Beer Hall: Two Oktoberfests, Two Fresh Hop Fests, and Nine Other Beer Events This Week in Portland

Portland Beer Events for the Week of September 25, 2015.

The best part of about Oregon's rich beer scene isn't she sheer volume of beer-related events, it's what a vast majority of them center around—community.

Of the thirteen events we showcase this week, nine of them involve direct interactions between two parties who aren't in business together for their mutual benefit. Because brewers and beer fans love connection, whether that is bringing together all of the region's best fresh hop ales for some off-the-cuff comparison, raising money for a local middle school's art programs, or celebrating a homebrewer's love of the Timbers with a special collaboration brew. We gather around beer in Oregon, choosing to donate our time, money, and energy towards forming stronger communities and friendships.

As we prepare to huddle up alone by the fire—or, let's be more honest, cheap space heater—for the rest of Fall, remember that pumpkin ales are best shared among friends, and that there is almost always someone new you could be drinking with. PARKER HALL.

Friday, September 25

Roscoe's Fresh Hop Summit

Where should you go for fresh hops in Portland? Right here, at the apple of Montavilla's one good eye. Roscoe's will flood its taps with fresh hops beers as green as they come. For three solid days. They promise Upright, Oakshire, Pelican, Ecliptic, Laurelwood, a new Mosaic from Breakside, Reverend Nat's, cask Simcoe from Machine House and a whole bunch more. MATTHEW KORFHAGE. Roscoe's, 8105 SE Stark St. 2 pm Friday, September 25, 12 pm Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27.

Deschutes Black Butte 3 and Sour Quad Release

Deschutes release the newest in their routinely-superb line of pub-exclusive offerings this Friday, two beers that should impress immediately, and cellar for a while. This time, it's a sour quad and a bourbon barrel aged imperial Black Butte Porter which—if it's anything like this year's anniversary edition Black Butte XXVII—should be a joy to behold. PH. Deschutes Brewery and Public House, 210 NW 11th Ave. 3-6 pm.

Saturday, September 26

Oktoberfest at Occidental Brewing

Occidental Brewing hosts their annual Oktoberfest, with their seasonal Festbier flowing strong, along with many other of their fine German-style ales and lagers. For $10, festival-goers will get a glass stein and a beer fill, "Because we don't believe in tiny plastic festival mugs." PH. Occidental Brewing, 6635 N Baltimore Ave. 12-10 pm. $10 for festival mug and full fill.

Portland Vegan Beer and Food Festival

At $45 for a general admission ticket, Portland's celebration of all things vegan appears, on the surface, to be an expensive way to spend your Saturday. Until you realize what it gets you: unlimited 4oz pours of 100 beers from 50 breweries, as well as a wide variety of selections from 50 of the Northwest's best vegan food carts, trucks, and restaurants. The beer might be a little hazy—a lot of commercial beers a fined with gelatin for clarity—but after the third or fourth in a bottomless day of pours, you won't be able to tell the difference. PH. Zidell Yards, 3121 SW Moody Ave, veganbeerfest.com. 1 pm. $25-65.

Ryeght Strike Beer Release and Timbers Viewing Party

Lompoc releases a collaboration beer with homebrewer and Timbers fan Bizzy Gross, whose mosaic/rye pale ale won the Duane Graf Homebrew Competition, and was then brewed commercially. The beer will be released at 2:30 pm—just in time for fans to get tanked on it, then watch the Timbers crush the Columbus crew two hours later. PH. Lompoc Sidebar and 5th Quadrant, 3901 N Williams Ave. 2:30-9 pm.

The Dude (III) Beer Release

Bathrobe optional. Vertigo Brewing release their annual Dude-themed barrel aged brew, with a showing of The Big Lebowski starting at 6pm in the taproom. They say not to worry—they'll have the rug to tie it all together. PH. Vertigo Brewing, 21420 NW Nicholas Ct Suite D-6, Hillsboro. 4-9 pm.

Sunday, September 27

Last Sunday BBQ

Consider this the perfect intersection of summer and fall: A beer pairing barbecue with fresh hop Killer Green from Double Mountain, Devil's Kriek, cask Vaporizer, Peche Mode, Killer Red and pilsner, with a game-crazed a la carte menu planned to include duck and rabbit sausage, grilled whole trout, elk tartare and bison burger, among other things. This is pretty much what a beer pairing dinner should look like. MK. Interurban, 4057 N Misssissippi Ave. 3-9 pm.

Edgefield Oktoberfest

Edgefield hosts their annual celebration of German harvest season, with various pockets of music, beer, and family fun. Heck, there will even be a plant sale. PH. McMenamin's Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale. 11 am.

Wednesday, September 30

Ecliptic and Cigar City Bottle Release

Florida comes to Oregon, as Cigar City and Ecliptic's John Harris release their first collaboration brew, Ellipsing the Sun. It's a serious one; a 9% ABV ale brewed with peaches, juniper, apricots, and lemon, and aged in white wine barrels. Head on down to Tin Bucket, and tell Mr. Harris what you think of his work. Knowing the two breweries, you'll probably only have good things to say. PH. Tin Bucket, 3520 N Williams Ave. 6-8 pm.

Flat Tail Fifth Anniversary Saison Release

Corvallis' Flat Tail Brewing are ringing in five years in business with one heck of a collaboration brew. Their fifth anniversary saison features wildflower honey from Nectar Creek, Jonagold apple juice from Two Towns Cider, and a lactobacillus cultured from soured carrots by Joel Rea of Corvallis Brewing Supply. The 11% beer should be a bit… well… interesting to say the least. PH. Saraveza, 1004 N Killingsworth St. 6-9 pm.

Dine Out to Wipe Out Cancer

Laurelwood and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society pair up for a day, as the local brewery donates 20% of all lunch, dinner, and drinks proceeds to the cause. Bring the whole family—there will be a balloon artist, and live fish-themed music from folk act Catch & Release. PH.Laurelwood Brewing, 5115 NE Sandy Blvd. 11 am-10 pm.

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