So, last month I posted a roundup of various events occurring in June. I did write recaps of some of them already- such as the Portland Beer and Cheese Festival 2014 Recap, and the Portland Monthly Country Brunch and Bloody Mary Smackdown 2014 Recap. There were a few others I also attended, and wanted to share a few photos of them in case you missed them on my social media such as Twitter @pechluck or Instagram @pechluck. Why aren’t we friends?

Tiki Punch Out!

Held at Punch Bowl Social on Tuesday June 3, this free event had 6 bartender participants breaking out the rum recipes using Captain Morgan Rum to vie for the title of Tiki Punch-Out Champion and a cash prize of $500 based on audience voting. Punch Participants included Hale Pele, Trader Vic’s, Alibi PDX, Sand Bar, Kask, and of course Punch Bowl Social. It was fun to get a little sample of all of them to see the creative ways each punched it up! The winner was Punch Bowl Social!
 

• Punch Bowl Social offered up “Something About Rio” with Captain Morgan White Rum, fresh watermelon, coconut creme, fresh pineapple, passion fruit liqueur, and toasted coconut. As they poured their punch out of a spigot from a carved watermelon that said “Something About Rio”, if there had been a category of best display, they would have won that as well. Punch Bowl Social normally has several punches on their menu, so you can trust if you visit that they will have a tasty punch for you.
  

  Punch Bowl Social offered up “Something About Rio” with Captain Morgan White Rum, fresh watermelon, coconut creme, fresh pineapple, passion fruit liqueur, and toasted coconut.

• Sand Bar presented “Sand-sational Punch” with Captain Morgan White Rum, imported Guanabana Nectar, Ginger Liquor, lime, coconut rum, and chilled fresh fruit. They “lei’d” every taster and the little monkey adornment on the tasting cup was my second place for best. One thing I learned is that Sand Bar really specializes in rum, including having a dozen rum cocktails and rum tasting flights at their bar.
  

  Sand Bar presented “Sand-sational Punch” with Captain Morgan White Rum, imported Guanabana Nectar, Ginger Liquor, lime, coconut rum, and chilled fresh fruit. They “lei’d” every taster and the little monkey adornment on the tasting cup

• Hale Pele offered the “Caribbean Slugger” with Captain Morgan White Rum, London dry gin, spice water, passion fruit syrup, lemon juice, grapefruit oleo-saccharum, and club soda
  

  Hale Pele offered the “Caribbean Slugger” with Captain Morgan White Rum, London dry gin, spice water, passion fruit syrup, lemon juice, grapefruit oleo-saccharum, and club soda

• Trader Vic’s “The Emerald Isle” included Captain Morgan White Rum, Below Deck Ginger rum, lime juice, Trader Vics koko creme, scotch bonnet, and basil infused simple syrup, served with a little menehune (little mythological Hawaiian dwarf)
  

  Trader Vic’s “The Emerald Isle” included Captain Morgan White Rum, Below Deck Ginger rum, lime juice, Trader Vics koko creme, scotch bonnet, and basil infused simple syrup, served with a little menehune (little mythological Hawaiian dwarf)

• Kask provided a sophisticated take on punch with “The Forbidden Flower” with Captain Morgan White Rum, Campo de Encanto Pisco, Rothman and Winter Creme de violette, Luxardo Marschino, Nokolaihoff elderflower, cordial, guava nectar, edible hibiscus blossom, and lemon juice
  

  Kask provided a sophisticated take on punch with “The Forbidden Flower” with Captain Morgan White Rum, Campo de Encanto Pisco, Rothman and Winter Creme de violette, Luxardo Marschino, Nokolaihoff elderflower, cordial, guava nectar, edible hibiscus blossom, and lemon juice

• Alibi PDX went very fruity with “Nurakea’s Milk” with Captain Morgan White Rum, Bacardi Limon, Malibu, fresh cherries, ginger ale, fresh grapefruit and more that I don’t recall. Sorry, you were my last taster and I forgot to get a clear photo of their sign!
  

