Happy Friday! Here’s hoping you have a good weekend ahead of you. Here’s the Oregon beer news for the weekend of January 25. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Belmont Station (Portland) has their Bigger, Badder, Blacker Week continuing today with an epic Deschutes Brewery/Goose Island Class of ’88 event from 5 to 7pm: “To celebrate their concurrent 25th anniversaries, Goose Island and Deschutes brewed Class of ’88 Belgian-Style Ale. And they are launching their beer right here at Belmont Station during Bigger Badder Blacker Week with the Deschutes version of the beer. While technically not Blacker, with a distinct oak boldness from being barrel-aged, this collabo should be considered Badder, and at 10% ABV, it’s certainly Bigger! But to sweeten the pot, both breweries are bringing something Blacker to the table. Goose Island will be offering their famous Bourbon County Stout (the only keg in Portland), and Deschutes will bring along their highly acclaimed Black Butte Porter XXIV. Brett Porter, who used to brew for Deschutes, and now brews for Goose Island, will be on hand for the festivities, along with a few of the great folks from Deschutes brewery, too! ****THIS IS A CASH-ONLY EVENT IN THE BIERCAFE**** (Credit cards will still be accepted in the bottle shop during the event.)”

Belmont Station’s Saturday and Sunday events are Import Day (Saturday) and Sunday Funday featuring Alaska’s Midnight Sun Brewing. Get the details on their events page here.

Portland U-Brew & Pub (Portland): Their annual Westmoreland/Sellwood Winter Brew Fest is taking place today and tomorrow, all day from noon. “Four winter beers from local breweries, and 6 winter beers from Portland U-brew on tap. Four taps will be downstairs in the brewery. We will have live music. $10.00 gets you a 12 oz Grand Pilsner glasses with P.U.B. logo and 5 taste tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for 1.00 each. Come get warm in your belly with us!” Sounds like a fun little fest over in Portland’s Oaks Bottom area off Milwaukie, one that would be fun to check out.

Meanwhile Bailey’s Taproom in downtown Portland is holding their 5th annual CellarFest on Saturday, starting at 2pm and lasting the day, and featuring an amazing lineup of strong, vintaged, cellared beers. And they have the VIP entrance from noon to 2pm, though those have sold out. Check out the beer list (subject to change) and drool, and then make sure to head down there tomorrow.

Three Creeks Brewing (Sisters) has a busy weekend lined up: tonight is the release of their seasonal McKay’s Scottish Ale at the Pub: “In honor of our one and only Don Mckay, we are celebrating the 4th annual launch of our “Mckay’s Scottish Ale”.  We are launching this special annual beer in style with the playing of bagpipes. See you here!” That kicks off at 6:30pm tonight.

Tomorrow, Three Creeks is holding their 2nd annual Dessert and Beer Pairing, which starts at 3:30pm. They’ve got an amazing lineup of four desserts paired with great beers, and costs $20 per person; you’ll need to call 541-549-1963 to reserve a spot, and they still have a few available. Also tomorrow, in Portland, they are participating in the first-ever NW Coffee Beer Invitational taking place at the Goose Hollow Inn in southwest Portland. This looks like a pretty great event (on a day filled with great ones already!) and the New School has the details and an updated beer list.

McMenamins (All): Tomorrow, January 25, is the 28th birthday of one of their flagship beers, Hammerhead! “On this day, twenty-eight years ago, a very special beer was born at the Hillsdale Brewery in southwest Portland, christened Hammerhead. Today, it’s above-and-beyond our best-selling ale. So we plan to celebrate! – head to any McMenamins location in Oregon or Washington for $2.50 pints of Hammerhead, plus ale-inspired food specials, contests on Facebook and a lot more. Cheers to the Great Overalled One.” In addition to the company-wide specials, several locations will also be offering specialty versions of Hammerhead.

Worthy Brewing (Bend) has their Firkin Friday kicking off at 4pm, featuring a firkin cask of their Imperial IPA with Amarillo hops. The firkin pints are $3 and will last until the cask is empty.

The Growler Guys (Bend) has California’s Lagunitas Brewing for a meet the brewer and tasting event from 5 to 7pm; they’ll be pouring their IPA, Cappuccino Stout (barrel aged!), Little Sumpin’ Wild, The Hairy Eyeball, and Sucks Holiday Ale.