Each January, McMenamins Old St. Francis School hosts its High Gravity Brewfest, and coming up in just over a week, on Saturday the 18th, the fest returns for its seventh go-round. “High gravity” refers to big, strong beers, typically 8% alcohol by volume or higher, and in the case of this fest many will likely be barrel aged as well. It’s one of my favorite beer festivals here.

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 brewfest runs from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., with live music in Father Luke’s Room from 3:00 to 6:00 and again from 7:00 to 10:00.

Cost of the event is $25, which gets you the brewfest mug and 12 tasting tokens, good to taste any of the more than two dozen beers that will be pouring. Among those beers, there are 10 specialty collaboration beers, in which McMenamins teamed up with other breweries (also Market of Choice and Mecca Grade Estate Malt) to brew the beers special for this fest—another reason this is one of my favorites!

Here are the posted breweries (beers themselves haven’t been posted yet):

McMenamins Old St. Francis Brewery will be collaborating with:

• 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

The High Gravity Brewfest will also be featuring beers from:

• 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.