Beer festival season is still in full swing!

The North American Organic Brewers Festival returns to North Portland's Overlook Park through Sunday, August 16. This is good news for those who've outgrown the party atmosphere of July's Oregon Brewers Festival at Waterfront Park. In the past, this festival has cultivated a more family-friendly, old-school Oregon vibe, with a strong showing of greying ponytails and tie-dye and a mellower vibe conducive to the appreciation of beers. That's a good thing.

This year, the NAOBF features a lineup of 63 beers, ciders, meads, and braggots—52 on tap, 11 in bottles.  Here are 5 we're drinking:

PINTS Brewing Green Line Organic Radler (Portland, OR)
PINTS' headbrewer Alan Taylor spent years in Germany cultivating his tastes for their beers, styles, and tradtions. Which makes me especially excited for his take on the Radler—the 50/50 lager-soda mix popular  in Alpine huts after a long hike (among many other places).

Pinkus-Müller Ur-Pils (Münster, Germany)
Available in the "Merchant du Vin Organic Bottle Garden," Pinkus-Müller is the world's first certified organic brewery. But is it also good?

Finnriver Farm & Cidery Habanero Cider (Chimacum, WA)
Chili in booze: it's not for everyone. I think the combination can be excellent if executed properly. 

Fish Brewing Organic IPA (Olympia, WA)
I've been a loyal fan of this IPA ever since the Plaid Pantry across from my house decided to stock it years ago. They still do stock it, though I only know of one guy (me) who regularly buys it. It's a classic of the genre, a veteran presence at the NAOBF, and worth a sip.

Coin Toss Brewing Black Hohl Son Cascadian Dark Session Ale (Oregon City, OR)
Founded by a homebrewing reporter who is now living the dream as a brewer, Coin Toss's flagship ale is a sessionable version of the increasingly popular CDA—and am excited to try it.