Happy Friday! It’s the start of the last weekend in January, and there are a number of things going on this weekend to keep you busy. Here is the news for this Friday the 26th and the weekend to help out with that. 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 as well.

Friday, 1/26

Portland’s N.W.I.P.A. beer bar is hosting Breakside Brewery for the release of this year’s Salted Caramel Stout: “One of Breakside’s more popular seasonal beers is their collaboration with Salt&Straw, Salted Caramel Stout. We will be pouring pints all night and we will also feature five other beers on draft including BBA Aztec, ‘16 Pathfinder and Kids These Haze ipa!” The release party takes place from 6 to 9pm Friday.

The BeerMongers (Portland) is hosting the release party of Goat Yoga IPA from Claim 52 Brewing on Friday from 1 to 3pm—with baby goats on hand, apparently: “ATTENTION Portland! Head over to The BeerMongers on 12th/Division on Friday! We’ll be there with BABY GOATS! TGIF! Thank GOAT it’s Friday! Come out and have a beer and snuggle baby goats! I can’t think of a better way to start your weekend.”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is holding a Guest Bartender Night with Rams Head’s John-Paul Ortega from 5 to 8pm: “John-Paul from McMenamins Rams Head will be in the house pouring beer and cider-inspired cocktails. So come and try something new and delicious. Cheers!”

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is hosting Royale Brewing for a tap takeover Friday night from 5 to 8pm: “In the 3+ years since its opening, Royale Brewing has produced a huge variety of beers spanning the canon of styles. We will tap up 10 different beers that reflect this diversity, with year-round, seasonal, limited, and collaboration beers. A rep will be on hand with some free samples, too!”

Saturday, 1/27

My own shameless self-promotion piece — I will be doing a talk on “Uncovering Bend Beer” at Deschutes Brewery‘s Bend Tasting Room on Saturday at 5pm. It’s a talk based on my book Bend Beer of course—I’ll be presenting a mix of Central Oregon’s beer and brewing history along with some of my experiences in researching and writing the book itself. The talk is free, beer and food are available for purchase, and it’s going to be a fun night so come on out and see me! (Here is the Facebook event page to share as well.)

The 5th annual NW Coffee Beer Invitational returns to the Goose Hollow Inn in Portland on Saturday at noon, featuring beers, ciders, and mead all made with locally-roasted coffee. “We have a cidery and a meadery in the line-up alongside 19 outstanding breweries. To celebrate our 5th year, we asked past festival-favorite brewers Alan Taylor (PINTS and Zoiglhaus Brewing), Ben Nehrling (Fire on the Mountain Brewing) and Kevin Shaw (Buoy Brewing) to collaborate with Din Johnson (Ristretto Roasters) and make a special anniversary beer. Brewed at Buoy in Astoria, it will be released at the festival.” The fest runs from noon to 7pm and costs $20 at the door, which gets you the glass and 10 taster tickets.

The first-ever Tualatin Winter Brewfest is taking place at Stickmen Brewing‘s Tualatin Beer Hall on Saturday from noon to 9pm: “Come spend a cold afternoon in a warm setting with family, friends and community while enjoying a wide variety of tastings, plus food from local vendors including Izumi Japanese Steakhouse, Slick’s Big Time BBQ, and Matinas Ohana; and live entertainment! Proceeds will go to the Tualatin High School PackBackers and help support TuHS sports and athletic programs, facilities and teams; as well as dance, cheer and the marching band. $20 Admission in advance, $25 at the door. Includes event wristband, a commemorative tasting glass and drink tickets for tastes or full drinks. The number of tickets per taste will vary depending on the beer/cider/wine. Additional tickets may be purchased.” They have a nice lineup of 18 breweries so far so check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.

Portland’s Civic Taproom is holding its 3rd Annual Barrel Aged Fest all day on Saturday starting at noon: “It’s time for our third annual Barrel Aged Fest! Join us for a day full of Barrel Aged beers. Drink Tickets are priced at $2/each and customers can sample a complete tasting flight of every barrel aged beer and cider on tap.”

The Breweries in the Gorge Holiday Hangover Fest is back! On Saturday at 1pm in Hood River, the breweries located around the Columbia Gorge in Oregon and Washington get together for this event: “Breweries in the Gorge is hosting the Holiday Hangover Beer Fest located in the heart of downtown Hood River in the historic Elk’s Lodge. The festival will feature a wide variety of craft beer that is brewed by 13 different breweries throughout the Columbia Gorge. Each brewery will feature multiple beers at the fest including special reserves and ciders. In addition to regionally crafted beer, Apple Valley BBQ will be on site serving up world-class BBQ, and funky beats with DJ Magnetwork. Advanced ticket sales: $20 General admission includes one (1) collectors glass and ten (10) 4oz drink tickets. Click link to purchase: https://tickets.beerfests.com/event/big-holiday-hangover. Door ticket sales: $25 General admission includes one (1) collectors glass and ten (10) 4oz drink tickets”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop will be pouring wine on Saturday for an Argyle Sparkling Wine Tasting from 2 to 4pm: “Come sample Argyle Brut and Argyle Rose. All to-go bottles of Sparkling Wine will be 10% off during the tasting.”

The BeerMongers is holding Fieldwork Brewing Night on Saturday from 6 to 9pm: “We’re pretty stoked. These beers should be wicked! Taplist… Eastside Motel, King Citra, Saint Thomas, Chaos Emeralds.” Fieldwork Brewing is from Berkeley, California.

Eugene’s Viking Braggot is holding a horizontal tasting of their Freyja Blond braggot starting at 2pm Saturday: “With a nod to the Spring, we have taken our light and delicious Freyja Blonde-style braggot and combined it with 5 experimental and unique teas and fruits! 5 different brews will be available as a flight or pints! Come try our first Horizontal Series of 2018! Varieties include: Black Tea, Echinacea, Herbal Coffee (Chicory, maca, carob and dandelion root), Raspberry & Tarragon, and Mango & Chili”

Sherwood’s new Xylem Cider Works is celebrating their grand opening on Saturday starting at 1pm! Get on down and check it out!

Sunday, 1/28

McMenamins Crystal Hotel (Portland): Sunday is the Crystal Ballroom’s Birthday Free-For-All starting at 2pm: “Back by popular demand! Once again we fling open our doors and invite all comers to this no-cover all-ages birthday wing-ding. With the Crystal Hotel open, the fun covers two city blocks: Music in several rooms; comedy in Al’s Den; property tours; kids fun; food and drink specials; tastings of our spirits, wine, cocktails and beer; and of course a special birthday brew, Johnny Flipflops Tropical Sour, will pour throughout the properties.”

Ecliptic Brewing on Sunday is raising money with OHSU Casey Eye Institute with their IPAs for Eyes event taking place all day: “Join us in eliminating preventable blindness in Oregon and help provide no-cost glasses to those in need! On Sunday, January 28, 2018, Ecliptic Brewery will be partnering with the OHSU Casey Eye Institute (Casey) Community Outreach Program to host IPAs for Eyes, a benefit to help fund quality prescription glasses statewide for those who need them most. In addition to Ecliptic donating 10% of ALL sales from the day to help fund these glasses, the event will include a special IPA taster tray featuring 6 Ecliptic Brewing beers and a raffle for some exclusive prizes donated by Ecliptic, Breakside, & others at 5:00 pm.” This is a great cause, so be sure to show up and help out!