A Week of Portland Beer Dinners

If you ever get the chance to spend the dough on a Beer Dinner – DO IT.

At least once. And I say at least once because I know that as soon as you’ve finished your first course at your first dinner you’ll be hooked and you’ll attend more. Because they are delicious. And awesome.

Beer dinners are generally put on by a brewery who is releasing a new beer or by a few breweries releasing collaboration brews. These dinners are also used for fundraising, exposure, networking, and putting on a few pounds. A beer dinner is a magical night where lovers of beer and food get to sit down and enjoy both while surrounded by the best people and the best atmosphere. They can be and often are themed. I’ve had the privilege of being able to attend 5 or 6 since I entered the beer industry, and I assure you that I will be attending more. (The Ninkasi/OMSI Space Beer Dinner for one!)

The flow of a beer dinner all depends on the brewery who is hosting. Most start with an open bar that allow you to fill up a pint, mingle, and snack on appetizers prior to finding your seat. Once you sit down, an excited hush falls on the crowd as a brewer and a chef stand at the front and start the night with welcoming words. Then they introduce the first course and the first pairing. As the food and beer get severed the brewer/chef explain how the pairings enhance the food and/or enhance the beer. They suggest trying the beer first then the food, or vice versa, and over the next half hour or so you enjoy the pairing, while still desperately waiting for the next course. In my experience, beer dinners progress through an appetizer, a salad, 2-3 main courses and then a dessert course. When the dessert course is presented you’re not only sufficiently stuffed, but you’re simultaneously sad there’s no more coming and relieved you don’t need a bigger stomach.

The CBC or Craft Brewer’s Conference is hosted in Portland, Oregon this year and it’s only a week away! Over the week of April 13th – April 17th there are NINE beer dinners taking place in Portland. So I’ve complied the comprehensive list, and provided links to the host breweries, the event website, where to buy tickets, and how many courses to expect. Find your favorite brewery, or take a gamble and try a new one, but either way – you’re going to love eating a beer dinner.

Monday April 13th

3rd Annual Charlie Bravo Charlie Rare Beer Dinner & Tap Takeover

Location: The East Burn ; 1800 East Burnside Street, Portland 97214

Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Tickets: $100

Courses: 7 [menu]

Breweries: Avery Brewing, Burnside Brewing Co., DC Brau Brewing Company, Firestone Walker, Flying Dog Brewery, Maui Brewing Co., and Surly Brewing Co.

Chef: Joseph Dougherty

Wednesday April 15th

A Collaborative Brewers Dinner

Location: Elder Hall ; 3929 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland 97212

Times: 6:00pm -8:00pm, 8:30pm – 10:30pm

Tickets: $90

Courses: 5 [Menu]

Breweries: Breakside Brewery, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer, Jester King Brewery, Melvin Brewing, and Moody Tongue Brewing.

Chef: Jason French

Wild Things: Beers from Oregon’s Frontiers

Location: Imperial’s Portland Penny Diner ; 410 SW Broadway, Portland 97204

Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm

Tickets: $75

Courses: [no menu]

Breweries: Ale Apothecary, Breakside Brewing, de Garde Brewing, Hopworks Urban Brewery, and Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ales

Chef: unknown

McMenamins Spring Brewers Dinner

Location: Crystal Hotel- Zeus Cafe ; 303 SW 12th Ave, Portland 97205

Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Tickets: $75

Courses: 5 [menu]

Brewers: Drew Phillips and Dan Black of McMenamins

Chef: Jordan Taylor and Sous-chef Warren Pinkston

Cellar Z Stone Beer Dinner

Location: Zupen’s Market Wine Cellar at Burnside ; 2340 W. Burnside, Portland 97210

Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

Tickets: $85

Courses: 5 [menu]

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company

Chef: Alex Bourgidu

Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner

Location: Gracie’s Restaurant ; Hotel deLuxe, 29 SW 15th Ave, Portland 97205

Time: 5:oopm – 9:00pm

Tickets: $50 [call: 503-222-2171]

Courses: 4 [menu]

Brewery: Sierra Nevada

Chef: Mark Hosak

Stammtisch Spring Bier Dinner with Schönramer Brauerei

Location: Stammtisch ; 401 NE 28th Ave Portland, 97232

Time: 6:00pm

Tickets: $75 [call: 503-954-2674]

Courses: 5 [no menu]

Brewery: Schönramer Brauerei

Chef: Graham Chaney

Thursday April 16th

OMSI + Ninkasi Space Beer Dinner

Location: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry ; 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland 97214

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Tickets: $60

Courses: 4 [menu]

Brewery: Ninkasi Brewing Company

Chef: Ryan Morgan

Brewers Dinner with Oakshire and 3 Floyds

Location: Urban Farmer Steakhouse ; 525 SW Morrison St, Portland 97204

Time: 6:00pm – 9:30pm

Tickets: $125 [call 503.222.4900]

Courses: 4 [no menu]

Breweries: 3 Floyds Brewing and Oaskshire Brewing Company

Chef: Chris Starkus

Culmination Brewing and Tails & Trotter Beer Dinner

Location: Culmination Brewing Company ; 2117 NE Oregon Ave, Portland 97232

Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Tickets: $25

Courses: 5 [menu]

Breweries: Culmination Brewing and Tails & Trotters

Chef: Carter B. Owen

Friday, April 17

The Bruery Pop-up Beer Pairing Dinner

Location: Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom ; 3090 SE Division St, Portland 97202

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Tickets: $75

Courses: 6 [menu]

Breweries: The Bruery and Coquine Supper Club

Chef: Katy Millard

Did I forget any? Please email me: questions@oregonbrewlab.com

BrewLab does not support drinking and driving. If you are attending one of these events be sure to have safe transportation planned ahead of time.