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One of the best things about being a beer lover in Portland is just how little you have to travel to taste the best of the rest.
Breweries and their employees can't resist a trip to our hop-blessed rivertown, and that means we get to taste the wares of the world without more than a few minute drive to a great local beer bar.
Such is the case this week. As one of the city's oldest institutions celebrates four decades with an assortment of purpose-brewed beers from far and wide, some of the best new breweries from the west coast share their finest ales and lagers with salivating bridgetown audiences.
For those who (inexplicably) don't want to spend their vacation days trudging to breweries the world over, this week is a good time to save yourself some footwork.
Thursday, November 3
There is no beer bar in Portland more storied than Don Younger's (RIP) venerable Horse Brass—and certainly none that could claim 40 years of history and an honorary beer made by Pliny kings Russian River. For their official entry into middle age, Horse Brass will tap their Russian River Don the Younger beer, a Rogue Horse Brass anniversary ale, and staff collaborations with breweries including Culmination, Rosenstadt, Solera and Sierra Nevada. They'll also pull crazy beers out of their 40-year-old cellars. Come drink them. Horse Brass Pub, 4534 SE Belmont St. All Day, November 1-6. Free.
Related: Portland Wouldn't Be Beervana Without This 40-Year-Old English Pub Bought on A Cocktail Napkin
Urban Family Brewing Night
Seattle's Urban Family trucks some kegs south to Division St., bringing three farmhouse ales and a sour ale with apricot and plum. Even for the Commons and Upright faithful, these four should be a special treat. Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom, 3090 SE Division St. 5 pm. Free.
Bagby Beer Company Night
Bagby Beer Co. rolled out of Denver this year with a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for its other-worldy Sweet Ride Pilsner, a fantastic blend of bready malt and lager yeast that rawards big, gluttonous gulps. That beer, along with the three other tasty treats make their way up from Oceanside this Thursday, where they will glare at you from the taps on inner-SE Portland's most bodacious bottle shop and taproom. The BeerMongers, 1125 SE Division St. 5 pm. Free.
Ecliptic and Fort George JH² Release Party
Fort George's Jack Harris and Ecliptic's John Harris celebrate the release of their latest co-named creation tonight at N Portland's biggest rising star beer bar, a hoppy creation called JH². With two other brews from each brewery tapping as well, there's plenty to enjoy in this cozy spot on Lombard. Lombard House, 7337 N Lombard St. 6 pm. Free.
Friday, November 4
Beervana: An evening with Alworth
Beervana founder Jeff Alworth is nothing if not an expert in international brewing traditions, and it's that knowledge he aims to share this Friday evening, over some NW Portland pints. Alworth will illuminate shared pints with the stories of their creation, an interesting primer for those looking to delve deeper into beer and brewing beyond Oregon's well-endowed creators. The Big Legrowlski, 812 NW Couch St. 7 pm. Free.
Saturday, November 5
Over-Ripe IPA Release
The latest New England-style creation from Alberta's best brewery is an IPA brewed with Azacca, Simcoe, Columbus, and Motueka hops, which the brewery claims tastes of delicious, over-ripe cantaloupe, honey dew, and papaya. If that's the case, this one should be a fantastic addition to the brewery's already terrific hoppy arsenal. Grab a crowler while you can. Great Notion Brewing and Barrel House, 2204 NE Alberta St #101. 12-11 pm. Free.
Willamette Week