Are you a dog lover? A beer lover? Both? This weekend Rogue Ales Brewery in Newport, Ore. will host the Brewer’s Memorial Ale-fest, in memory of a black lab named Brewer, who once roamed Rogue Ales like he owned it. “We pretty much made him our CFO, we even had a bottle dedicated to him,” said Rogue Ales director of energy Scott Gallagher.
The waterside festival situated on the Yaquina Bay will feature local vendors’ food, live music featuring Tom Varley, Whiskey Robbers, Hoodoo Johnson and Etouffee and, of course, doggy Olympics.
“Everyone has beer festivals; we wanted to have a microbrew festival that was dog friendly,” Gallagher said.
Scott Meiers, owner of Rogue Ales Brewery, prefers community involvement instead of commercial marketing. He’s decided to donate profits from the festival to the Oregon Humane Society.
“At rogue we don’t do anything unless there’s some sort of community component to it,” said Gallagher, who added local food vendor Moe’s should attract a crowd.
Rogue Ales, once a boat-repair shop now converted to a brewery, will offer tours and tasting amidst the festivities. “It’s a fun opportunity not just to bring your dogs but also to tour the brewery,” Meiers said. The brewery recently added a working distiller, The House of Spirits, where Rogue Ales cultivates rum and gin.
In a large outdoor area, vendors, performers and festival-goers will celebrate all things microbrew, while watching their canines compete in physical feats. If you’re not a beer drinker, the festival will still offer entertainment and a variety of foods. Fellow dog lovers will hold dog washes and contests that include prizes for “ugliest dog,” among others. Brewers On the Bay, the pub located inside Rogue Ales, will also be open during the festival
The Brewer’s Memorial Ale Fest is a 21-and-over event. So if you fit that criterion, like locally brewed beverages, you (and your pup) are invited by Rogue Ales Brewery to bring your good humor out to the coast. Gallagher expects a crowd of “anybody who loves handcrafted beer, and anyone who loves dogs.”
No one needs a reason to grab a beer Friday night, but if you’re looking for a reason to get away from Eugene and grab a tall one in the company of another species, check out the first Brewer’s Memorial Ale-fest this weekend in Newport, Ore. The games begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.