Here’s the Oregon beer news for the final Monday (and week) of January. 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 as well.

Burnside Brewing (Portland) and Riffle NW have teamed up again (the first was with the collaboration Urchin Ale) to host a beer dinner tonight, beginning at 6:30pm at Riffle. “From the chef and brewer who brought you the Urchin Ale, our very own Ken Norris and Burnside Brewing’s Jason McAdam are teaming up for yet another delicious collaboration, this time a 5-course beer pairing dinner on January 28 at 6:30 PM, held at Riffle NW. Expect whimsical dishes inspired by traditional pub fare, turned up a notch with a seafood focus. We’ve had a blast putting this menu together and hope you are able to join us! Dinner begins at 6:30 PM at Riffle NW and is $65/person with pairings. Gratuity is not included. For reservations, please call us at 503-894-8978 or email us at info@rifflenw.com.” The menu looks amazingly creative and inventive, worth checking out tonight if you get the chance.

Golden Valley Brewery (Beaverton): The Beaverton location is celebrating their 1st anniversary this Thursday, the 31st! And they’re celebrating by releasing the Collaboration Beer that John Harris brewed with GVB Brewmaster Mark Vickery: “Brewmaster John Harris of Full Sail and Deschutes Breweries did the original startup recipes for Golden Valley Brewery in 1993. He has collaborated with our Brewmaster Mark Vickery who used to work with John at Deschutes on this first anniversary Celebration Beer.” And from 3 to 7pm, all pints of the Collaboration Beer will be $2 until that first keg blows. Don’t miss it!

This Saturday, February 2, is the Portland Mercury’s second annual Malt Ball, a unique experience pairing live music with craft beer: “What happens when you put together the two best things in the world: delicious beer and rocking bands? You get the second annual Malt Ball, a daylong fest that celebrates the staggering abundance of terrific music in our city AND the finest craft breweries that the Portland area has to offer. Your pals at the Mercury have paired with Oregon Craft Beer to bring you the best-sounding beer festival in town, or the best-tasting music fest—whichever way you want to look at it. Twelve great bands! Lots of amazing, one-of-a-kind beers! Not to oversell it, but this year’s Malt Ball will probably be the greatest day of your life.”  It runs from 2pm to midnight (at least!), and it’s split into 2 “showcases”, $15 each, from 2 to 7pm, and then 7:30 to midnight. $25 gets you in for the whole day. If you’re into music and beer, this is the event for you.

And Portland’s Gigantic Brewing has their Malt Ball beer ready to go this week, Kiss the Goat!, a black bock brewed in collaboration with the rock band Sons of Huns. I suspect it’s a one-off for the Ball, but it would be cool to see this get bottled as well.

Philadelphia’s Steaks and Hoagies (Portland), long advertised as “Oregon’s smallest brewery” (though to my mind they’ve always vied with the Tugboat for that), is expanding, according to the New School. “When the new expansion of Philadelphia’s is open it will be as a separate but attached business with its own TBD name. Current ideas are floating about, like Sellwood Brewery, Brewpub, or Tasting Room. Among the features of the new space include its own elevated bar that will look down upon the new brewery, which increases fermentation capacity from 9 BBLs to 36 barrels. It will have its own entrance along the side of the building and have a balcony event room. A roll-up garage will house the Philadelphia’s food truck, which will open soon for cheap sandwiches.” Lots of good info in that article, be sure to read the full post.