Happy Monday! Looking at events this day in history, I see in 1803 Arthur Guinness died. It also appears to be National Pie Day which was founded by homebrew guru Charlie Papazian (also his birthday today)! So maybe crack open a homebrewed Irish stout to go along with a slice of pie? 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.

Bell’s Brewery is returning to Oregon this week and today Belmont Station is celebrating “The Hopslam Cometh“! “Last year, we were fortunate to get a very small amount of Bell’s Hopslam Double IPA for the first time ever in Portland. This year, we are getting a whole lot more (along with some really fresh Two-Hearted Ale). So come on in during regular business hours to pick some up. Limit two six-packs per person while supplies last! (We also will be pouring it on draft!)” Yes, you should be picking some of this up!

There are a couple of big events to plan for this weekend in Portland, the first being the fourth annual NW Coffee Beer Invitational, taking place at the Goose Hollow Inn from noon to 7pm: “This year is the 4th annual NW Coffee Beer Invitational where 16 talented brewers are asked to create freshly-brewed beer made with locally-roasted coffee. New this year, we have 2 cideries in the line-up alongside 14 breweries; a special focus on SW Oregon coast breweries — Chetco Brewing, Yachats Brewing, 7 Devils Brewing will be offering not only their coffee beers but also another beer for us to taste; all entered beverages will be judged and a winner will be announced at the festival. Great food from the Goose will be available throughout the event and we will have live music from The Michael Shay Trio (12:00-3:00pm) and festival favorites Logger’s Daughter (3:30-6:30pm). $15 admission includes a festival glass and 8 taster tickets.”

And Base Camp Brewing‘s annual Collabofest is taking place on Saturday the 28th from 2 to 8pm: “Join us in celebrating the collaborative spirit and creativity of Portland’s innovative breweries! Base Camp’s Collabofest pairs select local breweries together to create new and exciting collaboration beers especially for this event. By working with local breweries, local nonprofits, and Travel Portland, Base Camp’s Collabofest is a festival that not only celebrates great beer and great people, but also the unity and camaraderie within the Portland craft beer community.” Tickets are available online here.

Another mini fest in Portland on Saturday too: Culmination Brewing is hosting their Artisinful Beer & Chocolate Festival from noon to 5pm: “2nd Annual Artisinful! Beer & Chocolate Festival in Portland. Artisinful is a festival to celebrate chocolate and beer and the artisans who craft both of these delectable delights. We will have local Portland area chocolatiers on hand providing samples for you to enjoy as well as chocolate that you can purchase and take home to have for Valentine’s Day happening just two weeks later. We will also have 10 plus beers on tap that pair well with chocolate or have chocolate in them. We will be pouring our Le Morte d’Arthur ~ Belgian Chocolate Stout This event sold out quickly last year so be sure to get your tickets soon. For tickets and more info: click here.”

Worthy Brewing (Bend) announced a new beer today: StrataSphere IPA, using a new hop named Strata (formerly X-331). From the press release: “Strata, formerly known as X-331, has been an ongoing collaboration between Indie Hops and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Strata is an open-pollinated Perle that expresses many of the oils associated with mango, oranges, and other fruits and herbs. Strata is the first hop creation to emerge from the OSU-IH aroma hop breeding program. It has superior disease resistance, the promise of substantial yields, and boasts a tropical and herbal flavor profile along with a dual purpose alpha acid level that render Strata a potential stand-alone, one-stop hop.” StataSphere IPA is available on draft now and may be packaged in the future.

Sunriver Brewing has a popular beer back on tap at their two pubs (in Sunriver and Bend): Resin Nation Double IPA. This is a tasty, big beer brewed with hop resin extracts, hence the name. Be sure to get some, the sooner the better!

Vertigo Brewing (Hillsboro) has a beer release of their own today: Super Dude. “Today (1/23) we release our Russian Imperial Stout that was aged 7 months in Big Bottom Distilling whiskey barrels. This is cask strength at 9.1% ABV. Taproom opens at 4:00.”