  Alibi PDX went very fruity with “Nurakea’s Milk” with Captain Morgan White Rum, Bacardi Limon, Malibu, fresh cherries, ginger ale, fresh grapefruit and more

 

Negroni Week

Monday June 2 – Sunday June 8, 2014

Negroni Week was sponsored by imbibe Magazine and Campari internationally. In the 7 days of Negroni Week, participating bars take advantage of a Negroni (Campari, Gin, Vermouth) to raise money for various charity causes. My go to place was The Rookery at Raven and Rose. If you go on Wednesday, they also have live music in the evenings to further class up your night as you sip their gorgeous and well crafted cocktails in their elegant roomy space. Unfortunately I was travelling in 2 cities during this week and didn’t have more Negronis, but I hope to correct this next year!

Portland Beer and Cheese Festival

Sunday, June 15, 2014

I wrote a whole recap post on this here with a report out on every single beer and cheese pairing: check it out!

Oregon Cider Week

Saturday June 21 – Sunday June 22 2014

I have photos from two events that I stopped by that were part of Cider Week. First, was the release of Alter Ego Cider‘s first two ciders at Cooper’s Hall. Alter Ego Cider is as partnership of three experienced winemakers and friends Anne Hubatch, Nate Wall and Kris Wall to use winemaking techniques in hand crafted cider. The result are ciders with a depth like a wine.

My favorite of the two released, an Apple Cider called “The Brute” is made with locally seven locally grown Northwest apples from Oregon and Washington in stainless steel barrels that balance the apple crispness with just enough sweetness to give an impression similar to a sparkling white wine. I probably could have just kept noshing on half a bottle of this with the beautiful cheese and fruit plate they had at this launch party. Right now the ciders are available in 1/6 barrel kegs so I would need to throw a party to enjoy more, but they plan to begin bottling by the end of the year.

The other was a rotating Seasonal called “The Ruby S’ipper” that is a red raspberry cider with brilliant ruby color.

While at Cooper’s Hall, we decided to stick around for dinner and I was able to try a whole cider flight.

My next photos for Oregon Cider Month was Reverend’s Nat‘s 1st Anniversary Party.

With 20 taps of ciders as well as complimentary Sparky’s Pizza and Otto’s Sausages, this was a wonderful way of celebrating the success of Reverend Nat’s as well as northwest cider and craft cider in general.

Portland Monthly’s Country Brunch & Bloody Mary Smackdown

Sunday, June 22, 2014 11:30AM-2:00 PM

I wrote a whole recap post on this here with a report out on every single brunch bite and bloody mary contender: check it out!

North American Organic Brewers Festival

June 26-June 29, 2014

The North American Organic Brewers Festival brings an opportunity to save the world one beer at a time by supporting organic and sustainable companies and lifestyle (as I covered in my previous post on NAOBF picking out beers I was looking forward to).

My favorite beers that I sampled at the festival from the list: ThirstyBear Panda Bear Ale, Ambacht Bourbon Barrel Aged G++, Lakefront Fuel Café Coffee Stout, Fort George Spruce Budd, Golden Valley Wheat Tart, Coalition Space Fruit, and the Widmer and Upright Gruits.

And a few other pics: I would recommend for your beer food German Sausages or vegan cheese steaks and finish with Fifty Licks ice cream!

Yes that’s right, above is a rare photo of me since I’m usually behind the camera and I never think to take selfies. Thanks to M as she took the photo and I stole it from her FB wall.

So… unlike most Portland bloggers, NO PHOTOS OF ALL AT THE OREGON COAST. Because I didn’t go! At all! Besides my sister’s wedding shower in LA this month, and a big work thing at the end of the month, I am going to try to make it my goal to get out to the coast this year one of these weekends!

Other plans for June are I have tickets for Book of Morman this weekend, and of course there’s the Oregon Brewer’s Festival as well now that they have brought back the Specialty Tent. And, there will be my monthly visit to the Nodoguro pop-up. Lastly, Saturday July 26 and Sunday July 27 Saraveza is having their annual “Fire & Brimstone: A celebration of smoke & chili libations” festival which has spicy beers and smokey beers. There isn’t much info on it yet, but when I learn more I’ll share it with you of course.

What are you plans for July? What did you do in June that you enjoyed the most?