Beer Hall: Black Beer Friday, Lompoc Holiday Ale Extravaganza, Holiday Ale Fest Begins

Portland beer events for the week of November 25, 2015.

Instead of going out, standing in line, and potentially getting trampled to death on Black Friday, why not have a brew?

Four separate beer bars have brew-centric events on tap this Friday, largely centered around the sort of big, dark, beers that help you forget your weird uncle spent half of the day before telling you all about the potential merits of President Trump. And it's good news for rare beer hunters, in that the extremely illusive (outside of the Midwest) Goose Island Bourbon County, a 14.5% imperial stout from Chicago that's been aged in various sorts of whiskey barrels, will hit taps at at least two of the events on the list.

That, plus other cellared beers that have been saved all year, for the benefit of people who don't feel like heading to Lloyd Center, makes Black Friday arguably the best day of the year to try big, bold, imperial stouts en masse.

So, this Friday, morph your American consumerism into something distinctly more Portland; Go grab some brews.

Wednesday, November 25

The Night Before Thanksgiving with Hopworks and New Belgium

Frequent collaborators New Belgium and Hopworks share some special brews in a seasonal show of beer-based gratitude to Portland drinkers. Featuring delicious selections like sour brown ale La Folie, and a bourbon barrel-aged version of Hopworks' already-tasty Abominable winter ale, they sure know how to spread the love. PH. Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom, 3090 SE Division. 7-11 pm. Free.

Friday, November 27

Black Beer Friday at the Green Dragon

Forget about the stress of standing in line for a cheap new flatscreen. Embrace the post-Thanksgiving holiday by imbibing in rare dark and delicious beers at the Green Dragon. With 25 brew on tap, ranging from hoppy CDAs to imperial stouts and more, there is bound to be something for everyone on tap today. PH. Green Dragon Pub & Bistro, 928 SE 9th Ave. 11 am-11 pm. Free.

Black Friday Featuring Bourbon County

The fine folks at N.W.I.P.A. have been storing the best big, dark, barrel-aged brews they could get their sticky paws on for some time now, and plan to tap several of them tonight. Look for rare selections from some of the region's best ale houses, alongside national treasures like a keg of 2014 Goose Island Vanilla Rye Bourbon County. PH. N.W.I.P.A., 6350 SE Foster Rd. 12-5 pm. Free.

Roscoe's Black Friday Holiday Summit

East Portland's best beer bar breaks out special holiday, vintage and rare kegs from its cellar in celebration of American consumerism. Featuring 2011 Bernardus Christmas, Oakshire's cranberry Berliner Weisse and more, this is not a beer holiday to miss. PH. Roscoe's. 8105 SE Stark St. 2 pm. Free.

Bourbon County Black Friday Release Party

Tin Bucket hosts a low-key release of Goose Island's famed Bourbon County imperial stout, featuring bottle sales, and multiple taps of the various whisky barrel-aged blends. Get there early, and drink a lot—these brews are bound to tap out quick. PH. Tin Bucket, 3520 N Williams Ave. 2 pm. Free.

Saturday, November 28

De Garde Bu Rice Release

The Oregon coast's best sour brewery brings something special to the city today, in the form of Bu Rice—a golden wild ale which was aged in gin, vermouth, and neutral oak barrels for 12 months. A special release that will see very limited distribution, this is the beer to try this weekend. PH. N.W.I.P.A. 6350 SE Foster Rd. 2 pm. Free.

Monday, November 30

Lompoc Holiday Beer Extravaganza

Lompoc launches their annual Holiday Extravaganza this Monday night, with eight different holiday ales hitting taps at Sidebar. Featuring brews like Jolly Bock, 8 Malty Nights, C-Sons Greetings, and more, 'tis the season to try some of the Portland brewery's delicious liquid form of holiday cheer. Just be sure to steer clear of that Pamplemousse, he sure likes to tie one on. PH. Lompoc Sidebar, 3901 N Williams Ave. 4-11 pm. Free.

Wednesday, December 2

Holiday Ale Festival

50 of the region's booziest winter brews pack their way into Pioneer Courthouse Square this week, a tradition that—for a brief five days—makes it the most likely place in the city to find a person dressed as santa passed out in a pile of their own sick. There are some downsides, in that the bros from the 'burbs will be there (it's apparently a great place for an Instagram photo), but a few seasonal brews deep and you'll forget about all that, and start to wonder how the hell Feckin's 10.5% ABV milk stout goes down so damn easy. Just make sure you aren't wearing a santa hat if you can't hold it down later. PH. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave., holidayale.com. 11 am-10 pm Wednesday-Saturday, December 2-5, 11 am-5 pm Sunday, December 6. $35-100.

Talkin' About Abraxas Draft Release

Saint Louis' best brewery tests their mettle in beervana this evening, bringing their most acclaimed beer to N.W.I.P.A. for an evening. An imperial stout with ancho chili pepper, cacao nibs and cinnamon sticks added, Abraxas is a massive oily brew that flows thickly over the tongue—a well-brewed marvel every bit as round as the Gateway Arch. PH. N.W.I.P.A. 6350 SE Foster Rd. 6 pm. Free.

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