4th Annual Weekend of Beer at Skamania Lodge

Skamania Lodge - photo from Hotel Chatter

Looking to get out of town this weekend? Skamania Lodge has just the ticket. The 4th Annual Celebration of Beer Weekend takes place this Saturday and Sunday in the picturesque Columbia River Gorge, featuring 36 beers from 12 regional breweries. “Living in the Pacific Northwest, we’re surrounded by some of the most talented craft brewers in the world,” said Scott Spann, general manager at Skamania Lodge. “Our Celebration of Beer event is the perfect opportunity for attendees to learn more about their favorite local beers and discover new breweries.”

New School contributor "SNOB" Ritch owes me big time because I am sending him this weekend to check out the festivities and report back. If I didn't have this pesky party at Lardo and Fresh Hops Workshop going on this weekendI would be there myself. I have never been to Skamania Lodge, even though it is so close in Stevenson, WA, the home of Walking Man Brewing and nearby Hood River, OR. Here is a writeup from Beervana on the 2009 event.

It is not too late to head out to Stevenson and attend some of these amazing sounding events yourself.

A few of this year’s featured breweries include:

·         Acadian Farms from Carson, Wash.

·         Backwoods Brewing Company from Carson, Wash.

·         Full Sail Brewing Co. from Hood River, Ore.

·         Laht Neppur Brewing Co. from Waitsburg, Wash.

Following an afternoon of beer tasting, the Lodge is serving up a special Oktoberfest Dinner Buffet, featuring hearty autumn dishes crafted from regional ingredients. The menu includes:

·         Cheesy ale soup

·         Beer cider brined pork loin stuffed with cherries and toasted hazelnuts

·         Beer bacon cheddar dumplings with chicken

·         Red wine braised beef with caramelized onions

·         Braised leeks with Penn Cove mussels

The following is the full schedule of the activities being held Saturday, September 22, and Sunday, September 23, 2012.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Noon – 1 p.m.

Beer School: Guests can attend a beer making class and learn about the brewing process.

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Cheers for Beers: Brewers from throughout the Pacific Northwest serve beer tastings.

Starting at 3 p.m., brewers roll out their seasonal beers. Attendees vote for their favorites.

Price: $1 per tasting ticket; $20 for 20 tickets and a mug; $40 for 50 tickets and two mugs. Tickets can be used to purchase beer tastings at the Beer Fest Tent.

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Oktoberfest Dinner Buffet: A sumptuous buffet featuring dishes made from many of the beers featured at Cheers for Beers. Served in the Lodge’s beautiful Cascade Dining Room.

Price: $34.95, plus tax and gratuity.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Kegs and Eggs Buffet: Guests enjoy the Lodge’s popular Sunday brunch featuring traditional favorites, a sampling of new Pacific Northwest recipes and their choice of a regional beer.

Price: $34.95, plus tax and gratuity. 

Additionally, Skamania Lodge is offering a Celebration of Beer Weekend overnight package that includes: one-night stay for two people in a Superior Forest View room; 50 tasting tickets for the Cheers for Beers event; the Kegs and Eggs Buffet for two on Sunday; and two keepsake beer mugs.  Rates for the package start at $259 (does not include lodge fee, taxes or gratuities). For more information about Skamania Lodge or to book reservations, call (800) 221-7117 or visit www.skamania.com.

About Skamania Lodge

Surrounded by the waterfalls, peaks, forests and canyons of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Skamania Lodge is an all-season mountain resort and conference center situated on 175 acres, 50 minutes east of Portland, Ore., in Stevenson, Wash.  With 254 guest rooms and a 22,000-square-foot International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) approved conference center, Skamania Lodge offers a destination for outdoor enthusiasts and groups.  Skamania boasts the Waterleaf Spa, indoor swimming pool and hot tubs, a fitness center, onsite hiking, an 18-hole par-70 Golf Course that earned a four-star rating from Golf Digest magazine in their “Best Places to Play” for 2008, the Cascade Room, River Rock and the U.S. Forest Service Information Center located in the lobby.  Skamania Lodge is centered in a Pacific Northwest playground with hiking, biking and Sternwheeler cruises along the Columbia River in the summer; skiing and snowshoeing in the winter; and golfing, fishing and whitewater rafting all year long for outdoor enthusiasts.  Skamania Lodge is a spectacular location to soak in the natural beauty and to enjoy a vast array of outdoor activities. www.skamania.com. 

About Destination Hotels & Resorts

Destination Hotels & Resorts is a privately held lodging management company headquartered in suburban Denver, Colo. With more than 35 independent, luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs, Destination is the third largest independent hospitality management company in the country. The company’s portfolio features more than 8,200 guest rooms, 13 golf courses and 16 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Seattle, Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Portland, Palm Springs, Maui and Lake Tahoe. The company is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises. For a complete list of properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.