In a city where we celebrate everything new and brew under the sun, it may only be in its tenth year but FredFest celebrates the man who turns 89 years old—the dean of American beer writers, Fred Eckhardt. This mini but mighty beer festival is always held at Hair of the Dog Brewing, and their beer, so named Fred, honors the historian and author of A Treatise on Lager Beers: How to Make Good Beer at Home (1969). Every cent of FredFest’s $65 tickets benefits one of Eckhardt’s favorite charities each year, and this year proceeds will be donated to the Oregon Zoo Foundation.

The party's on Sunday, May 3, where birthday-party-hatted attendees will get to select from an astounding array of beers including Firestone Walker’s Stickee Monkee barrel-aged quad, the Bruery’s Oude Tart with cherries and Freckle imperial stout, and two from Three Floyds: Topless Wytch Baltic Porter and their coveted, hop-centric pale ale, Zombie Dust. Furthermore, Vermont’s venerable Hill Farmstead is sending two of their most sought-after saisons, Anna and Arthur. As for what barrels Hair of the Dog will provide, owner Alan Sprints is still undecided, but all stops will be pulled. On top of the beers, guests get to nosh on some of Fred’s faves: cheese, chocolate, candy, and cereal.

Advance tickets are available here. Entry into FredFest includes a souvenir glass, a free ticket for a raffle of bottled specialty beers, and four hours of sampling, sipping, and story-telling with Fred. Tickets are limited and they will go fast (they’ve sold out every year to date).

FredFest 2015, Hair of the Dog Brewing, 61 SE Yamhill, Sun May 3, 1-5 pm, $65 (all proceeds benefit the Oregon Zoo Foundation)