Here’s the Oregon beer news for Wednesday, this penultimate day of January. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Today is a beer tasting day: lot of free tasting events going on. For starters, 16 Tons in Eugene is hosting Salem’s Gilgamesh Brewing today from 5 to 8pm, with a rep from the brewery pouring at least 4 beers (possibly 6). The 4 are listed as their Chocolate Mint Stout, Coffee Cordial, Cranberry Saison, and Bourbon Barrel Hopscotch. If you haven’t tried Gilgamesh’s beers yet, this is a good lineup to get a feel for their take on beer.

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Traditions Ciderworks out of Corvallis tonight from 6 to 8pm: “‘Traditions Ciderworks produces handmade artisan ciders using only locally sourced Oregon farm grown apples. Inspired by the creativity and flair of Pacific Northwest craft brewers and winemakers, Traditions use time-honored traditions & their own unique style to create exceptional, premium ciders. From the heart of Oregon, near the banks of the Willamette River, Traditions Ciderworks is dedicated to bringing artisan cider out of the past and into the present.’ That’s how Traditions describe their mission. You can taste the results tonight as they pour several of their exquisite premium ciders, including the 2011 vintage aged in Bourbon Barrels.”  Cider aged in bourbon barrels? That’s a new one to me!

Broken Top Bottle Shop (Bend) has a beer tasting event with Seattle’s Georgetown Brewing tonight, starting at 6pm and lasting until 9. In addition to whatever Georgetown will be pouring, BTBS will have their Manny’s Pale Ale and Lucille IPA on tap as well.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School (Bend): Tonight is their “Curly’s Firkin” limited-edition beer tasting starting at 5pm, where brewer Mike “Curly” White has a single firkin keg of cask-conditioned specialty beer on tap. Tonight’s special is Dry-hopped Red Riser IRA, something I’m thinking would be lovely on cask: “And to further your tasting experience we at the OSF Brewery have captured some of this new seasonal brew in a Firkin keg! Dry hopped with extra Centennial hops as to add to the floral aromatics. This low carbonated and traditional pouring method will invigorate your taste buds and warm your soul! So enjoy the season with a pint of Red Riser IRA Firkin style while you can.” When the kegs is done, though, it’s done.

Meanwhile, McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro) has their own limited-edition beer tasting tonight starting at 6pm, featuring a trio of specialty beers: “January will feature combinations of McMenamins classic ales and our distilled spirits: The Hammerhog, Hammerhead aged on  Hogshead soaked oak; Ruby-Dew, Ruby with Morning Dew soaked vanilla beans; and a keg of Terminator Stout Distiller’s Coffee Edition, our Terminator Stout infused with fresh ground McMenamins house-roast coffee and aged on our own coffee liquor-soaked oak.”  Look over the full list of the beers for the stats: they frankly look amazing, 3 I’m sorry to miss!

And then, McMenamins Highland Pub & Brewery (Gresham) also has a limited-edition tasting and meet the brewer tonight featuring a Dry-hopped Red Riser IRA, starting at 5pm: “To celebrate this new India Red Ale this keg was dry-hopped with a blend of Centennial and Cascades to give this Red Riser IRA an over the top hoppy floral aroma and citrusy flavor. Come down and enjoy our newest seasonal ale at its finest.”

Breakside Brewery (Portland): Today is the opening day of their new brewery and taproom in Milwaukie! If you want to visit, Breakside has helpful directions to find it; and the New School has a first-look write-up today. “Now with a slick new industrial-looking building, new brewery offices, and for the first time a distributor in Maletis Beverage, Breakside’s brews will finally be available to the masses. The denizens of Milwaukie may have a hard time finding the new taproom, which is located in a very quiet business neighborhood, set back in a cul-de-sac and unable to be seen from the winding roads, but if you find Bob’s Red Mill, you’re nearly there. You will be greeted by best attempts to hide the industrial nature of the warehouse with warm wood paneling, oak barrels for tables, a TV for games, and a beautiful slab of a wooden bar built by Abe Goldman-Armstrong.” The 7000 sq.ft. space boasts a 30bbl brew system and 24 taps to choose from.

The Green Dragon (Portland) tonight has on tap “three of the Green Dragon Brew Crew’s most popular aged imperial stouts: Bump-in-the-Night RIS, 1850 Victorian Stout & Descent into Darkness” starting at 5pm. Stouty goodness!

Oakshire Brewing (Eugene) has another new single batch beer on tap: Black Moon Rye-sin’, an American rye stout. “Black Moon Rye-sin’ is a pitch black stout with floral notes intertwined with roast, chocolate and a mild hint of coconut. This hoppy stout is 15% rye and made with a new experimental hop variety. It is mildly bitter with a medium body and a spicy finish from the rye. Cheers!”