The Great American Beer Festival officially starts today in Denver, and I know many Oregon brewers and industry folks are there (or on their way); even so, there’s still plenty of beer news to round up as we head for the weekend. I’ll be updating this news post throughout the day with the latest as I find it, so check back often.

Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop kicks off its annual, weekend-long September Sour Stravaganza today, featuring a lineup of a half-dozen sour beers, including: Russian River Consecration, 10 Barrel Rose Bois, Cascade Brewing Kentucky Peach, Boneyard Funky Bunch, Block 15 Wonka’s Wit, and pFriem Flanders Style Blonde.

McMenamins Kennedy School (Portland) has its monthly limited-edition beer tasting today, featuring Fallen Comrade: “A veritable smorgasbord of malts inspired a sturdy backbone with dense body and rich sweetness. Matured in Hogshead Whiskey barrels from the Edgefield Distillery, subtle spirit sensations are sure to please, with notes of vanilla and caramel, and a velvety-smooth finish. Black as night. Heavy as a neutron star. One sip, and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven!” Sounds like one to check out; the tasting is from 5 to 7pm.

And in a nod to the GABF starting today, McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop is hosting a McMenamins GABF tasting today at 6pm: “We brought in all the available beers that McMenamins Breweries submitted to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Join us for a tasty taster tray and stick around for a pint of your favorite. Cheers!” Now I have to wonder how many were sent…

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) has its Pints for a Cause fundraiser today, benefiting ELAW: “Join us for a Pints for a Cause! From noon to 10pm, $1 from all pint sales in the Tasting Room will go to The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW).” Help out with a pint or three at the tasting room today.

In Portland, Rock Bottom Brewery has its own Pints with a Purpose fundraiser tonight, benefiting the Bald Faced Truth Foundation: “Come ROCK the house with the tapping of our Rocktoberfest Ale. You know this beer well Portland, but now you can drink it for a purpose! On September 20th we will be tapping our Rocktoberfest, a German style ale with rich malty flavors and hints of rustic bread will provide a smooth finishing and delicious beer. The beer will be flowing from 5:30-8:30pm selling the newly tapped Rocktoberfest for only $3 a pint! Make sure to order your pint between 5:30-6:30pm as all $3 will go towards The Bald Faced Truth Foundation. As well, Rock Bottom will be donating 15% of the total sales during the tapping event to the charity! If you can’t make it on the 20th, don’t worry, for the life of the beer we will donate $.25 cents of every pint sold to The Bald Faced Truth.”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Colorado’s Left Hand Brewing for its 25th birthday with a party tonight from 5 to 8pm: “So, Left Hand is turning 25, but YOU get all the goodies! Party games (Pin the Label on the Bottle!), party favors, cake … and even a chance to win your own birthday present! Join us and Left Hand as we celebrate a quarter century of great beers from this iconic Colorado brewery! We also will have their 25th Anniversary ale on tap, along with some other tasty Left Hand treats — and bottles of the anniversary ale for sale in the bottle shop to take home!”

Imperial Bottle Shop (Portland) is featuring Modern Times today for a Nelson Showcase (featuring the Nelson beers MT has been on the circuit for this week): “We’ll be pouring 4 beers from Modern Times that feature Nelsons:
– Dymaxion Pale Ale with Nelson, Riwaka & Motueka hops
– Blam! Blam! Hazy IPA (collab with Garage Project)
– Space Ways Hazy IPA with Nelson, Motueka, and Simcoe hops
– Blazing World Hoppy Amber with Nelson, Simcoe and Mosaic hops”

Bine Valley Brewing (Salem) is tapping a fresh hop beer today — Kick It 4.0: “Let’s kick it with some fresh hops! We’ve got a very special edition this time around. We’ll be tapping a super small batch of our Kick It series with fresh mosaic hops and blood orange added. You won’t want to miss this one off beer. Noble Wave will also be joining us with burgers, po boys, and more!”

And the Portland Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest continues today, featuring Breakside Brewery for the fresh hop night: “Breakside Brewery is the featured brewery of the day at the PDX Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest this Thursday with EIGHT of their own FRESH HOP beers on tap plus two other FH guest taps!” Eight is a pretty ambitious line up!

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): The Bend Pub is extending its Community Pints day from Tuesdays to include Thursdays this month, meaning today you can help raise some money by enjoying some pints: “We are doing two days each week of Community Pints this month, $1 per pint sold on Thursdays goes to our fellow Deschutes Brewery co-owner, Colby Nightingale, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Please keep Colby in your thoughts.”

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland): The final fresh hop of the year from HUB is available now, in cans: “Our final fresh hop beer of the year is here! Fresh Seasons is super limited and you can find it at any New Seasons Market and at our pubs. This hazy IPA showcases fresh Amarillo hops from bcorp Crosby Hop Farm for a massive blast of pine, grapefruit and freshly sliced melon flavors. This won’t last long at all so make sure you grab a four pack and drink it fresh!”

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River) has its fresh hop beer, The Gold Standard Fresh Hop Pale Ale, tapped today in the Pub: “The Gold Standard Fresh Hop Pale Ale went from farm to tank in a mere four hours. A light golden base packed with freshly picked B&D Farms’ Citra Hops, just hours off the vine, The Gold Standard explodes with beautiful fresh hop aromas while tropical fruit and citrus complement nicely with subtle malt notes. 6.6% ABV, 32 IBU”

Salem’s Ratchet Brewery is releasing new beers today: “Today we’re releasing 3 new beers! Hop Picker 2018! We’ve brewed 3 identical pale ales, but added different fresh hops to each. Each beer was made with hops picked at the farm and brewed with in less than 60 minutes. The 3 varieties are Centennial, Simcoe, and Cascade. Come try them all for $5! Thanks to BC Hop Farm, Scenic Valley Farms, and Capital Farms!”

Oakshire Brewing (Eugene): Looks like Big Black Jack Pumpkin Porter is back! “Did you know you don’t need a calendar anymore to tell when it’s Fall? The season’s officially upon us when Oakshire releases Big Black Jack! This Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter helps us celebrate the festive atmosphere of the season with enough warmth to keep you comfortable as the welcomed cool weather approaches. Like a warm pumpkin sweater. Cheers to Autumn!”