After the parade and ceremony was over, the Oregon Brewers Festival officially began.

With 72 beers separated into two tents with food and other booths in the center.

The central area of the festival.

Nice pun.

Larry Bell, owner of Bell’s Brewing, in some pretty unique sunglasses.

Beer Tent North.

The irrepressible Chris Crabb, who does most of the work organizing the festival, on Day 1.

The rolling Deschutes keg.

While the festival began, the media tasting was going on in a side tent. Usually, we walk around with Noel Blake to each stand to try the beers he’s selected for special attention. But with the addition of the parade, that’s become more difficult to do after people arrive at the festival. So this year, we sat down and they brought beer to us. Now that was cool.

Later, I stopped by the Green Dragon, a new place in Portland, where Lagunitas Brewing was having an event.

Lagunitas owner Tony Magee, played some music and poured some of his beer.