Happy Friday! We’re all working for the weekend, so to tide you over here’s the news in Oregon beer for this weekend of January 25. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated.

McMenamins is celebrating the 27th birthday of their flagship beer, Hammerhead Ale, today across all of their locations, with specials on the beer and related merchandise all day. “On this day, twenty-seven 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.” A few of the McMenamins breweries are also pouring special editions of Hammerhead—for instance, at the Old St. Francis School here in Bend they have a “Rock Hammer (Oak spiral & Three Rocks Rum aged)” version. Yum! Go enjoy some Hammerhead Ale today and raise a glass to 27 years.

Three Creeks Brewing (Sisters) has a cool event tomorrow that is, unfortunately, sold out: a Beer and Dessert pairing. They will be pairing desserts with 4 beers: Raptor Rye IPA, Dark Hollow, Big Bad Sisters coffee infused Imperial Stout and Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Porter. The Big Bad Sisters Coffee Stout deserves a special mention: it’s a “9.2% abv imperial stout infused with over 1 lb per barrel of Sumatra coffee from Sisters Coffee Roasters”—this sounds amazing and I’m going to be seeking it out when I get the chance. In the meantime, the Beer and Dessert Pairing starts at 4pm Saturday, and while sold out you could always contact the brewery and find out if there are any open seats; cost is $15.

Seven Brides Brewing (Silverton) is doing a tap takeover event today and tomrrow in Bend at The Growler Guys, featuring six of Seven Brides’ beers on tap and (I think) reps from the brewery on hand to talk about their beers. The takeover takes place from 4:30 to 7pm today (Friday) and from 2:30 to 5pm Saturday.

Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City) released the floorplans for their new brewery and tasting room they’re planning to build in Tillamook, with construction hoping to start by March 1. “The brewery is expanding operations into the Star Distributing building, a former food wholesaler located on Stillwell Avenue between Front and First streets. The building has most recently been leased by the Tillamook County Creamery Association, which gave notice to the building owners that it would be leaving the space as of Feb. 1… The tasting room will hold about 30 to 40 seats, [co-owner Mary] Jones said, including a bar, some outdoor seating and a shuffle board… The Tillamook site is anticipated to produce about 8,500 barrels in its first year. Because there’s room to grow, Jones said the facility could eventually produce up to 20,000 barrels annually.” It’s a significant move for Pelican’s growth, and (finally) brings a brewery to Tillamook (even if the parent brewery is still in Pacific City). One to look forward to!

Dragon’s Gate Brewery (Milton-Freewater): Their Gastropub Beer Dinner with the Fat Duck Inn in Walla Walla is tomorrow at 6:30pm. Dragon’s Gate’s beer will be poured during the dinner, pairing up with some eight different dishes, and the cost is $85 per person. I don’t know if there are still seats available but you could call and see at 509-526-3825—might be a good way to try out Dragon’s Gate’s beers for the first time!

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (Portland) is celebrating their birthday this Sunday, the 27th, and among all the other festivities they are also featuring a limited-edition beer tasting from 6 to 8pm for Farewell Kiss Barleywine: “A deep reddish brown color and creamy tan head emulates aromas of sweet malt, cinnamon and dried fruit.  Gentle hop bitterness begins your journey through fields of crystal malts laden with generous helpings of fruit and exotic spices.  A loving kiss of Alcohol warms you as the lingering flavor of sweet and spicy citrus transport you to an island paradise or perhaps a beer barrel version of Heaven.  Let the Farewell Kiss remind us of the single most important ingredient in excellent beer…  LOVE!”  (I loves me a good barleywine.)

The Portland-based pdxbeergeeks are holding their first meet-up of 2013 and bottle share this weekend, tomorrow at the Bridgetown Beerhouse from 1 to 4pm, which sounds like a really fun time (and is open to anyone I do believe). “We are excited to announce our first meet-up of 2013. On January 26th our friends at Bridgetown Beerhouse will be hosting our second annual bottle share. Please bring at least one bottle per person of something over a year old, homebrewed, or something we couldn’t usually get in Oregon. Bridgetown also does not provide food. There are food carts available in a short walk, also feel free to bring something snacky if you would like.” Go forth and share!

Oakshire Brewing (Eugene): They have a new experimentally-minded single batch series beer hitting the taps: ” Pale 01210 – a hoppy American Wheat Ale with a new experimental hop variety that has no name, and only goes by 01210. This hazy, light orange colored ale has a moderate bitterness, balanced by a medium body with a refreshing & clean finish.”