Festivals in Corvallis

I had a loverly weekend in Corvallis taking a part of some area traditions.

On Saturday I volunteered to be the DD for the Corvallis Septembeerfest.  Lindsay, Eric and I headed to the fairgrounds to try some local brews that were available for tasting.  Ten dollars paid for my entrance fee, two tasting tokens and a neato pint glass.  More tokens could be purchased for $1 each….the tokens were bottle caps designed specifically for Septembeerfest. 

Entrance to Septembeerfest.

As I was driving I was limiting myself to my two tokens and had to choose wisely.  I am a fan of seasonal beers and there were quite a few Oktoberfests being featured.  I can also be quite adventurous, so when I saw that at the booth for Block 15, there was a secret tap.  When I was a small child going to the flea markets with my parents, I would always try to seek out a booth that had the grab bags.  Fifty cents would buy me a bag filled with unknown goodies.  The best part was the anticipation.  The toys and/or the candy was never really that exciting, but the adventure was truly amazing.  I felt like a little girl again when I approached the man pouring from the tap.  Would it be a hefe?  A stout would have been marvelous too.  What if was an IPA, a strong, extra, extra, EXTRA IPA?  Would I be able to handle it?  I handed the man my pint glass and asked for the secret tap.  I thought I would be able to taste for myself and guess, but he told me right away.  “The secret tap is a bourbon barrel imperial stout,” he said as he poured me a 4 oz taste.  I was elated!  I couldn’t have wished for a better surprise.  With a skip in my step, I made my way over to the picnic table where Eric and Lindsay were enjoying their beers.

My pint that I got to take home.

As I was nursing my taste of heaven, Eric’s friend Steve had shown up to the festival.  Lindsay and Eric were ready for another taste, but I was not.  I was making sure I loved every last drop.  I waited in line with the three of them as they selected their next tastes.  When then made our way to the entertainment tent to listen to some polka music and enjoy each other’s company.  Soon, another friend of Lindsay and Eric’s joined us.  Kevin and Steve are both fun and I enjoy their company.

I was soon ready to use my second token.  I narrowed my choice between two seasonal beers and then chose the one with the lower alcohol content.  I believe it was an Oktoberfest from Ninkasi, but I could be terribly wrong.  My friends back at the table were wondering why I was being so conservative.  Lindsay reminded the group that I was driving.  They pointed out that two tastes doesn’t even make a full pint of beer, and as we were planning on being there for 3 hours, there wouldn’t be much damage.  Steve handed me another token, as he was driving too and needed to even out his load.  I caved into the beer pressure and took my last token to try the Oakshire Harvest Ale.  It was tasty and I preferred it over the Oktoberfest, but not the Bourbon Barrel Stout. 

Septembeerfest tasting token.

Five o’clock was approaching quickly and the gang wanted to watch the Beavers game.   The non drivers worked on finishing off their last tokens they had purchased.  We made plans to order pizza and then watch the game from Steve’s parents as he was there while his parents were out of town. 

After picking up American Dream Pizza and making a few wrong turns we finally made our way to Steve’s parents where another friend, Brad met us.  THE HOUSE IS GORGEOUS WITH A GORGEOUS VIEW!  The sun was setting to the West, but left a glow and a rainbow of colors dipping below the Cascades to the East.  I could have sat on the deck and stared off into the horizon forever…but there was a game to watch.

Beautiful view of Corvallis/Willamette Valley.  

The Beavers painted their practice field blue to hopefully prepare for the distraction that is the Smurf Turf at Boise State.  It did not help.  The Beavers fell to the Broncos 24-37.  In hopes of watching Oregon University fall to Arizona State, but Beaver fans were disappointed again that day. 

While the Ducks game was on, I played billiards, but not chess.  Much like Euchre, I refuse/am not allowed to learn how to play chess.  Brad may have beat me twice in 8 ball by default due to my carelessness with sinking the 8, but I beat out everyone when playing kerplunk.  Yes, I, a girl, defeated 4 young men in a billiards game.  My mother would have been proud. 

Lat ball left/winning ball of Kerplunk.  

Sunday, after watching the Bengals win, I went downtown for the Corvallis Fall Festival.  In Ohio, Fall Festivals have pumpkins, crafts for fall, Halloween decorations and tasty fall foods.  Not so much at this fall festival and I was a little disappointed and homesick.  The booths consisted of art and jewelry.  Although I’m sure that these booths catered to their clientele, it’s not what I was wanting.  I was in the market for some pumpkins and mums, not a new piece of art to adorn my wall or a new bracelet to adorn my wrist. 

There was wine tasting, so that lifted my spirits a bit.  I was hoping that the Pad Thai made by the Benton County Democrats would help my morale too…but it didn’t.  It was tasty, but didn’t really taste like Pad Thai.  I decided I needed an ice cream cone, which did add to the lifting of my spirits.

I asked for a single scoop....this doesn't look like a single scoop.