Summer’s fading fast, but a two-day craft beer festival in Astoria should keep the good vibes going.
The Pacific Northwest Brew Cup is set to take over a chunk of downtown Friday and Saturday, featuring nearly 25 breweries and a half-dozen bands.
The family-friendly event, now in its 22nd year, is expected to draw several thousand revelers.
There will be quite a few more beers to sample than last year – when the Brew Cup returned after a three-year pandemic-related hiatus.
“Bigger, louder, stronger,” quipped Lyra Stone, who is coordinating the event for the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association.
Stone, who previously worked in the beer industry, said dozens of beer styles will be represented at the festival. Craft ciders will also be on tap.
Expect lots of bold IPAs, refreshing lagers and crisp pilsners.
Some of the highlights include Yakima-based Single Hill Brewing’s Skyfinder, a fresh-hop hazy IPA, Oktoberfest lagers by Breakside Brewery (Portland) and pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River), and Brew Berry Blonde Ale by Astoria Brewing, made with marionberries.
“It’s going to be a good lineup,” Stone said. “I’m pretty stoked.”
Every Astoria brewery will be represented, including Buoy Beer Co., Fort George Brewery, Obelisk Beer Co. and Hondo’s Brewery.
Other participating breweries include: North Jetty Brewing (Seaview); Public Coast Brewing (Cannon Beach); Sisu Beer (Seaside); Georgetown Brewing (Seattle); Great Notion Brewing (Portland); Sunriver Brewing (Sunriver); ForeLand Beer (McMinnville); Ruse Brewing (Portland); Steeplejack Beer (Portland); Mount Olympus Brewing (Aberdeen, Wash.); Evasion Brewing (McMinnville); Gigantic Brewing (Portland); Mac & Jack’s Brewing (Redmond, Wash.); and Lucky Envelope Brewing (Seattle).
Dwayne Smallwood, owner of Astoria’s Bridge & Tunnel Bottleshop and Taproom, helped choose the breweries. But he’s most excited about hosting a cool block party.
“Just getting everybody together is important,” he said. “The community aspect of it is always the best part.”
The Brew Cup will be held Friday from 2 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.
Admission is free. A beer cup and eight tasting tokens costs $20. Pay at the event or online at www.astoriadowntown.com/pnbcf.
The festival will once again be held in the Heritage Square parking area used by the Astoria Sunday Market.
Bands and solo performers will be mostly from the North Coast and Long Beach peninsula. They include The Hackles, Brownsmead Flats, Red String Theory, Ilwaco High School Jazz Band and Dr. Onion & the No-No Mamas.
Four food trucks – Montealban, Lily Rose Coffee & Crepes, Repair Three BBQ and Frite & Scoop – will be available.
Children’s activities are planned for both days.
The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the nonprofit downtown association, benefiting various restoration and beautification projects. The group hopes to raise between $15,000 and $20,000, Stone said.
This column originally appeared in The Astorian in September 2024.
