Happy Friday! Your reward for slogging through this week is the weekend’s Oregon beer news—and a beer. Unfortunately I can only point you in the direction of the beer, but I can’t get one to you directly. Here’s the news for the weekend of January 12; as usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted too.

Friday, 1/12

Bend’s RiverBend Brewing is getting around on Friday: in Eugene, The Bier Stein is hosting a can release preview: “Now we get to present some of their freshest beers, with Hawaiian Crunk, Life’s a Peach and then you Die, Dream Team Hazy Pale and Indulgence Chocolate Porter nitro on tap. Cans will hit the shelf early next week. Meet the brewer and win some swag in a raffle!” And then at Beerworks in Medford, RiverBend will be there for a can release party as well, with all of their milkshake beers in cans. Good opportunities to check out what RiverBend is doing!

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is tapping the company’s Winter’s Hollow Nut Brown on Friday: “Come warm up with a pint of McMenamins latest seasonal, Winter’s Hollow Nut Brown. This familiar seasonal boasts a rich chestnut color and lacy off-white head. The extensive malts provide an aroma of graham crackers and hazelnuts, with flavors of toffee and a slight roastiness. The hops contribute a lightly spicy floral aroma, and balance for the malty sweetness. This easy-drinking English-style Brown Ale has a clean, crisp finish that may create a warm desire to order another.” This is the former Sleepy Hollow, renamed.

Culmination Brewing (Portland) has their Peche back on tap on Friday: “This Friday, 1/12, Culmination Peche will be back in our taproom! Rumor has it we will also have a limited supply 500ml bottles!  This beer is a Flanders style blonde with peaches and is rich in flavors of Oak, Peach, Tropical Fruit Esters, & has a Mild Brett Funk. It is 6.5% ABV.”

Cascade Brewing (Portland) is releasing Sang Rouge 2015 in bottles and on draft on Friday. From the press release: “Sang Rouge is a blend of sour red ales aged in select red wine barrels and oak puncheons for up to 24 months, highlighting the depth and complexity of Cascade’s base red ale without the influence of additional fruits or spices. This rare project features notes of roasted malts, dried currants, aged red wine and toasted oak. It’s ABV is 7.8 percent. Sang Rouge, which serves as the foundation of Cascade Brewing’s Sang series, was last released in March of 2015, nearly three years ago. The 2015 project designation is due to the fact that this beer has been aging in oak casks on average of 24 months, with some barrels exceeding 30 months.”

Saturday, 1/13

The 5th annual High Gravity Brewfest takes place in Bend at McMenamins Old St. Francis School on Saturday! From 1 to 8pm, over two dozen high gravity strong beers will be pouring from a slew of Central Oregon breweries and guest McMenamins breweries, and from 1 to 5pm brewers will be on hand to talk about their beers as well. A 12-ounce glass costs $5, and 4-ounce tastes are $2 each; a package of glass plus ten tastes costs $23. I really enjoy this fest and if you can make it over for it, do so!

Portland’s Imperial Bottle Shop is welcoming Little Beast Brewing for a meet the brewer and tasting at their Alberta Street location on Saturday: “We are very excited to be hosting Little Beast Brewing! Founder Charles Porter will be onsite to talk about his delicious brews, of which we will be pouring:
“Bes” Tart Wheat Ale
“Fera” American Brett Ale
“Animal Family” Foeder-Aged Farmhouse Ale
“Dream State” Foeder-Aged Ale with Strawberries
All available by the glass, as a sampler tray, and by the bottle. Buy a sampler tray and get $1 off any Little Beast bottle purchase!” It starts at 3pm.

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop is hosting a tasting of Belching Beaver Brewing beers on Saturday from 2 to 4pm. The rep will be there pouring samples of their “dam fine” beer. (Isn’t that really the provenance of Flat Tail Brewing though?)

Mazama Brewing (Corvallis): Saturday is their annual Dark Days Winter Ale Festival! “Winter is coming! With it comes Mazama Brewing’s 5th annual Dark Days Winter Ale Festival. Warm up at Mazama with unique barrel aged and winter beers, ciders, and meads from local breweries. Drinks will be flowing in the Mazama brewery, taproom, and heated outdoor tent. Take advantage of the free shuttle that will pick up every half hour at the Campus Downward Dog. Food will be available for purchase from Tacos El Machin. The event is open to anyone 21 + over only. Tickets are $25 and includes a tasting glass and 20 drink tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event. Designated Driver pricing will be available. Cash + card are both accepted.”

Sunday, 1/14

10 Barrel Brewing (Bend): On Sunday 10 Barrel is releasing their new spring seasonal, Google Tan, and they’ll be up at Mt. Bachelor to release the beer: “Can you believe it? It’s time to release our new Spring Seasonal, Goggle Tan IRA! Our crew will be heading to some of our favorite mountains to hit the slopes and party with the locals. With live music, ski beach games, tons of beer and badass give aways, this is something you don’t wanna miss. Entry is free, food and beer available for purchase. See you soon!”