Happy New Year! I hope the holidays and the time off treated everyone well, and you all got to enjoy some good beer. I’m slowly getting back into the swing of all things writing and beer, and this week is a bit slow on the news front so far. Nevertheless here’s the news for this Tuesday, January 2nd; as usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for the latest news. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated too.

Cascade Brewing (Portland): Their Tap It Tuesday kicks off 2018 with Vitis Melonius: “A blend of sour blond and wheat ales aged for up to 16 months in white wine barrels with local Oregon Chardonnay juice and Oregon grown cantaloupes and Summer Kiss melons. This beer is refreshingly tart with notes of white grape, pineapple, melon, and citrus. What better way to celebrate the New Year than with a sour beer reminiscent of Champagne!”

Tuesdays are Community Pints days at the Deschutes Brewery pubs in Bend and Portland, where $1 from every pint sold goes to benefit a local non-profit organization. (The Bend Tasting Room particpates as well, but they are closed today.) I have not yet seen what orgs have been selected for this month but rest assured it’s for a great cause! Make sure to hit one of the pubs and put back a pint or three to help out.

It’s still over a week away but put the 5th Annual High Gravity Brewfest at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend on your calendar for Saturday the 13th! From 1 to 8pm, the OSF will be featuring high gravity beers and ciders from Central Oregon guest breweries as well as other McMenamins locations. January calls for strong beers and this fest delivers! Cost is $5 for the 12-ounce glass, and $2 per token good for a 4-ounce sample.

Portland Cider Company announced the introduction of sustainable six-pack boxes today, along with the release of their Sangria Cider in cans. From the press release: “In accordance with its sustainability standards, Portland Cider Co. has transitioned from recyclable plastic Pak-Tek carriers to a six-pack box made of 100 percent recycled corrugated cardboard. The new six-pack box packaging will phase in through the next several weeks, debuting this week when the company’s popular Sangria cider hits store shelves in cans for the first time. Sangria features a blend of cider with the juices of orange, strawberry, pear, passionfruit, elderberry, and lime; it’s essentially fruit punch for grown ups. Sangria joins the cidery’s six-pack lineup that already includes Apple and Hop’Rageous. The six-pack boxes will be available throughout Portland Cider Co.’s distribution area in Oregon, Washington and Colorado, at retail chains, convenience stores, and bottle shops.”

Bend’s Worthy Brewing posted a new beer on tap now: “Power to the People. This malt forward beer has hints of toasty caramel with fruit undertones. Rich in character but crisp and refreshing. 5.1% ABV, 21 IBUs”

Coalition Brewing (Portland) has a new CBD beer out for the new year: “To ring in this special time of year Coalition has teamed up with the awesome team at ABV Public House to bring something just as grand as the New Year itself! Introducing “Special Brownies” – This Milk Stout is the latest addition to our CBD series. Roasted barley and pale chocolate malt provide sweetness with lactose giving it a silky mouthfeel. Chocolate syrup in the boil kettle, along with cacao post-fermentation, lends delicious flavors and aromatics of chocolate, making this winter treat irresistible! This beer is sure to be the perfect dessert any time of day with 4 mg of CBD per 12 oz!”

Thunder Island Brewing (Cascade Locks) has a new year’s beer of their own out: “Now pouring our latest Single Hop Pale: Mandarina Bavaria with big juicy notes of citrus and tangerine, it finishes dry leaving your palette ready for more!”