Anyone looking to quench their thirst with generous pours of craft brews will find respite in Portland. Land of the weird and thirsty, you’re bound to find some epic beer festivals in Portland to love.

In fact, Portland is often rated as the best beer city in America. Our area of expertise? Craft beers and IPAs.

Portland is known as the craft brew capital of the world and has the award-winning breweries to prove it. As you can imagine, there’s no shortage of beer festivals to enjoy. The trouble is know when they happen.

That’s where I come in. Here’s a roundup of the best brew festivals in Portland by month.

Looking for the best breweries in Portland?

Here’s a roundup of the 15 best breweries in Portland, Oregon (based on firsthand experience)

List of Beer Festivals in Portland, Oregon by Month

January Beer Festivals

NW Coffee Beer Invitational

January is a sleepy month for the Portland beer festival scene, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. In an attempt to wake from the slumber of winter, this PDX beer fest is focused on coffee beers – a marriage of the Pacific Northwest’s two passions.

The event is held at the charming Goose Hollow Inn, where 20 brewers are tasked with creating clever fusions of beer and locally roasted coffee. The selections are judged onsite and a winner is announced. It’s a fun way to spend a boozy evening trying libations you normally wouldn’t.

The last event was held in 2020 and I’m still waiting to hear back about 2023. I’ll will you posted when I hear more. Interested? You can learn more information here.

February PDX Beer Festivals

Note: February is Oregon’s Craft Beer Month

If you’re a beer enthusiast then February needs no introduction. During the entire month of February, Oregon celebrates craft breweries through fun events and unique beer releases throughout the state.

The event is held in February to encourage folks to visit the state during the slowest month for tourism. In the true spirit of craft beer month, expect to find one of the best beer festivals in Portland, Zwickelmania!

Zwickelmania®

The name of this beloved Portland brew festival comes from a vital part in the brew-making process. So, first things first, what the heck is a zwickel?

A zwickel is the valve found outside of a tank or cask. It’s used to sample the brew as it ferments, ensuring a proper end product. The aptly named festival is a time when breweries open their doors to the public and allow them to get behind-the-scenes peaks at the magic.

You’ll get a chance to experience various events, like meet-and-greets with renowned brewers, brewery tours, tastings (duh) and fun food + beer pairings.

The Zwickelmania® beer festival in Portland spans two weekends in February. The first event takes place in Portland and the second one occurs statewide. The event is hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild, so you’ll be rubbing shoulders with enthusiasts and pros from all four corners of the state.

Hillsbrew Festival (February 24-26, 2023)

The folks behind the wildly popular Oregon Brewers Festival are at it again, this time in Hillsboro. Hillsbrew Fest will be hosted at the Wingspan Event & Conference Center at Westside Commons the last weekend in February.

This 3-day event will host 30 Oregon brewers and offer an impressive variety of beer styles. Expect to see breweries from all parts of the state — Columbia River Gorge, Central Oregon, the coast, Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon and (obviously) Portland!

Word on the street is that some brewers plan to release clever concoctions for the first time at this festival, making it worth a stop.

March Beer Festivals in Portland

SheBrew PDX

SheBrew PDX is an annual homebrew festival celebrating female-identified brewers (of the professional and amateur sort). This family-friendly event is run in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign and features more than 30 professional brewers (plus 6 home brewers).

Expect to find bites, tastings and endless entertainment. The best part? 100% of proceeds go to The Human Rights Campaign for Equality. Learn more here.

April Portland Beer Festivals

Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Fest

It wouldn’t be a Portland beer festival if it wasn’t weird, right? Well, thankfully we can check that obligatory box. Merging three things no local can resist — beer, coffee and doughnuts.

The clever brewers create cheeky brews using coffee beans from local roasters, which are then paired with doughnuts. But fret not, real coffee will be available too. Admission covers beer and doughnuts and tickets can only be purchased by those 21+, although kids are welcome join. More info here.

Nano Beer Fest

The Nano Beer Fest originated in 2008 with the hope of showcasing small local brewers that deserved more attention then they were getting. Fast forward to 2022 and this beloved Portland beer festival is still going strong.

Hosted at John’s Marketplace, you’ll find curated (and innovative) small batch ciders and beers. The focus unapologetically remains on small “nano” brewers, so you’re bound to find some rare gems and new breweries to love. More information can be found on the website.

May Beer Festivals in Portland

Sip of Spring

Located in NE Portland, Sip of Spring is a beloved beer festival in Portland hosted at the charming Rossi Farms. Celebrate the changing of the season (spring, winter is over!) amounts friends while sipping innovative brews from local brewers.

The event takes place rain or shine, so dress appropriately. Don’t stress if rain is in the forecast, this Portland beer festival takes place under the cover of the barn (bring warm layers).

Edgefield Brew Fest

McMenamins Edgefield needs no introduction. A heavy-weight in the Portland brew scene, nobody is surprised to learn they host one of the best beer festivals in Portland.

