On this day in 1976, the (in)famous Judgment of Paris wine tasting took place, where California wines beat French wines in a blind tasting for the first time. The ramifications shook the wine industry and helped elevate the California (and American) wine industry, and I’ve sometimes heard (and wondered) what the beer version was/is/will be… At any rate, here’s the news in Oregon beer for this Thursday, May 24. Check back on this post as I’ll be updating throughout the day with news as I find it.

Today’s Central Oregon Beer Week events are as follows:

• GoodLife Brewing is taking over Bend’s brand-new River Pig Saloon this evening along with Old Town Brewing and Buoy Beer: “It’s almost Central Oregon Beer Week and this year GoodLife Brewing, Old Town Brewing, and Buoy Beer are welcoming River Pig Saloon to Bend and we’re taking it over! Each brewery will have three different beers on tap for your enjoyment during the Flip Cup Tournament that starts at 5pm.”
• Deschutes Brewery is offering a cardio kickboxing workout to “Turbo-Kick your Butte!” today at 5:30pm at the brewery warehouse lawn: “Join Deschutes Brewery and Diana Guy, our energized Turbo Kick Instructor, for a FREE hour of intro class to Turbo Kick…a cardio kickboxing workout bound to make you thirsty! Damn straight you’ll earn your beer! To add more FUN we are brightening up this evening with an 80’s theme workout! So break out your bright crazy 80’s inspired gear! We are featuring our newly released cans of Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA and Pacific Wonderland Lager as your post workout suds!”
• Broken Top Bottle Shop is hosting Boneyard Beer and Sunriver Brewing for its tasting and music lineup this evening, starting at 5pm.
• Silver Moon Brewing‘s Week of Barrel-Aged Beers continues today, along with the brewery’s weekly Trivia on the Moon starting at 7pm.
• Bend Brewing Company will be tapping a new vintage keg today starting at 5pm.

It’s not listed as an official COBW event, but Bend’s Platypus Pub is welcoming pFriem Family Brewers for a tasting along with Taylor Sausage this evening starting at 5pm: “Yep, you read that right. It’s a Sausage party down in the Platy, with some of the best beer in Oregon. pFriem Family Brewers will take over the Platypus taps with a tasty Pilsner, a Pale Ale, & with Hops from New Zealand, everyone’s favorite, Down Under IPA. Tag a pal, Tell your friends, bring the whole Family. (Kids welcome) tastings 5 to 7, Sausage all night.”

Portland’s Belmont Station is hosting a tasting with Sixpoint Brewery this evening from 5 to 8pm: “You’ve seen him here for many years and even more beers. And now, Shane Welch, one of our more irregular regulars (hey, he owns a brewery in Brooklyn, he can’t be here all the time) will be on hand to share samples of his delicious Sixpoint beers with us!”

Coin Toss Brewing and Bent Shovel Brewing, both of Oregon City, teamed up to craft a collaboration beer, Toss This Job And Shovel Wit, which will be released this weekend. From the press release: “Many people dream of the day they can leave their full-time day job and follow their dream career. For brewery founders Tim Hohl of Coin Toss Brewing and Rick Strauss of Bent Shovel Brewing, that day came earlier this year, when both men left longtime jobs in the corporate world. The two have been plotting a beer collaboration ever since, and the result is a Belgian Wit brewed with orange peel, coriander and blood orange puree, appropriately named “Toss This Job And Shovel Wit.” Brewed with Belgian Pilsner and wheat malts and lightly hopped with Hallertau, the beer checks in at 5% ABV and 18 IBU. The beer will be released at both breweries this weekend.” It drops at Coin Toss on Friday, and at Bent Shovel on Saturday.

Alameda Brewing (Portland) teamed up with Payette Brewing of Idaho to brew a milkshake IPA, and has a preview out: “Come get a sneak peak at the Brewhouse of our new Milkshake IPA brewed with Payette Brewing Co. before it hits taps around the NW! We used massive amounts of Galaxy and Idaho 7 hops, Tangerine, Pink Guava, and lactose to make a super smooth, fruity, and hoppy pint of beer.”

Nectar Creek Mead (Philomath) has a mead in cans! “Fresh off the line! We have Nectarade in cans for the first time just in time for Memorial weekend! Come by and pick some up for whatever adventure you end up on this weekend!”

Sunriver Brewing has a special beer on tap at both its pubs: “Don’t forget! Both pubs received one keg of Green Flash. A collab beer with Ruse Brewing and Oakshire Brewing. It will be gone when it is gone! Double Hazy IPA-8.3% ABV”

Agrarian Ales (Eugene) has a new beer out: “The Agrarian Festbier is going on tap at our Tasting Room this weekend! This crisp, celebratory Märzen Lager has been lagering for 6 million years in our historic igloo. Weighing in at 6% abv, it pours full amber and unleashes a rich malty-sweet aroma backed up by a fresh perfume of spicy/herbal hops.”

Mazama Brewing (Corvallis): The brewery is hosting a Pint Night fundraiser tonight, benefiting the Heartland Humane Society: “Please join us for Pint Night! We are partnering with local nonprofit organizations to raise funds for important local causes – one beer at a time. This event will be benefitting Heatland Humane Society’s cause: a more compassionate community by teaching humane messages to local youth, caring for homeless animals and strengthening the human-animal bond. With every beer purchase, $1 will be donated to this important cause. Learn more about Heartland at http://heartlandhumane.org/”