Welcome to the new year! Here’s the first Oregon beer news for 2019, catching up on a few tidbits over the past week or so and looking forward into January. As usual I’ll be updating this post throughout the day with the latest, and if you have news to share please let me know.

Hood River’s Full Sail Brewing announced the release of its newest IPA hitting the hazy bandwagon: Malted Milkshake-style IPA. From the release: “Soda fountains and checkered floors are retro, but Full Sail Malted Milkshake-Style IPA is anything but. Knowing it was time to shake things up on the IPA front, Full Sail Brewing Company has launched its brand-new, milkshake-style IPA brewed with lactose, malted barley and oats. A touch of natural vanilla is the proverbial cherry on top. The popularity of milkshake-style IPAs has been growing exponentially and Full Sail was confident its master brewers could add to the category in an original way. Nonfermentable lactose (milk sugars) provide a full-bodied, smooth creaminess while the yeast strain creates a hazy, fruit-forward beer. Big juicy flavor and big juicy hops stand out in new Malted Milkshake-Style IPA brewed with Ekuanot, Denali, Comet, Citra, and Cascade hops, and 2-Row Pale, Wheat, and Oats.” It’s 6.8% ABV and 40 IBUs.

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) announced a new fruited beer joining its year-round lineup, Brightberry, a Raspberry Lime Ale. From the release: “Originally released in 2018 as part of their Whiteaker Series, a rotating lineup of small batch, draft-only beers, Brightberry is Ninkasi’s take on a classic European style. The fruit forward beer immediately became a customer and staff favorite earning it a place in their year-round lineup. With refreshing, delicate raspberry and lime notes and just a touch of sea salt, this unfiltered wheat ale is our Northwest take on a classic European beer style.” With 4% ABV and 9 IBUs this sounds like a gose (though it’s not specifically stated).

Cider Riot (Portland) is moving to Oregon’s new refillable bottles, the first Oregon cidery to do so, and will be bottling its Burncider in them. From the release: “Portland’s Cider Riot! rings in the New Year with the relaunch of its Burncider Pub Draught cider in Oregon’s new sustainable multi-use bottles. The locally made bottles are intended to be washed and refilled rather than crushed and recycled and craft breweries throughout the state have begun using them for beer. Cider Riot! is the first in the state to adopt them for cider, and celebrates the bottles with a party at its pub Friday January 11th from 5-7pm.”

Bend’s Crux Fermentation Project is closed today for the company’s holiday party, so if you were planning a visit, stop by later in the week.

Sunriver Brewing has two new beers freshly on tap for the new year (just tapped yesterday: “What a beautiful snowy Sunday! Perfect day to come into either of the pubs to try the first two beers of 2019!! Escape from Escondido- West Coast IPA and Resinnation – Double IPA”

Immersion Brewing (Bend) has its own new beer out for the new year: “Underground Sound our latest beer release is a NW IPA and has a mild malt profile with a crisp and hoppy finish.”

And Bend’s 10 Barrel Brewing has new beer out now as well: Get There Fast by employee Chris Trulsen. “7.4% ABV | 50 IBU Just can’t wait for your summer vacation? Are you longing for a tropical drink melting in your hand? Get there fast with this big tropical hazy ipa bursting with citrus and pineapple, but be careful. This beer packs a punch! Put away a couple pints and it will have you feeling like you’re soaking up the sun on your own private island.”

Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville) has a new coolship for open, spontaneous fermentation, and this Thursday afternoon the brewery is inviting the public to attend its “maiden voyage” (i.e. first filling with hot wort). That will start at 1pm.

Block 15 Brewery (Corvallis): Like Crux, all Block 15 locations are closed today, for “company-wide festivities.” Get caught up tomorrow!

Manifest Beer Company (Eugene) has a new brut IPA out: “Brut Springsteen!!! 7.4 abv 35 IBU brewed with over 5lbs/bbl of hops!!! Nelson and Mandarina Bavaria really shine in this amazing beer! We have it available now in kegs!”

Worthy Brewing (Bend) has the latest in its Heart & Soul series out: “Getting up close and personal to admire the bubbles in our newest Heart and Soul Series beer, Pale Blue Dot. This pale ale is now on tap at Worthy Brewing and features notes of biscuit and peach with a tropical finish. Hops: Amarillo Cascade, Ekuanot, Strata, Sterling. 4.9% ABV, 33 IBU”

Yes, it’s New Beer Monday everywhere it seems: Modern Times Beer in Portland has its latest out today: “NOW POURING: Ponderous Climate. The grain bill for this 6% winter-champion is packed with heaps of specialty radness, namely: abbey, victory, brown, extra dark crystal, pale chocolate, chocolate wheat, and beech smoked malt. We took that rich, nutty, chocolaty base and loaded it with our Heavy Weather Winter Blend coffee, which includes some rum barrel-aged beans.”

And Vanguard Brewing in Wilsonville kicks off a new IPA series: “Inspired by some internet silliness, Parakeet racer is the first of our rotating IPA series. We are going to brew this only once then move on to something new. Check it out while you can.”

Xicha Brewing (Salem) has released its new beer of the year: “Introducing our 505 Pale [fahyv] [oh] [fahyv] [peyl]. This beer is a shout out to New Mexico, also known as The 505, or the new Mexico, or Nuevo México. We brought some Hatch green chile all the way from southern New Mexico, roasted it and added it to the boil on this wonderfully smokey pale ale. ABV: 6%; IBU: 42”