Even in a global craft beer market which favors real, local brews and the highest possible quality, Portland stands alone.
We are the only place on earth to host an organic brewers festival, the best at raising massive amounts of cash for at-risk youth with rare-bottle purchases, and the most willing to celebrate the quality of our hoppy ales by inviting other national competitors for a blind taste test.
And that's just this week.
Yep, it's always an awesome time to live in Beervana.
Thursday, August 25
Organic Beer Fest
The only known organic beer festival in the world returns for a 12th year, promising to save the world with each sip of sustainable alcohol—55 beers, meads and ciders, including weirdball ale made with foraged Chaga mushrooms and a hemp shandy. Kids get free soda from Crater Lake, if you bring them. A "reusable, compostable cornstarch cup" goes for $7, with tastes a buck apiece thereafter, plus a free token if you rode a bus or bike. Overlook Park, 1599 N Fremont St. 12-9 pm August 25-27, 12-5 pm August 28. Free.
Goose Island Non Migration Week
Goose Island is migrating to Eugene instead of Portland for its annual Migration Week—but fuck it. N.W.I.P.A. is tapping a ton of Goose Island anyway, with IPA, Sofie, Lolita, '15 Bourbon County Stout Coffee and '14 Bourbon County Stout Vanilla Rye. But perhaps most importantly, there will be Chicago-style dogs made with Portland-style Olympia Provisions franks. N.W.I.P.A., 6350 SE Foster Rd. 6-9 pm. Free.
Friday, August 26
Roscoe's Sour Beer Summit
Roscoe's annual celebration of sour beers kicks off this Friday, bringing fresh sour ales from acclaimed breweries like Crooked Stave, Allagash, and Rodenbach from keg to tap for the whole weekend. With such an incredible assortment of pucker-inducing selections, we suspect the neighborhood's sales of Tums will skyrocket. Roscoe's, 8105 SE Stark St. 2 pm August 26, 11 am-2:30 am August 27-28.
Saturday, August 27
Brews for New Avenues
Brews for New Avenues is one of our favorite charity events of the year. It's the world's largest rare-beer auction—think Cantillon—with special one-off collaborations among premium brewers, plenty of beer tappings and appetizers for the crowd, oysters and all sorts of other wonderful things, all of which to benefit homeless or at-risk kids. It's sold out six ways to Sunday, but they'll open up a few tickets at the door. Check brewsfornewavenues.com for details. Left Bank Annex, 101 N Weidler St. 5-10:30 pm. Sold Out.
IIPA Fest
Now in its seventh year, Saraveza's celebration of strong hoppy beers continues with fresh selections from Great Notion, Fat Heads, and even a purpose-brewed beer from Fort George. With double beef burgers and a Berlinerweisse oasis for the palate-fatigued, there's plenty to look forward to here. Saraveza, 1004 N Killingsworth St. 1-9 pm August 27-28. $20 for a commemorative glass and 5 drink tickets.
Beer Wars IPA Fest
Five states enter. Four will leave looking like chumps. As they've done in Bend for five years, 10 Barrel is inviting breweries from five different states—Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho—to bring out their IPAs, and everybody who shows up blind-tastes the beers. Best state owns it all. Last year's winner was Oregon—and this year's entrants are 10 Barrel, Barley Brown's, Boneyard, Breakside, Buoy and Deschutes. Even with Fat Head's, Great Notion and Culmination out of the running, we predict a repeat. $5 admission, $1 per taste. 10 Barrel Brewing, 1411 NW Flanders St. 5 pm. $5.
Willamette Week