28 Days of Darkness
February has always been Stout Month at Fort George. During this dark time of year the tap lists overflow with rich ales, barrel aged Matryoshka bottles are released, and the world’s darkest stout festival washes over Astoria. And while the Festival of Dark Arts has grown in popularity every year (with tickets selling out in a record five hours!), do not let that one day overshadow your total stout experience. If you missed out on tickets to FoDA this year, venture to the brewery on any other day in February and immerse yourself in the darkness and deliciousness of Stout Month.
Starting February 1st, the stout dam breaks on the block with a wave of unique Fort George dark ales releasing throughout the month. From an oyster stout, to peanut butter & chocolate stout, to a stout with caramelized peaches, and one with tamarind & chilis, the possibilities are fathomless. Grab a blind stout taster tray in any location, or dive into a pint. Altogether, almost three dozen different Fort George stouts will be on tap in February. Here is the stout calendar:
February 1st
Murky Pearl – 6% oyster stout
Acceptance Peach – 5.1% milk stout with peaches & cinnamon
Fluffernutter – 9.2% marshmallow, roasted peanuts, vanilla
Itsy Bitsy – 4.3% dry Irish stout
From Astoria With Love – 9.4% Russian imperial stout
Smooth Operator – 7.35% smooth & easy milk stout
1,000 Years of Silence – 10.5% Mexican chocolate imperial stout
Cavatica Stout – 8.8% a year-round Fort George stout staple
2017 Matryoshka with Cocoa Nibs & Raspberries – 12% bourbon barrel aged RIS
February 6th
Tough Cookie – 7.1% chocolate chip cookie stout
Tamarind Nights – 5.25% tamarind & chilis
Burger Wednesday pairing: Lamb Madras burger with pickled ginger, cardamom, cilantro, caramelized onion with a side of Garam Masala potatoes
Saturday, February 9th
Hawaiian Sled Dog – 6.8% American stout with Maui Coffee and vanilla
Buorumkin – 14.5% barrel aged in bourbon & rum barrels with roasted pumpkins
Wednesday, February 13th
Solemn OATh – 7% classic oatmeal stout
Peanut Butter Brownie Stout – 9% peanut butter & chocolate
Burger Wednesday pairing: Oregon beef burger topped with red curry peanut butter, bonito flakes with side of green papaya salad
Sunday, February 17th – The Aftermath
Breakfast Club – 9.9% milk stout with oatmeal, cinnamon, and figs
À la Vôtre – 6% a toast to French toast!
2019 Matryoshka – 12.75% bourbon barrel aged Russian imperial
Wednesday, February 20th
Regicide – 13% bourbon barrel aged imperial rye chocolate stout
2017 Matryoshka – 12% bourbon barrel aged Russian imperial
Burger Wednesday pairing: cocoa dusted Oregon beef ribeye burger, aged Tillamook Cheddar, oolong aioli, pickled cucumber & onion with side of roasted fingerling potatoes
Saturday, February 23rd – A Day of Silence…
Waves of Silence: Allision – 9% brown sugar & dates
Waves of Silence: Burgee – 9% brown sugar, orange peel, Dutch cocoa powder, Papau New Guinea coffee
Waves of Silence: Capsize – 9% maple syrup & coconut
Wednesday, February 27th
Nightfall – 12% massive oatmeal stout aged in bourbon & brandy barrels
Burger Wednesday pairing: Oregon beef burger, green peppercorns, shallots, brandy butter on house-made bun with side of Duchesse potatoes
Matryoshka & The Aftermath
This barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout series spends all year in barrels in the Lovell Brewery, releasing each winter in several layers. 2019 Bourbon Barrel Matryoshka is available now. At The Aftermath (the day after Festival of Dark Arts), four 2019 variations will be for sale in bottles:
2019 Matryoshka with Coconut
2019 Matryoshka with Coconut & Vanilla
2019 Matryoshka with Coconut, Vanilla, & Almonds
2019 Matryoshka with Coconut, Vanilla, Almonds, & Blueberries
All of the 2019 Matryoshka bottles will be available for purchase starting Sunday, February 17th, along with limited cellared 2018 Matryoshkas, plus very, very limited 2017 Matryoshkas. And, the Lovell Taproom will be pouring as many Matryoshka vintages & variations as they can fit on the tap wall.
Festival of Dark Arts
Right in the heart of Stout Month, Fort George stacks the block with three stages of entertainment, a menagerie of craftspeople, artists & roaming entertainers, and over seventy rare and unique stouts. If you have your tickets, we will see you on Saturday, February 16th. If you don’t, tickets to next year’s festival will go on sale at sunrise on Black Friday. To savor the tap list and entertainment, go to festivalofdarkarts.com.
The Stout Must Go On
You can pair your stouts with music every week in February, live atop the raised platform in the wood-fired restaurant. Fort George hosts Sunday night music, always at 8pm, and never a cover.
February 3rd
The Mutineers – mutinous Americana with country leanings and punk tendencies.
February 10th
Henry Chadwick (Solo) with Tommy Alexander (Band) – strong, catchy, melodic and fun…the essence of Henry Chadwick himself.
February 17th
Golden Promise – brewing up some country tunes.
February 24th
The Resolectrics – rock & soul power trio.
And confirmed for this year’s Festival of Dark Arts: The Builders and the Butchers, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Dark Castle, Hook & Anchor, Adam Torres, The Quick & Easy Boys, The Waysiders, Brother Angus, Wave Action, and more to come…
Embrace the darkness. See you all at Fort George in February, with a stout in hand!
