Happy Monday! This will be a bit of an abbreviated Oregon beer news post today, as I’ll be doing some running around and may not have time at the keyboard. Even so, here’s the news for the day, highlighting some of this week’s events, and as always feel free to contact me to shoot me any news and information.

Crux Fermentation Project (Bend) is closed for the day for some construction—but that is not stopping the brewery from hosting its annual Hop Pickin’ Party, the early morning community hop harvest of Cascade hops that will go into Off the Fence NWPA. “These Cascade hops will go straight into the kettle when we’re done, then about three weeks later we all get to drink the beer brewed with the hops we harvested with our own fingers.” Unfortunately by the time you read this, the picking will be over, so start counting down to the release.

Corvallis Beer Week continues for its second day, with a couple of featured events:

• Trivia with Allegory Brewing at Tried and True Coffee Company from 6 to 8pm, featuring trivia and a tap takeover with the McMinnville brewery.
• Craft Beer Spelling Bee at DeMaggio’s Pizza from 8 to 10pm, with Nectar Creek on hand with swag and mead.

The Lucky Lab in Portland is hosting the retirement party of Mike Moscarelli, a longtime employee at brew supply F.H. Steinbart: “Since 1991, Mike Moscarelli has been a key member of the FH Steinbart team, managing the draft department and making friends with thousands of people in the beer and hospitality community along the way. Mike began his retirement adventures earlier this month, and we wish him the best! Come honor Mike, and help us separate the fact from fiction in his storied career at an informal get together on Monday September 10, from 5pm–8pm @ Lucky Labrador Hawthorne Brewpub. Cheers to Mike!!!”

Gear up for Oktoberfest: the long-running Mt. Angel Oktoberfest returns this week, kicking off on Thursday the 13th and running through Sunday the 16th. It’s the 53rd annual event, with plenty of things to do, food to eat, and beer to drink. “In the heart of Oregon, Mount Angel’s Oktoberfest brings 350,000 people to the Bavarian village every September. The Northwest’s oldest and best loved Folk Festival celebrates the fruits of the harvest, and the goodness of Creation! There is something for everyone at the Mount Angel Oktoberfest.” (From the Facebook event)

That’s not the only Oktoberfest celebration taking place this week either: on Saturday, Ancestry Brewing hosts its Oktoberfest, and Lompoc Brewing has its Lompoktoberfest as well. On Wednesday Bailey’s Taproom hosts the release of Chuckanut Oktoberfest. And the 7th annual Newberg Oktoberfest takes place Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday the 15th, McMenamins High Street Brewery in Eugene is holding its 21st Annual High Street Brewfest! “A party is always more fun when you invite guests! And that is exactly what we do at the High Street Brewfest – our own brewers plus guest brewers from the Eugene area, southern I-5 corridor and lower Willamette Valley craft special beers for the occasion. There’s no real competition here, friends – just a day of community, beer, food, music and more.
12 McMenamins and guest breweries beers
4 Edgefield ciders
Admission & this lineup is free, but costs for tasters are:
$1.50 per token
$5 for a glass
$18 for a glass plus 10 tokens”

The Portland Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest begins this Wednesday the 12th at Burnside Brewing: “the Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest takes place Wednesday through Sunday for two weeks: September 12-16 and 19-23rd, as a temporary covered outdoor beer garden featuring ten rotating taps of 100% fresh hop beer, an outdoor fire pit, boombox and Oktoberfest-style food specials with no cover charge and $5 beers with $3 half pours with $13 growler fills to-go on Sundays.” I’ll round up each of the fresh hop beers/event tappings each day of the Pop-Up.