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Every region across this great land now features a craft beer week or month to showcase and celebrate the best their city or state has to offer. In Oregon, we go one step further, by not only opening up a projected 100 breweries to the general public, but allowing folks to tour each location, most allowing samples directly from fermentation tanks.
This fresh way of sampling beer is often done by way of a zwickel, the spigot on the side of the tank used to check in on a beer’s status, ensuring their creations haven’t taken a turn for the worse. Now in it’s sixth iteration, this Saturday’s Zwickelmania brings the craft beer fanatic into the workshops of brewers throughout the state, bringing more attention to the craft behind the beer.
With Portland featuring the largest collection of craft breweries in the world, it figures that there’s more going on here than you can shake a zwickel at. For those us who lose track of just how many samples we’ve had, there are 5 tour shuttles running through the duration of the event (11am to 4pm), with 3 Rogue Shuttles at $5 for all day use and free shuttles offered by Brewvana and Kells Brew Pub. Free shuttles are also available in Eugene and Salem.
The day starts with brunch buffets at 4 Rogue locations in Portland and Eugene: Rogue Hall, Rogue Public House and Distillery, The Green Dragon, and the Rogue Public House and Track Town Brewery. 
Most PDX breweries are offering tours, discussions with their brewers and samples of specially brewed beers for the event. Others are offering even more to those in attendance and here are a few that stand out from the pack:
Full Sail Brewing at Riverplace is offering samples of their annual Brewer’s Share release Vendell’s Veizen Bock, paired with dark chocolate and tour-goers will receive a free pint glass.
Laurelwood Public House and Brewery will be providing beer and dessert tastings, beer specials in the pub, a seasonal release and barrel aged beers.
McMenamins will have a $7 regular and $9 specialty growler fill special at all Oregon locations.
Old Town Brewing is offering tours with their brewer, a DJ/Brewer spinning tunes, plus growler and merchandise specials.
Portland Brewing is raffling off a $100 gift card, will have samples and appetizers available, free bottle openers and a $10 gift card for those purchasing lunch.
These are just a few of the many promotions and events happening Saturday. For more information, check out Oregon Craft Beer’s website.
Have fun and if you’re gonna rock out, do it with your zwickel out!
