It’s the final Monday of February, are you ready for the week? Here’s the news in Oregon beer to help get you started. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Laurelwood Brewing (Portland): This Thursday the 28th at 6pm Laurelwood is hosting a Connoisseur Brewer’s Dinner & Whiskey Pairing at their new SE Portland brewpub, and this looks to be a pretty sweet event: five courses that look to live up to the “connoisseur” title, paired with a different bourbon and Laurelwood beer (four of the five beer look to be bourbon barrel aged which should complement the spirits nicely). It’s $70 per person and you can call (503) 894-8267 to find out about getting in on it.

Worthy Brewing (Bend): Worthy has officially partnered with Columbia Distributing to distribute their beers across the Pacific Northwest, a big and important step for the new brewery. And between kegs, the canning line which should be online in June, and a bottling line that will be installed this year, Worthy’s set for a distribution onslaught to be sure. Right now they have seven beers on tap, with more in the works; and with Columbia on board, you can probably expect to see more kegs showing up outside of Bend soon.

Also, Worthy posted a reminder on Facebook that their Grand Opening celebration, which was originally announced to be February 26, has in fact been moved to April 5th instead. This will allow them to also dedicate their “Hop House”—the greenhouse and hopyard—to influential OSU hop breeder Dr. Alfred Haunold at the same time. And for that opening: “The details have yet to solidify, but Worthy will provide live music, as well as a special brew to honor Dr. Haunold’s amazing work. Worthy will be extending invitations to hop farmers, hop breeders, hop merchants, brewers and beer lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest.”

Fort George Brewing (Astoria): They have a new seasonal release appearing in March in their signature 16-ounce cans, Tender Loving Empire Northwest Pale Ale, a collaboration beer with Portland’s Tender Loving Empire record label. The pre-release party for the beer is tomorrow, Tuesday the 26th, from 8 to 10pm: “Join Fort George Brewery + Tender Loving Empire to celebrate the release of Tender Loving Empire Northwest Pale Ale in 16oz cans and draft, available March 1st in Oregon and Washington. This is the first of four Seasonal Can Collaborations for 2013. Help ring out Stout Month and say hello to Spring with music by Radiation City and BRAINSTORM. Craft beer + music cures rain.”