Bring on the Bourbon
The Little Woody beer festival adds the harder stuff this year
Last year, Bend’s beer local brewing community gathered for not just a beer festival, but a barrel-aged beer festival. It was called The Little Woody and it was an immediate hit, bringing out all the area’s most hardcore beer fans who got a taste of specialty creations from the region’s breweries.
The popularity of the event wasn’t overlooked, which is why organizers are bringing it back even bigger this year for the festival’s second installment on September 3 and 4 in the same location on the lawn of the Des Chutes Historical Society on the edge of downtown. But the most notable difference is that the Little Woody will also include another beverage created in wood barrels. Yes, we’re talking about bourbon – one of the most increasingly popular beverages in the drinking world.
But Little Woody organizer Lee Perry of Lay it Out Events wasn’t going to let just any brown liquid labeled “bourbon” be served at the festival, which is why late this spring he gathered some of Bend’s most knowledgeable bourbon drinkers to help decide the roster. In addition to these pros, he also brought in some Source Weekly staff because, well, we like bourbon, too.
Mark Merrick from East Bend Liquor, a guy who knows more about liquor than some folks know about their own children, administered the tasting, bringing in more than a dozen different bourbons for the panel to taste. He explained the definition of bourbon, which is a spirit made from at least 51 percent corn mash, stored in an oak barrel and aged for at least four years, then proceeded to pour small tastes for the panel, giving a background to each. From this we learned a few things – first, bourbon is a tricky spirit to do well and secondly, it seems that most bourbons are produced by a small grouping of Kentucky families who’ve been doing this for generations.
There were some familiar names in the tasting line, like Maker’s Mark and Russell Reserve, but also some less common options, like Bulleit Bourbon, a relative newcomer to the scene with a bottle that was actually designed in Portland. Only a few of the options got a “naaa…” from the panel, and some others received a resounding nod of approval – and a second sip on the taster before it was politely poured out.
When it was all said and done, here were the bourbons chosen from the tasting, all of which will be served at the second-annual Little Woody: Basil Hayden, Weller, Jefferson, Bulleit and Evan Williams Single Barrel.
So in addition to your beer, step it up a notch for something stronger this year at The Little Woody, if bourbon happens to be your poison.
The Little Woody Barrel-Aged Brew Festival Returns to Bend on September 3-4th, 2010
(BEND, Ore.) Lay It Out Events is proud to announce that the second annual Little Woody Barrel-Aged Brew Festival will return to the lawn of the Des Chutes Historical Museum in Downtown Bend on September 3-4th, 2010. Created as a celebration to commemorate the craft beers of Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, The Little Woody celebrates the ancient brewing technique as adapted by American craft brewers. Featuring beers aged in wine barrels, whiskey barrels and oak barrels, which uniquely flavors and intensifies the beer. With last year’s festival drawing more than 2,000 craft beer enthusiasts, the Little Woody 2010 will be a two-day celebration. In addition to showcasing the wide variety of barrel-aged beer from local and regional microbreweries, this year’s Little Woody will offer bourbon tasting from some of the region’s finest distilleries.
The festival will feature a wide array of local food vendors, as well as live music from local favorites The Moon Mountain Ramblers and Portland’s Jack Straw.
The Little Woody will take place Labor Day Weekend, September 3 from 5 -10pm and September 4 from 12pm -10pm. Tasting packages will be available and will include a commemorative glass and tasting tickets. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit the Deschutes Historical Society.
The Little Woody would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support to make the Little Woody 2010 a success: Nature’s Whole Food Marketplace, The Source Weekly, Perez Design, Multineer and Bendistillery.
Lay It Out Events is a full service event production company. In addition to producing Northwest Community Bend Winterfest presented by Mt. Bachelor, Balloons Over Bend, The Bite of Bend, and The Little Woody, Lay It Out Events provides event production services and is available for contract events. For more information please visit www.layitoutevents.com or www.thelittlewoody.com
The Second Annual Little Woody to Take Place Labor Day Weekend 2010
Bend, OR—December 17, 2009—Lay It Out Events is proud to announce that the second annual Little Woody barrel-aged brew festival will take place on Labor Day Weekend 2010. This year’s Little Woody will take place on September 3-4 on the lawn of the Des Chutes Historical Museum in Downtown Bend. Due to the popularity of last year’s Little Woody, The Little Woody 2010 will encompass two days and include bourbon as well as barrel-aged beer from local and regional microbreweries. The Little Woody was created to commemorate one of Central Oregon’s cultural hallmarks – the craft beers created in Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The Little Woody provides a fun environment for people to enjoy these brews and celebrate craft brewing in one place.
In the past, brewers served beer that had been aged in oaken casks. Now, brewers are turning to these historical techniques for adding depth of flavor to their beers. The Little Woody celebrates this ancient brewing technique as adapted by American craft brewers, featuring beers aged in wine barrels, whiskey barrels and oak barrels, which uniquely flavors and intensifies the beer.
The Little Woody 2010 will take place Labor Day Weekend, September 3 from 5 -10pm and September 4 from 12pm -10pm on the lawn of the Des Chutes Historical Museum in Downtown Bend. Admission to the event includes a commemorative glass. A tasting package is available and includes a commemorative glass and tasting tickets. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit the Deschutes Historical Society.
Lay It Out Events is a full service event production company. In addition to producing Northwest Community Bend Winterfest presented by Mt. Bachelor, Balloons Over Bend. The Bite of Bend, and The Little Woody, Lay It Out Events provides event production services and is available for contract events. Lay It Out Events has produced The Mentor Fundraiser, The Black and White Gala for Art Central, Wine By The River, Maragas Winery special events and special events for The Source Weekly. For more information please visit www.layitoutevents.com, www.bendwinterfest.com or call 541-323-0964.