Welcome back to the first Oregon beer news of the new year! We’re back to a regular schedule, but as the book deal progresses, these posts may get scaled back. In the meantime here’s the news in Oregon beer for Monday, January 6. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Cascade Lakes Brewing (Redmond): This year is Cascade Lakes’ 20th anniversary, and they are celebrating this month with a bunch of parties! Next Monday the 13th at their 7th Street Brew House in Redmond and Tuesday the 14th at their Lodge in Bend, they’ll be celebrating all day with the premier of their new 20th Anniversary IPA, “1994 prices” of $2.75 a pint, and more. And next Thursday the 16th they’ll be at Belmont Station in Portland to celebrate as well. The big 2-0! I’ll have more in a separate post soon.

McMenamins Edgefield (Troutdale) has a limited-edition beer tasting this Thursday, the 9th, featuring a beer named Northern Lights: “This lively beer is a barrel aged sour black ale with squash added to celebrate the dark winter days. It pours a jet black with a fluffy white head. You will notice aromas of spice, pumpkin and roasted malt. Flavors of squash mingle with a subtle tartness from extended barrel aging. Gather around, pucker up and enjoy some Northern Lights.” Sour black pumpkin beer!

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland) has a new beer out today: “Mintaka is the right most belt star in Orion. On tap today Mintaka Stout!”

The Big Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival—“big brother” to the Little Woody that takes place in Bend—is coming up in just under two weeks in Portland. Friday and Saturday, January 17 and 18, at the Leftbank Annex. Like the Little Woody, this will feature all barrel-aged beers as well as a whiskey tasting; expect to see a nice variety of great beers on hand. “Entry to the festival is $40 and includes 20 tasting tokens and a commemorative snifter glass. Space is limited and tickets are only good for the evening purchased. Tickets are on sale here.“