For years the holiday season had been a quiet one for Portland’s world-class craft breweries — a chance for the industry to catch its collective breath on the heels of late summer’s fresh-hop output and Oktoberfest celebrations that last well into fall.
Today, though, the festivities continue all winter long with eclectic beer festivals, exclusive releases of small-batch brews, behind-the-scenes tours and more — culminating each February with Oregon Craft Beer Month.
Here’s what to expect from the many fun, festive craft beer events this winter across Oregon. For more inspiration, keep up with the latest craft beer happenings in Oregon at The New School Beer + Cider, which shares news about upcoming events, and Celebrate Oregon Beer, which hosts a map of the state’s breweries, news and more.
Oregon Winter Craft Beer Events
When the weather turns cooler and Oregonians head indoors, beer fans watch for intimate day and weekend festivals that bring together regional breweries to pour flagship and exclusive releases.
In December, the Wonderland Brew Fest celebrates the holidays with three days of live music, artisan foods and festive beers at The Bitter Monk in downtown McMinnville.
Tualatin Valley kicks off the year by inviting craft beer and cider fans to taste their way through this charming region located west of Portland. Held between mid-January and mid-March, Tap Season 2026 fun includes a passport, special events and an official festival beer. Also in the area is the Tualatin Winter Brew Fest, a school fundraising event in January that pours seasonal beers from local breweries and cider makers, accompanied by local food and live music.
In January Portland brewery StormBreaker Brewing hosts a winter festival, complete with beer, cider, cocktails and mocktails. In February, the McMenamins-run Hillsdale Brewfest — held at Hillsdale Brewery & Public House in Southwest Portland — lets visitors try ales and lagers from many of the regional chain’s brewers. If you’re brewery-hopping in Portland this season, TriMet provides bus and light-rail service throughout the city.
At The Suttle Lodge — a picturesque resort just outside of Sisters — the Suttle Lodge Winter Beer Festival in February brings together more than two dozen craft breweries pouring seasonal and small-batch releases, food from local vendors and live music in the Cascade foothills.
Month-long Oregon Craft Beer Celebrations in February
The craft beer fun doesn’t end when the holiday season winds down. Every February Oregon craft breweries devote an entire month to celebrate dark and wintry beers with special releases, exclusive tappings and food pairings.
One of the state’s longest-running celebrations is Stout Month at Fort George Brewery in Astoria, a tradition that dates back to when the brewery opened in 2007. All month long, Fort George releases roughly two dozen varieties of house-made and experimental stouts, including flavors like toasted coconut, raspberry puree and other eclectic ingredients (think churros). Several overnight stays — from the budget-minded Norblad Hotel to the luxe Bowline Hotel — sit within a few blocks of Fort George and make it easy to leave your car parked.
In Corvallis Block 15 Brewing devotes its February to Bourbon Month. The namesake spirit is celebrated with the release of Block 15’s Super Nebula series of bourbon-barrel-aged beers — as well as specialty tastings, guided food pairings and curated dinners. The Corvallis Transit System provides free bus service all over town, and the vibrant Hotel Corvallis is just about one block away from Block 15’s downtown pub.
Oakshire Brewing‘s Dark Days of February event — celebrated at Oakshire’s pubs in Portland and Eugene — features exclusive releases of seasonal brews, live music, special tastings and discounts. Public transit and ride-share opportunities are plentiful in both communities.
In mid-February Zwickelmania pays tribute to Oregon’s craft-beer culture with a daylong festival at participating craft breweries. Breweries throughout the state put their own spin on the fun, but offerings typically include a mix of behind-the-scenes tours, free samples and special releases.
Don’t Forget Portland’s Signature Beer Event Next Year
If you’ve missed the 12 Days of Gristmas, one of Oregon’s signature brewery events that’s usually held in early December, be sure to plan for next year. Gristmas is a two-week ale trail passport event — the “grist” refers to the milled grain that makes up part of the brewing process — where visitors sip specially crafted holiday beers from 12 breweries and can receive prizes for participating in the passport program.
Sara Szymanski, owner of Portland’s Threshold Brewing & Blending, has been instrumental in developing this essential celebration of the holiday season. She says that craft beer fans always appreciate the variety of offerings like traditional winter warmers, coffee stouts, dark lagers, low-alcohol offerings and IPAs brewed with fir tips. The 12-day event culminates with a celebratory bash inspired by holiday markets in Europe — complete with local food and raffle tickets for gift cards and other prizes.
