The Oregon Brewers Festival, or OBF, is one of the nation’s longest-running and best loved craft beer festivals, held annually in Portland, Ore. the last full weekend in July. The 2012 festival, marking the event's 25th year, will take place July 26 through 29 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the west bank of the Willamette River.

The OBF was founded to provide beer lovers with the opportunity to sample and learn about a variety of craft beer styles from across the country. Eighty craft breweries from all parts of the nation offer more than 30 styles of handcrafted brews to nearly 80,000 beer lovers during the four-day event. A Buzz Tent offers another 50+ rare and specialty beers. There is one additional tap dedicated to a gluten-free beer.

Beer taps are open from Noon to 9 pm Thursday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 pm on Sunday. Token and mug sales end one half-hour before the taps close.

Admission into the festival grounds is free. In order to consume beer, purchase of a 2012 souvenir mug is required and costs $6. Mugs from previous years will not be filled. Beer is purchased with wooden tokens that cost $1 apiece. A full mug of beer costs four tokens and a taster costs one token. Event programs are free and included with every mug sale.

Here you can purchase packages in advance. You will still need to go through security at one of the four main gates upon arriving. Once you are inside the festival, you will head to the mug/tokens sales booth located just inside the Oak Street entrance. Advance ticket holders will pick up their packages in the lines at the south end of the mug/token sales booth. Your ticket will be scanned and you will be handed your package. There are four advance package options:

Beer Taster Package = $20: 1 mug, 14 tokens, 1 program

Beer Drinker Package = $25: 1 mug, 20 tokens, 1 program

Beer for 2 Package = $50: 2 mugs, 40 tokens, 2 programs

Beer for 4 Package = $100: 4 mugs, 80 tokens, 4 programs

The OBF also features live music, beer-related vendors, beer memorabilia displays, beer writers and publishers, homebrewing demonstrations, and an assortment of foods. The Crater Lake Root Beer Garden offers complimentary handcrafted root beer for minors and designated drivers. Minors are welcome at the festival when accompanied by a parent.

Learn more at www.oregonbrewfest.com, like us at www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter!