There’s no month like Oregon Craft Beer Month
Oregon’s done it again. The Oregon Brewer’s Guild announced last Wednesday they broke records showing roughly 321 million more pints were poured in 2012 than in the previous year. This calls for a celebratory beer, or for a month of keg-tapping, beer-flowing, outdoor-drinking good times.
July in this state means Oregon Craft Beer Month, celebrating the thousands of people who keep the industry brewing every day of the year. The month will comprise of more than 500 events, tastings, new releases, pairings and special sales for beer lovers to rejoice in.
Not to waste any time, festivities kick-off with the inaugural toast on July 1 at Portland’s McMenamins Mission Theater. Once the speeches and presentations are given there, events will explode all throughout Oregon.
Finding a place to dine on fresh seafood while enjoying a great locally crafted beer will not be a dive for buried treasure. Portland’s Riffle NW will host the Oysters and Ales event, which will feature Widmer Brothers Brewing. The Rogue Ales Brewery will hold a crab boil along with 40 taps to choose from.
In four weeks, they are cramming as many as eight beer festivals to crank up the month’s celebrations. From sour faces at Puckerfest to spiced up flavors at Pepperfest, these curiously flavored beer fests will celebrate their brew’s distinct individuality.
Events will culminate towards the end of the month with the Oregon Brewers Festival, July 24–28. Bringing in more than 80 craft breweries from all over the U.S. for five days of celebrating craft beers by the water at Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Throughout the month, watch out for new releases from Rogue Ales, Full Sailing Brewing, Lompoc Brewing and an especially secret release from Falling Sky Brewing as well.
With so much going on this month, it would not be a surprise if you celebrated without even knowing. Whether you’re going to a festival or sitting back, grabbing an Oregon beer and raising your glass, it’s time to show this great Northwest beer mecca some love.
July 1 – 31 || Oregon Craft Beer Month || Events vary throughout the state
