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EVENT Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM » Social News A salute to all things fermented, the Rogue Valley Fermentation Celebration will premiere this weekend at Harry & David Field — home of the Medford Rogues baseball club. The craft beer, whiskey and wine festival will feature more than two dozen brewers, distillers and winemakers from Southern Oregon, Northern California and the Northwest. "It's a new event, and I'm looking forward to it," says Paul Woolley, owner and operator of Rusty Bucket Brewing based in southwest Medford. "As a small local brewery, I think it will bring attention to craft brewers." The event was inspired by the Little Woody Barrel-Aged Brew and Whiskey Festival in Bend — where the traditional technique of creating and aging beer in wooden barrels is celebrated. "There are many craft brewers in Bend," Woolley says. "It's like a culture there. They've been coming on strong in the Rogue Valley. Seven new breweries applied for OLCC licenses in 2014. I'm anticipating a good turnout at this event." The fermentation celebration will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 24, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Harry & David Field, 2929 S. Pacific Highway. There will be food from mobile kitchens and live remote broadcasts from five local radio stations. The event is open to ages 21 and older only. Admission costs $5. Tasting packages cost $16 in advance, $20 at the door, and include admission, a glass and six tasting tokens. A VIP package costs $35 and includes early entry — 4 p.m. on Friday — a T-shirt, tasting glass and eight tokens. All tickets can be purchased at www.roguebrewfest.com . Woolley has been a resident of Southern Oregon since 1975, and he graduated Ashland High School in '77. He started brewing at home about six years ago. When his beers began winning awards at the local level, he decided to take things to the next level and start selling them. "It's a natural transition to take something you feel passionate about and turn it into a business," he says. "I share my beer with the world this way ... and get paid to do it." Among his top sellers are Sniper, as in Chris Kyle. "It's a double IPA we call Sniper because it sneaks up on you. It's a smooth, easy drink, but it comes in at about 9 percent alcohol," Woolley says. "Our single IPA is called Five Speed, made with a variety of five different hops. Its main characteristic is that it's citrus-y. I also have an amber ale, Rusty Red, with heavier malt and hoppy enough to not be too sweet." Part of the fun of creating beers is naming them, he says. He also makes stout, wheat beer and pumpkin beer. Depending on how fast Woolley goes through his beers at this weekend's Fermentation Celebration, he might bring out two new beers. Cruzin' is a session IPA that is relatively low in alcohol, coming it at just 5 percent. Another, a pale ale called Rusty Pail, is a light beer ideal for those who are new to craft beers. It's not too bitter or malty. Woolley sets himself apart from others at festivals such as this one by using his 1930 Model A Ford sedan as a vendor booth. "We've got two taps set up in the back, side window of the car," he says. "It's hard to miss us." Rusty Bucket has permanent taps at Growler King inside Quality Market on Jackson Street and Old 99 Wine Shop at Highway 99 and Stewart Avenue. His beers also are among the rotation of taps at Jefferson Spirits on East Main Street. By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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