A Pleasant “After Burn”
Reflecting on my first hot sauce festival experience
“The after burn is nature’s way of saying: ‘You asked for this.’”
I’m writing this post feeling a pleasant “after burn” in my mouth, throat, and stomach after trying dozens of hot sauces today. Friends who’d experienced last year’s Portland Hot Sauce Festival invited me to join them this year, and I had fun gaining a whole new experience! In general, I love hot sauce and can generally handle the heat. What I discovered today was so much more than just the featured hot sauces themselves, but really a different look at the craft, the community, and the culture around hot sauce.
Not just heat
What was immediately apparent was that the featured sauces weren’t just about heat. Of course, there were plenty of very hot ones! However, what impressed me was the incredible diversity of styles and recipes on display. Each vendor brought their own interpretation of what hot sauce could be.
And it wasn't just hot sauces! The festival featured an amazing array of other spicy and fermented foods: salsas, artisanal vinegars, sweet and spicy jams, crunchy chili crisps, fermented pickles, and even a fun craft ketchup.
National appeal and local pride
Vendors came from all across the country, creating this amazing cross-section of American hot sauce culture. For example, Seed Ranch came from Colorado, and sold out all but one of their take-home bottles by the time we got there, but still samples for tasting. They were displaying the award they won in New York City.
What made me particularly proud was seeing so many Portland winning awards at prestigious hot sauce competitions in other parts of the country, including Texas and New Mexico. There's something very cool about seeing local makers getting recognition on the national stage.
Everything goes better with beer
We opted for the craft beer package ($40 vs. the standard $15 entry fee), which included three beers plus a bottle of hot sauce to take home. Our first beer was a rookie move. At first sight, we grabbed canned beers. They were Boneyard, good Oregon beer, but still in cans!
After that initial beer, we found the taps in the back of the fairground. My personal favorite between tastings was Pfriem Pilsner on draft. The cold, clean flavor was the perfect palate cleanser.
Between the beers, I also treated myself to some shaved ice. With the hot weather outside and all that spice building up, that literally ice-cold refreshment was a lifesaver. The sweetness was also a welcome relief!
The Tasting Experience: Lessons Learned
Here's where my friends' experience from last year really showed. They came prepared with neutral rice chips and Capri Sun juice pouches. The rice chips provided the perfect bland canvas for each sauce to shine, while those nostalgic juice pouches offered sweet relief when needed.
My mistake? Bringing flavored crackers that competed with the sauces instead of complementing them. Lesson learned for next year!
The funny thing is, by the time I'd worked my way through dozens of sauces, I'd consumed so many chips, crackers, and beers that I was too full to try any of the actual food vendors. As I mentioned, even hours later with that pleasant “after burn,” I still don't have much appetite!
Entertainment Beyond the Sauce
What really made this event unique was the atmosphere. They had full-on wrestling shows complete with all the theatrical drama (“kayfabe”). Sure, up close you could tell it wasn't exactly realistic, but it was incredibly entertaining. And honestly, even with the theatrical elements, I still think those moves would hurt without proper training!
The Verdict
This hot sauce festival made for a great event — a celebration of craft and creativity, a chance to support both local and national small businesses, an excuse to drink good beer in the afternoon, and an entertaining way to spend a hot day with friends.
Would I go back next year? Absolutely. Will I bring better chips and maybe some Capri Sun of my own? Yes! Will I pace myself better so I can actually try some food? We'll see.
If you're someone who appreciates hot sauce, enjoys trying new things, or just likes the idea of a festival where the entertainment includes both artisanal condiments and theatrical wrestling, I highly recommend this event. Just make sure you try to bring neutral chips, have a strategy for cooling down your mouth afterward, and pace yourself!