Happy Friday the 13th—is it ominous to start off 2017 with this falling in the first month? (If you believe in that sort of thing!) Here’s the news in Oregon beer for the weekend. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please let me know and I can get that updated as well.

Friday:

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) has a Friday the 13th tapping of Lord of Misrule III along with a special taster tray lineup, taking place from 6 to 8pm: “It’s Friday the 13th so we’re tapping the third blending of Lord of Misrule from McMenamins Edgefield and to keep things nice & lively, we’re going to bring out some dark and delicious McMenamins beers, some of them quite famous.” The other beers are Longest Night of the Year 2016, Pavol The Collector Organic Baltic Porter 2016, Black Widow, Roaring Mary Wild Irish Stout, and Dying Embers III.

Freebridge Brewing (The Dalles) has a release party for their latest beer, Inclusion Amber Lager, kicking off at 6:30pm: “Inclusion Amber is our most recent addition to our craft beer lineup. We’ll be releasing this brew to the public on Friday night. For every pint or glass of Inclusion Amber purchased you will receive a raffle ticket for drawings of sweet stuff throughout the evening.”

Public Coast Brewing (Cannon Beach): They have a new beer release out today (Friday): “Bring the heat 🔥 with today’s new release, the Mango Habanero Blonde. Come kick back with a cold one that warms you up.”

Corvallis Brewing Supply is hosting both Block 15 Brewery and Plank Town Brewing for a “Face Off Taste Off” from 3 to 6pm: “Witness the spectacle of the century as Springfield’s Steve Van Rossem returns (with his new brewery, Plank Town Brewing Company, in tow) to Corvallis. His aim? To challenge the ones who call themselves “in charge” at Block 15 Brewing Co. (Van Rossem’s former stomping ground) to a beer throwdown! Who will be the winner? Only you can decide – after tasting both sides.”

Vanguard Brewing (Wilsonville) has a new beer out on Friday: “Great Day IPA – 7.0% ABV, 90 IBU
For this rich, golden-colored IPA, we aggressively hopped it with Cascade, Chinook, and Columbus varieties both in the brew and with later dry hop additions. This created a great hop nose, pine and citrus mid notes, and finished with a strong lingering bitterness. Brewing this was a great day for our Cellarman William when he lead his first brew day. Enjoy a pint and make it a great day for you too!”

McMenamins has their company-wide release of winter seasonal Sleepy Hollow Nut Brown ale today. “It’s time to start burning wood in the fireplace to drive the cold from the extremities. It’s also the time of year to savor the soul soothing beverage of your choice, and one can’t think of anything better than the McMenamins classic seasonal brew, Sleepy Hollow Nut Brown. This longtime favorite has a chestnut color and medium body that will cast a festive spell over you, and a hint of toffee on the palate will gently warm your bones as an English Brown Ale should. The complex malt character, well-balanced with Chinook and US Golding Hops, will have you walking in a continual reverie.” So I do have to say, this seems more like it should be a fall/Halloween seasonal (think “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with the Headless Horseman), am I imagining things or did it used to be so?

Saturday:

Mazama Brewing (Corvallis): Their fourth annual Dark Days Winter Ale Festival returns on Saturday the 14th! “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. Food will be available for purchase from Kalamata Bistro. The event is over to anyone 21 + over only. 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.” This will definitely be the event of the weekend for Corvallis!

The event of the weekend for Hood River is the Holiday Hangover Brew Fest being hosted by the Breweries in the Gorge starting at noon: “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. Tickets: $25-General admission includes one (1) collectors glass and ten (10) 4oz drink tickets.” Tickets are available online here.

And in Bend, McMenamins Old St. Francis School is holding their fourth annual High Gravity Extravaganza Brewfest starting at 1pm. Huddle around the blazing firepits or step inside the Theater and Father Lukes 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. We’ll also feature McMenamins & guest ciders — all of them to offer cold comfort in the dry desert winter.” This is always a great event to attend.

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland): Saturday sees the return of Ecliptic’s Oort Imperial Stout, which they will be tapping and having bottles for sale: “On Saturday, January 14th we will release our Oort Imperial Stout and Batch No. 2 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oort Imperial Stout. We will celebrate with a tapping and bottle release in the pub. Only a small amount of the Barrel-Aged Oort Imperial Stout will be tapped—get here early! Oort Imperial Stout and Batch No. 2 Barrel-Aged Oort Imperial Stout bottles will be available. A limited amount of Batch No. 1 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oort Imperial Stout bottles will also be made available. Limit one.”