This year’s Portland Beer Week is taking place June 7 through 17 (two months earlier than last year’s August debut) and the official press release/announcement was sent out the other day. Notable this year is the brewing of an official beer for Portland Beer Week, an “India Red Lager” collaboration brew between Deschutes Brewery (Portland Pub) and Hopworks Urban Brewery; and there are many other events lined up as well. It should be a good week (10 days).

I’ve included the press release below (but not all the events; hit the website up for that).

Wednesday April 11 2012 – Portland Beer Week returns to the greatest beer city in the world this June 7 through June 17.
After a successful first year, Portland Beer Week has brought together an even more exciting group of events for its second year including a new official beer, a dry-hopped India Red Lager created in collaboration with Deschutes Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery — available in both bottles and on draft through this 10-day beer week.

In addition to having more breweries than any other city in the world, Portland enjoys one of the most advanced beer cultures — and a thirst for fun and educational craft beer events. Portland Beer Week aims to celebrate and expand that culture, not just by promoting Portland brewers and breweries, but tap houses, restaurants, food, and underexplored beer styles. Craft beer culture is not just about the beer itself but about the people, food, camaraderie, and education that comes along with this art form.

Festivals are a key component to this week’s Portland Beer Week; the return of the popular Portland Fruit Beer Festival (June 9 & 10) — in its second year, newcomers like the Rye Beer Fest (June 8), and the return of one of Oregon’s most unique events, an Olympics-style Brewers Summer Games (June 16).

Much more than a series of festivals though, Portland Beer Week aims to educate as well as entertain with a series of beer-related seminars, exploring everything from how to taste and evaluate beer, to pairing food with beer, barrel-aging beer, sour beers and blending, and wild and farmhouse-style ales.

Because Portland beer isn’t just celebrated in Beervana, Portland Beer Week has invited an astounding roster of out-of-town and out-of-state brewers to represent, with a series of state-themed Brewers Nights. Meet Mitch Steele, Brewmaster of Stone Brewing Co., Eric and Lauren Salazar of New Belgium Brewing, Dick Cantwell of Elysian Brewing, Brewers from California’s Beachwood BBQ, Almanac and Drake’s Brewing. Plus the relaunch and debut of 10 Barrel Brewing’s all-star lineup of brewers and reimagined beers with Jimmy Seifrit, Tonya Cornett and Shawn Kelso. That is just for starters, with more brewers joining the lineup over the next few months.

Portland Beer Week kicks off Thursday, June 7 at Spirit of 77 with the release of the 2012 reserve India Red Lager, a mini brewfest and a bracketed Brewers Pop-A-Shot Tourney. Two versions of the official reserve India Red Lager beer will be brewed, with Deschutes brewing the first batch meant for draft sales and Hopworks taking on the beer destined for bottles. Limited quantities of Portland Beer Week India Red Lager will be available at participating bars, breweries and restaurants of Portland Beer Week.

Just like the city itself, this is different, it’s unique, it’s Portland Beer Week!