Happy Lunar New Year, AKA Chinese New Year! 2016 is being rung in as the Year of the Monkey—not sure what beer would pair with that, I’ll let that up to all of you. Meanwhile, here’s the news for Monday the 8th; as usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Zwickelmania is this Saturday, February 13! This is the statewide brewery tour, “the annual one-day event in Oregon when breweries open their doors to the casual and hardcore beer fans” taking place from 11am until 4pm (or thereabouts). There are more than 120 breweries participating this year and a number of cities and regions have shuttle buses running (highly recommended if you don’t have a designated driver!). Plan accordingly, and remember you can print out Zwickel Bingo cards and make the day even more fun!

Crux Fermentation Project (Bend): Today’s BEER’ducation series evening is a lager showdown: Pre-Pro Lager vs. Crux Pilz. “All pilsners are lagers, but not all lagers are pilsners. Our Prowell Springs Pre-Prohibition Lager is brewed using 15% corn, 35% 6-row barley and 50% 2-row barley. Smooth and easy on the palate, this traditional style brew brings to life what Americans experienced in beer prior to prohibition in 1920. Crux Pilz is our new old-world style pilsner. Brewed with traditional Pilsner malts, imported Czech Saaz and local Oregon Sterling hops, this pilsner’s first sip shows up with clean lager flavors, and then opens up with surprising complexity and stoftness. Discover the subtle and not-so-subtle variances between these two lagers as you sip them side by side.” The tastings start at 4pm.

Fort George Brewery (Astoria): Stout Month continues and today they are releasing new stouts going on tap: Murky Pearl (Oyster Stout), Kentucky Girl (Coffee Girl Aged in Bourbon Barrels), and Voluptas Stout (Oatmeal and Fig Stout). Also this Saturday is their annual Festival of Dark Arts, their block party “Carnival of Stouts” that will be pouring over 60 different beers from myriad breweries. This Fest is sold out, sadly, so if you didn’t get your ticket be sure to plan ahead for next year!

The annual KLCC Microbrew Festival is coming up this weekend in Eugene, on Friday and Saturday the 12th and 13th. This festival raises funds for KLCC public radio, and features beer and cider pouring from many breweries along with live music and a homebrew competition rolled into it all as well. On top of that, Eugene-area breweries participate in an annual collaboration brew for this fest, with this year’s theme being “Iron Brewer”: “20 local breweries and taphouses randomly paired into 10 brewing “blind dates.” Five ingredients – 4 spices and a sap — were drawn from a hat and each pair took on the task of creating a tasty beer using their given ingredient.” Lemongrass, peppercorn, ginger, juniper, and maple syrup were the secret ingredients. Cost to attend is $12 in advance, $15 at the door, so don’t miss out!

The Lucky Lab (Portland) has announced their 19th Annual Lucky Labrador Barleywine Festival coming up the first weekend of next month— Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5. “Come join us for the big, crazy beers at this year’s Barleywine Festival at the Quimby Beer Hall on Friday and Saturday, March 4th and 5th, noon to 10 p.m. both days. An event glass and four tokens are just $15 and extra tickets are $2 each for a four ounce pour. We have over 50 different beers. We will have about 25 on tap at any one time so you might want to make this a two day event.” Plan now, and prepare your livers!