The honest-to-gawd truth is I don’t actually drink a lot of beer. There’s a reason John Barleycorn does the beer reviews while I concentrate on things like wrapping beef jerky in bacon and Googling “Am I having a stroke?” every few minutes. Which makes my affinity for Oak & Ore all the more puzzling.

As the all-ages beer hall approaches its fifth anniversary, I realize that the restaurant owner Micah Andrews built might revolve around beer, but it’s not exclusive to beer lovers. Even from the earliest days of the concept, I remember him telling me that he was as interested in the “craft food” as he was the craft beer. 

Five years later, you can see how well he’s done. His concept has been mimicked by others, with varying degrees of success, but even as taprooms for every brewery have sprung up, he’s maintained his hold on Oklahoma City’s craft beer enthusiasts by offering a variety of beers from a variety of brewers alongside some sincerely delicious food. (For a full accounting of Oak & Ore’s culinary prowess, click here.)

To celebrate, the restaurant will hold a “5 Years of Beers!” party from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., January 25.

“Breweries from all across Oklahoma are bringing their most rare and unique beers to help us celebrate five wonderful years in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District,” Andrews said in a press release. “It’s our honor to create a distinctive stage each year for Oklahoma breweries to introduce and celebrate their most edgy, new, and experimental small-batch beers.” 

During the party, guests can:

...get tickets for a commemorative anniversary glass designed by John Knight (of Ment Apparel, which made I Ate Oklahoma’s T-shirts). Tickets are first-come, first-served starting at 11:30 a.m. and they will not last. 

...taste Oklahoma beers out of all 36 temperature-controlled taps for the full day. Special beers will be rolled out hourly starting at noon. (I’ve posted the full beer release list in the sidebar.)

...enjoy food and drink specials from open to close. 

...take part in raffles every hour on the half hour, including a grand prize of a FULL YEAR of free hot chicken. The final raffle prize will be awarded at 4:30 p.m.

...watch Plaza Walls co-founder Dylan Bradway paint the first Plaza Walls indoor mural inside Oak & Ore during the event. (Want to further support Plaza Walls? Dine at Oak & Ore from Jan. 25-Feb. 2. Five percent of all food sales in that period will be donated to support Plaza Walls.)