Skip to main content
Fun as it is to enjoy a massive assortment of brews with massive assortment of people, the best fests are small, choices less and feature familiar faces.
And as Portland shrugs off this rainy winter, so too begins the smattering of late-winter festivals and tastings, which are among the most fun events in the city.
Whether that means trying and voting on what a distinguished panel of experts—and one distinguished Four Loko drinker—deemed the ten best IPAs brewed within the city limits, or tasting some of the best barrel-aged beers on the planet while watching a group of grown men clobber themselves, the little fests rule the town this week.
So lap up that last little bit of leftover fermented apple juice from CiderCon, and lend your tongue to some well-curated adventures this week.
As always, there's plenty of beer to go around.
Friday, February 5
CiderCon Closing Night Party
Reverend Nat's Hard Cider celebrates the end of this week's ciderganza with a special list of 12 ciders pouring from some of the best applehouses in the world. With selections from Finn River, Apple Outlaw and a 5-year-old version of their own Revival Dry Cider, there's plenty worth sipping tonight. PH. Reverend Nat's Hard Cider, 1813 NE 2nd Ave. Free.
Skimmity Hitchers Live at Cider Riot!
Be the first of your friends to see Cider Riot's new warehouse cidery space catty-corner from Burnside Brewing's loading dock, as the mighty Scrumpy & Western band, Skimmity Hitchers, plays. Expect plenty of local cider, especially Cider Riot, and some very nonlocal cider, like Oliver's, Cranborne Chase, New Forest Traditional and Talbot Harris. Cider Riot!, 807 NE Couch St., 662-8275. 8 pm. $5 cheap!
Saturday, February 6
Great Portland IPA Challenge
Stop by hops shrine N.W.I.P.A. for your chance to help crown the best IPA in all of Portland. On January 28, a panel of beer insiders blind-tasted every single IPA brewed within Portland city limits. The top 10 IPAs from that tasting will be on tap at N.W.I.P.A.—on taps marked with the letters A through J. For $16, you can taste all 10 and vote for your favorite. Chicken and Guns will be on hand serving up some of the city's best Latin-style chicken. N.W.I.P.A., 6350 SE Foster Rd., 805-7342. 11 am. $16 for 10 tastes, $2 for individual tastes. 21+.
Saraveza's Super Barrel
The Packers' hoard at Saraveza may not have gotten their bid at this year's big game, but that doesn't mean they won't celebrate anyway. Back by popular demand is the Super Barrel—an annual celebration of barrel-aged beers from all over the world in 5oz form. With beers from Russian River, De Struise, Block 15, and many more, there shouldn't be a dry palate—or a sober man or woman—in the house. Trust us, it's just the way all those commercials and Coldplay are meant to be watched. PH. Saraveza, 1004 N Killingsworth St. 11am-12 am, Saturday and Sunday, February 6-7. Free.
Monday, February 8
Lundi Gras
Tapalaya has become Portland's home for adventurous creole and Cajun food—mixing traditional Cajun with Vietnamese, Japanese and now Caribbean on the day before Mardi Gras. The Breakside Brewery pairing dinner will feature Trinidad oyster cocktail shooters, coconut curried gulf shrimp and pork cheek pepperpot, and beer pairings feature a double IPA called Pathfinder aged in Old Tom gin barrels. The eve of the holiday is maybe better than the holiday itself. Reserve tickets at eventbrite.com. Tapalaya, 28 NE 28th Ave, 232-6652. 6 pm. $60 includes drinks and tip.
Tuesday, February 9
Burnside Bayou Fat Tuesday Popup
Burnside Brewing celebrates Fat Tuesday with a choose-your-own adventure in the form of a three course food and beer pairing. Options includes hush puppies, chicken fried frogs legs, and a golden rye ale that is to die for. It's so good, it won't last long. Either way, just remember: the food might run out, but the beer won't. PH. Burnside Brewing Company, 701 E Burnside St. 11 am-10 pm. Tickets available at burnsidebrewco.com.
Willamette Week