MAN-D OREGON BREWERS FESTIVAL GUIDE

Once a year the Man-D comes out of storage for the Oregon Brewers Festival.

Traditions need respect. The beer hat named Man-D is part of tradition. Where’s the best place to wear the Man-D?

Oregon Brewers Festival.

See, the Man-D has magic for whoever wears it.

The draw on Waterfront Park is the wide variety of beers, the sort you don’t find anywhere near a Plaid Pantry or gas station.

Exhibiting the Man-D makes it all the better.

To those who say a beer is a beer is a beer: you’re wrong, wrong, wrong.

Like your individual DNA, each beer has a unique DNA too.

The goal at the Oregon Brewers Festival is matching beer DNA to your DNA. When it happens it is a beautiful thing.

The Man-D brings it all together.

Of course the only accessory you need with the Man-D is the perfect shirt.

Rogue adds to the magic of the day and great company, but only if it’s on the right person.

For two hours on a Saturday afternoon, maybe three, Oregon Brewers Festival brings the best men and women of the region together to support the love of beer.

This year’s event came at the same time as the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville.

Could be wrong, but I doubt you’d see many togas there.

Do you really want to go anyplace that doesn’t include togas and the Man-D? I think not.

Next year wear a toga and the Man-D? I think so.

One day it will be too hard to get downtown, to much fuss and fuming for fun.

That’s not a day anyone looks forward to, not when people come from across the globe to drink a beer down by the river.

It’s important to help Portland make a good first impression.

This BoomerPdx blogger makes a special effort.

If someone says they want a picture of the Man-D, they get it.

Whether a group picture.

Or solo.

Guys get in on it.

This is where the right beer shirt comes in.

Who’s gonna say no at the Oregon Brewers Festival?

You can sense the festive mood.

Women ask for pictures and they get them.

Why do people love the Man-D? Because it’s a hat from the heart, and that heart’s name is Mandy.

Her kindness and humor flow from it. And it shows.

The end of the tour gets a little sad.

The crowds are revving up for the evening, but Man-D is on the clock.

Once or twice things got out of hand, which is code for someone else wearing the Man-D.

It happened this time.

Not everyone gets the fun part. She did.

Once you make the run, pile on great memories for another year, it’s time to go.

The Oregon Brewers Festival is more than beer, it’s the joy of Portland on a sunny day by the Willamette.

Does it ever get better? Tune in next year.

Until then.