Tickets are on sale for the 2017 Cork & Brew Tour, hosted once again by the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce.
Patrons of this annual event on June 16 will notice a few exciting changes this year. Most notable is the expansion of the launch party at Pelican Brewing Co.’s brand new bottling facility on the corner of Front Street and Grove Avenue. The launch party kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and “tour-ists” will be treated to live music, games, and brewery tours. Several of Pelican’s pro-brewers will be on hand to show guests around the expanded facility and provide samples and tastes of the different grains, malts and hops that define each style of beer. Tours are aimed to shed light on the brewing process and what goes into making their award-winning beer for the last 20 years.
At the launch party, each guest will receive a “passport,” that contains a list of the stops on the tour and highlights the breweries, wineries and restaurants that will be served. Several wineries will be on hand with bottles available for purchase of your favorite vintages- if you decide to fill your cellar, have no fear! Hosting businesses have agreed to hold any purchased bottles for pick up another day.
The official tour will begin at 6 p.m. and includes up to 12 downtown stops, each with a different wine or beer to sample and scrumptious appetizers to complement the beverages. New this year will be a stop at the Chamber’s new downtown location. This is a perfect opportunity to see the remodel up close and personal, view the new Visitor Information Center, and welcome the Chamber to downtown.
“We get excited for this event every year,” noted Sierra Lauder, the Director of Events and Downtown Development for the Chamber. “This year feels particularly exciting because we at the Chamber get to participate on a new level by being a tour stop and welcoming people to our downtown office.”
Lauder added that the goal of the Cork & Brew Tour event is to get people to experience downtown in a memorable way.
“You don’t have to go downtown to buy things,” she said. “We all know that you can do all, or most, of your shopping online. But you come downtown because it’s fun and it’s an experience. This event is both of those things – it’s a fun experience and hopefully it kindles your desire to come back to enjoy our downtown again in the future.”
In addition to Pelican, early confirmations have arrived from Fort George Brewing (Astoria;) Buoy Beer Company (Astoria); newcomers Werner Brewing Co. (Tillamook); and Reach Break Brewing out of Astoria, as well as McMenamins, Provincial Vineyards and DavenLore. In addition to these sponsors, the Chamber wants to make a point to thank Warrenton KIA, who is a Presenting Sponsor for the event.
Art Accelerated has graciously agreed to host the passport drop box right downtown, where they will host music, coffee and tea and some of the latest creations of local artists. All completed passports (one stamp for each participating location) can be dropped off before 9:30 p.m. and entered to win a prize.
Tickets are $35 a piece and can be purchased online at www.tillamookchamber.org or by visiting the Chamber office, Pelican Brewing Co.’s downtown Tillamook Tap Room, or Sunflower Flats. The event is expected to sell out again, so be sure to buy your tickets in advance.
For more information, contact the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce at info@tillamookchamber.org or call 503-842-7525.