Happy Friday! The weekend is within grasp and I’ve got beer news for you to help plan it out. (Unless you’re doing Dry January, in which case only consume the news.) As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post through the day Friday, so check back in from time to time.

Friday, Jan. 11

Cider Riot (Portland) is throwing the launch party for its new refillable bottles of Burncider: “We are throwing a party in celebration of our new sustainable bottle. This Friday swing by the pub 5-7pm and we will be selling bottles of Burncider for $4.90 a piece. The folks from the Oregon Bottle Drop program will be on hand to talk about these spiffy new refillables.” Cider Riot is the first cidery in Oregon to adopt the bottles.

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting the release party for Terminator Stout in cans all day today: “We’re releasing 16-oz. cans of McMenamins Terminator Stout to go! Stop by and pick up a four-pack of one of our favorite beers, while supplies last.” I believe the last time Terminator was released in cans was February of last year, so make sure to stock up.

Portland’s Imperial Bottle Shop kicks off its Weekend at Barley’s on Friday, running through Sunday (and taking place each weekend all January long): “Sober January just doesn’t make sense when there are hot-bodied barleywines to be drank! So we’re taking a dip into our cellar and pouring a lineup of 3 beefy barleywines every single weekend in January. Available by the glass or 4 oz sample pour, or get $1 off a flight of all 3.” This weekend’s theme is “Getting Old” with some vintage barleywines.

The latest specialty beer from Cascade Brewing, Valley Flora 2017, drops today at the company’s two Portland locations (The Lodge and the Barrel House). “Valley Flora combines Cascade’s sour red ale with Willamette Valley-grown Pinot Noir grapes using traditional brewing and winemaking techniques. Through native fruit fermentation and extended oak maturation, Valley Flora expresses notes of dark bramble fruit, plum, cherry, earth and oak supported by a balanced tannic structure and lively acidity.” It will be available on draft and in 500ml bottles.

The BeerMongers (Portland) is hosting a Gigantic Brewing bottle release from 5 to 8pm Friday evening: “Our friends over at Gigantic Brewing have graciously asked us to host them on this glorious occasion. Prepare your taste buds for barrage of delicious beer. Bottles & Draft:
– Cloudberries Hazy IPA – Brewed with Mosaic and Experimental 527
– The Time Warp Dank IPA – Supposedly pretty dank
– Weapon Of Mass Seduction – Chocolate Oyster Stout”

2 Towns Ciderhouse (Corvallis) has a new tap room release for its Cellar Series, McIntosh Single Varietal: “Made exclusively with apples sourced from our friends at Western Cider in Montana, our McIntosh Single Varietal does the big sky justice. Light and sparkling, this cider expresses all the classic McIntosh varietal characteristics, with floral and perfume notes blossoming out of the glass. Perfectly balanced, this will be a cider to remember.”

Saturday, Jan. 12

Buoy Beer (Astoria) is hosting its Foeder Series Bottle Release at the brewery on Saturday from 11am to 6pm: “Buoy Beer Company will release their first Foeder beer this January 2019. Brett Saison is a blend of three saisons all featuring pilsner, wheat, Vienna, and buckwheat malts. Additions of Oregon-grown Meridian hops are layered throughout and citrus zest from lemons, oranges, and grapefruits were steeped in the whirlpool. All three saisons were originally fermented in stainless and one of them was acidified with lactobacillus. Once combined in the Foeder, the beer was inoculated with our blend of Brettanomyces and left to age for 10 months.” The beer was then split into three batches and dry hopped with different hops. Buoy is releasing the beers in 500ml refillable bottles which will be available.

Eugene’s new Freehand Brewery will be at Beergarden for a beer and cheese tasting on Saturday from 5 to 8pm: “Aaron Brussat from Freehand Brewing will be pouring samples of three of bottle selections, each paired with an artisan cheese hosted by our very own, Bounty Meat and Cheese.”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop is hosting a beer tasting with AleSmith Brewing on Saturday from 2 to 4pm.

Fort George Brewery (Astoria) has its Matryoshka imperial stout releasing Saturday: “It all begins with From Astoria With Love, a rich Russian Imperial Stout seasonal. Then it is wrapped up tightly in Kentucky bourbon barrels for the year. Now, it is bottled and ready for you. 2019 Matryoshka releases at the brewery [Saturday] (1/12). This yearly series is available in layers, each one a smaller batch and a more intricate variation. Get the base bourbon barrel Matryoshka starting this weekend. Look forward to four variations at The Aftermath, on the day after Festival of Dark Arts.”

Sunday, Jan. 13

Beerworks (Medford) has its Special Tap Sunday pouring a special beer: “Stop by our Medford location on January 13th and pucker up while delighting your taste buds with a masterfully crafted sour ale! We will be featuring a keg of the Chêne Des Fous – a new release from Cascade Brewing in collaboration with Burial Beer Co.”