For some reason it usually seems like Thursday are busy days for beer around Oregon, for tastings, releases, and so on. Here’s the roundup plus other beer news from around the state. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

McMenamins Edgefield (Troutdale) has a limited-edition beer tasting today starting at 5pm, a beer named Northern Lights that is definitely one I’d love to be trying: “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.” Yes, a sour black barrel-aged pumpkin ale, essentially. How fast could I get to Troutdale?

The Bier Stein (Eugene): Today all day they are having something of a “special Firestone Walker day,” offering flights of Firestone Walker‘s Anniversary series of beers, as well as other FW specialties: “Come try a flight of Firestone Walker’s Anniversary ales dating back to 2010; these intricate blends of beer from their barrel program and standard lineup are sure to have aged well, and will present a vast array of rich, layered flavors for you to peruse. In addition to the 14th-17th Anniversary beers, we’ll pull out some other barrel-aged and specialty beers, as well as some of their regular lineup, about 10-15 kegs in total.”

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River): Tonight starting at 5pm is their January Brewmaster Dinner, this month’s theme being Mexican Breakfast for Dinner: “We’re kicking off the new year with everyone’s favorite theme– breakfast for dinner– and taking it up a notch or two by putting a Mexican spin on it.” Four courses (Breakfast Burrito Amuse, Maize Griddle Cakes Made Three Ways, Pork Belly Huevos Rancheros, and Mexican Chocolate Pot au Creme) are paired with Full Sail brews and it only costs $40 per person.

Rogue Ale Eugene Public House (Eugene) is holding a special meet the brewer night tonight: “Join us this Thursday at 5:30pm for Meet the Brewer night with Sam Scoggin. He’ll be behind the bar, pouring Hurdle Cascadian Dark Ale, Pole Vault Porter and other great Track Town and Rogue Ales.”

Lompoc Brewing (Portland): Tonight at Oaks Bottom they are holding the release party for their Illegally Blonde Stout starting at 4pm: “Pouring on nitro, this beer is blonde in color with a creamy mouthfeel coming from an addition rolled oats in the mash. The Fuggle hops give off a subtle tobacco and earthiness, followed by hints of vanilla and coffee. This beer was aged on vanilla beans for a week and had an addition of Ristretto Roasters cold press coffee added in the brite tank. This blonde stout will challenge any preconceived notions you may have about what a stout should be! 4.6% ABV”

Worthy Brewing (Bend) has a new beer on tap today, Black Light Porter. From their blog post: it’s “a medium-bodied mahogany colored porter to which we added bittersweet high altitude, Ecuadorian dark cacao nibs.” 5.7% abv.

Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City): They have a new beer in their “Lone Pelican” series coming out brewed by Whitney Burnside, Pelican’s first female head brewer, inspired by and brewed in support of the Seattle Seahawks: Seahops Pale Ale. “With an original gravity of 12 degrees PLATO (to honor the 12th Woman), Seahops is a delicious Pale Ale available in limited locations around Seattle & Portland on draft only.  Whitney will be in Seattle, visiting FX McCrory’s and Collins Pub during the game to celebrate Hawks and Hops.  This beer has been so popular, that Whitney has brewed another batch to ensure availability on game day the 19th (no lack of faith here!).” It’s brewed with Magnum, Calypso, and Centennial hops and is 5.2% abv.

Harvester Brewing (Portland) has a release today from 5 until 8pm featuring their new (gluten-free) Coffee Pale Ale. From the OBG: “Coffee Pale Ale will be released at Harvester’s gastropub during an event with Equal Exchange on January 9th from 5 pm until 8 pm. Equal Exchange will be bringing chocolate to taste with Coffee Pale Ale and Harvester’s Chef Neil will be creating several food pairings to complement the new release. Bottles of Coffee Pale will head out to retailers the following week.”