Ridgewalker Brewing’s Jeff Farrar referees armored combat at Viking Beer Fest 2024.

Jeff Farrar lifts a battle axe high as medieval banners flutter in Oregon’s late summer breeze over a grassy arena, drawing cheers from onlookers. “Have any of you ever seen real armored combat?” Farrar calls out.

The crowd swiftly turns from cheering to gasping as two fully armored warriors clash, their swords clanking in a metallic dance. For nearly two minutes, they trade blows, maneuvers, and force in a three-round demonstration that captivates the audience with each thunderous collision. The intense encounters offer spectators a rare proximity to authentic medieval combat—even though the weapons are blunted, the authenticity of the armor and the sound of metal striking metal are vividly real.

At the end of the third round, the fighters share a hug, signaling that the fierce combat was purely theatrical. The audience, following Farrar’s cue, raises their beers high in celebration amidst renewed cheers.

Welcome to the Viking Beer Fest, now celebrating its third year! This charity festival is held in a lush park on the southwest side of Portland and is organized in support of the non-profit organization Nordic Northwest. The event attracts roughly 2,000 participants including beer enthusiasts, history buffs, and fantasy lovers. Boasting 41 taps and 17 brewers, the festival offers an abundance of beer and mead, set against a vibrant medieval backdrop. Viking Beer Fest is a unique gathering where fictional characters like elves, knights, hobbits, vikings, wizards, fey folk, and even a giant gnome step out from fantasy into reality. A highlight of the festival is the costume contest, where attendees such as one dressed as Samwise Gamgee surprises the crowd by pulling out a bag of potatoes from a backpack.

An attendee dressed as Samwise Gamgee lifts a bag of potatoes, delighting the audience.

Nordic Northwest uses this blend of fictional and historical ambiance to introduce and promote its mission. Originating from a language club at Portland State in the 1990s, it has evolved into a comprehensive cultural institution that organizes various events throughout the year at this location.

Outside of festival times, the public can explore the site’s pathways and interior spaces that are filled with displays of art and jewelry.

“We are connecting people to Nordic culture through Nordic exhibits, events and festivals that bring people together,” says the group’s communications manager Anette Gullholm. “We have people in their 20s and their 80s here,” adds Nordic Northwest director of development Shawn MacArthur. “I haven’t seen many events that where people from almost every decade of life are coming together, drinking together and having a great time like this.”

Indeed, a great time appears to be the theme of the day. While armored warriors mingle with spectators between rounds, other festival goers line up to exchange beer tickets for beer samples with names like Loki’s Libation and Thor’s Cousin.

Festivalgoers exchange beer tickets for samples at Viking Beer Fest.

I catch up with Farrar near Olebolle, a 19-foot wooden sculpture of a troll from Danish artist Thomas Dambo. “I actually am Thor’s Cousin,” Farrar laughs. “It was a joke that started as a Yelp! review.”

Farrar, who not only officiates the event but is also the proud owner of Ridgewalker Brewing, packs away a peculiar battle axe that once featured as a prop on AMC’s hit show “The Walking Dead”. He takes a moment to explain the evolving nature of the Viking Beer Fest. Originally a platform for brewers to present their mainstay beers, it has since transitioned into a celebration of Scandinavian and Nordic-style beers, initiated after brewers agreed to explore these traditional recipes.

According to Farrar, the key to authentic Scandinavian beer lies within the yeast used during the brewing process. However, numerous breweries scattered across the Nordic Northwest campus incorporate unique Nordic ingredients like juniper berries or raspberries to differentiate their offerings. For the region’s enthusiastic beer aficionados, the festival serves as a rare chance to indulge in unique brews not typically available in stores. Amidst the bustling beer stands, food vendors and local artisans also thrive, selling Scandinavian-themed delights like Swedish meatballs and intricately crafted wire bracelets.

Icelandair, as an event sponsor, takes the opportunity to entice the vibrant, often whimsical crowd—with their varying degrees of inebriation—to consider traveling across Scandinavia.

Farrar acknowledges the appeal of armored combat among the attendees, yet he asserts that the essence of the Viking Beer Fest remains, quite fittingly, the beer itself.

As the event progresses, the festival’s beloved beer begins to set a quicker tempo for the remaining activities on the grounds. The queue for axe throwing extends beyond a half-hour wait. The picnic tables become increasingly crowded with an assortment of beer glasses, baskets filled with food, and pieces of armor.

A constant gathering encircles the Red Troll Forge blacksmith shop, where onlookers are entertained by smiths crafting various household items like nails and fire pokers right before their eyes. Foam swords and shields are energetically wielded in the LARPing section. Numerous guests continue to explore the forest trails behind Olebolle, stumbling upon a secretive beer tap where Ridgewalker rewards the explorers with a special high gravity beer.

As dusk starts to blanket the sky, the sounds of combat transition to the beats of a DJ set against the backdrop of a model Viking long ship. The forest paths behind Olebolle see an increase in traffic as more adventurers seek out the hidden beer tap, before the scene shifts to a night of music and dance.

Visitors to Viking Beer Fest can be found wearing street clothes, fantasy costumes and replica viking garb.

In the throng, festival organizers become more difficult to separate; but most are readily identifiable by a pair of leather, medieval bracers covering their forearms. The garments are historical and real, but wouldn’t feel out of place on a character in “Skyrim.”

All of this started as a spreadsheet created by MacArthur’s bracer-wearing team. Vikings sharing a round with hobbits. Valkyries serving beer to werewolves. The first hints of cooler, autumn air creeping into the atmosphere. The festival feels almost like a farewell to summer and a welcome home party for the coming of Halloween.

The campus feels bustling, too; but due to the threat of rain, MacArthur says this year’s attendance is actually down from 3,000 visitors in 2023. Asked if he’s planning a repeat of the festival for 2025, MacArthur lights up. Without a doubt. “People love to drink and people love to celebrate. This is a chance to do both of those things. It’s a chance to celebrate Nordic culture that doubles as a chance to dress up.”

“The smiles are the thing that gets me the most,” he adds. “Walking through the festival and seeing people smiling and having a good time, it’s a magical feeling and it drives me to keep doing this. Making people happy, at the end of the day, is just the best feeling from a non-profit standpoint.”

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