experience Package.” It includes individual private tours and tastings with snacks at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen and Brasserie Cantillon - as well as a few bottles from each to take home. Additionally, the winner will receive a tour and tasting at Bokke where they will help create a special blend to be released at Brews 2023. When the blend is finished, the winner will receive six 750ml bottles, two magnums, and a jeroboam bottle.

Brews for New Avenues “Wall of Beer” features mystery beers that may include high dollar gems

But, attending Brews For New Avenus is not just a cause celeb for the wealthy or those with a lot of slush funds to part with, the organizers go out of their way to find affordable ways for anyone to attend for fun or even get a larger return on small bids with the “Wall of Beer.” This is essentially unmarked mystery bags of beers that the organizers promise contain atleast $10 bottles, and many much higher value stuff as hidden gems worth significantly more.

“We have options for just about any budget,” says Herrig. “We'll have a smaller silent auction during the General Admission session that will have packages that are a bit more accessible as well as a few gems for those not able to attend VIP.”

Attending the main Brews for New Avenues event is not just about dropping big bucks on rare beers, for a low $20 anyone can enjoy the general admission session from 4 to 8pm and partake in the both special and quaffable selection of draft beers presented by generous sponsors. This can range from a local pilsner to a special tapping of Cantillon out of Belgium, or a barrel-aged stout from Vermont. This years draft beer selection has Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Sante Adairius, Cantillon, Tilquin, The Referend, Fox Farm, AltBrau, Baerlic, Beachwood, Breakside, Cascade, Chuckanut, de Garde, De La Mule, Dwinell, Ecliptic, Fair State, Full Circle, Lundy, Modern Times, pFriem, Reverend Nat's, Ruse, Upright, Wayfinder, Wolves & People, and Wolf Tree - to name a few.

Special guests Sante Adairius Rustic Ales join the 2022 B4NA from Santa Cruz County, California. Well known the world over for their barrel-aged mixed fermentation creations, guests will have a chance to sample their beers and purchase a special limited release. Local favorite and long-time supporter Logsdon Farmhouse Ales will also be at this year’s event as a 2022 Guest Brewer. Their beers run the gamut from standard bearers like Peche ‘n Brett to finely tuned lagers and classic IPAs.

B4NA attendees will be greeted with a lively food truck area featuring Pidgin Hole and Alchemy Sandwich Co, live music from Hans & the Wanted, outdoor games by Pound Disc Golf, and all the craft beers on draft from more than 50 local, national and international breweries.

Organizers of the event expect hundreds of beer enthusiasts, many of whom travel to Portland from around the globe, to attend the first full size B4NA since COVID at an all new venue. The original event was a street party outside the Rogue Ales’ Green Dragon pub (now Rogue Eastside), in 2015 it moved to the Leftbank Annex events building just north of the Moda Center and next door to Upright Brewing. Ahead of the 2021 B4NA the Leftbank building was sold to Elephant’s Delicatessen, and their 2022 dates were already booked so organizers are trying The Redd at 831 SE Salmon St on for size this year.

“We have to come up with a new plan for The Redd,” says Herrig of their big venue change. Many of the struggles at the former venue involved flights of stairs and limited to no parking, now they have an even larger foot plan with much more space outdoors. “As far as differences, the layout is obviously different because the rooms are different, but people will be familiar with our usual offerings with the silent auction, wall of beer, and plenty of great stuff on tap. One thing about The Redd is we have a lot more parking lot space, so plenty of room for food trucks, some outdoor games, and the Brews van.”

This year’s goal is to raise $250,000 to continue supporting critical programs and services.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES ON 8/27:

1 pm – Doors for VIP event; VIP silent auction

4 pm - Doors open for general admission event; Wall of Beer opens; GA silent auction begins, live music

5:30 pm - Live auction begins

8 pm - Last call

Tickets are still available for all three sub-sections of B4NA events this year: Oysters & Geueze on Friday 8/26, the VIP session of the main event from 1-4pm on 8/27, and the general admission session from 4-8pm on 8/27. To purchase: https://newavenues.ejoinme.org/2022ga

Leading up to this year’s event, Brews for New Avenues will also host an online auction available to the public with some rare finds. Follow @brews4newaves on Instagram for links to the auction.