Halfway through the week! Here’s the Oregon beer news for Wednesday, January 22. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Belmont Station (Portland): Their Bigger, Badder, Blacker Week continues and today they are celebrating “Rasputin’s Birthday” from 5 to 8pm tonight: “The Russian mystic, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, would have turned 145 this year, so we are honoring him with a special keg of North Coast Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin VX. We also will be offering a special cheese and beer pairing flight featuring three of Steve Jones’ cheeses to pair with the Rasputin XV, Old Stock Barley Wine and Brother Thelonius Belgian Strong Ale. Even better: the first 30 patrons who purchase the cheese & beer pairing flight will get a special Old Rasputin glass to take home. Not a bad way to celebrate a 145th birthday!” Definitely one to check out if you’re in Portland tonight!

Portland is getting its first dedicated growler fill station (as opposed to one located inside of another business), Growlers Hawthorne which is located at 3343 SE Hawthorne. “Growlers Hawthorne will officially open its doors at Noon on Feb. 4, and will feature a weeklong grand opening celebration with nightly “Meet the Brewer” events from 5:30 to 7:30pm featuring exclusive beers on tap from each brewery. The schedule includes Fort George Brewery on Feb. 4, 10 Barrel Brewing on Feb. 5, Oakshire Brewing on Feb. 6, and Firestone Walker Brewing on Feb. 7. The grand opening week will conclude on Feb. 8 with an all-ages party from 3:30 to 6:30pm featuring beer and root beer from Pelican Pub & Brewery and cheese pairings and ice cream floats from Tillamook. Pelican head brewer Darron Welch and his family will join in the celebration.” They will have 40 rotating taps and digital screens, and will be open daily from noon to 8pm.

Breakside Brewery (Portland) is set to release their newest bottled offering on January 30, the deliciously-named Salted Caramel Stout. The release party is taking place at Belmont Station. “A collaboration with Salt & Straw Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Stout has been one of our most popular draft seasonal brews now for the first time available in bottles. A rich stout base mixes with sea salt and specially­ made salted. this beer is rich and balanced with a luscious caramel flavor in the mid palate, a hint of salt in the finish, and a smooth roastiness.”