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Portland Beer Week is a weeklong—well, actually, 11 days-long—celebration of our city's favorite beverage. There's a ton of stuff to do, and you can find a full schedule here. But if you want a more curated guide, here's our suggestions for the best events going on this next week-plus-four days.
Portland Beer Week Kickoff Party
The biggest-ever Portland Beer Week kickoff party comes in partnership with the Oregon Zoo, providing drinkers with more than 30 beers and ciders to enjoy while gazing at caged wildlife. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd. 4-9 pm Thursday, June 7. $35 for a pint glass and four drink tickets, $18 for designated drivers, $13 for kids ages 3-11, children 2 and under admitted free All ages.
Fruit Beer Fest
Over 30 fruited beers and ciders pour at this year's Fruit Beer Fest, including a particularly outstanding cream ale made with Cacao fruit from Lompoc Brewing. Burnside Brewing, 701 E Burnside St. 4-9 pm Friday, June 8. 11 am-9 pm Saturday June 9, 11 am-6 pm Sunday, June 10. $20 for a plastic cup and 12 drink tickets, $25 for a glass and 14 drink tickets. All ages.
See Related: Lompoc's Cacao Cream Ale Is a Hazy, Tropical Ale with Notes of Milk Chocolate.
Kölsch Fest
Four of Cologne's finest sessionable ales compete against four Oregon-made imitators at this head-to-head beer fest, with a people's choice and jury vote determining the finest Kölsch in beerland. Prost! 4237 N Mississippi Ave. 11 am – 7 pm Saturday, June 9.
Weird Beer Bonanza
Quirky ingredients and brewing methods come together at the fifth annual Weird Beer Bonanza, with particularly peculiar sips like a shiitake mushroom porter from Burnside and water-like "clear" beer from Everybody's Brewing. Imperial Bottle Shop, 2006 NE Alberta St. 12 pm-12 am, Saturday, June 9. $5 for a glass, $1.50 per drink ticket. 21+.
Gin Ba Beer
The Loyal Legion puts on the party hats for World Gin Day with a vast assortment of gin barrel-aged beers—three made specifically for this event—alongside the actual high-proof stuff. Loyal Legion, 710 SE 6th Ave. 11:30-2 am Saturday, June 9. 11:30-12 am Sunday, June 10. Free.
Wayfinder Anniversary Pig Roast
One of the region's best German-style breweries celebrates a full year of fresh ales and lagers with a four-hog pit roast, courtesy of co-owner (and Podnah's Pit founder) Rodney Muirhead. Wayfinder Beer, 304 SE 2nd Ave., wayfinder.beer. 11:30 am Sunday, June 10. Free.
New Brewery Showcase
New kids on the block get prime placement at downtown Portland's beloved beer bar this Monday, aiming to impress the city's hardened beer nerds with fresh and innovative batches. Bailey's Taproom, 213 SW Broadway Ave. 12 pm-12 am Monday, June 11. Free.
'Murican Lambic
Belgium's wild-fermented Lambic ales come from a tiny region of a tiny country, but they've inspired virtually all modern producers of sour beer. Tonight, some of the West Coast's best imitators step up to the taps at Imperial Bottle Shop, offering an assortment of Belgian-inspired sours that could easily survive a few rounds in the ring with the original stuff. Imperial Bottle Shop, 2006 Ne Alberta St. 4-9 pm Thursday, June 14. Free.
Ale Apothecary Pour Night
Beer from Central Oregon's Ale Apothecary is both expensive and hard to come by outside of its small Bend Taproom. Save yourself a trip at this special tasting with head brewer Paul Arney. You'll also be able to pick his brain about fantastic selections like the fruity and pine needle-laden Red Echo, one of our Top 10 Beers of the Year for 2018. Saraveza, 1004 N Killingsworth Ave. 5-9 pm Friday, June 15. Free.
See Related: Ale Apothecary Has Made an Amazing Uncarbonated Beer That's Like a Subtle Pine-Needle Wine.
Portland Beer and Cheese Festival
Now in its seventh year, the Beer and Cheese fest sees legendary local cheesemonger Steve Jones pairing 10 breweries and creameries in an annual culinary spectacular that has a tendency to challenge palates and boggle the mind. Culmination Brewing, 2117 Ne Oregon St. Noon-3 pm Saturday, June 16.
Snakebite Showdown
Breweries and cideries go blend-to-blend to see which can make the best "Snakebite"—a beer and cider combo that's astoundingly refreshing on a warm summer afternoon. Widmer Brothers Brewing, 955 N Russell St. 1-7 pm Saturday, June 16. $25 for a glass and six drink tickets.
Breakside Woodlawn Block Party
One of Oregon's most award-winning breweries celebrates eight years in business with live music, vendors, and specialty pours of some of their rarest and most-acclaimed offerings. Breakside Brewery Dekum, 820 NE Dekum St. 12-8 pm Saturday, June 16. Free.
Sour Solstice
Sixteen sours from acclaimed regional breweries like pFriem, Block 15, Cascade, and De Garde hit the taps on N Alberta Street this evening, providing a complex and mouth-puckering way to enjoy the penultimate day of Beer Week. Imperial Bottle Shop, 2006 Ne Alberta St. 4-9 pm Saturday, June 16. $5 for a commemorative glass, $2 per drink ticket.
Snackdown! Brewer/Chef Pairing
Ten of the city's best chefs join pair with 10 breweries at in this WWE-themed tag-team event, competing for a gaudy belt and a year's worth of bragging rights. The Evergreen, 618 SE Alder St. 1-4 pm Sunday, June 17. $49 advanced tickets, includes glass and 10 tasting tickets.