Beer Hall: BenFest, N.W.I.P.A. Turns Five, and the DIY Invatational

The harvest season is upon us.

(Gigantic, Julian Alexander)
By Parker Hall
The beer community comes together this week in celebration of the harvest season, one of our favorite hop-forward alehouses, and the lives of its most beloved Bens. That, plus a local beer bar will tap 35 kegs that were brought to their doorstep by the people who made it—no middlemen allowed.

Thursday, September 7

Baerlic Fresh Hop Pioneer ESB Release

(Baerlic, Adam Wickham)

Baerlic releases the follow-up to its Oregon Beer Award-topping Fresh Hop Pioneer ESB tonight, a perfectly balanced English-style ale with a watermelon-like fruit kick from the fresh hops. Baerlic Brewing Company, 2235 SE 11th Ave. 4 pm. Free.

Saturday, September 9

BenFest

The seventh annual celebration of brewing community members named Ben is made more meaningful this year, following the sudden passing of brewer and beloved community member Ben Flerchinger in early 2017. As such, the taplist is more full of love than ever, with options from Breakside’s Ben Edmunds, Deschutes Ben Kehs, Gigantic’s Ben Love, and numerous other Bens that shouldn’t disappoint. Proceeds from the event will benefit Flerchinger’s memorial fund. Gigantic Brewing Company, 5224 SE 26th Ave. 1-8 pm. $30 for a tasting glass and 10 drink tickets.

N.W.I.P.A. Turns Five

NWIPA.com

Portland’s hop haven celebrates half a decade of successful pours with $3 drafts of the finest IPAs they can find, alongside a grill they promise to be filled with “proteins for everyone”. Bring a side, and they just might slide you first dibs on a few special bottles they’ll also have for sale. N.W.I.P.A., 6350 SE Foster Rd. 5 pm. Free.

Stormtoberfest!

(Stormbreaker, Will Corwin)

All-day sausage pairings and four German-influenced beers hit the taps on N Mississippi this Saturday, in a celebration of harvest season that will be backed by live music for most of the afternoon.  Stormbreaker Brewing, 832 N Beech St. 12-8 pm. Free.

Lompoc Oktoberfest & Hot Rack IPA Release

Lompoc launches two new seasonal beers–a classic Bavarian lager and a brand new IPA–alongside a slew of German food at Sidebar this Saturday, a celebration of the harvest that should sate the appetites of hopheads and lager lovers alike. Lompoc Brewing, 3901 North Williams Ave. 1-10 pm. Free.

Sunday, September 10

DIY Invitational

Growlers Hawthorne celebrates those who pedal their own wares at this special event for self-distributing breweries, dedicating all 30 of the pub’s beer taps–plus five cider and mead taps–to companies who make, sell, and deliver their own goods. Growlers Hawthorne, 3343 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 11 am-11 pm. Free.

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Beer HallPortland Beer Events SeptemberPortland Beer SeptemberWillamette Week Beer Events

Parker Hall

Parker Hall

Parker Hall is a writer, musician, and home brewer from Portland. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, where he studied jazz percussion with drum legend Billy Hart (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock). Now a freelance writer and professional member of the city's jazz and indie rock scenes, he spends most of his days writing, playing music or drinking brews in his spacious North Portland basement.

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