Indie music fest PICKATHON announces craft beer and artisan beverage lineup
The annual Happy Valley, Oregon indie music festival Pickathon is practically a right of passage for Portlanders, or anyone interested in enjoying up and coming bands in a visually transportative and rustic outdoor setting. The festival has long stocked craft beer, but the 2024 program taking place August 1-4th will take the beer, and artisan beverage selection to a new level with the addition of beer consultant and occasional New School Beer contributor Nicole Kasten to the management team.
Nicole Kasten travels the country helping brewers become successful business owners. Nicole is a Co-Chair for Brews for New Avenues and a Portland Beer Week Executive, contributing her expertise to numerous beloved beer events in the Pacific Northwest. As the new Beverage Director for Pickathon, Nicole spotlights the region’s most exciting brands (and some awesome national brands as well) to compliment the exceptional music programming with epic tasting beverages.
“There is no festival that compares to Pickathon when it comes to giving people the ability to tell stories for years to come. Everyone walks away from Pickathon a better person because they experienced music, art, design, food, and beverage at its highest forms and that all comes together in one harmonious weekend. I’m grateful to contribute to such a one-of-a-kind event.” -Nicole Kasten, Director of Beverage, Pickathon
A cold drink in a signature Pickathon stainless steel reusable pint cup on a beautiful Northern Oregon day with views of Mt. Hood is one of the top Oregon summer festival experiences. This year the drinks will also come with indie brewers, craft cocktails, top-shelf spirits, crisp ciders, bubbly kombucha, homebrewed coffee, and zero ABV drinks ready to tickle your fancy. Supporting Nicole are Molly Wolfe (Cocktail Designer) and Reid Van Mouwerik (Cocktail Manager).
Pickathon 2024 Beverage Lineup:
Craft Beer
With bars featured in most of the Neighborhoods at Pickathon, beer options are spread far and wide across the festival grounds.
Crux Fermentation Project: Bochi Bochi Japanese Rice Lager Brewed with whole Calrose rice, pilsner malt, and Hallertau hops. Crisp and floral.
Fort George Brewing:
Scatter Plot West Coast Pils German-Style Pilsner and West Coast IPA with a dash of citrusy hops.
3-Way IPA A hazy IPA collaboration with Brujos Brewing and Ghost Town Brewing, lush and citrusy.
Gigantic Brewing:
Gigantic IPA Cascade, Citra, Crystal, and Simcoe hops creating a citrusy hop confluence.
Gigantic Pilsner Brewed with pure mountain water and locally produced malt, showcasing the Pacific Northwest.
Ginger Cult: Cult Classic Alcoholic Ginger Beer Ginger root with a blend of molasses and spices.
Hopworks Brewery:
Ferocious Citrus IPA Hazy IPA with tangerine aroma.
Beer Time Pilsner A classic Pilsner perfect for any time.
Rindless Watermelon Sour Sour brewed with watermelon, lime, and sea salt.
Little Beast Brewing: Soul Seeker West Coast IPA - Notes of tropical fruits, kumquat, melon, and citrus.
Ninkasi Brewing: Gold Lager A classic premium lager with a crystal-clear appearance and subtle sophistication.
pFriem Family Brewers: Japanese Lager Features dense, snow-white foam and bright aromas of shiso plum and green tea.
Reuben's Brews: Summer IPA - Hop forward with citrus fruit aromas.
Ruse Brewing: Take A Little Trip Mexican Inspired Lager with Lime and Salt.
Steeplejack Brewing Co.: Frank’s Sparkling Ale: A Scottish-style sparkling ale with a low ABV of 2.80%, brewed with spelt malt for a refreshing, all-day drink.
Via Beer: Godzuki A crisp and clean rice lager perfect for any occasion.
Widmer Bros Brewing: Known for their iconic brews in the Northwest.
Cider
Portland and the Pacific Northwest are home to a wildly vibrant cider scene, and Pickathon has been renowned for presenting the best and most innovative cideries for festival-goers.
Bauman's Cider:
Authentic Cider - 100% local apples, fermented to perfection with nicely balanced sweetness and acidity.
Obsidian Cider - Intensely delicious, easy to drink, semi-dry blackberry cider.
Bend Cider Co.: Bend Cider Co. Mandarin Juniper - With zesty floral notes of mandarin and lightly infused Oregon juniper berries, this botanical cider feels like you're drinking up the PNW.
Bull Run Cider: Mt Hood Sunrise - Pineapple, Cherry, and Apple Cider - This cider is bright and colorful like a Mt Hood Sunrise, with tropical fruit esters and tamed sweetness.
Daidala Ciders: Gingermelon - A fruited ginger cider crafted using locally-sourced, small-batch methods for your drinking pleasure.
Portland Cider Company:
Kinda Dry - An ode to our Somerset heritage, this cider is balanced, off-dry, and crisp for timeless satisfaction.
Pacific Berry - A luscious and refreshing cider bursting with Northwest-grown marionberries, raspberries, and apples.
Yonder Cider: Dry - Bright, light, and refreshing with hints of orange and lime and flavors of tropical fruit, making this a very refreshing cider.
Coffee
This year, Pickathon introduces a new multi-shop coffee model. Partnering with Proud Mary, Coava, and Guilder Coffee, Pickathon’s new “Coffee Tech Barista Mentor Program” offers first-job training for aspiring baristas. This exciting program kicks off at Pickathon 2024 and expands throughout the year, mentoring the next generation of baristas. Tips from coffee sales will support Pickathon’s “Creative Neighborhoods” initiative, helping to get Pickathon’s community programs off the ground.
