Weekend Drinking Plans: Zwickelmania, Mai Tais, MORE

Image of Hopworks Urban Brewery courtesy star5112 via Flickr

Looking for a way to kill the long President's Day weekend? Belly up to the bar at one of these booze events:

EVERYWHERE—Breweries across Oregon will celebrate the fifth-annual Zwickelmania on Saturday, February 16 — featuring a day's worth of free brewery tours and tastings. In Portland proper, 36 breweries, from NE Fremont's Alameda Brewhouse to the famous Widmer Brothers, will participate, though each brewery's particular events and offerings vary: Hopworks Urban Brewery promises tours and beer-and-food-pairing samples; Migration Brewing pairs the event with its third-anniversary celebration, featuring tours, samples, and the tapping of special kegs. And for those looking to hit up multiple locations, a free shuttle bus will take drinkers on four separate routes focusing on different neighborhoods. More information, including the full list of participants and event, can be found at the official site.

NORTHEAST—Warning: there's some "learning" involved with this one. Tiki bar Hale Pele is offering a cocktail class focusing on the history of the mai tai on Sunday, February 17, promising tastes of four sample cocktails and appropriately paired snacks. Reservations for the 5p.m. course are $40 and required; get one here. Also on tap for Blair Reynolds' tropical spot: The following day, Hale Pele will softly launch its weekend brunch service from 10a.m. to 2p.m., for those who prefer their hangover meal paired with Zombie Punch. More information about brunch here.

NORTH PORTLAND—Corvallis-based Block 15 Brewery takes over the taps at NoPo's Hop & Vine on Sunday, February 17 for the third-annual "Pappy's Dark" release party, celebrating the brewery's two beers famously aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels. In addition to its limited edition Pappy's Dark and Super Nebula, Block 15 will bring along six other beers, all of which can be tasted in exchange for a $20 entrance fee (which nets drinkers a glass and eight tasting tokens). Additional tokens are $2 each; more information here.

WINE COUNTRY—Meanwhile, out in the Willamette Valley, Valentine's Day events linger through the long weekend at several area wineries. In Dayton, the Stoller Family Estate introduces its new tasting room with an ice cream party on Saturday (Feburary 16) featuring a Pinot Noir ice cream by Portland's Scoop. Also on Saturday, nearby Domaine Serene celebrates the release of its new rosé; the $25 entrance fee nets guests a wine flight and paired treats by Briar Rose Creamery and Xocolatl de Davìd. For a complete listing of this weekend's Willamette Valley wine events, click here.