Navigating Oregon Craft Beer Month: The Food-Focused Events

Image of the Hop & Vine courtesy Andrew C. via Yelp

Now that the Fourth of July hangover has abated, it's time to cue up the next excuse to drink. And lookee here, Portland is already one whole week into Oregon Craft Beer Month, which packs the beer calender with nearly 300 tappings, tastings, and parties all leading up to the main event — the Waterfront's Oregon Brewers Festival from July 28-30. Here's Eater's rundown of the more food-focused options:

1) Where: The Guild Public House
What: Okay, so it's not exactly food-focused, but this Saturday, the Guild spills out into a section of E. Burnside for an all-day devotional to beer in a can: The first-annual Cans Fest introduces drinkers to more than 30 canned beers from 17 breweries. Like most other beer fests, guests will sip from a tasting mug (not from the cans directly), though most breweries will have cans available for purchase to-go should you find your aluminum-housed fave.
When: Saturday, July 9; noon-10pm
How much: Free to enter; $5 tasting mug, $1 tastes
Address: 1101 E. Burnside St., 503-233-1743

2) Where: The Hop & Vine
What: In what promises to be the kick-off event in a recurring series of beermaker dinners, the NoPo bar/bottleshop Hop & Vine pairs with Eugene's Oakshire Brewing for a four-course pairing dinner. Plates like grilled oysters with lemon mignonette and grilled squab with parsnips will be paired with pours of Oakshire's Line Dry Rye and Perfect Storm IPA.
When: Sunday, July 10; 7pm
How much: $30 per person
Address: 1914 N. Killingsworth St., 503-954-3322

3) Where: Clarklewis
What: Chef Dolan Lane cooks up a four-course "summer brewing" dinner, paired with pours of five brewer's reserve beers from Widmer.
When: Tuesday, July 12; 6:30pm
How much: $80 per person
Address: 1001 SE Water Ave., 503-235-2294

4) Where: Clyde Common
What: Clyde Common invades its adjacent Cleaners space for a five-course beer pairing dinner with Hopworks Urban Brewery. Menu details are currently under wraps, but reservations are currently available by calling the restaurant.
When: Tuesday, July 19; 6:30pm
How much: $55 per person
Address: 1014 SW Stark St., Portland; 503-228-3333

5) Where: The Hop & Vine
What: Guest chef Sean Temple (formerly of Alu Wine Bar, currently at June) teams with Widmer for a four-course pairing dinner at the H&V. The menu is still in the works, but (see a theme here?) reservations are currently available by calling the restaurant.
When: Sunday, July 24; 7pm
How much: $35 per person
Address: 1914 N. Killingsworth St., 503-954-3322

6) Where: Rogue Ales Public House
What: Author/beer personality Fred Eckhardt throws his 20th annual (!!!) beer and cheese tasting at the Pearl's Rogue Public House, featuring a multi-"course" pairing experience heavy on local brews and cheese.
When: Tuesday, July 26; 5pm
How much: $30 per person
Address: 1339 NW Flanders St., 503-222-5910

7) Where: The Crystal Hotel
What: The annual Brewers Brunch & Parade, an official event of the Oregon Brewers Festival, gets things started this year at the Crystal Hotel, where guests will nosh on brunch, knock back two pints of McMenamins beer, then parade down to the Waterfront for the official festival kick-off and opening ceremonies.
When: Thursday, July 28; 10am
How much: $40 per person
Address: 1332 W. Burnside St., 503-972-2670

8) Where: The EastBurn
What: The EastBurn toasts the end of July with a backyard BBQ co-hosted by Full Sail Brewing. The ol' fashioned summer barbeque will feature dinner and two Full Sail pours.
When: Sunday, July 31; 4pm
How much: $20 per person
Address: 1800 E. Burnside St., 503-236-2876

· Oregon Craft Beer Month [Official site]