Drinking Days Ahead
Portlanders are frantically digging out their hats and winter coats as our annual 8-9 months of downpours and chilly temperatures kick in, a time when we’ll all be looking for creative ways to stay warm and dry. Leave it to our favorite breweries and wineries to look out for our best interests by keeping us fed and buzzed.
Thursday, November 8—5pm to 8pm
You may have consumed as much pumpkin ale as you can handle and hit up all of the fresh-hop festivals, but you needn't abandon your desire for seasonal beverages! Toast the coming of winter with pear cider, dry-hopped cider, and numerous others.
Lompoc Brewer’s Dinner With Wildwood Restaurant & Bar
Friday, November 9—6:30pm
Lompoc Brewing brewmaster Bryan Keilty is teaming up with Wildwood’s Paul Kasten to hatch a double-barrelled dinner of local beer paired with a 6-course meal that includes delicacies like Cherry Bomb Roasted Pork Loin, Salt Cod Agnolotti, and more. Come with an empty stomach and get your game face on! ($65)
The Northwest Food & Wine Festival
Saturday, November 10—4pm to 8pm
If there is such thing as foodie heaven, it must greatly resemble this annual event with over 600 wines and a plethora of gourmet bites on display. Smell, taste, judge, and feel as euphoric as Dionysus and his followers at harvest! ($75-95)
Saturday, November 10—4pm to 11:30pm
Cheers to Belgian Beers is long gone, but you can still show off your worldly taste buds by sampling 19 different Belgian-style beers at Bailey’s Taproom, made with love by a stellar roster of Oregon breweries. ($25)
Saturday, November 10–Sunday, November 11—4pm-10pm
If you're headed south on I-5 this weekend, be sure to take a pit stop at Eugene's 16 Tons Cafe for the second annual Coffee Ale Fest, featuring java-inspired brews from the likes of Fort George, Cascade, Oakshire, Boneyard, Gilgamesh, Rogue, and Track Town, among others.
Thursday, November 15—11am to 11pm
Aptly named, this reserve series ale from Deschutes will make you feel like you’re taking the plunge. The deep, rich imperial stout will be making its rounds tenfold, and you’ll be able to find out what all that dry-hopped, molasses hype is all about.
Wednesday, November 28–Saturday December 1 (12pm-10pm); and Sunday, December 2 (11am-5pm)
Nothing bellows “happy holidays” like getting hammered on brawny winter beers. Luckily there will be over 50 of them to choose from at the annual ale fest, including entries from Alameda Brewing, Breakside, BridgePort, Cascade, Burnside, and more. If you’ve been coerced into being the designated driver for your merrily sloshed friends, fear not! You will be supplied with a never-ending supply of non-alcoholic Crater Lake Sodas for making such a valiant sacrifice. ($5-65)
