Here is the Oregon beer news for this third day of January, still on the slow side. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland) is releasing two new New England-style IPAs at all three of their locations: Destroyah and Staycation. “Destroyah – Brewed with heroic amounts of Wakatu, Ekuanot and Simcoe hops for a ripe passionfruit and super dank flavor and aroma profile. Destroyah will be released on draft and in very limited 16oz 4-pack cans, priced at $15 per 4-pack. We will have only 40 cases at our SE Powell location, 10 cases in Vancouver. and 3 cases at BikeBar in N. Portland. Staycation – A massive 8.5% Imperial New England-Style IPA with all organic oats, organic wheat and organic Calypso, Azacca, and Simcoe hops. This big beer will have you skipping that tropical getaway in favor of the fruit punch medley found in the finest NW ingredients. Staycation will be released on draft and in seasonal 22oz bomber bottles.”

Rogue Ales Eastside Pub in Portland has their Green Dragon Brew Crew release today, and for all of January these releases are all strong ales. Today’s release: Dragonchlaüs (Dopplebock). “With this release we raise a toast batch number 300 produced by the GDBC! Brewed over two years ago on New Year’s Eve 2016 with every member of the then-crew present, our desire to collectively produce a remarkable beer resulted in the massive Dopplebock-Helles that is Dragonchlaüs The Crew packed 100 lbs. of premium German Pils, Vienna and light Munich malts into the mash tun. Judicious additions of Magnum and Hallertauer Mittelfrueh to provide balancing bitterness and noble hop spice. A special yeast strain of Swiss origin was selected for its ability to ferment well in high ABV beer. Dragonchlaüs weighs in at a formidable 14.1 %ABV and pours a deep golden copper.”

Misty Mountain Brewing (Brookings) is celebrating J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday today (because of course!): “Come celebrate the creator of Middle Earth and the Misty Mountains with a craft ale, ‘It comes in Pints’.”

Royale Brewing (Portland) has a new, big beer on tap for January: “For years we’ve heard that no one drinks beer in January because of New Year’s Resolutions and getting all healthy. We think that’s all rubbish so we made a Belgian Imperial Stout. Devil’s Horse with it’s 10.8% ABV will remind you that January is no different from December with the exception of longer days and no Xmas carols. Show yourself how much you love you and try a Devil’s Horse Belgian Imperial Stout on for size.”

Portland’s Labrewatory has a new hazy IPA on tap: “Hop in your Mach Five and zip on over to try our newest IPA: BIG IN JAPAN. It’s hazy, it’s juicy, it’ll get you revved up!”

The New School has as list of the most anticipated (Portland-area) breweries coming up for 2018, a good read which includes some brand-new names as well as expansions of existing breweries, such as Great Notion and Migration. These will be important to watch in the coming months.