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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2015)
POURING your Full Sails, your New Belgiums, your Rogues,” said Griffin. “But you’ve also got newcomers like Wild Ride and 1188.” “We tried to focus on newer breweries,” he added. “I’m just as excited as every- body else to see those new breweries come. And some of those new guys, on the phone they’re just giggly. They’re so happy to have a place to come and showcase like that. For some of them, this is their first show.” It’s an opportunity for more than just the brewers, as attendees who travel to the festival from Portland and beyond will be afforded tastes they can’t get anywhere else. “A lot of the young breweries are self-distributing, and they haven’t reached Story by ANDREW TONRY chamber’s events director: “Jimmy is the the valley yet,” said Griffin. “So a lot of guru of this event.” the people who are coming out Alongside the burgeoning craft beer in- Griffin, co-owner of Sea- will get to try those beers dustry, Seaside’s Pouring at the Coast fes- side Brewing Company, for the first time. That tival is blowing up. Entering its sixth year, approached the cham- makes it really cool the event is essentially doubling-down, ber after last year’s for people.” – boasting twice as many exhibiting brewer- festival with two Whether es- ies and new fundraising efforts to bolster basic pitches: Fill tablished or up- to the brim the community. start, all exhib- EVENT SOLD OUT Con- Pouring at the Coast falls under the offi- Seaside iting beers will Five-course meal and dessert, paired cial umbrella of Seaside’s Chamber of Com- vention Center be entered into with Oregon Coast craft beers merce, but the additions to this year’s festiv- with more ex- the People’s ities — including a Brewer’s Dinner catered hibiting brew- Choice Con- Menu by Chef Chris Holen and the Seaside by students of Seaside High School’s Cu- eries, and tie the test, decided Culinary Arts Program linary Arts Program — have come largely Brewer’s Dinner by attendee more tightly in from the efforts of Jimmy Griffin. voting. Accord- 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 6 “Quote me on this,” said Chris Duffy, the with the local ing to Griffin, Seaside Civic & Convention Center community. breweries both $65 per person, reservations required His first task, big and small stand wrangling more brew- on equal footing in ers to come share their the contest. suds, was a breeze. “There are tiny brewer- “It’s not hard,” Griffin said. ies that make amazing beers,” “I mean, who doesn’t want to come to the he said. “The process, whether it’s a tiny beach and bring their beer?” brewery or a gigantic brewery, is the same. Among 30-some beer-makers scheduled It’s been the same process for thousands and to attend, almost every commercial brewery thousands of years. So as long as somebody from the North Coast region — from the big is really paying attention to what they’re dogs to the pups nipping at their heals — doing and being creative and forward think- will be on hand. ing, they can really come up with some “You’ve got your old standards like interesting stuff. It doesn’t really matter if they’re big or little.” Also, Saturday, a panel of distinguished tasters will judge the Homebrew Competi- tion, where all entries will come from ama- teur, noncommercial brewers. And as much as it is a contest, it’s also a way for home- brewers to improve and refine upon their craft. Over 35 breweries, wine, local food vendors, live music “What homebrewers are looking for is notes on what they’re doing,” said Grif- 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7 fin, who himself began tinkering in the Seaside Civic & Convention Center garage. “They can always pass a glass off pouringatthecoast.com to their buddy on the couch and say, ‘Hey, what do you think of that beer?’ But when $10 glass and four tastings an actual accredited judge comes and they $20 glass and 10 tastings get notes from a person like that, they get Extra tastings available: three for $5 really excited because they’re getting pure feedback.” 21 and over Photo by Joshua Bessex A day earlier, another cadre of up and AT THE COAST This sixth annual Seaside beer festival off ers tastings from almost 40 breweries and gives back to the community ~ Submitted photo Everyone who buys a ticket to the festival Saturday gets a compli- mentary pilsner tasting glass. ~ Oregon Coast Brewer’s Dinner ~ Kegs are stacked in the corner of the brewing room at Seaside Brewery. 8 | March 5, 2015 | coastweekend.com ~ Tasting Festival and Homebrewer’s Competition
