TGIF and Hoppy Friday! Here’s the Oregon beer news for the weekend! As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Lompoc Brewing (Portland): Today is their Black Out Beer Fest taking place at the Sidebar starting at 4pm: their annual lineup of killer dark beers (think stouts, porters, CDAs and the like) from a host of guest breweries. “Tasting packages are required to drink the beers and cost $15, which includes a souvenir 15.5 oz glass tasting mug and 10 beer tickets. Additional tickets are available for $1 apiece. It costs four tickets for a full mug or $1 for a taste. Mug and ticket sales take place in Sidebar; the beers will be located in Sidebar, the brewery bar and the tented and heated parking lot. Live music will be provided by Leslie Lou and the Lowburners. The event is for ages 21+.” There’s a great beer lineup posted, and this is the place to be tonight!

Bend Brewing (Bend): They are celebrating their 19th anniversary tonight at the brewpub! To celebrate, beers are $3/pint all day long, and appetizers are half off. Tonight from 7 to 10pm there will be free live music from Tone Red. In addition to their regular line up of beers, they posted that Hop Head Imperial IPA, Black Diamond Dark Lager, Lovely Cherry Baltic Porter, Outback X and Pollen Oates Oatmeal Stout are all on tap as well. If you’re in Bend today, this is one of the places to be!

Worthy Brewing (Bend) and Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop are teaming up tonight for a “Co-Anniversary Celebration” to celebrate Worthy’s first year of brewing beer alongside BTBS’s second year of serving it. From 6 to 9pm there will be a Worthy tap takeover and a “2 Beers & 2 Apps for $20” special—any two beer-and-appetizer pairings featuring Chef Bethlyn’s great food and Worthy’s worthy beer. “Worthy’s Brewmaster Chad Kennedy, as well as our own Chef Bethlyn Rider, will speak at 6:30 pm about food and beer pairings.” Live music will be on tap too, so don’t miss out.

Saturday is Lompoc Brewing‘s 8th Annual Chowder Challenge, Portland’s ultimate chowder throwdown, taking place at the 5th Quadrant from noon to 4pm. “Who serves the best clam chowder in the city? A dozen local brewpubs and restaurants will vie for the coveted Chowder Cup at the 8th annual Chowder Challenge on Saturday, February 22 from Noon to 4 pm. The blind tasting competition will take place at Lompoc’s Fifth Quadrant, located at 3901 N Williams Ave. There is no charge to attend the event. To taste the chowders, attendees ages 12 and over purchase sample trays for $10.” Chowder and beer, perfect pairing for a drizzly February day (I’m assuming because it’s Portland it will be drizzly!).

Portland U-Brew & Pub (Portland): Tomorrow they are holding a special lager tapping for several new beers they brewed from 3 to 8pm: “We brewed two pilsners, Marzen,and a Weizen Bock. Only $1.00 per 4 oz.”

Plank Town Brewing (Springfield): This Sunday they are hosting a six-course brewer’s dinner: “An informal yet decadent six-course dinner featuring beer pairings and a chance to chat with brewer Steve van Rossem. Our chefs have planned a hunter-forager themed menu including bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with sausage, a warm shaved Brussels sprout salad, and elk with hunter’s sauce. $40 per person Seating is limited for this event so please call 541-746-1890 for reservations by Saturday 2/22.”