Oregon's North Coast Beer 101 Weekends

Residing in the Willamette Valley, one sometimes forgets about the brewcations one can take for a short weekend getaway. We are close to great beer towns such as Hood River, Bend and Seattle. One region that may not be on everyone’s radar is the Oregon North Coast of Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach.

Starting next weekend, Beer 101 on Oregon’s North Coast is a sudsy event series held at Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach breweries and pubs, during the weekends of October 18-20 and October 25-27. If you plan on hitting up Oregon’s North Coast one last time before winter begins, this is the time to do so.

Beer drinkers, home brewers and curious entertainers are invited to brush up on their brew knowledge at one of Beer 101’s workshops, brewers dinners, food pairings, lodging specials and more. In celebration of the event, headbrewers from Astoria Brewing Co., Fort George Brewery, Seaside Brewing Co., and Bill’s Tavern have collaborated on a recipe for a new beer, which can be sampled at 16 locations, found here.

As its number of breweries continues to grow, Oregon’s North Coast is gearing up to become one of the Northwest’s next great beer destinations. The communities of Astoria-Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach invite beer enthusiasts to join the fun this fall with two weekends of sudsy events. Taste the Beer 101 brew crafted for the occasion by Astoria Brewing Company, Fort George Brewery, Seaside Brewing Company and Bill’s Tavern & Brewhouse. Meet the brewers and beer icons, learn about Oregon’s brewing history, enjoy beer dinners and get great deals on lodging.

WHEN:
Friday – Sunday, Oct. 18-20 and 25-27, 2013

EVENTS INCLUDE:

• Tasting trays, tap takeovers and beer-food pairings at North Coast restaurants and brew pubs
• Educational talks on proper glassware, the history of brewing in Oregon and more
• Contest to name the North Coast breweries’ collaboration beer
• Brewers dinner in Seaside
• Astoria and Gearhart lodging specials

Event locations and details are posted on http://visittheoregoncoast.com/north.

CONTEST:

Four brewers from Oregon’s North Coast have concocted a special recipe for a collaborative brew commemorating the Beer 101 weekends. Brewers from Astoria Brewing, Fort George, Seaside Brewing and Bill’s Tavern developed one recipe for the same brew. The yet-to-be-named collaboration beer will be available for tasting at the following North Coast restaurants and brew pubs, and people will have the chance to name this special brew. Come up with the most creative name and you’ll win one of three weekend getaways to Astoria/Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach.

• In Astoria: Fort George, Rogue Ales Public House, Wet Dog Café and Astoria Brewing.
• In Seaside: Seaside Brewing, McKeown’s Irish Pub, McKeown’s Restaurant & Bar, Wine & Beer Haus, Twisted Fish Steakhouse and U Street Pub.
• In Gearhart: McMenamins Sand Trap Pub.
• In Cannon Beach: Bill’s Tavern, Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House, Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge, Lumberyard Rotisserie and Warren House Pub.

Collaboration beer description: Brewed with organic two-row malted barley, crystal malts, malted wheat, peat-smoked malt and five gallons of blackberry honey, this beer is a beautiful, deep, smokey-red Wee Heavy Scotch Ale that is slightly peaty and very malt forward. Brewers used just enough mildly spicy hops to balance and give perspective to this big ale.

TOP EVENTS: 

The Alchemy of Glassware and Tasting with Lisa Morrison, The Beer Goddess
Saturday, Oct. 19, 3:00 p.m. at Fort George in Astoria. Forget size. Shape matters. And not all beer glasses are created equal ? nor are they “one shape fits all.” Find out from Lisa “Beer Goddess” Morrison why glassware is an important component and how aroma plays a key role in how your beer tastes. Morrison, owner of Belmont Station Beer Store & Cafe, hosts Beer O’Clock Radio across Oregon on the Radio Northwest Network and is the author of Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest. Cost: Free. Limited to 30 participants. Sign up at the counter in the pub.

Behind-the-Scenes and Tasting at U Street Pub & Eatery
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19-20 and 26-27, 2-3 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. at U Street Pub & Eatery in Seaside. Join owner Teri Carpenter for an educational talk about U Street’s intricate “MacGyver style” operational system, and an exploration of proper pouring techniques and equipment. Did you know that a stout is poured differently than an IPA or Lager? This session is perfect for home brewers and curious entertainers. Cost: Free.

Oregon Beer Through the Ages with John Foyston, The Oregonian
Friday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Astoria’s Wet Dog Café.
Educational talk and tasting about the history of brewing in Oregon with The Oregonian’s “The Beer Here” columnist John Foyston, who will share insights gained from covering the local beer industry since its early years. Cost: Free. Limited to 24 participants. Food and beer can be ordered from the menu during the session.

Brewers Dinner at Seaside Brewing Company with John Foyston
Saturday, Oct. 26, 6 p.m. at Seaside Brewing.
This four-course, five-beer dinner features brews from Seaside Brewing, Bill’s Tavern, Fort George and Astoria Brewing. John Foyston will comment on the beers and how they pair best with food. Cost: $50 per ticket. Limited to 30 participants

Register to attend these events and more at http://visittheoregoncoast.com/north.

BEER TOURS: 

Transportation is offered for one of two 4.5-hour tasting tour routes Oct.19, 20, 26 and 27. Tickets cost $49 and must be purchased in advance; limited to 25 participants. Get details here.

Ale of Two Cities Tour – Seaside and Cannon Beach – at the Wine & Beer Haus, The Lumberyard Rotisserie & Grill and Seaside Brewing. The tour begins at 12:30 p.m.at Astoria’s West Mooring Basin parking lot and returns at 4:40 p.m.

Astoria Ale Trail Tour – Astoria – at Wet Dog Café and Astoria Brewing, Rogue Ales Public House and Fort George. The tour begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Wine & Beer Haus parking lot in Seaside and returns at 4:30 p.m.

HOTEL PACKAGES:

McMenamins Gearhart Hotel Beer 101 Package
Overnight stay, two brewery tasting trays of six McMenamins’ ales, growler filled with your choice; double occupancy; rates start at $136 per night; call (503) 717-8150 for more info and to reserve.

Holiday Inn Express Astoria Beer 101 Package
Overnight stay, two 12-ounce cans of Trolley Stop Ale, two Goonies collector pint glasses, two Astoria Riverfront Trolley passes and museum passes; double occupancy; rates start at $149 per night; call (503) 325-6222 for more info and to reserve.

Cannery Pier Hotel Astoria Beer 101 Package
Overnight stay in a riverfront deluxe king or double queen, two Fort George glasses, beer tasting tray onsite at Fort George and transportation in the hotel’s vintage cars; double occupancy; $219 per night; available Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19 and 25-26; call (503) 325-4996 for more info and to reserve.

Beer 101 packages must be mentioned at time of booking. Photo ID is required at check in. Registered guests must be 21 years of age or older. No further discounts apply. Based upon availability at time of booking.