I’m back for the Oregon beer news for this Thursday, February 25, feeling better after being under the weather for 24 hours or so. Here’s the news from around Oregon; as usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Cascade Brewing (Portland): Their Sour Fruit Fest is going on now, through the weekend, and you’re not going to want to miss out: “We should have at least 28 beers pouring daily, mostly sours but also a few standards. There will also be a savory/sweet food pairing menu available, as well as vintage bottles for sale. Most of the beers will be available as 2oz tasters and will run $2 to $3.50. Some of the limited, vintage beers will be available as 4oz pours and priced at $5.50-$8. Many of the beers are vintage editions from our Tap it Tuesday live barrel program and are very limited in quantity.” Today they will be tapping Tartini
Shrieking Violet, Baked Blackberry, and Blueberry Bourbonic.

The Bier Stein (Eugene): Their Starkbierzeit Festival of Strong Beer begins today! “With some beer, age and beauty go hand-in-hand. Add strength to that list and you’ve got what this year’s Starkbierzeit is all about. The Bier Stein’s first big draught fest of 2016 brings some real tasty skeletons out of the closet… er, cellar. The three-day event will trot out some of the best big beers Eugene’s most prolific beer bar has to offer.” Today’s main event is a Sierra Nevada Bigfoot vertical: “Sierra Nevada – Bigfoot 2012, 2014, 2016, and Barrel-aged 2015. Our Sierra Nevada representative will be on hand from 5-8pm with free samples and merchandise.”

McMenamins Highland Pub (Gresham) has their “The Proper Taste” beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm, featuring Specification IRA: “This Irish Red Ale maintains a nice light body with an amber color, moderate hop and malt aroma and a delightful creamy head. It has a nice medium level of bitterness with bready flavors. This beer started as a Homebrew, hitting all the specs along the way.”

Breakside Brewery (Portland) will be at the 15th Avenue Oregon Hophouse in Portland tonight from 4 to 9pm, for a tap takeover and celebration of their winning “beer of the year” in the Hophouse’s guest voting. “As you all know, Breakside handily won our blind taste-test of our top 12 IPAs this year. So we’re celebrating with a party, that includes: 1. If you voted for Breakside (Beer #2 of the twelve choices), you will get a Breakside IPA for $1. We know who you are and will contact you directly. 2. For the next few beers, or if you didn’t vote for Breakside (what’s wrong with you???), Breakside IPAs will be priced at $3 all night. 3. We’re having an 8-Tap Breakside Takeover inside with a lot of new, interesting Breakside beers* that night. 4. Breakside brewers and crew will be on hand to share stories and beers with you all night.”

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland): Their Steel Bridge Porter is now a part of the brewery’s year-round lineup, available in six-packs in the Pacific Northwest. From the press release: “Steel Bridge Porter was born out of an Oregon Brew Crew (OBC) annual homebrew competition in 2000, when it was selected as the winner of the Widmer Brothers Collaborator Project; the beer is based on longtime Brew Crew homebrewer Noel Blake’s original recipe. Since it was selected as a Collaborator beer more than 15 years ago, Widmer Brothers has occasionally brewed small draught-only batches of Steel Bridge Porter, and then expanded the beer’s availability to 22-ounce bottles in 2013. In what was supposed to be a one-time run exclusively for the Portland market, the hoppy, robust porter proved it had staying power and continued to be bottled for the Oregon market for two years. Based on increasing demand, the beer is now part of Widmer Brothers’ year-round, regional lineup in six packs.” I love to see these type of Collaborator/homebrew projects writ large!

Bend’s Silver Moon Brewing will be pouring samples at The BeerMongers in Portland tonight: “Boy, do we have a treat for you! Come on down to The BeerMongers TONIGHT from 5-8pm to taste our first 2016 release of MAUI WOWIE! You’ll also be among the first to feast your eyes on our brand new CANS, fresh off the canning line & available for purchase next week!”

The Green Dragon (Portland): Tonight’s meet the brewer event is featuring Tim Schaaf of Drinking Horse Brewing Company: “Brewer Tim Schaaf rides in into the Green Dragon this Thursday with an amazing round up of beers from Drinking Horse Brewing Company of Clackamas, Oregon. Starting with a light bodied saison, to a chocolaty and hoppy CDA, a dark twist on a classic pilsner, and ending with a stout so smooth you’ll swear you’re drinking dessert, Tim will wow you with a range of styles from a brewery that refuses to be fenced in.” Starts at 5pm.

Stung Fermented (Portland): This Portland-based meadery has announced that they’ve opened their new tasting room (and growler fill station) at 2117 NE Oregon Street. From the press release: “Stung’s new tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM until 6PM and offers free daily tours of their production facility, as well as guided tastings of their various offerings. Additionally, they happily fill growlers of mead and cider right out of the tasting room and feature an entire lineup of retail offerings.” One to check out!

Rogue Ales (Newport) has announced a new coffee-infused beer (which seems to be all the rage these days): Cold Brew IPA. From the press release: “Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Cold Brew Coffee is blended with an IPA made using Rogue Farms hops for a unique interplay of hops and coffee flavors. Opening with a huge hit of rich coffee aroma that is balanced by a not-so-subtle hop punch, the transition is seamless from one bold flavor to the next.” Cold Brew IPA will hit the shelves in April.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland) has a Portland Timbers collaboration brew coming up with a release party next week, March 6: Captain Jack’s Lucky 13 Championship IPA. From the release: “On Sunday, March 6, join Hopworks Urban Brewery and Jack Jewsbury for the release of Captain Jack’s Lucky 13 Championship IPA! This limited NW Style IPA is collaboration with Jack, a member of our favorite soccer club and post-match patron of our brewpub. Jack will be at the pub to share a pint with fans after the first soccer match of the season. The beer is a tribute to Portland’s first soccer Championship. “Lucky 13” references Jack’s jersey number and his thirteenth year in the league. In addition to being on tap, we will also release a limited run of collector bottles. After the release party, the beer will be on tap at BikeBar. A portion of this beer’s proceeds are donated to Every Child, a Portland-based foster care program and Jack’s charity of choice.”

Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville): Imperial Stout release today! “For our final release of the month, today at 3 we are tapping into 2015 Black Panther Imperial Stout. Aged one year, this vintage is our brewmaster’s favorite of the past few years. Only one pony keg per location!”