This weekend Seaside, Oregon, welcomes the Pouring at the Coast Craft Beer Fest presented by the Seaside Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon Brewers Guild: two days of food and craft beer pairing starting tomorrow (Friday the 16th) and continuing on Saturday the 17th.

The Seaside Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Oregon Brewers Guild will present “Pouring At The Coast,” a craft beer tasting and food pairing festival at the Seaside Convention Center on March 17. The event debuted last year as the “Beach Bite & Brew” and offered 32 brews from 14 Oregon Breweries. We have increased participation pledged for this year.

Friday’s event is a Brewer’s Dinner at McKeown’s Restaurant & Bar starting at 5:30; they’re limited on seating to 50 people, so it’s reservations-only naturally and costs $45 per person. (Call 503-738-6391 for those reservations if you’re interested.) This dinner features five courses paired with beers from Oregon  Coast brewers: Rogue Ales, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Fort George Brewery, and the new Seaside Brewing which is opening this spring. (In fact this might be the very first time Seaside’s brews will be available!)

And then on Saturday, the Fest continues with a Tasting and Food Pairing event at the Seaside Convention Center from 4 to 9pm: “Guests will have the opportunity taste a variety of Oregon craft brews, sample some local chefs’ presentations and purchase a variety of local food specialties and enjoy the entertainment.” (There is also a homebrew competition sponsored by Hondo’s Brew & Cork from Astoria, but I couldn’t find details on the site for when beers are due, just the entry form.)

They list the participating breweries for the Saturday tasting:

• Fort George Brewery
• Rusty Truck Brewing
• GoodLife Brewing
• Astoria Brewing
• Bill’s Tavern
• Pelican Brewery
• The Commons Brewery
• Seaside Wine and Beer Haus – Mystery Brew
• McMennamins [none specified, I’m thinking Lincoln City’s Lighthouse Pub]
• Rogue Brewery
• Seaside Brewing Company
• Widmer Brothers Brewing
• Fire On The Mountain Brewery
• Deschutes Brewery
• Cascade Lakes Brewing
• Oregon Brewers Guild – Mystery Brews
• 10 Barrel Brewing
• And possibly Prodigal Son Brewery

There will be three entry packages for this part of the Fest (all include the souvenir tasting glass): $10 for three tasting tokens, $20 for 14 tokens, and a group package for $50 for four that includes 24 tokens. (Presumably additional tokens are $1 each as is the usual standard.) There will be red and white wine available as well.

Overall this should be a nice highlight of Oregon’s coastal breweries and (for me) the big draw would be the chance to get a first taste of Seaside Brewing Company’s offering(s). Wish I could make it!