Portland Celebrates Beer Culture Every June: Events You Can't Miss
Five June Beer Events in Portland That You Can’t Miss
In Portland, June marks the start of a season of beer-centric celebrations. The city isn’t shy about its love of craft brews, and with some of the best and most rare pours in the country, why should it be?
Whether you’re ready to expand your palate and try a few summer-friendly fruit beers, or you’re a rye beer connoisseur eager to find a new brewery to celebrate, June is your month to discover the best in Portland beer. So start planning now: here are Portland beer festivals you won’t want to miss this June.
Portland Beer Week
A festival comprised of festivals, Portland Beer Week is an iconic, 11-day beer celebration where the city goes nuts about beer. Founded by people closest to the craft (think taproom owners, beer journalists, and brew marketing experts), Portland Beer Week claims to be “More than just a beer festival. Portland Beer Week is a celebration of craft beer culture and all of its tangents from food pairings to beer ice cream, artwork and design, film and science.”
If you’re ready to taste some of the best beer in the world locally, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Go: June 7-17; at location across Portland
Portland Fruit Beer Festival
Non-fruit beers need not apply, as this is THE festival where fruit beers and ciders reign supreme. Known as “the first and largest festival dedicated to fruit beers of all kinds as long as they use real fruit,” this inner southeast Portland beer festival is a family-friendly event that offers over four dozen fruit beers and fruited hard ciders.
Celebrating its eighth year, the Portland Fruit Beer Festival promises to be one of the best ways to pass a June weekend with premier beers, DJs, and vendors in Portland.
Taste: June 8-10, Inner Southeast Portland
Portland International Beer Fest
If Portland Beer Week leaves you with an insatiable desire to try more international beers, don’t despair! The event is closely followed by another multi-day specialty festival: the Portland International Beer Fest.
Located in the Pearl District’s North Park Blocks, this International Beer Fest showcases rare ciders and beers from across all around the world. Expect to find Bright Blue lagers from Japan, Quadrupels from Belgium, and everything in between.
Attend: June 22-24, Pearl District North Park Blocks
BrewFest in the Park
Don’t be fooled into thinking all Portland beer festivals are held downtown or close to the city center — North Portland has its fair share of festivals, too! Each June, North Portland Overlook Park holds another family-friendly beer festival: BrewFest in the Park. Its focus? Organic Brews.
This year will be the second run, so you can plan to enjoy the festival’s variety of 60-plus organic craft beers, ciders, and meads — without the crowds of other more established festivals. Expect to find: a booze-free “soda garden,” food carts, games, and picnic blankets galore.
Attend: Late June, Overlook Park
Portland Beer & Cheese Fest
Technically part of Portland Beer Week, we think this Portland beer festival is worth a separate mention. Beer and cheese, a match made in heaven, are equally celebrated during this one-day event where a ticket gets you ten different unique beer and cheese pairings by a TBA brewmaster and legendary master cheesemonger Steve Jones (Cheese Bar).
While this year’s theme and location is still to be announced, keep an eye out for ticket sales, as this event usually sells out well in advance.
Indulge: Mid Portland Beer Week, TBA
Where will you be tasting beer in Portland this June? If there’s something worth adding to our list, let us know!