The heat is moving in on this 12th of July, so make sure to find things to do to keep cool. Perhaps today’s Oregon beer news for this hot Thursday can help out. I will be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back occasionally to find out if there are any more cool-beer happenings going on.

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) is hosting its Pints for a Cause today at the tasting room to benefit Burrito Brigade: “Join us at the Tasting Room for Pints for a Cause! From noon to 10pm, $1 from every pint sold in the Tasting Room will go to Burrito Brigade. ‘Burrito Brigade is a non-profit 501c(3) organization whose mission is to feed the hungry and unhoused in Oregon by hand-delivering vegan meals for free. There is enough food in Oregon to feed every hungry person, but there is a lack of access. We are committed to engaging the community in the fight to end hunger through a network of volunteers and partnerships with organizations. Burrito Brigade works with, accepts donations from, and provides for the public, regardless of housing status, ability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, social status, addiction, criminal background, religious affiliation or age. It is our belief that food is a basic human right.'”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting a Melvin Brewing release and fundraiser today from 5 to 8pm: “Melvin’s latest addition to their core lineup is “Crafted on Wyoming’s West Coast … with 100-percent lupulin cryopowder, we hit the cross-fader between old-school brewing skills and new-school hop technology, creating this tasty remix guaranteed to keep your head ringing.” Sure, it will be delicious. But it also will be life-changing. Maybe not for you, but for people benefiting from the great works of RIP Medical Debt. RIP is working to raise enough in donations by the end of 2018 to purchase and abolish $50 million in unpayable veteran and military personnel medical debt in America. Because of their buying power, $100 in donations can forive $10,000 in debt. And all the money raised through Your IPA sales in Oregon stays in Oregon! So come taste this futuristic approach to homegrown beer. And help get some Oregonians back on their feet financially!”

McMenamins Edgefield (Troutdale) has its monthly limited-edition beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm at the brewery. It’s a chance to meet the brewers and find out more about the beer they’ll be pouring (though it’s not specifically listed).

Bend’s Deschutes Brewery is starting its own food cart lot on a corner of its production brewery property (one of the odder beer news items I’ve seen lately): “Deschutes Brewery is calling it a “unique experience” because it is going to have a different theme for each season of the year. Right now, for example, it will be called “The Marina.” The food cart lot will be on the gravel lot bordered by Shevlin-Hixon Drive and Southwest Columbia Street, across from Riverbend Park. It will only be in one corner, so it will not spread across the entire property that is used for overflow parking by river floaters. “The Marina” will feature two to three sailboats, but this experience will be replaced in September, when the weather begins to change, and another themed experience will be put in.” That is definitely going to be an experience…

Wayfinder Beer (Portland) teamed up with Holy Mountain Brewing to brew a collaboration IPA that is being released today: “Wayfinder/Holy Mountain Collaboration – “As Above, So Below Culled IPA” Head brewers Kevin (Wayfinder) and Colin (Holy Mountain) are longtime friends and used to homebrew together in Seattle. They got together to see what would happen if they hopped a beer with juicy, new school hops but fermented it as cold as possible? That was the inspiration for our Culled IPA. Mosaic, Vic Secret and Cryo-Simcoe blended masterfully and never warmed to preserve the hop aromatics and restrain any non-hop aromas. It contributes to massive head-retention, clean bitterness and epic drinkability. Juicyfruit, Ripe Mango, Resin, Grapefruit… Science.  14P 6.0% ABV 50BU. Swing down to Wayfinder this Thursday and have a beer with both the brewers! Plus 4 Holy Mountain beers on tap!”

Bine Valley Brewing (Salem) has a new beer available: “Meet our newest IPA, Alpha Melon. One might think we added melons to this juicy hazy haze, but we didn’t. We let the addition of Ekuanot, BRU-1, and El Dorado hops do the talking for us. Come try one today. We have a feeling it’ll go quick!”

pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River) has partnered with Zupan’s Markets to release the sixth Farm-to-Market beer in its private label line. From the release: “This Northwest style IPA is inspired by the summer season and packed with notes of papaya, ripe melon, and honey. Perfect to pair with casual summer fare such as fish tacos, burgers, and fries. This IPA is currently on shelves at all three Zupan’s Markets locations in 16.9ml bottles for $5.99. With only 125 cases produced, it will be on shelves only for a limited time. The pFriem team will sample the new Farm-to-Market beer alongside other pFriem favorites:
July 13 from 3 – 6 p.m. (Burnside: 2340 W Burnside St, Portland)
July 14 from 3 – 6 p.m. (Macadam: 7221 SW Macadam Ave, Portland)
July 27 from 3 – 6 p.m. (Lake Grove: 16380 Boones Ferry Rd, Lake Oswego)”

Sunriver Brewing is hosting a contest to name its next beer: “That’s right folks! We are giving you the chance to name our next beer, an English Summer Ale that will release at the end if the month. What you will win: Naming beer, Sunriver Brewing Company Steel Belted Cooler. Here is what you need to do to enter:
-Follow/Like Sunriver Brewing Co
-Write clever beer name
-Tag 2 friends in this post!
In order to win- you MUST follow all three of those steps! So do what you need to do to get clever and give us what you got! Winner will be announced on 7/24/2018 at 5pm!”