Portland’s Belmont Station is turning 20 this year, and for their anniversary celebration they are planning 20 days of events starting on Saturday, April 1.

Belmont Station is one of Oregon’s best and most iconic bottleshops and beer bars—period. I remember first visiting in the late ’90s, when it was still adjacently attached to the Horse Brass Pub, as a gift and bottle shop just across the walkway, and marveling at the bottled beer selection they carried even then. As they grew, they moved out of the Horse Brass location to a standalone shop, added the beer bar, and now boast over 1,200 different bottled and canned beers available.

“20 Days for 20 Years” will kick off Saturday the 1st at 11am, at the Horse Brass Pub, which will include a special lunch and birthday cake. Then about 1pm or so there will be a parade march to Belmont Station (four blocks away):

Hit the Brass, grab a beer, and enjoy a slice of complimentary birthday cake, because at 1 PM, we march! A Scottish piper band will lead this ragtag parade of revelers north a few blocks up 45th Street to Belmont Station’s current location, where we will be joined by the Three-Headed Hop Monster IPA, a collaboration from Barley Brown’s, Boneyard and Melvin – an encore brew of this popular beer that was revived just for this party!

Bring a thirst, because we also will be tapping several other very special beers! Some are drafts we rarely see around these parts, and many were made just for our anniversary — some of which will also be released in collectible bottles and available in the bottle shop to take home:

• Alameda Best of Both Worlds IPA — draft only
• Cider Riot! Lullaby of London Dry Gin Barrel-Aged Cider — draft and bottles (Also available at The Horse Brass)
• Gigantic Hop-Dippa 2 Belmont Boogaloo Dip-Hopped Pale Ale — firkin
• Heater Allen Yeti Topper Hoppy Hellerbock — draft and bottles (Draft also available at Horse Brass)
• Hopworks Urban Brewery Double Vision Pacific NW Inspired English Strong Ale — draft and bottles
• Russian River STS Pils — draft only

Many brewers and brewery reps will be on hand to chat about our special anniversary beers, plus there will be plenty more libations and at least a toast or two!

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A CASH ONLY EVENT IN THE TAPROOM! ATM on site, but plan to bring cash! Credit cards welcome at all times in the bottle shop.

Events will continue for the next three weeks consisting of tastings, special tappings, a mini Puckerfest, and more—keep track on their Facebook events page. Here are some highlights from the press release:

The celebration continues that day, and daily through April 20, in both the bottle shop and taproom with several other special beers made just for Belmont Station’s anniversary. Belmont staff have collaborated with many of the best breweries, and throughout the 20 days the resulting unique beers will be released on tap in the bar and/or in one-of-a-kind bottlings available exclusively in the bottle shop.

Amongst the myriad events:
· Mini-Puckerfest — Three days of sour and wild ales April 7 – 9 in tribute to Belmont’s annual weeklong summertime Puckerfest. Limited bottle releases from DeGarde and Ale Apothecary and unique drafts from DeGarde, Upright, Double Mountain, Block 15, and more. Plus, on April 7, participate in a special Battle of the Belmont Blends competition with Belmont staff-blended sours at Cascade Barrel House — try both and vote for your favorite for braggin’ rights among team members.

· “Bigger, Badder, Blacker” drafts April 14 – 16, featuring a Deschutes Black Butte Anniversary vertical tapping on the 14th, a bunch of other special one-offs or rare beers, and a host of vintage bottles moving from our cellar to our shelves for sale.

· The “Besties” celebration April 17 brings the crews of the recent Oregon Beer Awards Small, Medium, & Large Breweries of the year (Baerlic, The Commons, and Breakside respectively) and some of their best drafts to the Best Beer Bar and Bottleshop Winner (that’s us!). Guaranteed to be the Best!

Some of the special beers are still brewing so the rest of the schedule is in flux. Look for collaboration releases from Bell’s, Buoy, Stormbreaker, Rosenstadt, Gigantic, Heater Allen, Hopworks, Fremont, Cider Riot!, and more.

I don’t know that my April outlook involves getting to Portland, but if so I will definitely make it a point to visit and help celebrate 20 years!