The not-for-profit trade trade group the Oregon Brewers Guild has announced a quarterly collaboration beer series kicking off with State of Excitement. This hazy IPA was brewed at Portland's Baerlic Brewing in collaboration with 27 other Oregon brewers. Funds from the sale of State of Excitement and future releases will support the guild, who recently lost one of its directors partially due to loss of funds during the pandemic.

More from the press release sent out by the guild:

“Collaborations are a little different right now, but I suppose just about everything is,” said Baerlic Beer Co. Brewer Stephen Helwig, who led the charge on brewday. “Fortunately, the modern miracle of the internet helped us to communicate, stay organized, and craft a damn delicious beer that shows off the best ingredients Oregon has to offer.”

The 6.5 percent hazy IPA includes Crystal, Cascade, Amarillo, Idaho 7 and Triumph hops donated by Crosby Hop Farm, Goschie Farms and Yakima Chief Hops; malts donated by Mecca Grade Estate Malt and Skagit Valley Malting; the Barbarian/Juice yeast strain combo, pitched in by Imperial Yeast; and printing, cans and packaging donated by Rose City Label, Craft Canning and WCP Solutions. State of Excitement No. 2 will be available for purchase at each of the particiatping breweries and all of the proceeds benefit the Oregon Brewers Guild, and its efforts to protect and promote the state’s craft beer industry. Like many organizations, the Guild has experienced financial turmoil as all of its annual events have been canceled due to COVID-19.

“We're honored to have the opportunity to support the Oregon Brewers Guild during this challenging time,” says Crosby Hop Farm CEO Blake Crosby. “OBG is a leader in driving education, guidance, and connection for the Oregon brewing industry and its stakeholders. We expect this project to resonate with craft beer drinkers across the state and contribute to the continued excellence that OBG represents nationally.”

Brewers communicated via email and met via Zoom meetings to determine the style of beer and formulate the recipe. Participating breweries include: Allegory Brewing, Baerlic Beer Co, Barsideous Brewing, Bend Brewing Co, Bevel Brewing, Breakside Brewery, Brewery 26, Buoy Beer Co, Deschutes Brewery, Gateway Brewing, Gigantic Brewing, Heater Allen Beer, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Laurelwood Brewing, Leikam Brewing, McMenamins, Ninkasi Brewing, Sasquatch Brewing, Stickmen Brewing, Three Mugs Brewing, Threshold Brewing & Blending, Unicorn Brewing, Von Ebert Brewing, Weekend Beer Co, Wild Ride Brewing, Wolf Tree Brewing, and Yachats Brewing. 

“The Oregon beer industry has been built on community coming together for the love of craft beer,” says Christina LaRue, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “This project is an exciting way to bring our brewers and industry partners together, even if only virtually for now, to celebrate that community through the art of collaboration. Stay tuned for two additional beers this year.” 

The State of Excitement collabs, launched in February for Zwickelmania, will now be released four times a year, and sold at participating breweries. State of Excitement No, 3 will be a fresh hop beer released in the fall.

About the Oregon Brewers GuildThe Oregon Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and protect the state’s craft brewing industry and the common interests of its members. Founded in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations.

Website:OregonCraftBeer.org

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