Craft beers take center stage during Zwickelmania festival at breweries around the state, including one in Estacada

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An Estacada brewery was among 30 craft beer collaborators on a new beverage to be released at an upcoming gathering.

At the 12th annual Zwickelmania, held at breweries around the state and organized by the Oregon Craft Beer Association, attendees can taste the "State of Excitement IPA," which was the result of 30 brewer collaborators, including Bent Shovel Brewing in Estacada. The beer garden at 20189 S. Springwater Road will celebrate Zwickelmania from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15.

Rick Strauss of Bent Shovel Brewing described "State of Excitement" as "a West Coast style IPA" with plenty of hoppy flavors. During Zwickelmania, participants can stop by 100 locations for tours, tastings, meet-the-brewer sessions and free samples.

The name Zwickelmania comes from a "zwickel," or screw valve that mounts on the outside of fermentation or conditioning tanks so brewers can sample the beer for quality assurance. Breweries in the Portland region will celebrate the event on Saturday, Feb. 15, and breweries throughout the rest of the state take part on Saturday, Feb. 22.

"It's an opportunity to look behind the cloak of a brewery," Strauss said, noting that attendees "can get their beer geek on."

Along with "State of the Excitement," visitors to Bent Shovel can also try "Namesake," a dark belgium ale that was one of the first beers Strauss brewed.

"It's a rich beer. It's very much a fan favorite. There's a limited supply for special occasions," he said.

Strauss, who has participated in Zwickelmania for four years, noted that the collaboration is one of the best parts of the event.

"There's a lot of excitement around this," he said. "We look forward to it."

For more information about Zwickelmania, visit oregoncraftbeer.org/zwickelmania.

If you go

Along with Bent Shovel Brewing, the following breweries near Estacada will participate in Zwickelmania on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Breakside Brewery, 5821 S.E. International Way, Milwaukie

Coin Toss Brewing, 14214 Fir Street, Suite H, Oregon City

Little Beast Brewing, 11517 S.E. Highway 212, Clackamas

Oregon City Brewing Co., 1401 Washington St., Oregon City

Shattered Oak Brewing, 13851 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City