Tapping into Eugene Beer Week
Down in Willamette Valley, Ore., some of the Northwest’s most revered breweries reside. Notable craft breweries, such as Ninkasi, Rogue and Deschutes, all call the area and the surrounding hills home. And, what do you get with a region of great beer? An even better beer week, of course.
Coming back for its third year is Eugene Beer Week. Starting May 4 to 11, breweries, bars, restaurants and shops in Eugene, Ore., and their neighboring city Springfield, will honor their valley’s craft brews with a variety of more than 40 events.
Untapping the week is the 11th Annual Sasquatch Brew Fest. This single-day event is dedicated to celebrating the life of local legend Glen Hay Falconer, whose career spans Rogue Ales, Wild Duck Brewery and member of the Cascade Brewers Society.
Festivities at Saturday’s Sasquatch Brew Fest include hand-selected tastings from head brewers throughout the Northwest, live music and a homebrew contest. This event runs noon to 10:30 p.m. May 4, at the Eugene Hilton & Conference Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the gate the day of the event. A large portion of the proceeds from the event will go to supporting the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting brewing scholarships, and the Northwest Legends Foundation.
The week will carry on with more events at local venues including 16 Tons, The Bier Stein and Cornucopia. From May 7 to 13, 16 Tons will host a different event each day from chocolate tastings to beer trivia, a beer brunch to celebrate Mother’s Day and many more. On May 10, Bend, Ore. breweries will invade the taps at The Bier Stein. Taste special releases from GoodLife, 10 Barrels and Boneyard Brewing. Then, from 6 to 9 p.m., meet the brewers behind the pints. For a tastings from Rusty Truck Brewery and Double Mountain Brewing, Cornucopia will be the place to be. This event takes place May 11 from 3 to 10 p.m.
Check the Eugene Beer Week website, as they will begin to post details of more events soon.
Other participating breweries include Falling Sky, Hop Valley Brewing, Hopworks Urban Brewing and Oakshire Brewing.