Visit creativeneighborhoods.com for more info!
Hard Kombucha
Brewed with the earth in mind with real ingredients.
Juneshine: Known for its delicious and better-for-you canned cocktails and hard kombucha, sustainably brewed with real ingredients.
Zero ABV Beverages
Pickathon 2024 offers a range of bright, balanced non-alcoholic refreshments from leading brands!
Boneyard Elixir: Sparkling CBD beverages made from natural ingredients and hemp-derived CBD. Designed to facilitate a balance between your lifestyle and well-being.
For Bitter For Worse: Smokin' Cherry Margarita - Portland's Nonalc cocktails brand using organic botanicals. Signature cocktail with Northwest cherries, smoky spice, and lime.
Lolo Hops: Non-alcoholic sparkling hops refreshments that deliver more flavor and function than the average bubbly water. Crafted with whole-plant Pacific Northwest hemp and hops, these beverages are bright, balanced, and fragrant, perfect for any occasion.
Spirits
Top-shelf tastes with a community-driven focus leads the spirits list. Cocktails designed by Molly Wolfe will be announced with the specialty cocktail menu going live at pickathon.com/lineup/beverages
Bulleit Bourbon: A whiskey that explores frontiers in more ways than one, Bulleit is proud to be the official whisky partner of Pickathon 2024.
Broker's Gin: A true London Dry Gin made in a 200-year-old distillery in England, using a traditional copper pot still. Celebrated for its quality and support for the arts.
Diplomatico Rum: A rum passionately crafted, recognized as one of the leading super premium rums worldwide.
El Jimador: Crafted with an unwavering commitment to quality, offering premium, 100% blue Weber agave tequila.
New Deal Distillery:
Portland 90 Vodka: Portland's original craft vodka distilled in custom copper vodka column stills, delivering a clean, classic taste at 45%.
Distiller's Cut Rum: A small-batch white rum crafted from French agricole style and molasses wash, featuring butterscotch and lime blossom aromas, at 43%.
Sun Ranch Vodka: The spirited answer to your bar well wishes, where quality meets affordability. Top-shelf taste with a community-driven focus.
2024 Beverage Sponsor Spotlights
Brew Dr. Kombucha - 2024 Beverage Sponsor
Brew Dr. Kombucha is on a mission to joyfully fulfill the potential of tea. Our tea-first approach ensures we make authentic beverages from real, organic ingredients. No shortcuts, and no artificial nonsense.
Our commitment to people and planet is at the forefront of all we do, from our carbon neutral operations to our B Corp Certification. A proud Pickathon sponsor since 2011!
https://www.brewdrkombucha.com
https://www.instagram.com/brewdr
https://www.tiktok.com/@brewdr
Bulleit Bourbon - 2024 Beverage Sponsor
A whiskey that explores frontiers in more ways than one, Bulleit is proud to be the official whisky partner of Pickathon 2024.
La Vieille Ferme - 2024 Wine Sponsor
La Vieille Ferme has been popular with wine lovers for over 40 years. Produced in a peaceful and sunny region of the Southern Rhône, each colour is an expression of its terroir: the Ventoux brings elegance and structure to the red wines; the altitude of the Luberon brings freshness and finesse to the whites and rosés. La Vieille Ferme is made with great care and integrity by Famille Perrin, proprietors of Chateau de Beaucastel. Top wine critics around the world have praised the producers of this wine for its irreproachable quality, which has achieved international recognition.
La Vieille Ferme is ideal for an enjoyable moment with friends and is a faultless food pairing.
https://m.familleperrin.com/12DC5HXR3N
Lolo Sparkling Hops - 2024 Beverage Sponsor
Back again! Lolo Hops are sparkling, non-alcoholic refreshments that deliver more flavor and function than the average bubbly water. Our recipes begin with a blend of whole-plant Pacific Northwest hemp and hops. Our botanically inspired drinks are crafted to enhance the aroma, taste, and efficacy of our whole plant ingredients. All natural ingredients and modern alchemy result in bright and balanced refreshers that relax, restore, and renew. Inspired flavor combinations are versatile and satisfying while low in calories and sugar. Our current offerings include four unique hemp-infused flavors and three hops-infused varieties. Each of our original blends creatively reinforces the natural herbal, floral, and citrus characteristics of the hemp and hops.
Ruse Brewing - 2024 Beverage Partner
Ruse Brewing, based in Portland, OR, is renowned for its innovative and meticulously crafted beers. Founded by brewers with a passion for quality and creativity, Ruse Brewing offers a diverse lineup of brews, from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts. Their taproom, a welcoming space with a rustic-industrial vibe, invites visitors to enjoy a pint while soaking in the vibrant local beer culture. Ruse Brewing also hosts events and collaborations, making it a dynamic hub for beer enthusiasts.
About Pickathon
Pickathon redefines the music festival experience as an immersive choose-your-own-adventure, where fans discover music, arts, and culture fantastically integrated into the natural wonders of Pendarvis Farm (12 miles outside of Portland, OR). Music at Pickathon is highly curated, bringing together the deep cuts and rising stars of every genre alongside groundbreaking lineups in body & wellness, comedy, visual art, literature, family programming, artisanal food, craft beer, spirits, and more. Pickathon pioneered the zero-waste, green festival and continually sets new standards of sustainability. If you know, you know. If you've never been, you'll understand the minute you set foot on the Farm. Pickathon is where we go to fall in love, every year, all over again.