The end of the week is in sight! Here’s the Oregon beer news for this hot Thursday, July 26, gathering the news and events from around the state for easy consumption. I’ll be updating this post throughout the day with the latest so be sure to check back, and as always feel free to contact me with any news to share.

The Oregon Brewers Festival starts today! The gates open at noon at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland and as always, entry is free. Mugs to drink cost $7, and tasting tokens are $1 apiece. Don’t forget this year there is no printed program—instead, be sure to download the app which should be easier to manage. 80 beers are pouring through Sunday but bear in mind it’s going to be hot! Try to keep to the shade and stay as hydrated as possible — that’s what the water stations are for. Most importantly have a great time!

McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub (Lincoln City) has its monthly limited-edition beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm, featuring The Perfect Storm Barleywine with brewer Gary Stallings. “A perfect storm occurs when a rare combination of circumstances drastically aggravate an event. With this Barleywine, we’ve put together a grain and hop profile that, along with substantial aging, has created that effect. Rich, bold and flavorful, this ale has notes of fruit and oak that will set off the perfect storm on your palate from the very first taste.”

And McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery (Portland) has its limited-edition beer tasting tonight as well, with three beers to taste: Grand Day Out IPA, Sunset Blvd. Wheat, and Kenny Blood Orange Pale. All three are billed as great summertime beers so head over to Hillsdale to beat the heat from 5 to 8pm. Update! Drink for charity: “From 5 until close if you buy a pint of these three ales we will donate a dollar to “The House That Beer Built”!! They are a craft beer community funded sector for Habitat for Humanity. Let’s help build some houses with beer!!”

Bend’s Platypus Pub is welcoming Ghostfish Brewing out of Seattle for a gluten-free beer tasting tonight. “From their web site: “It starts with our use of unusual malted grains: millet, buckwheat, and brown rice. All produced in small batches in dedicated gluten-free facilities.” Step away from the Barley for a day and try some GhostFish. Please tell that annoying gluten free friend to stop on by. Or share this event. Thanks, hope to see you here.” It runs from 5 to 7pm.

Backwoods Brewing’s new Backwoods in the Pearl pub is celebrating its grand opening starting today (and going through Saturday the 28th). Good timing, as they can pull in visitors to the OBF to check out the new digs!

The BeerMongers (Portland) is hosting the Portland can release for Trap Door Brewing out of Vancouver, today from 5 to 8pm: “Trap Door has quickly become one of our favorite breweries. They’ve graciously agreed to allow us to provide a venue for their release of Tang – Hazy IPA, ISSA Trap – Hazy Pale, and Raspberry ImPEACHment – Raspberry/Peach Kettle Sour.” There will be Trap Door beers on draft as well.

Bent Shovel Brewing (Oregon City) is now offering beer in crowlers: “CAN you believe it! Now you CAN take your favorite Bent Shovel Brewing beer on-the-go in convenient 32oz. Crowler CANs! Now available in singles and 3-packs at the brewery.”

Worthy Brewing (Bend) has a new Heart & Soul Series beer out today: “Juniper & Juice Session Ale, 4.3% ABV, 22 IBU. A locally sourced brewhouse favorite with freshly plucked juniper berries. Delightfully citrusy, honey and pine notes. Light bodied so there’s plenty of room for more. Happily Hazy. Let it go, drink it up!”

Bridge 99 Brewery (Bend) is finally brewing on its new 15 barrel system! “We have started brewing 15 BBL batches of beer on the new @stouttanks brewhouse. One beer barrel = 31 gallons. That equals 465 gallons, which would fill about 30 half barrel kegs of beer or 3,720 pints of beer per batch!” It’s been a long time coming, but I’m glad to see it up and running.

Stickmen Brewing (Lake Oswego) has a new beer on tap at both its locations: ““600 Tiny Bubbles”- Batch #600 is this bone-dry IPA exploding with flavors of mixed berry, lemon, & tropical fruit. Crisp & effervescent. ABV 7.9% IBU 18”

Hop Valley Brewing (Springfield) posted an update about one its latest Stash series beers: “Cryo Stash Imperial IPA (8.7% ABV, 40 IBU) is the Sub-Zero finisher in our family of Stash beers. Cryo Stash is brewed with Simcoe hops treated at temperatures below zero resulting in a flawless combination of smoothness and drinkability.”