Craft Brewing Capitals Merge Talent Through Beer Exchange

Portland and The Oregon Brewers Festival Play Host to Five of New Zealand’s Best Brewers

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 22, 2015) — With the Oregon Brewers Festival in sight, a flock of beer-centric Kiwis migrate north to pour their beer and share some Oregon beer culture. In pursuit of malty and hoppy enlightenment, the five brewers from Wellington, NZ visit Portland — home to 61 different breweries. “Portland boasts more breweries than any city in the world and is known as the Beervana of USA, ” says David Cryer, the man responsible for building the partnership between Oregon and New Zealand. The brewers’ journey overseas is part of the Oregon and New Zealand Beer Culture Exchange, which encourages the sharing of ideas and experiences between Portland and Wellington, two of the world’s foremost craft beer capitals.  

During their weeklong knowledge quest, the traveling brewers visit with many of Portland’s renowned brewing talents. In addition, they tour an Oregon hop field, lead tastings of their own New Zealand brews at Belmont Station, and represent the international brewing community on stage at the OBF opening ceremonies.  

The exchange is a partnership between the Oregon Brewers Festival and Beervana — New Zealand’s preeminent craft beer festival. Last August, roles reversed as brewing representatives from Portland travelled to Wellington for Beervana. When describing their city’s passion for beer, the folks from Tuatara Brewery say, “It probably helps that we’re based in Wellington where beer appreciation is not so much a cult as a full-blown religion.” 

Each of the five New Zealand brewers will collaborate with a Portland brewery during his stay. (Brewer's names as seen in photos above — left to right) 

• Carl Vasta of Tuatara Brewery and Cascade Brewing
• Jos Ruffel of Garage Project Brewery and Ecliptic Brewing
• Matt Warner of Parrot Dog Brewery and Gigantic Brewing
  
• Mike Neilson of Panhead Custom Ales and Widmer Brothers
  
• Stuart McKinlay of Yeastie Boys and Lompoc Brewing

Oregon breweries will individually release their collaboration beers. See brewery websites for more information. 

You can meet the visiting Kiwi Brewers at the following events during Oregon Brewers Fest week:

Wednesday, July 22 – Saturday, July 25  

 12:00pm - 9:00pm — Oregon Brewers Festival

- Tom McCall Waterfront Park

- Find the New Zealand Brewers in the international tent 

Wednesday, July 22     

11:30am — Brewers Parade                              

- Parade Begins @ 723 N Tillamook St.                          

- Parade Ends @ Tom McCall Waterfront Park 

12:00pm — OBF Opening Ceremonies

- New Zealand brewers are introduced onstage @ Tom McCall 

Thursday, July 23          

6:00pm — “Meet the Kiwis” at Belmont Station

- 4500 SE Stark Street

- Taste New Zealand beers on-tap

- Visiting brewers speak about their beers and breweries                                                                             

Be sure to try one or all of the following New Zealand beers available at OBF:

• Death From Above — an experimental beer from Garage Project Brewery 
• Johnny Octane — an imperial red ale from Panhead Custom Ales              
• Riwaka Secret — a double IPA from Parrot Dog Brewery                             
• Suavinova — an international-style pale ale from Tuatara Brewing              
• Gunnamatta — an American-style strong pale ale from Yeastie Boys          

The Wellington brewer representatives are in town for just one week!

About the Players: In a combined effort, the Oregon Brewers Festival, Beervana, New Zealand Brewers Guild, New Zealand Hops and Grow Wellington helped coordinate the 2015 brewer exchange in Portland.  Grow Wellington is the official economic development organization of Wellington, NZ. The five visiting brewers represent the following New Zealand breweries: Garage Project Brewery, Panhead Custom Ales, Parrot Dog Brewery, Tuatara Brewery and Yeastie Boys.