Annoyingly I woke up to my clock radio playing that Geico camel saying, “Guess what day it is?!”. Yes indeed, it’s Wednesday, January 28, and here is the news in Oregon beer. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Worthy Brewing (Bend): Today is the release of their Dark Muse Imperial Stout, returning for 2015 and they are running specials at the pub all day: “We’ll have 22-ounce bottles available for purchase, as well as 8-ounce draft pours of this 10.1% monster stout. Chad is also sharing a very limited amount of Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Muse on draft for one day only. On the menu: Roasted Tenderloin of beef with a Dark Muse demi glace, roasted baby reds with garlic and sauteed veggies. Paired with Dark Muse Imperial Stout. Dark Muse Brownie served warm with vanilla bean ice cream. Paired with Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Muse!”

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (Portland) has their monthly Ringlers Beer Tasting at Ringlers Pub today from 5 to 9pm, featuring Onward Caravan Turkish Coffee Ale: “We teamed up with McMenamins Coffee Roasters Martyn Leaper and Kelly Ockinga to make an ale based on traditional Turkish coffee. Along with a nut brown ale base full of smooth caramel malt tones, we highlight flavors and aromas of fresh nuts, chocolate, heavy cream, and golden syrup from our Kenyan and El Salvador locally roasted coffee beans. A slight roastiness rears up at the end, along with the full floral spiciness of ground green cardamom seeds added during the brewing process and post-fermentation. A unique, satisfying brew.” It’s 5.68% abv.

BridgePort Brewing (Portland) announced in a press release today the addition of a new year-round beer to their lineup: Conviction Pale Ale. From the release: “Throughout 2014, BridgePort fans had the chance to try each of the three Trilogy beers, created to celebrate the brewery’s 30th anniversary. At the end of the year, they placed their vote for which beer should come back as a year-round brew in 2015. Trilogy 1, a crystal dry-hopped pale ale, was the clear fan favorite and is now back on shelves in 2015 as Conviction Pale Ale.” Conviction is 40 IBUs and 5.2% abv, and I recall it being my favorite of the Trilogy set, as well.

And we have more McMenamins beer events today, starting with the Old St. Francis School (Bend) with their monthly O’Kanes Cask Series Release: Shadow of the Dark Belgian Strong. “The Shadow of the Dark is a complex and malty Belgian Strong Ale. The deep amber, coppery hue starts you off with estery and fruity aromas. The malt complexity then drives you home with hints of plum and raisin. A low level of hops allows the malt body to really come out of the shadows and give your tongue something to shine about! A slight sweet finish keeps you smacking your lips and wondering how long you have to wait for another trip to this wonderful quaff. On top of all this we have added some extra complexities to the Firkin. American Oak chips were soaked in our McMenamins Monkey Puzzle Whiskey. This herbal and honey whiskey adds some earthy tones to the overall complexity. The wood also gives the finish a little more of a dry feel. A great way to warm your bones by a fire and cast your shadow amongst the world!” It’s 8.3% abv and the cask goes on at 5pm and lasts until it’s done.

Over at McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro), their Roadhouse Beer Tasting today is featuring their “Best of 2014 Cellar Selects” with four different beers: Rum Barrel Aged Dark Star (7.74% stout brewed last January and aged); Edelweiss Helles Bock (7.74% abv apparently brewed on the last day of January last year); Rum Runner Double IPA (8.64% “christened… with ceremonial additions of our favorite rums” and aged in a rum barrel, their 6000th(!) batch at CPR); and Winter Warlock (8.26% barleywine-ish).

Monkless Belgian Ales (Bend) is doing a tasting tonight at Bend’s Platypus Pub (likely from 6 to 8pm): “They will have a keg of our Belgian Dark Strong Ale, Meet Your Maker (8.9% ABV), on tap. We’ll also be pouring tasters of our Tripel, The Trinity, and a Belgian IPA we like to call Accommodation. The festivities start at 6 PM. Hope to see you there!”

The Bier Stein (Eugene) tonight has a special tapping from 5 to 7pm: “Tripp’s Hop Adventure, brewed by Eugene’s own Tripp Sommer, KLCC news director, at 21st Amendment Brewing in San Francisco, holds the Bier Stein record for the fastest blown keg– two hours! You’ll want to get here at 5pm to get your pint of this tasty IPA. In addition to that beer, we will have Kilt by Wildfire, a Scottish ale that won an in-house homebrew competition at 21st Amendment, and Sneak Attack Saison on tap for your enjoyment.”

The Green Dragon (Portland): Tonight is the final features the final tapping/tasting for the month of the “Big Ass Beer” theme brewed up by the Green Dragon Brew Crew, and it features The Truth: “A huge barleywine which was was aged for two months in a Rogue whiskey barrel then matured for a year before its release. A pint of this won’t let anyone hide the truth anymore. ABV – 10%. Truth flows at 5pm, Crew speaks at 6pm.”

PFriem Family Brewers (Hood River): While popularly and primarily known as Belgian-style brewers, they have all styles on tap. Case in point: “Our pFriem Oatmeal Stout is back on tap! This creamy stout with notes of hazelnut and chocolate was inspired by pFriem brewer Dave McGinley. Oatmeal has been a long time favorite brewing ingredient since King Arthur’s time and once you savor the rich smoothness you’ll understand why!” It’s 5.5% abv.

Sandy’s Bunsenbrewer will be in Portland tonight pouring beer at OMSI After Dark, which for the science-themed brewery seems like a good match. “We will be the only beer vendor at the OMSI Afterdark event on January 28. Come by and have some beer if you are in the Portland area, or love SCIENCE!” Read more about OMSI After Dark here.