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Here at Willamette Week, Beer Guide season is upon us.
A massive yearly undertaking that brings arts and culture staff and contributors to every single ale (and lager) apothecary within a hours drive of our NW Portland office, we look forward to sharing our picks for beers of the year, as well as our thoughts on dozens of local breweries, bars, and bottle shops in our guide next week.
And while we do consider ourselves experts on the subject—who else do you know that has tried literally every single IPA brewed within the city limits in one day?—we are equally excited about the upcoming industry-led Oregon Beer Awards this Tuesday, February 23.
Professional entrants from all over the state sent 520 beers to Breakside's Milwaukee brewery last month, where dozens of the top beer minds, including BJCP master judges, head brewers and brew staff—and even one Widmer brother—tasted the entrants in several rounds, double-blind. With 14 categories to choose from, this was the biggest and most important blind tasting of Oregon-made beer in history.
We highly encourage you to see the results of this momentous competition play out in person next Tuesday, as well as to sample what we consider to be some of the best beers in the state while you do so.
Event page—with tickets link—is here.
In the meantime, drink some dark ales this weekend—you've only got a few more weeks until the saisons start flowing!
Thursday, February 18
Sweet/Tart Celebration at Belmont Station
The new iteration of Bigger, Badder, Blacker Week at Belmont Station is a bit more mouth-puckering. Featuring a constant flow of four four dark brews beside four special sour ales, the festival aims to be a back-to-back of sweet and tart, punching your tastebuds to and fro with all their alcohol-laden might. It should be one hell of a fight; We can't wait to see who wins. PH. Belmont Station, 4500 SE Stark St. 12-11 pm, February 18. Free.
Friday, February 19
Black Out Beer Fest
Lompoc will host a whole grip of dark and black beers—especially CDAs. Like seven or eight of them. Although Ft. George will roll in as well with an Imperial Stout, Ecliptic will have a barrel-aged porter and the host will be brewing out a strong ale made with rye. Lompoc Sidebar, 3901 N Williams Ave., 288-3996, lompocbrewing.com. 4-10 pm. $15 for a glass and 8 tasting tickets, additional tickets $1. 21+.
EvilTwin vs. Mikkeller at Tin Bucket
N Williams' Avenue's best growler station has been hoarding special kegs from Denmark's Evil Twin and Mikkeller for some time now, and will pit them against each other tonight. With a variety of beers that includes sours, barrel-aged dark ales, and hoppy brews (which we hope haven't been aged too long…), tonight is the perfect time to discover which one is the true Danish King. PH. Tin Bucket, 3520 N Williams Ave. 6 pm. Free.
Saturday, February 20
Firkin Fest
Drink some firkin beer on Saturday—otherwise known as cask beer, unpasteurized, unfiltered and carbonated only in the cask, which means minimally. More than 40 limited-edition firkin brews will be served, in the firkins, at the Firkin Fest. Green Dragon, 928 SE 9th Ave., 517-0660, pdxgreengragon.com. 11 am-6 pm. $10 for a glass and 5 taster tickets, additional tickets $1.
Imperial's Stout Fest
Imperial pulls in 17 different dark beers this weekend, as part of its second annual Imperial Stout Festival. With special selections that include Firestone Walker Parabola and a 2013 barrel-aged imperial stout from Payette—alongside several amazing Oregon-made beers, this is the best place to scratch that dark beer itch before a springload of Saisons is upon us. PH. Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom, 3090 SE Division St. 12-10 pm February 20-21. $20 for 12oz snifter and 6 tasting tickets.
23rd Annual Hillsdale Brewfest
McMenamins brewers come together for the 23rd time this year, with 22 different in-house brews all vying for the coveted micro-belt. Vote for the best of the fest and see what crazy concoctions they have dreamed up this year—a Belgian-style brew called the Fuzzy Barrel seems, er, interesting. PH. McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery and Public House, 1505 SW Sunset BLVD. 11-1 am, February 20-21.
Tuesday, February 23
Gold, silver and bronze medalists will be revealed in categories ranging from Best Strong Hoppy Beer to Best Beer Festival. More than 60 judges have narrowed 520 submitted beers down to 42 medalists. Find out who won with us! Master of Ceremonies Amy Miller and infamous brewer band Black Lodge keep the evening rolling along in style, while Bunk Bar sliders keep your hunger satisfied, and 2015's award winning beers are available on tap keep you hydrated. Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. $15.
Willamette Week