Featuring 100+ beers from Oregon and Washington, this fest is held on the lawn where the summer concerts take place (and yes, live music will be going). The event brings together the biggest names in Oregon’s epic brew scene from Gigantic Brewing Company (my favorite) to Buoy Beer Company (from our friends at the coast).

The vibe is casual and chatty, plan to rub elbows with coworkers and neighbors — everyone seems to love this event. Learn more here.

Bend Brew Festival

No list of the best beer festivals is complete without giving a shout-out to our neighbors in Bend. Those people are working magic and deserve the hype! Held the last week in May, this is great way to get exposure to Bend’s epic craft brew scene. Learn more here.

June Beer Festivals in Portland

Portland Beer Week

For many locals, PDX Beer Week is the most highly-anticipated beer festival in Portland. A 10-day celebration of local beer, who could resist?

This Portland beer festival takes place at various locations city wide. The events span the gamut, from beer tastings, full-fledged festivals, food + beer pairings and taproom takeovers, you’re bound to be impressed.

Portland International Beer Festival

Held at Fields Neighborhood Park in the trendy Pearl District, this Portland beer festival features more than 200 beers and plenty of food carts — giving you a reason to linger.

For reasons unbeknownst to me, this event tends to attract a more mature crowd so it has a more sophisticated feel than the other brewing festivals in Portland mentioned on this list. I find it very educational and love getting a chance to sample new releases like IPAs and sours from breweries I’ve never heard of before.

Local’s Tip: You can purchase advanced tickets online for cheaper than getting them at the gate. Book early if you want to experience this epic Portland brewery festival, learn more here.

Hillsdale Brewfest

Pitting 22 master McMenamins ale brewers against each other, the Hillsdale Brewfest is not for the faint of heart. Hosted at the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House (Portland’s oldest brewpub), this is the battle of year and winner takes all.

Fans get to choose their favorites using tokens and the winning brewer get to be included at the Brewer’s Festival (no small feat). Competition is steep and everyone brings their A game for an experience you won’t soon forget.

Portland Fruit Beer Festival

If you’re into fruity beers, this Portland beer festival is for you. You’ll have an opportunity to enjoy a plethora of unique fruit beers that span the gamut — from tart delights to exotic and sweet styles. Everything from IPA’s to sour ales and lagers will be on offer, ensuring everyone leaves happy.

This family-friendly beer festival in Portland is open to folks of all ages. Live music and food vendors onsite, linger as long as you’d like. More info here.

Cider Summit

Hosted at Fields Park in the Pearl District, the Cider Summit is a beloved brew fest in Portland that attracts cider fanatics in hordes. Featuring more than 150+ selections from more than 40 brewers, this is the largest cider festival in the region.

Unlike most of the other Portland beer festivals on this list, this one isn’t exclusive to local producers. No, you’ll find big names from all over the world — everyone vying for attention and a chance to show off their creativity. Learn more here.

Spile & Spigot Cast Beer Festival

Portland seems to be the land of IPA, but that doesn’t stop a few bold brewers from trying their hand at traditional classics. European and American cask beers are making a (slow) comeback at a handful of breweries and the Spile & Spigot Cast Beer Festival seeks to highlight those styles.

Featuring 25+ beers, expect more unusual carbonated firkins and ales (if you’re not used to pre-prohibition era style beer). Regardless of your beer preference, you’re bound to have a great time at the Spile & Spigot Cast Beer Festival.

July Beer Festivals

Portland Craft Beer Festival

Originally started in 2015, the Portland Craft Beer Festival keeps the spotlight on local Portland beers exclusively. If you’re clutching your pearls at the thought of a limited selection, fret not. There’s more than 70 breweries in Portland so you’ll have plenty to try.

This open-air beer festival is held in Fields Park and thankfully the weather cooperates in July. Nothing better than a sunny day walking around a gorgeous park with beer in hand. Oh the joy of living in Portland!

Oregon Brewer’s Festival

Founded in 1988, the Oregon Brewers’ Festival is the longest-running beer festival in Portland (hell, the entire state). This 3-day even attracts thousands of spectators to Tom McCall Waterfront Park the last weekend in July.

More than 80 craft brewers show up to show off their creations and I’m always eager to get my grubby little hands on the new stuff, especially from the award-winning breweries. Live music, good food and even better beer, what’s not to like?

Local’s Tip: This is one of the most popular beer festivals in Portland. If you can swing it, go during a weekday so that you’re not stuck waiting in super long lines while trying to sample different beers. This place gets madly packed on the weekends, which takes some of the joy out of the experience (in my opinion).

Oregon Trail Brewfest

Themed around the Oregon Trail, this is one of the more unique beer festivals in Portland. Located in Oregon City, you’ll get the chance to try beers brewed all over Oregon (along the Oregon Trail).

