I was out in Colorado for work and we are starting our kitchen remodel, which meant my business caused me to I miss most of the 2nd annual Portland Beer Week (June 7-17, 2012). All throughout the week there were special events varying from Rye Beer Festival and Fruit Beer Festival and Brewers Nights and pairings of beer with various dinners in restaurants throughout Portland (including a progressive dinner with matched beers and courses). At least though I was able to catch the Portland Beer & Cheese Fest with pre-purchased tickets only (and it sold out!) from 1-6pm today at Commons Brewery.
The Commons Brewery only recently opened this year, and is hosting the location of this event. This festival features beer and cheese pairings, with the beers from 10 different regional brewers and cheese selection by champion cheesemonger Steve Jones of Cheese Bar. Also on location are included light savory meaty snacks from Chop Butchery and Charcuterie, recently just voted best butcher in Portland by foodie visitors of Portland Food and Drink. Cheese, Beer, and Charcuterie, yum!
Seriously though, that charcuterie board by Chop was sooo beautiful, and Steve always brings the best cheese. The only improvement I could have made is that I wish there were more surfaces (so cocktail tables, no chairs is fine) to be able to not have one hand of beer glass and one hand of plate of cheese = no hand left to eat, so it was a balancing act that ended up in a sad loss of a dropped Ladysmith cheese sample at one point and a couple of other close calls. I loved that the event was all presale so that the number of guests were managed, and there was a certainty of enough beer, cheese, and chop for all.
The pairings list include the following beer and cheese
- Solera Berlinerwiess/Grisette Blend with Sartori Bellavitano *Cow Wisconsin
- Upright Brewing Offen Weisse paired with Mountina *Cow (raw) Montana
- Gigantic Rauchweizen and the Bandit paired with Willamette Valley Cheese Co. Brindisi *Cow (raw) Oregon
- Double Mountain Das Boot Alt with Tumalo Farm Pondhopper *Goat Oregon
- Firestone Walker dba (double barrel ale) with Abbaye de Belloc *Sheep France
- The Commons The Flemish Kiss with Samish Bay Aged Ladysmith *Cow Washington
- HUB (Hopworks) Abbey Ale with Uniekaas Vintage Grand Ewe *Sheep Holland
- Oakshire Perfect Storm Double IPA with Hook’s 5-Year Cheddar *Cow Wisconsin
- Widmer Brewing Pitch Black IPA with Rogue Creamery Smokey Blue *Cow (raw) Oregon
- Block 15 Figgy Pudding with Colston-Basset Stilton *Cow UK
[…] for the 2nd year yesterday was the Portland Beer and Cheese Festival! I loved it last year (see my post it on last year), and this year was another winning repeat. The event, which is all by advanced ticket so as to […]