The Falling Sky Pizzeria & Public House officially opened its doors June 20 at the newly renovated Erb Memorial Union on the University of Oregon campus. Falling Sky’s newest location sells “falling pies,” which includes The Firebird, with roasted chicken, pickled peppers, fried garlic, mozzarella, spicy marinara and hot sauce. Subs, soups, salads and pasta are also on the menu, along with Falling Sky’s tasty brews. Among the current beers on tap: Daywalker Irish Red, Hard Rain American Stout and Make American Wheat Again. Head over to fallingskybrewing.com for the full menu.
Senator Jeff Merkley’s office announced June 16 that legislation has been adopted, and $5 million devoted, “to help reduce delays in the labeling process for beer and wine. The surge in small brewers and wine makers in the last few years has caused long delays for small businesses who must apply for labeling through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.”
Ninkasi nabbed an exclusive partnership with TrackTown USA for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials July 1-10. Earlier this year the brewery introduced its Beer Run IPA, which will be on tap at the trials. In May, Ninkasi and the Eugene Emeralds baseball team also announced a partnership for the 2016 season with Ninkasi’s regular brew lineup, as well the Beer Batter Session Ale, on tap at PK Park.
Ninkasi is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a public party featuring food carts and live music noon to 9 pm Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Ninkasi Tasting Room, 272 Van Buren Street.
Downward dog and glasses up: The Beer Yogis Summer Road Trip cruises into Eugene July 23 at Hop Valley Brewing. Yoga teachers Melissa Klimo-Major and Mikki Trowbridge are taking a month-long nationwide trip to promote the benefits of yoga in craft breweries. See thebeeryogis.com for more info.
Oregon Wild’s Oregon Brewshed Alliance is going strong, with even more breweries on board, including Hop Valley, Oakshire, Ninkasi, Falling Sky, McMenamins and Claim 52. The alliance is committed to “protecting water at its source,” since clean water is the foundation of good beer. Baerlic Brewing Co., a Portland member of the alliance, recently released River Baer, a rye summer lager intended to raise awareness of the importance of protecting watersheds. See more at oregonbrewshedalliance.org.
Party down, west Eugene. Eugene’s Westside Wine, Beer and Spirits district hosts the 3rd Annual Westside Warehouse District Block Party 2 to 10 pm Saturday, July 16, at the 500 Block of Commercial Street; FREE. Look for libations from Noble Estate Winery, J. Scott Cellars, Claim 52 Brewing, Viking Braggot Company, Crescendo Organic Spirits and Alesong Brewing & Blending, plus loads of food trucks and live music.
Gotta catch ’em all: Earlier this spring, the 2-year-old Eugene Ale Trail debuted a larger beer passport and added more breweries, cideries, bottle shops, tap houses and distilleries. Visit eugenealetrail.com for info.
On July 30, Corvallis hosts a brew-filled bash with the Craft Beer Picnic at Cornelius Farm, 3375 S.W. 53rd Street. Lawn games and other festivities will accompany some of the Willamette Valley’s best brewers, including Block 15 Brewing, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Flat Tail Brewing, Mazama Brewing, Nectar Creek Mead and more; $20. See corvalliscraftbeer.com. Next up in Corvallis is the 9th annual Septembeerfest at 1 to 9 pm Saturday, Sept. 10, Avery Park, featuring more than 77 beers, ciders and meads.
Oakridge hosts its ever-popular Keg & Cask Festival Aug. 13 at Brewers Union Local 180. Proceeds from the event benefit the Oakridge community. Last year, attendees got to swill Alpine Trail Ale by Plank Town Brewing and Fenrir Stout with Orange Blossom Honey by Viking Braggot Company; $15 buys a logo glass and four tastings. Check it out on Facebook.
The Coburg-based farmhouse brewery Agrarian Ales releases Pisgah Heritage Brew July 24 with Friends of Buford Park; the beer is made with wild transplanted hops from Mount Pisgah. The brewery also hosts its annual hops-picking party Aug. 26-28 with live music and tours; open to the public. Check out agales.com for more.
On June 25, the Eugene chapter of Beers Made By Walking hosted its last guided hike of the season at Green Island with brewers from Agrarian Ales, Falling Sky, Ninkasi and Oakshire. The program will tap the fruits of its labor Nov. 8 at The Bier Stein; proceeds to benefit the McKenzie River Trust.
Barrel-aging is the new black: The inaugural Eugene Little Woody Barrel-Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival will rejoice in wood-aged beers, as well as limited-run whiskeys and bourbons and ciders, Oct. 21-22 at Venue 252, 252 Lawrence Street. The festival began in Bend nine years ago, where it will celebrate its own fest Sept. 2-3. Look to taste special batches that will never appear on a store shelf from Deschutes Brewery, Ninkasi, GoodLife Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, New Belgium Brewing and more. Go to littlewoodyeugene.com for tickets and info; $12-$35, $5 entry for designated drivers.