Why I Love Brewing Up Cocktails

This Saturday marks the first anniversary of Brewing Up Cocktails. And even though this Saturday is packed with a host of other events, this one is an absolutely must attend! I have personally had the pleasure of attending three of these fascinating events here in Portland, and, in the last year, their popularity has grown to the point that the team of Jacob Grier, Yetta Vorobik, and Ezra Johnson-Greenough has extended its influence and has now held Brewing Up Cocktails sessions in San Francisco, Seattle and British Columbia.

The premiere event last summer was amazing. The Furburger (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Green Chartreuse, and Great Divide Chocolate Oak-Aged Yeti) and the Cascadian Revolution (Hop in the Dark, Grand Marnier, Clear Creek Doug Fir Eau de Vie, orange zest, and hop oil) were the standouts, but the spirits, liqueurs, and beers were perfectly balanced in all of the cocktails, and I could feel as well as taste all of the ingredients in each of them. 

With winter came the second round. The Hot Scotchy (with unfermented beer wort) and Lovers’ Quarrel (which featured a brilliant combination of herbal notes, acid, and chili spice) were the best of that go, and it was obvious that the founders had worked hard to use different beers and liquors for the new menu.

The next Portland event, at Spints Alehouse, featured Oakshire beers mixed with eggs to make a variety of flips, storied cocktails that date back hundreds of years. The Brewing Up Cocktails team does its homework.  There was a cocktail for everyone. Scotch lovers could imbibe the peaty scotch drink while their friends enjoyed an apple based cocktail with tangy but sweet notes that coated the mouth. The Heart Shaped Box, Oakshire’s rare Stout, was featured in one of the most powerful cocktails of the evening. 

Because each cocktail is so complex, expect a longer than usual wait after ordering your drinks on Saturday, but expect the wait to be worth it. Bring a friend so you can share each of the drinks that each of you order, and that way you’ll have a better chance of trying everything on the menu.

The first anniversary Brewing Up Cocktails event, complete with a pig roast, will be held at the Hop & Vine on Killingsworth. Parking in the neighborhood is generally ample and the yellow line MAX stop at Killingsworth and Interstate is within walking distance. I’m definitely looking forward to it, and I hope to see you there.

Info from the Press Release:

 "This Saturday July 30th 6-10pm is the Brewing up Cocktails One Year Anniversary Party at The Hop & Vine. We are celebrating Tiki style with a backyard party featuring a Frozen Margarita machine we will be serving beer cocktails from and a menu of drinks featuring sponsor Kona Brewing and other local beers and it's all brought to you by Groupon. There is no admission charge and there will be cocktail and beer specials."