On Saturday, January 18, McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend once against hosts its annual High Gravity Brewfest, featuring over two dozen strong and intense beers from around the region. I really like this festival; not only are beers pouring from other McMenamins locations as well as local and regional breweries, but Old St. Francis also brews special collaboration beers that will be debuting at the fest. It’s a great touch to step it up and help differentiate this from other events.

From McMenamins:

Hefty, powerful, bold. BIG. However you describe high-gravity beers, these extraordinary brews are intensely flavorful – and we’ll be sampling plenty of them, plus unique ciders from Pacific NW breweries and cideries. And you’ll definitely want to try a series of ten collaboration beers by McMenamins brewers & friends. Linger by the outdoor fire, listen to live music and taste the night away.

The beer list is not yet available, but here are the planned collaborations and breweries that will be pouring:

Collaboration breweries:

• Fort George Brewery – Astoria, OR.
• Kobold Brewing – Redmond, OR.
• Market of Choice – Bend, OR.
• McMenamins Edgefield Brewery – Troutdale, OR.
• Mecca Grade Estate Malt – Madras, OR.
• Silver Moon Brewing – Bend, OR.
• Spider City Brewing – Bend, OR.
• Trap Door Brewing – Vancouver, WA.
• Wild Ride Brew – Redmond, OR.
• Plus a collaboration between McMenamins Hillsdale and Thompson Breweries

Other breweries:

• The Ale Apothecary – Bend, OR.
• Bevel Craft Brewing – Bend, OR.
• Block 15 Brewing Company – Corvallis, OR.
• Boss Rambler Beer Club – Bend, OR.
• McMenamins Concordia Brewery – Portland, OR.
• McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Brewery – Hillsboro, OR.
• McMenamins Edgefield Brewery – Troutdale, OR.
• Good Life Brewing Company – Bend, OR.
• Great Notion Brewing – Portland, OR.
• Immersion Brewing – Bend, OR.
• Little Beast Rare Beer – Portland, OR.
• Monkless Belgian Ales – Bend, OR.
• McMenamins Old St. Francis Brewery – Bend, OR.
• pFriem Family Brewers – Hood River, OR.
• McMenamins Wilsonville Brewery – Wilsonville, OR.

The High Gravity Fest runs from 1pm to 8pm, and costs $25 for the package, which includes the brewfest mug and 12 tokens. Like the last few years, I expect the fest to be spread out between the theater and the courtyard between the main buildings which actually works pretty well for a layout.

And there will be live music of course too, in Father Luke’s Room starting at 3pm. Details are on the event page.

Once I see a copy of the beer list that will be pouring, I will post that as well.