It’s a very fun concept! Visitors get a chance to enjoy live music, great food options, fun lawn games and lot (and lots) of beer. The festival is open to folks of all ages.

August Beer Festivals in PDX

Portland BBQ & Brews (August 18-20, 2023)

Hosted in the field outside of Revolution Hall, the Portland BBQ & Brews festival is a 3-day celebration that pairs knock-out BBQ with great beer. Sunshine, live music, beer samples, fall-off-the-bone BBQ and great company — it’s the very epitome of summer

The lineup includes 22 local breweries and cideries, food vendors and tons of fun. The best part? Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Oregon.

Puckerfest

Love sour beers? You’re in good hands at the Puckerfest Beer Festival in Portland’s Belmont neighborhood. The 5-day event is hosted by Belmont Station bottleshop and tap room.

As you can surmise from the name alone — sours reign supreme here. It’s all about tart notes and the more sour the better. Swing by if you’re into that sort of thing.

Vancouver Summer Brewfest

Vancouver, Washington has been getting a lot of attention the past few years (Portland’s Ruse Brewing recently opened a little spot on the waterfront) so their brewfest is merely icing on the cake.

Take advantage of the opportunity to sample Washington beers at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver over the span of 2 days. Local food trucks and live music available. Learn more here.

September Beer Festivals

Prost! Portland Oktoberfest

I can’t tell you the number of times I missed Octoberfest in Portland because I didn’t research it until … October. If this has never happened to you, judge away. If this does happen to you — join the club. Why do they make it so confusing?!

In any case, Oktoberfest is one of the best beer festivals in Portland and you can’t afford to miss it so mark your calendars (for September, go figure).

In true Portland fashion, we don’t do anything halfway and Oktoberfest at Prost! is no exception. You’ll find all sorts of German-themed fun at this popular Portland beer fest.

October Beer Festivals in PDX

Portland Fresh Hops Fest

Held at Oaks Amusement Park, this 2-day event celebrates fresh hop beers brewed by craft brewers in Oregon. We don’t use the term fresh hop lightly! These beers are made using hops picked in the previous 24 hours.

Fresh hop beers are more complicated than other types of brews. Fresh hops are available for a short window during hop harvest, using hops picked directly for the local vines. The end result is a beautiful thing — uniquely flavored aromas create bright and bitter pours you won’t find elsewhere.

Hood River Hops Fest

Much like the Portland fresh hops festival I just mentioned, the Hood River Hops Fest is all about fresh hopped beer. The only difference? It features twice as many beers. That’s right, this beer festival near Portland boasts 60 fresh hop beers for a handful of select local breweries.

I’m a sucker for pFriem Family Brewers and would drink the disposed beer sediment if they’d let me. Which means only one thing — whenever they attend an event, I’m the first one at the gate. You’ll have a blast with live music, beer (and local wine!), and tons of room for the kids to run around.

Plus, any excuse to visit Hood River sounds like a great day to me.

November Beer Festivals

BrewLights

ZooLights is a beloved Portland event most locals have participated in once or twice (or many times, if they have kids). The Oregon Zoo is adorned in a beautiful display of dazzling lights while eager visitors wander from one display to the next with a cup of (delicious but overpriced) hot chocolate in hand.

Well, the clever folks at the Oregon Zoo are giving adults something to talk about too. Enter BrewLights, a creative twist on this cherished holiday tradition. The event spans two days and admission allows adult-only access to light displays and beer samples from local breweries.

Portland Beer Festivals by Month: December

Holiday Ale Festival

Swing by the Holiday Ale Festival (typically a weekend in early December) to sample more than 50 beers under the canopy of the decorated Christmas tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Some folks think this popular Portland beer festival is a tad overrated (it gets really crowded) but I enjoy it.

The event lasts 5 days and the lineup boasts seasonal standouts (think fun winter flavors like pine). The event takes place outside so dress appropriately. Learn more here.

Best beer festivals in Portland (Post Overview)

In sum, here’s a quick roundup of the best beer festivals in Portland

NW Coffee Beer Invitational
Zwickelmania®
Hillsbrew Festival (February 24-26, 2023)
SheBrew PDX
Baker’s Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Fest
Nano Beer Fest
Sip of Spring
Edgefield Brew Fest
Bend Brew Festival
Portland Beer Week
Portland International Beer Festival
Hillsdale Brewfest
Portland Fruit Beer Festival
Cider Summit
Spile & Spigot Cast Beer Festival
Portland Craft Beer Festival
Oregon Brewers Festival
Oregon Trail Brewfest
Portland BBQ & Brews
Puckerfest
Vancouver Summer Brewfest
Oktoberfest
Fresh Hop Pop-Up
Prost! Portland Oktoberfest
Portland Fresh Hops Fest
Hood River Hops Fest
BrewLights
Holiday Ale Festival

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