Back to the regular week; I was out Friday for a quick jaunt over to Eugene and back (on a school, ostensibly non-beer-related trip) so wasn’t able to do the beer news. Back to it now, though, and here’s the news for Monday, January 20. 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 updated as well.

The New School in Portland has organized a pretty awesome-looking event for tonight: A Few of Mitch Steel’s Favorite IPAs. “The New School is happy to present in conjunction with Stone Brewing Co. an evening with Brewmaster and author Mitch Steele of Stone along with some of his favorite influential IPAs and with his book IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale. Mitch, along with Stone Lead Brewer Jeremy Moynier and friend Mat Cole, Brewmaster at Fat Heads Brewing, will be present to lead an intimate discussion of IPA’s and a book signing.” It’s taking place at the Imperial Bottle Shop with an impressive tap list, from 7 to 9pm and there’s no charge to attend. Don’t miss it!

This week is an IPA kind of week: Portland’s White Owl Social Club tomorrow is hosting their Masters of IPA meet the brewers event, kicking off at 6:30pm: “Come meet the brewers and sample some extremely rare, extremely awesome IPAs on draft from five killer breweries! If you love IPAs as much as we do, this is your chance to come enjoy some rare beers and hear the inside scoop, straight from the brewer’s mouth!” Featuring Stone Brewing’s Mitch Steele (in town for a couple of days!), 10 Barrel’s Shawn Kelso, Barley Brown’s Tyler Brown, Boneyard Beer’s Tony Lawrence, and Fat Heads Brewing’s Matt Cole. That should be pretty epic.

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 21st, marks the first day of Belmont Station‘s annual “Bigger, Badder, Blacker Week” running through next Monday: “Our annual trek to The Dark Side returns once again with really rare, big, luscious stouts and such for you to enjoy!” They’ve got some amazing beers and events lined up for the next week, keep an eye on their events page for all the latest. This is not something you’re going to want to miss if you can help i t!

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): This Thursday the 23rd both the Bend Pub and Portland Pub are holding the collaborative tasting event for the final of their Class of ’88 beers, the Belgian Style Ale they brewed with Chicago’s Goose Island Brewing. At both pubs all day long you’ll be able to sample side-by-side tastings of both Deschutes’ and Goose Island’s versions of their respective beers, with Chicago-style culinary specials on the menu and bottles sales as well. And in Portland, from 5 to 8pm you can additionally meet the brewmasters from both breweries and ask them all your burning questions! Should make for a good day and it’s always fun to do side-by-sides.

Cascade Lakes Brewing (Redmond): Their 20th anniversary celebrations continue this week with a number of events:

• Wednesday the 22nd they’ll be throwing a party at Redmond’s Jersey Boys Pizzeria
• Thursday the 23rd they will be at Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop with a chance to meet brewer John Van Duzer
• Also on Thursday, The Bier Stein in Eugene will be toasting Cascade Lakes with their 20th Anniversary IPA and some other specialty beers