Who:    The Oregon Zoo Foundation hosts Zoo Brew

What:   Beer and ale from Northwest breweries, food from the Oregon Zoo's renowned executive chef, Paul Warner, and live entertainment featuring Sam Bamboo and Pat O'Neal's Dixieland Jazz Band.
 

Where:  Elephant Plaza near the Oregon Zoo's concert lawn.
 

When:   Friday, May 30, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
 

Why:    Proceeds from Zoo Brew go toward the "Bring Back the Roar" campaign to bring lions back to the zoo.

PORTLAND, OR - Music fills the night and a warm May breeze wafts over the concert lawn as Oregon Zoo patrons sample Northwest artisan microbrews. On May 30, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., zoogoers and beer lovers alike will leave the strain of the city to unwind at the second annual Zoo Brew.

Zoo Brew, an Oregon Zoo brewers' festival, features nearly 25 of the area's best microbrews. Organizers emphasize that this is a tasting event, not a drinking event. In accordance with Oregon state law, no one under 21 may attend.

Sam Bamboo and Pat O'Neal's Dixieland Jazz Band perform on the concert lawn, as attendees sample beers and ales along with food provided by Oregon Zoo Executive Chef Paul Warner.

"The zoo is a magical place in the evening," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Zoo Brew makes for a perfect, relaxing date night."

Admission is $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and includes a commemorative glass and 10 tastings. Additional samples are available for $1 each. Zoo Brew takes place rain or shine. Proceeds from the event help "bring back the roar" of lions, which left the zoo in 1997, and support other ongoing conservation efforts.

The new Predators of the Serengeti exhibit will host the lions, and is set to open in 2009.

"The zoo is such a great venue," said Kris Terich, Oregon Zoo Foundation special events coordinator. "Our guests are transported far from the bustle of downtown Portland. No other Northwest event allows guests to mingle outdoors, try a bunch of fantastic local brews and visit their favorite animals at night."

Participating breweries include Big Sky Brewing Co., BridgePort Brewing Co., Deschutes Brewery, Double Mountain Brewing, Fish Brewing Co., Full Sail Brewing Co., Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., Hopworks Urban Brewery, Kona Brewing Co., Laurelwood Public House and Brewery, Lompoc Brewing Co. and Brewery, MacTarnahan's Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing, Pyramid Breweries, Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub, Redhook Ale Brewery, Rogue Ales, Trumer Brauerei and Widmer Brothers Brewing.

Zoo Brew is expected to sell out. Tickets are available at www.ticketswest.com, 503-224-TIXX and all TicketsWest ticket centers. If supplies last, tickets may be available at the door for $30.

For more information, contact Kris Terich at 503-220-2492 or kris.terich@oregonzoo.org.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63 to the Oregon Zoo. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238 RIDE (7433), or visit
www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $1 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.

ZooGuide  April Wolstencroft displays a commemorative pint glass during last year's Zoo Brew at the Oregon Zoo. The zoo hosts the popular event again on May 30, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Oregon Zoo - 4001 SW Canyon Rd. - Portland, Oregon 97221 - 503-226-1561