Fall Preview: Events, Dinners, and Booze On Our Radar

Less pumpkin spice latte more Portland-style drinking

by Karen Locke in Roundups

flickr photo by Ian Sane

Autumn in Portland may be that bittersweet time before the rains begin but it’s one of our favorite times of the year when it comes to food and drink. Savory, dark, and comforting is the name of the game. Here are some of the events, beer, and cocktails in Portland on our radar this October.

Events

Peche Beer Fest - October 11

For this one-day event at Saraveza, you’ll see barrel-aged and sour beers, vintage peach lambics, Berliner-Weisse, ciders, mead and even new brews made exclusively for the fest. Expect 20+ rare Peach beers and ciders on tap from breweries and cideries.

SE Wine Collective and Smallwares October Supper Social Menu - October 16

For the October installment of SE Wine Collective’s monthly dinner series, Chef Johanna Ware of Smallwares will create an Indian-inspired menu to pair with new wines from SE Wine Collective. Drinks included with the four-course menu: 2014 SE Wine Collective Grenache Rose based Cocktail, 2013 Vincent Wine Company Pinot Blanc, 2013 Division Winemaking Company Chardonnay, 2013 Fullerton Five Face Pinot Noir, and 2013 Helioterra Wines Late Harvest Riesling. For more information about the dinner email Info@SEWineCollective.com or call (503) 208-2061.

PDX Cocktail Week - October 18 - 24

Professional bartenders come together from all over the U.S. for five days of educational seminars and tastings for Portland Cocktail Week, which takes place October 18 - 24 all over the city. If you want to party like you’re a bartender too, you’ll want to find your way to the PDX Cocktail Week after-parties.

Drinks

McMenamins Billy Whiskey

For some of us, whiskey season never really ends, but for everyone else, fall is really the time of year when we want to sip it once again. Distilling in Oregon, and especially in the Portland area, wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for the company’s early contributions to the industry. So this year, let’s tip our hats to McMenamins Billy Whiskey (87 proof). This whiskey was handcrafted in small batches and double distilled in a Century-old Alambic still from Cognac, France. It was then aged in lightly-charred barrels for two and a half years, and is perfect for sipping or mixing, even year round.

Viking Crush Cocktail
Fireside

When it comes to local celebrity bartenders in Portland, Sue Erickson, owner and bar manager of Fireside in NW, definitely makes the list. Don't miss out on the festive Viking Crush from Erickson’s drink menu this October. Our hopes are that it knocks out pumpkin spice lattes and the season upon us will be called Viking Crush Season (#VCS) instead. This cocktail is made from two kinds of Aquavit (Krogstad and Linnie), fresh apple, egg white, lemon, Underberg bitters and apple bitters.

Monster Mash Imperial Porter

Lompoc Brewing

Monster Mash Imperial Porter by Lompoc (8% ABV) has half dozen dark specialty malts, but luckily it’s no Frankenstein. The Imperial Porter is full-bodied with hints of chocolate, smoked and kiln coffee grains and a bit of hoppiness too, which is perfect for fall. Available now for that perfect warm buzz for those October nights when you refuse to give up on the patio.

Black Heart Flip

Raven & Rose

You’ll find this cocktail on the dessert menu at Raven & Rose. This year there are more and more dessert cocktails taking over menus and this is one you won't want to miss. Give the Black Heart Flip a try. It was created by Dave Shenaut and is made from Sam Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout, brandy, rum, Amaretto, an entire Lisa’s Farm egg, and nutmeg.