More info here http://oregonbeer.org/zwickelmania/

To download a map of participating Portland breweries click here

Chad Kennedy from Laurelwood Brewing Co. answers the question -
What is a zwickel?

The Caldera Tap House menu incorporates pub grub like nachos, fresh cut fries, and hot wings. The menu also has some eclectic offerings such as Black and Blues: toasted baguette slices with blue cheese, basil, red grapes, and candied almonds finished with a maple balsamic reduction, wild Salmon Burger with house made lemon-dill aioli or one of the Simple Salads with Passion Fruit Champagne Vinaigrette.

Caldera Brewing Company began in the summer of 1997 as a wholesale microbrewery. The first keg sold was on August 28, 1997 to Ashland Creek Bar & Grill, now operating as Creekside Pizza Bistro. Caldera Brewing Company is celebrating its 12th year anniversary and Caldera Tap House is celebrating its Grand Opening this Friday August 28. Come on down and celebrate the anniversary and grand opening with us. Ribbon cutting by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce commences at 3 pm followed by live music. Live music from 3 pm till 8 pm outside and again inside after 9 pm. No cover charge for this event. 21 years of age and older.

Caldera Tap House
31 Water Street
Ashland, Oregon
(541) 482-HOPS
www.calderabrewing.com

ZwickelmaniA Hits Oregon Breweries

Oregon Brewers Guild Announces First Annual Brewery Open House

This President’s Day weekend, dozens of Oregon breweries and brewpubs will open their doors to visitors for the state’s first annual Zwickelmania, a one day event similar to the open houses held by Oregon wineries over Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends. Zwickelmania, hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild (OBG), is a free statewide event that offers visitors a chance to tour Oregon breweries, meet the brewers and sample their favorite beers – all during Oregon’s Sesquicentennial weekend.

“This is a once a year chance for consumers to go into breweries that might not usually open to the public,” says Oregon Brewers Guild Executive Director Brian Butenschoen. “Since 1852 Oregon breweries have been a part of the cultural fabric of Oregon – we’re proud to be open to the public during Oregon’s Sesquicentennial.”

Zwickelmania, takes its name from the zwickel, or sample port which is mounted on the outside of the fermentation or conditioning tanks and allows brewers to take samples for quality assurance and control. Similarly, Zwickelmania offers a unique opportunity to taste beers where they were produced and interact with the brewers who created them.

Zwickelmania will take place at breweries and brewpubs across the state on February 14th, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00p.m., some breweries will open additional hours and visitors are encouraged to contact individual locations for exact hours. Admission to all Zwickelmania events is free, with some breweries offering complimentary sample tastings. Close-toed shoes will be required for any visitors entering brewing facilities.

For a complete list of Oregon breweries participating in Zwicklemania please visit http://oregonbeer.org/zwickelmania/

We dedicate 8 taps to pouring eclectic, hard to get stouts for the month of February. The starting lineup includes: Fort George Brewery – Cavatica Stout, Fort George Brewery – Bourbon Barrel Cavatica, Fort George Brewery – Coffee Girl Stout, Deschutes Brewery – The Abyss, Great Divide Brewery – Oak Aged Yeti, Stone Brewery – Russian Imperial Stout, Victory Brewery – Storm King Stout, and Caldera Brewery – Old Growth Imperial Stout.

At their annual meeting held in December, members of the Oregon Brewers Guild (OBG) gathered to select new board members and look ahead to an exciting future. Chad Kennedy, Brewmaster at Portland’s Laurelwood Brewing Company, is the newest member elected to the Board, while Ninkasi Brewing Company’s Jamie Floyd was elected as the Guild President.

In addition to the newly elected Board of Directors, the Guild announced plans for the first annual Oregon Brewers Guild Brewery Open House to be held on Oregon’s Sesquicentennial, or 150th Birthday, Saturday February14th from 1-4p.m. The Guild will also focus energy on the upcoming legislative session. “This is an important year for the Oregon brewing industry – despite the tough economic climate, we are still increasing production and adding manufacturing jobs to the state’s economy,” says Oregon Brewers Guild Executive Director Brian Butenschoen.

New craft breweries and brewpubs continue to open across the state, and Oregon beers keep garnering top honors at international brewing festivals, including two of the five Grand Champion Brewery awards at the World Beer Cup. Eleven breweries joined the Guild in the past year and for the first time ever, Oregon breweries employed more than 5,000 people state-wide. Portland, home to more breweries than any other city in the world, also leads the country in the sales of craft beer, despite being the 27th largest market in the U.S. The amount of Oregon craft beer produced and consumed in state reached 12% for the first time in 2008, and Oregon leads the nation in the amount of craft beer produced in state that is consumed in state.

The newly elected Board of Directors met in January to select officers for the 2009 term. Officers and Board Members are:

Oregon Brewers Guild Officers

* President – Jamie Floyd, Ninkasi Brewing Company
* Vice President – David Logsdon, Wyeast Laboratories
* Treasurer – Jack Joyce, Rogue Ales
* Secretary – Charlie Devereux, Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom

New and re-elected Board Members

* John Harris – Full Sail Brewing Company
* Van Havig – Rock Bottom Brewery
* Chad Kennedy – Laurelwood Brewing Company
* Ben Love – Hopworks Urban Brewery
* Kurt Widmer – Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

 You can read the Food Day article in the Oregonian here:
Here are other articles about zwickelmania:

Zwickelmania – PDX Food Press
Zwickelmania – Beer Advocate
Zwickelmania – Brewpublic
Zwickelmania – Draft Magazine
Feed Me Portland
Zwickelmania – The Full Pint
Zwickelmanian – Beer NW
Zwickelmania – The Beer Here
Zwickelmania – Life in Beervana
Zwickelmania at Double Mountain Brewery
D*&n Portlanders

Read the cover story from this weeks Oregonian here

Oregon was one of the states that was able to secure booth space at this prestigious event.

Since Fresh Hop beers are a major push for Oregon Brewers Guild members during October and we are in a unique position in Oregon to make more than 30 different fresh hop beers, the Oregon Brewers Guild will pour only Fresh Hop beers at the Guild booth at the GABF.

The Guild will have will have beers from the following breweries:
Rock Bottom Brewery in Portland will have Hop Harvest a Fresh Hop Ale.
Full Sail Brewing Co. of Hood River will have Lupulin Fresh Hop Beer from their Portland Brewery.
Hopworks Urban Brewery of Portland will have their Fresh Hop Vienna.
Laurelwood Brewing Co. of Portland will have Fresh Hop Kolsch from their NE 51st Ave Brewery.
Ninkasi Brewing Co. of Eugene will have their Fresh Hop Beer.
Rogue Ales of Newport will have Independence Ale with hops from their Alluvial hop farm.
Deschutes Brewery of Bend will have a Sterling Fresh Hop Beer from their Portland Brewery.
Pelican Pub and Brewery of Pacific City will have Elemantal Ale their fresh hop beer.
BridgePort Brewing of Portland will have their Hop Harvest Ale in bottles.

Check back for a schedule of when each beer will be poured on the floor of the GABF.