Happy Monday! I hope you’ve survived the Snowpocalypse weekend and dug yourself out—barring that, sitting cozy with a big warming beer. Here’s the news for this January 9. 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.

If the weather doesn’t keep you away, plan out your weekend accordingly as there are several beer fest events taking place around the state this Saturday the 14th:

Corvallis’ Mazama Brewing is hosting their annual Dark Days Winter Ale Festival from 2 to 10pm: “Winter is coming! With it comes Mazama Brewing’s 4th annual Dark Days Winter Ale Festival. Warm up at Mazama with unique barrel aged and winter beers, ciders, and meads from local breweries. Drinks will be flowing in the Mazama brewery, taproom, and heated outdoor tent. Take advantage of the free shuttle that will pick up every half hour at the Campus Downward Dog. Tickets are $25 and includes a tasting glass and 20 drink tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event. Designated Driver pricing will be available. Cash + card are both accepted.” They’ve got a nice list of participating breweries to check out.

The Columbia Gorge’s Breweries in the Gorge is holding their first-ever Holiday Hangover Brew Fest: “Sometimes we feel a little hungover from the holidays and need a little craft beer reprieve. This year Breweries in the Gorge (B.I.G.) is hosting the first ever Holiday Hangover Beer Fest located in the heart of downtown Hood River in the historic Elk’s Lodge. The festival will feature a wide variety of craft beer that is brewed by 12 different breweries throughout the Columbia Gorge. Each brewery will feature multiple of beers at the fest including special reserves and ciders.” Also $25 admission.

And McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend has their fourth annual High Gravity Extravaganza Brewfest from 1 to 10pm: “Huddle around the four blazing firepits or wander around the property to taste all the high-gravity, big, bold ales-and cider at our fourth annual fest! Sample big beers from 15 Central Oregon Breweries, including Bend Brewing Company, Boneyard Brewing and Worthy Brewing. And 10 McMenamins Breweries will represent, including High Street Brewery, Anderson School and Roseburg Brewery.” Cost isn’t posted but I believe in past years it was around $15 for the glass and 10 tastes.

Mondays at McMenamins are also “Growler Mondays” where all standard beer growler fills are only $8 at all locations, with high gravity beers being $10. (Reserve beers are not included in this deal.) It’s a good price to pick up a growler or two to weather through the snow!

Royale Brewing (Portland) has an interesting beer releasing this Wednesday at their Royale Garrison Tap Room: “Last October the founders of Royale Brewing, Melvin Brewing, and The Commons got together to collaborate on a beer to celebrate twenty years of friendship. We’re calling that beer 1997- The First Twenty. Brewed at Royale. 1997 – The First Twenty is a 10.7%ABV Belgian Strong Ale, dry-hopped with citra. Bold and complex fruity aromas, ranging from tropical fruit, citrus, dried cherry, rose, and prunes. Candied fruit and baked bread flavors. Deceptively smooth and drinkable.”

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland) is debuting their new Hefeweizen variation, Hefe Hopfruit, a “hoppy citrus twist on the original American Hefeweizen.” They have taken Hefe and brewed with with Northwest hops and “natural grapefruit flavor” which I’m taking to mean juice (perhaps zest, or a combination?), and should be an interesting beer to try. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure how fusing Hefeweizen with hops and grapefruit will turn out but I’ll be curious to try it.

Vertigo Brewing (Hillsboro) has a new beer release today: “Today we are releasing our single hop India Session Ale. 4.8% and 57 IBU’s. This beer was brewed in the kettle with only Aurora hops. Taproom opens at 4:00. Come get out of the house and enjoy some beer and football.”

PFriem Family Brewers (Hood River) has a beer returning in bottles: “Double IPA bottles are back folks! Twice the malt and hops means this ale is brimming with doubly-rich aromas of fresh berries, notes of papaya and malty sweetness. 9.0%, 95 IBU’s”