It’s finally Friday, and it’s a festive beer weekend! Here’s the news in Oregon beer to help you plan out your weekend and keep you up to date for this weekend of the 18th through 20th. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post with the latest news throughout the day on Friday, so keep checking back in for the updates.

Friday, Jan. 18

Buoy Beer (Astoria) is on the road this Friday with its Foeder Series Bottle Release of Brett Saison (in several variations), with a Portland release event taking place at Belmont Station and a Corvallis release event taking place at Corvallis Brewing Supply. “Buoy Beer Company will release their first Foeder beer this January 2019. Brett Saison is a blend of three saisons all featuring pilsner, wheat, Vienna, and buckwheat malts. Additions of Oregon-grown Meridian hops are layered throughout and citrus zest from lemons, oranges, and grapefruits were steeped in the whirlpool. All three saisons were originally fermented in stainless and one of them was acidified with lactobacillus. Once combined in the Foeder, the beer was inoculated with our blend of Brettanomyces and left to age for 10 months.” The beers are available in 500ml refillable bottles.

The Portland Trail Blazers NBA team is hosting its Rip City Ale Fest prior to its game against New Orleans Friday night: “Join the Trail Blazers for a pre-game tasting event. Rip City Ale Fest will showcase local microbrews. Your ticket includes a Rip City Ale Fest tasting mug and 10 tasting tickets. You must be 21 years or older to purchase tickets.” It takes place from 5 to 7:30pm at the Moda Center.

Eugene’s ColdFire Brewing is celebrating its third birthday this weekend and is kicking off a weekend-long birthday party on Friday: “Come by the taproom 1/18 – 1/20 to help us celebrate our third birthday. We’ll have cupcakes baked with your favorite ColdFire brews (yes, really!) by Polly’s Cakes and Pastries. Plus, partygoers will be privy to freshly tapped barrel-aged beers, beer specials, loads of live music, and delicious food from SlyDog’s, Twisted Tako, and Sammitch (Sunday). Already have plans? Cancel them! Our birthday only comes around once a year…” Congrats on three years!

Wolf Tree Brewery (South Beach) is introducing F#$k Furlough Friday to help out furloughed federal employees: “1. First round is on us for federal employees (w/ID)
2. Celebrating the release of “Tickle Me Furlough” our latest IPA chock full of some of our favorite hops! (Cascade, Citra, Centennial, Mosaic). A portion of proceeds will be donated in support of our local Coast Guard.
3. The Coast Guard may also accept gift cards for grocery stores and other services in the amount of $20 or less. We will be collecting these as well.
4. New addition to the Ranch Dog Family Hugo-licious will be at the taproom givin kisses from 4-6. Support our Federal workers! Support our hard working Coast Guard!!”

Base Camp Brewing (Portland) has its Empire Apple Brut IPA release kicking off at 6pm: “Hello Empire Apple Brut IPA! We’ll be tapping the first keg of our collaboration with Wildcraft Cider Friday, January 18th at 6 pm. Join us! We added fresh pressed Empire apple juice from Wildcraft to cooled, unfermented wort and allowed the wild fermentation from the natural yeasts in the fruit to work their magic. Then, we finished it off with Cascade and Centennial hops. The result is a very dry, sparkling IPA with hints of tart apple. You won’t want to miss this unique beer!”

Saturday, Jan. 19

The 6th annual High Gravity Brewfest takes place at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend on Saturday from 1 to 8pm! “Hefty, powerful, bold. BIG. However you describe high-gravity beers, these extraordinary brews are intensely flavorful – and we’ll be sampling plenty of them, plus unique ciders from Pacific NW breweries and cideries. And you’ll definitely want to try a brand-new collaboration series of featured beers by McMenamins Old St. Francis brewers & friends. Linger by the outdoor fire, listen to live music and taste the night away!” Additional details and the beer list are posted here.

Mazama Brewing (Corvallis) is hosting its annual Dark Days Winter Ale Fest on Saturday from 2 to 10pm at the brewery: “Warm up at Mazama for our 6th annual Dark Days Winter Ale Fest with unique barrel aged and winter beers, ciders, and meads from local craft producers. 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 downtown and on campus. Food will be available for purchase from a local food vendor. The event is open to anyone 21 + over only.” Cost is $30 and you can buy tickets online here.

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro) has its Wassail Cider Fest taking place from 2 to 9pm Saturday: “Join us as we celebrate Cider with the British tradition of the blessing of the apple trees and Wassail Festival. Cider tasting with more than 20 local Cider houses, 48 different ciders, live music and parade to “toast” the apple trees.” It costs $28 which gets you the glass and 10 tokens, and there is a good-looking lineup of cideries that will be pouring.

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland): Oort Imperial Stout returns! “Join us for the return of Oort Imperial Stout in the pub! Draft and 500ml bottles of the beer will be available. We will also have 2016 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oort Imperial Stout & 2016 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tarantula Belgian Dubbel on draft for the release. Oort is named after the mysterious region of our solar system that breeds comets. Massive amounts of roasted barley and chocolate malts combined with three types of Caramel malts for a rich, full, mouth feel. Chinook, Cascade and Sterling hops lends a balanced bitterness and subtle hop flavor to this brew that’s as black as the vacuum of space. 8.5% ABV” All day long.

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting a cider tasting with Schilling Cider on Saturday from 2 to 4pm.

Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery (Newberg) is holding its Winterfest event this weekend, running Saturday and Sunday: “Winter is better with beer! Join us for our first Winterfest, an annual gathering to release new beers, warm up, and toast the season. On deck: THREE new long-anticipated barrel-aged beers (details below), piping hot wood-oven pizza by ASH Woodfired, legendary DJ Frozen Nutz, and most importantly, a cozy huddle in the woodstove tent! We will also be working with a local charity to assist neighbors in need.” Brewpublic has full details here.

General News

Sasquatch Brewing (Portland) has new beer on tap: “Cup of Ambition is a light and refreshing pale ale that was conditioned on @nossafamiliacoffee Full Cycle coffee, 5.9% abv. Stop in the taproom for a pint!”

Brewery 26 (Portland) has its own new beer coming out: “Inadvertant Porter! This imperial Porter is 7.9% and 58 IBU’s of inadvertant goodness. Loads of chocolate malt and flaked oats create a smooth drinking experience. Possibly one batch only! Kegs should go out next week!”

Bierly Brewing (McMinnville), not to be outdone, also has new beer on tap: “We have a new tasting room exclusive beer on tap this week. Our new Pale Ale brewed with Citra, Nugget, Cascade and Centennial hops. It’s clean and just the right amount of hoppy. Perfect with a pretzel or nachos.”