Happy hump day! I hope your week is going well so far but either way, it’s nearly half over. Here’s the Oregon beer news for this midpoint to help get you through the rest of the week; as usual, I’ll be updating periodically throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often.

McMenamins Thompson Brewery (Salem) hosts its monthly limited-edition beer tasting today, featuring Little Coffee Lager from brewer Jen Kent: “When you want a coffee beer without as much of the complex beauty they can provide, the Little Coffee Lager will do the trick!” The tasting runs from 5 to 7pm and Kent will be on hand pouring beer and answering questions.

Caves Bier & Kitchen (Corvallis) kicks off its monthly beer tasting series for 2019 with Modern Times Beer tonight starting at 5pm: “Join us for our monthly tasting series welcoming Modern Times. We’ll have some of their awesome beers on tap paired up with small plates from our kitchen.”

Belmont Station (Portland) is welcoming California’s Golden State Cider for a cider tasting and meet the maker event tonight from 5 to 8pm: “We welcome Golden State Cider for a night of good vibes and a fancy free cider tasty. Tim Godfrey (Lead Cider maker & Director of Production) will be here to chat about their process and what make Golden State stand out in the ever grown field of hard cider. We will also have the always refreshing Gingergrass cider on draft in the Biercafe.”

Deschutes Brewery (Bend) has a new CDA on tap at the Bend Tasting Room: “We’re calling shenanigans… Midnight Shenanigans! Brewers’ Notes: Deceptive and delicious, this CDA balances Northwest hop dankness with a mild roastiness and a subtle, yet complex rye spiciness.”

Ex Novo Brewing (Portland) has one of its beers newly releasing in cans on Thursday: “We’re thrilled to release yet another of our favorite beers in 12oz 6-pack format! Perle Haggard is a German Style Pilsner loaded up with classic hops and balanced with a clean, premium German malt profile. Look for it at the pub tomorrow, or around PDX in the coming month. More for our greater distro network in the months to come!”

Big Horse Brew Pub (Hood River) has a new big beer on tap today: “Just released an IMPERIAL IPA so good we named it DOUBLE BALLER, and the man who made it, Neil Brent! Come in and have one, It won’t last long!”

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland) announced its anniversary “5 Beers for 5 Years” collaboration series today: “In celebration of their fifth year traveling through the vast star system we call home, Ecliptic Brewing is releasing their newest Cosmic Collaboration series, “5 Beers for 5 Years.” This upcoming year they will team with five other esteemed breweries to brew five celestial concoctions. While you can expect special releases throughout the entire year, the series kicks off on February 3rd with Ecliptic Brewing and Brooklyn Brewery’s Tangerine Farmhouse Ale. A Cosmic Brunch with John Harris and Brooklyn Brewmaster Garrett Oliver is planned at Ecliptic’s pub. Attendees will enjoy five courses from Ecliptic Brewing Chef Michael Molitor with pairings from each of the breweries and signed bottles of the collaboration to take home.” You can purchase tickets to that first event here.

Ochoco Brewing (Prineville) is raising money for Crook County High School tonight: “Tonight is Blue and Gold night here at Ochoco! We’ll donate $1 from every beer and Prineville Beef Company will donate $1 for every burger sold after 4pm to the Crook County High School Booster Club!”

Brewery 26 (Portland) has signed with a new distributor, they announced today: “So some huge news for us…we’ve signed with a distributor! High Road Distribution is a brand new company that lines up well with Nano style breweries and understands our needs. So this should mean more production of beers going to more spots. Look for some more new beers very soon as well as be sure to tag spots that needs High Road to pay a visit to so that you can get @brewery26 on tap! Cheers and thank you for your enduring love and support!”

Rogue Ales Eastside Pub in Portland has its Green Dragon Brew Crew release tonight, featuring a Belgian Dark Strong Ale: “It’s that time again! Join us for a toast as we celebrate Green Dragons newest beer release! Tonight we’re featuring a fantastic Belgian Dark Strong Ale, layered with spice notes of orange, coriander and pink peppercorn. This wonderfully complex beer is guaranteed to keep you warm and fuzzy on those chilly Portland nights, so come on by and grab a glass!”

The Lodge at Cascade Brewing in Portland has a new beer on tap to check out: “The Lodge is currently pouring Cascade Brewing Hitch a Rye’d Pale Ale, a spicy and full-bodied pale ale full of flaked rye and Chinook and East Kent Golding hops. You’ll be left with your hand out and thumb up!”

Eugene’s Tap & Growler is hosting its multi-day Barrel Aged Blind Taste Off starting today: “Barrel Aged Blind Taste Off is off to a great start! Come on by T&G from now until the 13th for some pretty awesome beers: @oskarblues barrel aged Ten FIDY, @threecreeksbrewing barrel aged stampede strong ale, Hopworks Urban Brewery Kentucky Christmas just to name a few. Come rate your faves! Winners will be announced on the 14th.”

Walkabout Brewing (Medford) has its porter back on tap: “Platypus Porter has returned! This robust porter has 10 pounds of organic cocoa thrown into every batch! This brew is adequately hopped with Cascade and Golding hops to give it a smooth balanced finished.”

Misty Mountain Brewing (Brookings) has a new beer out too: “Our Belgian Ale is done and being served starting today. At 5.6 ABV and 56 IBU’s it’s smooth as it gets. It comes in ‘Pints’.”