Craft Brewers Conference Unleashes Flood of Beer Events in Portland Next Week

There are dozens and dozens of special tastings and events coinciding with the conference next week. Here are our picks for ones not to miss, but be sure to check with your favorite brewery and taphouse to see what special events they have planned.

What: Cascade Brewing's Sour and Wild Invitational

Where: Cascade Brewing Barrel House, 939 SE Belmont St., 503-265-8609

When: April 14 to 18

Cost: Prices vary

For the first time ever, the brewers at Cascade are showcasing specialty bottles of sour and wild ales, while welcoming more than 30 other brewers from as far away as Michigan and Florida to do the same. All pours will be 8-ouncers, and, if you're hungry, there will be food available, albeit from a limited menu. For hours and more information, click here.

What: Hopworks Urban Brewery CBC Events

Where: Hopworks Urban Brewery, 2944 SE Powell Blvd., 503-232-4677

When: April 15 to 17

Cost: Prices vary depending on what you drink

The gang at HUB is inviting the public to come out over the course of three different night to its Festhalle to taste a trio of collaborations with Craftwerk/Bitburger (an India Pale Lager), Stone Brewing (a Cascadian dark ale session beer) and Hopsteiner (an experimental IPX single hop ale). Each beer party lasts from 5 to 9 p.m.

What: Interuban Tap Takeover

Where: Interurban, 4057 N Mississippi Ave., 503-284-6669

When: April 16, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Cost: Prices vary depending on what you eat and drink

Chef John Henry will be whipping up a 9-course meal to pair with nine different beers made by brewers in San Diego, Colorado Springs, and Louisville. The brewers will all be on hand for a meet and greet. And if downing nine different beers sounds like simply too much, the drinks and the eats can be ordered à la carte.

What: Le Pigeon's Beer Pairing Flights Tasting Menu

Where: Le Pigeon, 738 E Burnside St., 503-546-8796

When: April 13 to 19

Cost: $75 or $95, depending on whether you want a 5-beer flight or a 7-beer flight with the chef's tasting menu

Gabriel Rucker is getting his kitchen prepped to welcome in beer lovers from all over the country to sample his nightly tasting menu which he's pairing with carefully selected 5- and 7-beer flights.

What: Lompoc Brewing's Sidebar Events

Where: Sidebar, 3901 N Williams Ave., 503-288-3996

When: April 13 to 16

Cost: Prices vary depending on what you're drinking

Sidebar is celebrating the CBC by featuring several different specialty beer over four nights, including barrel-aged tap brews and beers that date back as far as 2009. The food menu will be in full effect, but if you show up between 5 and 7 p.m. on any of the dates, selected appetizers are on the house.

What: Ned Ludd and Breakside Brewery's Collaborative Brewers Dinner

Where: Elder Hall, 3929 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 503-477-4725

When: April 15 at 6 and 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $90

Chef Jason French will be showing off a very specific 5-course spring menu featuring raw scallops with smoked roe and nettles, gin-spiced sturgeon with sweetbreads and a slice of sheep's milk cheesecake, and he'll be pairing each course with a not just one, but two beers from Breakside and guest brewers from Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and Chicago. For more information or to buy tickets, click here.

What: Reverend Nat's Hard Cider Hopped Cider Festival

Where: Reverend Nat's Cidery & Public Taproom, 1813 NE 2nd Ave., 503-567-2221

When: April 18, from noon to 10 p.m.

Cost: $20

This post-conference street festival, now in its second year, is cider maker Nat West's way of inviting his friends in the industry, as well as the city at large, to take in a full day of drinking ciders, with a special focus this year on hopped ciders. Expect 4-ounce pours and food truck eats from El Taco Yucateca and Bro-Dogs + Burgers. For more information, click here.

What: Stammtisch Bier Dinner

Where: Stammtisch, 401 NE 28th Ave., 503-206-7983

When: April 15 at 6 p.m.

Cost: $75

Chef Graham Chaney is preparing a 5-course pairing meal in honor of brewer Eric Toft of Schönramer Brauerei, who's flying in from Germany to present a dinner with five different brews, including an IPA and an imperial stout, which the dinner's organizers are really excited about because it will be the first time either of those beers are tasted in the U.S. For more information or to buy a ticket, click here.

What: Charlie Bravo Charlie Beer Dinner

Where: EastBurn, 1800 E. Burnside St.,

When: April 13 at 6 p.m.

Cost: $100

EastBurn is putting on a seven-course beer pairing dinner featuring brews from Avery Brewing, Burnside Brewing, DC Brau Brewing, Firestone Walker, Flying Dog Brewing, Maui Brewing and Surly Brewing. Tickets are available here.