July is Oregon Craft Beer Month!

Wow, we just got the events list from the Oregon Brewers Guild and holy #%@%%$, it's good to be a beer drinker in Oregon! I'm not even sure where to begin with this one. Walking you through this one step at a time would take hours, and neither you or I have that kind of time if we're going to seriously prepare for July...

July

First of all, there is something going on every single day in July. There are bars that are specializing in rotating Oregon Craft Beer taps, food and beer specials, tastings, and brewery tours.

Here, There, and Everywhere

Many of the breweries in Portland will also be releasing special seasonals to commemorate the event, so check the list, find a beer, and show up for the tapping. Awesome, but not out of the ordinary for a town that doesn't need an excuse to release almost 100 seasonals each year. What's great about the beer scene out here in Portland is that breweries are not afraid to support other breweries. There is no "I, me, mine" attitude out here as you'll find places that not only release there own seasonals, but also call in kegs from other breweries around Oregon to showcase outside beer as well. There aren't many industries who display this kind of comraderie.

Oregon Craft Beer Month Beer Releases

Here are some of the beers being released this month:

• Double Mountain: Double Mountain Pils
• Hopworks: Washoe Weizen, Kentucky Christmas, Bourbon IPA, Bourbon DOA, Sunset Ale, Whoop Whoop Wheat
• Laurelwood Brewing Company: Double Oregon Hefeweizen, One Day at a Time Weizenbock
• Lucky Labrador: Winter Ales in July
• New Old Lompoc: Lompizer
• Rock Bottom: Blitzen Belgian Triple, Black Peter, Congo Queen, Belgian Wit
• Rogue Ales: Latona Ale

Also, along with their many seasonal releases both Rock Bottome Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery are having blending events. As a flag-waver and marcher in support of beer blending, these events are at the top of my list.

Events

There are also a lot of beer trivia events, dinners, the Concordia Cup (battle of the Oregon Imperial IPAs!), and a lot of Meet-the-Brewer events. Hell, there will even be a Festivus Pole at one of the parties! Who said you can't mix beer and religion?

Not Portland

We've been concentrating mostly on Portland events, but if you find yourself in one of these cities, check out the events in the area:

• Ashland: Standing Stone Brewery
• Astoria: Fort George Brewery, Rogue Ales
• Bend: Deschutes Brewery, McMenamins
• Corvallis: Oregon Trail Brewery
• Eugene: Rogue Ales, Ninkasi
• Hillsboro: McMenamins
• Hood River: Full Sail Brewing Company
• Lincoln City: McMenamins
• Newport: Rogue Ales
• Troutdale: McMenamins

Conclusion

If you live in Portland and step out of your front door in July, you'll be at a beer event. It's that easy. If you're visiting Portland, as soon as you step off the plane, you'll be at a beer event. There is so much going on in this town, you may need to take the month of July off.

Upcoming June Events

June Beer events in Portland.

You can't complain about a lack of beer things to do this month. First of all, Belmont Station has some great tastings this month which include draft and bottle selections. As always, they also run specials during these tasting so it a great time to stock up on your favorites:

• Hale's Ales: June 3rd, 6-8PM
  
• Dick's Beer: June 10th, 6-8PM
  
• Grand Tetons: June 16th, 6-8PM
  
• Fish Tale Organic Ales: June 26th, 6-8PM

There are also two festivals going on. The Sasquatch Brew Festival is in Eugene, OR this Saturday, June 6th. On the other end of June, Portland is holding the 4th Annual North American Organic Brewer's Festival. It's outside, easy to get there, oh yeah, and a lot of great organic beer from all over the world! Unlike some other brewfests, breweries can bring more than one style of beer, and with the list not yet finalized, we've counted 70+ beers!

Barleywine Flight Night, @ Belmont Station Wednesday April 2nd

"BARLEYWINE FLIGHT NIGHT. 5-10 PM. Enjoy 3 ounce samples of 5 great bottled Barleywines for only $6 (yes, the $6 gets you a 3 oz. sample of all 5). Bison Organic, Butte Creek Trainwreck, Bridgeport Old Knucklehead, Stone Old Guardian, Full Sail Old Boardhead."

Great price, great Barleywines! Is there a better way to spend a Wednesday? Check it out at Belmont Station. Winter is not over!

Abyss & Coffee Girl

Abyss

After the release of my "12 Days of Abyss" posts, I was accused of buying, and then drinking, all of the Abyss in Portland. Sure, I drank a lot. But based on unbiased third-party research, it turns out that I only bought and drank 83% of that fateful 2nd small batch delivered to PDX at the end of January 2008. See?

But it's not over. On Monday, March 17 Belmont Station will be

"tapping two amazing imperial stouts, Deschutes' Abyss and Ft. George's Coffee Girl. More details will follow regarding tapping times, so check back soon."

Now, as much hype as Abyss has has earned, there are some out there who think that Coffee Girl is even better. Now, thanks to this tasting, you can be the judge. Either way, you'll be able to enjoy to huge beers.

Roots Three Year Anniversary Party

Roots Organic Brewing Co.

I just received an email from Craig Nicholls over at Roots Brewing Company with the following information:

"Roots Organic Brewing Co. is turning 3 years old! We had a very successful year full of growth and expansion, new food and beers, great art shows and music and we know we couldn't have done it without you!

So Roots would like to show our appreciation to all our loyal customers by offering everything on our menu from, on Sat. 3-15, 6pm till midnight for only $3.00! (EXCLUDING MERCHANDISE) Come join all the fun with live music, great food and the release of our Anniversary/Spring beer, Belgian, Farmhouse Bruin. 6% ABV. Also known as bi'ere du pays, (country beers), farmhouse ales were brewed in between end of winter and early spring.

Farmhouse ales branch off into two families, Saison and Bi'ere de garde, Saison predominantly from southern Belgium and Bi'ere de garde from northern France. They vary in styles, alcohol, body and color. The nice thing about brewing within either one of these styles is that one can brew out side the box. These beers we're brewed more - less out of necessity, "provision beer", to drink during the rest of the year."

So come out and support one of Portland's best breweries. Hell, it's a party--need I say more?