Zwickelmania, the MOTHER of all beer events, is this weekend
»Play Video
On Twitter - #zwickel13
PORTLAND, Ore. - Beer lovers rejoice - breweries across the state will be throwing open their doors this weekend for special tastings and behind-the-scenes tours.
It's all part of the annual Zwickelmania Oregon Brewery Tour, which runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event gives you a chance to take tours, meet the brewers and sample your favorite beers. Admission to all events is free and there are even shuttle buses to get you from place to place.
Why is it called Zwickelmania? The event gets its name from the 'zwickel,' or sample valve, which is mounted on the outside of fermentation or conditioning tanks. The valve allows brewers to take samples for quality assurance and control.
On Friday we met up with the owners of Gigantic Brewery to get a preview of what you can expect at Zwickelmania.
Co-owner Van Havig took us into his brewery to show off the zwickel on his brewing tanks.
"Zwickelmania was the idea we wanted people to come in the breweries," he explained. "If you come through the brewery the way the brewers taste the beer is this way, off the zwickel.
"It's all about letting people get to know you through your beer. What makes every beer different? The brewer."
KATU reporter Emily Sinovic contributed to this report
cool! now....lets all go back and read the daily artical detailing the carnage of duii deaths, hit and runs and wrecked treasure and shattered dreams.  but its ok..lets gloryfy the known killer!Â
@Ken Ling That's a pretty silly remark--there are a few leaps between enjoying beer and drunk driving. Notice the bit about shuttles. It is offensive that you assume all beer drinkers drive while intoxicated or even drink to excess.
@Ken Ling Only as long as elementary school children aren't allowed near the beer!
Mmmmmmmm...BEER!
DOH!