KLCC Brewfest Returns with More Musical Collaborations
Eugene's annual KLCC Brewfest is the longest running beer fest in the area, and is the local radio station's biggest fundraiser of the year. It features a huge record sale, live music, food, and over 80 breweries and cideries from the PNW. The collaboration brew this year brings together Eugene-area breweries to present a "mixtape" of nine music-inspired beers. Although collaboration debuts at festivals aren't unusual, having this many to peruse certainly is. Here are more details:
Vinyl Tap, as the theme is called, is a reprise of last year’s collaboration, but with nine new beers to discover (details below). Given the free jazz nature of the concept, neither the beers nor the artists that inspired them are in quite the same genre. A free “passport” is included with the festival brochure. Redeem the completed passport for up to $10 off any appetizer at First National Taphouse with purchase of 2 drinks. Valid through 2/16/2020, limit one per person.
Some names in the lineup will be new to the collaboration, including Covered Bridge Brewing Group, opening soon in Cottage Grove; Sunriver Brewing, which operates a pub in Eugene and collaborated with the local homebrew club, Cascade Brewers Society; and The 3 Legged Crane, which is Oakridge’s Brewers Union Local 180 under new ownership. The collaboration is sponsored by First National Taphouse in downtown Eugene.
The 2020 collaboration beers will be indicated by balloons and vinyl records on the signs at the brewery booths. Most of the collaborations will be poured at the two sections dedicated to local breweries.
An additional feature of the KLCC Brewfest, separate from the collaboration, are two special taps, called Bonus Tracks, X-Taps, which will rotate hourly through rare, barrel-aged, or otherwise special beers from participating breweries.
The winners of the homebrew competition, proceeds from which benefit KLCC, will be announced on Saturday at 4:00 pm. This year, nearly 200 beers were submitted and judged by certified beer judges, brewers, and amateur judges.
Collaboration beer info:
Alesong Brewing & Blending + Ninkasi Brewing
The Distance - Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with cocoa nibs, cherries,and toasted coconut. Inspired by the alt rock band Cake
Go the distance with this German chocolate Cake-inspired bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. We're racing and pacing and plotting the course with cherry puree, cocoa nibs, and toasted coconut swirled together and aged in bourbon barrels over nine months.
The 3 Legged Crane (Brewers Union) + Coldfire Brewing + Oakshire Brewing + Plank Town Brewing
Harmonious Oat Stout - English Style Oat Stout with American finesse (both Cask and Draft versions). Inspired by the jazz group Harmonious Wail
A wonderfully crafted, drinkable and seasonally appropriate recipe. Nutty, fruity & chocolaty smooth. Simply water, grain, hops, yeasts and care. Take One brewed at The 3 Legged Crane and served on cask, Take Two brewed at Plank Town and served on draught.
Cascade Brewers Society + Sunriver Brewing
Mandopop - French Saison. Inspired by the French Mandopop genre
French Mandopop features songs performed mainly in Mandarin Chinese with a French style. This French saison has Mandarin oranges and Szechuan peppercorns.
Claim52 Brewing + Oregon BrewLab
TrippHop Beats to Drink/Chill To - Triple IPA. Inspired by Tripp Sommer, former KLCC News Director, and hip-hop beats.
Elkhorn Brewpub + Falling Sky Brewing
Roots Radicals - Dry Hopped Pale Ale. Inspired by the punk band Rancid
We started thinkin' you know we started drinkin' that is how we came up with this beer.
Manifest Brewing + McMenamin’s High Street
Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Hazy IPA. Inspired by the early 90’s Red Hot Chili Peppers classic album of the same name.
Monster additions of Columbus and Mosaic hops were masterfully blended to create a super dank sticky haze much like Frusciante’s eccentric riffs and Flea’s phat bass lines can ease one’s mind into a euphoric bliss.
Hop Valley Brewing + The Wheel Apizza Pub
Bufala Springfield - Belgian Special Mild.
A Belgian ale with influences from the extensive collection of Lucio Battisti.
McKenzie Brewing + Covered Bridge Brewing
Natural Mystic - Rye IPA. Inspired by Bob Marley
"There's a natural mystic blowing through the air," so we brewed a 7.7% ABV Rye IPA to share and dry-hopped it to the hilt with Belma and Mystic, naturally.
KLCC Brewfest
February 7 & 8, 2020
Friday 5-11 pm
Saturday 1-11 pm
Lane Events Center
796 W 13th Ave, Eugene