From left, Carl Vasta of Tuatara, Matt Warner of Parrot Dog, Mike Neilson of Panhead, Stu McKinlay of Yeastie Boys and Jos Ruffell of Garage Project at Commons Brewery in Portland.

Wellington craft breweries are impressing festivalgoers in the United States beer capital.

Panhead, Tuatara, Garage Project, Parrot Dog and Yeastie Boys gave the US beer capital of Portland a taste of New Zealand this week at the Oregon Brewers Festival.

The breweries are among 15 featured international brewers at the trade festival, which runs until Sunday.

About 85,000 festivalgoers attend the longest- running annual beer festival in the US, where ninety craft beers from America are also on offer.

The brewers were part of the New Zealand Craft Connection event, which helps them develop US trade connections.

Each brewer introduced their company and presented one of their beers with a matched dish of food created by Sheperd Elliott, chef at Wellington restaurant Ti Kouka.

Stu McKinlay of Yeastie Boys, said it was great to be showcasing his beer in Portland.

"We consider [Portland] to be setting the standard for craft beer worldwide," he said.

Jos Ruffell at Garage Project said it the opportunity for Wellington breweries to be showcased among the finest beers in the world and to be recognised for what they were doing was world class.

Clyde Burney, vice president of the beer and trade development at Southern Wines and Spirits, said New Zealand brewers made beers as good as anywhere in the world.

"The floral notes and characteristics of hops make the beers stand out and their passion is second to none. The challenge is to show the world how good they really are."

Festival director Art Larrance said there had been a lot of interest in the New Zealand contingent, who would feature in daily meet-the-brewer sessions and were honoured guests in the opening parade through Portland.

Five Oregon brewers attended the Beervana festival in Wellington last year as part of a long-term cultural exchange established by Larrance and Cryer, then director of the Beervana.

Statistics from Grow Wellington, one of the agencies in the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, show the craft beer market in Wellington is showing no sign of slowing.

The figures show in 2010 there were five craft breweries, adding about $3 million to Wellington's economy.

By 2013 there were 12 breweries in business, adding $12.3m in economic benefit, nearly doubling to $22.3m last year.

Grow Wellington general manager for business growth Angela Brownie said craft beer brewing accounted for 40 per cent of total growth in Wellington's food and beverage sector during the past four years.

"Participating in the festival and associated events provides our brewers with great opportunities to explore export potential in the US market.

"It's also a good opportunity to promote New Zealand and Wellington as a destination for craft beer aficionados to visit," she said.