“Our goal was to create an event to celebrate the allure, complexity and flavors of pale ale, while raising awareness about an important men’s health issue,” said Rick Lyke, a drinks journalist and prostate cancer survivor. Lyke founded Pints for Prostates in 2008 after successful prostate cancer surgery. “Thanks to the help of 24 great breweries we have been able to put together a very special beer tasting.”
The tasting event features pale ales from a dozen Oregon breweries and a dozen breweries from around the globe. Presented by Beer West magazine in conjunction with the Oregon Brewers Festival, the event benefits the Pints for Prostates campaign, which reaches men through the universal language of beer with a message about the importance of early detection.
Tickets for the Portland Pale Ale Invitational are $30 and are available online at http://www.pintsforprostates.org . All net proceeds support the mission of the Pints for Prostates campaign. Only 500 tickets for this special event will be sold.
“We are excited about the brewers that have agreed to take part and the world class pale ales they will be pouring. Beer fans will get the chance to try a wide variety of pale ale styles in a single session,” said Megan Flynn, publisher and editor-in-chief of Beer West magazine. “Pale ales have become America’s favorite type of craft beer. This event salutes the passion brewers and beer drinkers have for pale ale.”
Beers that are scheduled to be poured at the event include:
■Dark Rain Black Pale Ale from BridgePort Brewing, Portland, Ore.;
■Caldera IPA from Caldera Brewing, Ashland, Ore.;
■Portland Ale from Cascade Brewing, Portland, Ore.;
■Armory XPA from Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Ore.;
■Bogart NW IPA from Fire Mountain Brew House, Carlton, Ore.;
■Pale 31 from Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, Calif.;
■Full Sail IPA from Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, Ore.;
■Kick Axe Dry Hopped Pale Ale from Lompoc Brewing, Portland, Ore.;
■MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale from MacTarnahan’s Brewing, Portland, Ore.;
■Moa Pale Ale from Moa Brewing, Marlborough, New Zealand;
■White Hatter, Black Hatter, Oaked Hatter, Farmhouse Hatter & Rye Hatter from New Holland Brewing, Holland, Mich.;
■Radiant Summer Ale from Ninkasi Brewing, Eugene, Ore.;
■Ghost Hop White IPA from NoDa Brewing, Charlotte, N.C.;
■Wooden Elephant Barrel Aged IPA from Odell Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.;
■Protector Pale Ale for Oregon Brew Crew (homebrewers)/Portland U-Brew from Portland, Ore.;
■Chatoe Rogue Single Malt Ale from Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore.;
■Flipside Double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif.;
■Clear Creek Pale Ale from Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, Wash.;
■Snake River Pale Ale and Pako’s IPA from Snake River Brewery, Jackson Hole, Wyo.;
■Barley Legal Pale Ale from Southern Oregon Brewing, Medford, Ore.;
■Stone Ruination IPA from Stone Brewing, Escondido, Calif.;
■Hophead Double IPA from Tree Brewing, Kelowna, British Columbia;
■5-South Pale Ale from 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, Calif.;
■Wells Bombardier Ale from Wells & Young’s, Bedford, United Kingdom.
“This year marks the 25th annual Oregon Brewers Festival so we are proud to be able to help support Pints for Prostates by making our venue available for the Portland Pale Ale Invitational on the eve of our silver anniversary,” said Art Larrance, one of the founders of the Oregon Brewers Festival. “The Oregon Brewers Festival is already one of the world’s biggest beer events and the Portland Pale Ale Invitational is another reason for people to visit and enjoy great craft beer.”
Judges at the Great American Beer Festival award medals in seven different pale ale categories. Pale ale categories attract the most entries and are the hottest contested.
“Men are 33 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to have breast cancer, yet few men know about the critical importance of early detection,” Lyke said. “The support of Beer West magazine, the Oregon Brewers Festival and the two dozen great craft brewers donating beer for the event will help us reach an audience that needs to hear our message.”
About Pints for Prostates
Pints for Prostates is a 501(c)3 a campaign that reaches men through the universal language of beer to encourage them to take charge of their health. The group was founded by prostate cancer survivor and beer writer Rick Lyke in 2008. The grassroots effort raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health screenings and PSA testing by making appearances at beer festivals, social networking and pro bono advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute, 240,890 new prostate cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2011. More information is available at www.pintsforprostates.org. Pints for Prostates also has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@pints4prostates).
About Beer West Magazine
Founded in 2007, Beer Northwest has grown to become the leading beer culture and lifestyle magazine in the Northwest. In January 2011, the magazine expanded into California and became Beer West. The magazine covers the thriving West Coast beer market and is the only regional publication of its kind. Beer West has more than doubled its circulation and visibility in the past year, with a focused readership of 80,000 beer and food enthusiasts. Beer West is a celebration of the unique Western beer-loving life.
About the Oregon Brewers Festival
The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the nation’s longest running and best loved craft beer festivals. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, with towering Mt. Hood as a backdrop, it is the ideal venue for anyone who loves craft beer. With a laid back attitude and scores of award-winning beers, the festival reflects the essence of the city of Portland, and is the crowning jewel of Oregon Craft Beer Month. The OBF was at the forefront of exposing craft beers to the public. A total of 84 craft breweries from all parts of the nation will serve more than 30 beer styles to nearly 80,000 beer lovers from around the world. Another 50 specialty beers will be available for tastes in the Buzz Tent.
