Here is the news in Oregon beer for Monday, February 27—the penultimate day of the month as well as Mardi Gras eve! As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. If you have news to share, please let me know and I can get that updated as well.

Worthy Brewing (Bend) teamed up with the Oregon Natural Desert Association to brew four “desert-inspired” beers to benefit ONDA—similar to Beers Made by Walking it sounds like. Today is the release of these beers at Worthy, taking place from 6 to 9pm: “Taste four desert-inspired beers inspired by a hike in the Oregon Badlands Wilderness with Oregon Natural Desert Association. Brewer Zach Brenneman and ONDA’s Gena Goodman-Campbell will share stories of inspiration in Oregon’s high desert.” $1 from every one of these beers sold will benefit ONDA. I don’t have details on the individual beers but these are sure to be interesting!

Fat Head’s Brewery (Portland) has the release of their Hop Juju taking place today. This is their award-winning Imperial IPA (most recently for a bronze at last year’s GABF, and a gold medal at last year’s World Beer Cup). Hop Juju will be available on draft, as well as in crowlers and growlers. Get it while it’s fresh!

The Founders Brewing Oregon tour has come to Bend! Broken Top Bottle Shop today is hosting a Founders tap takeover from 5 to 8pm: “Founders Brewing Co. is taking over our taps! Don’t miss out on a night of great brews and the incredible food you’re used to at Broken Top Bottle Shop. 🍻”

GoodLife Brewing (Bend) has a new beer announced: Tie One On Session Ale, the latest in their Sustainable Session series. From the press release: “When you’re getting ready to Tie One On and cast that fly, remember how much we owe to our wild, forested watersheds. They’re the backdrop to endless GoodLife adventure. They’re also our natural born purifiers, transforming snow and rain into fresh, crystalline water. Water that makes seriously tasty and distinctly Bend beer. The Pacific Northwest is home to some of Earth’s finest water, and to salute the source, we’re donating 1% of sales to our Sustainable Session Fund. Because great beer in the great outdoors means going with the flow.” It’s a 4.5% abv Alt-styled beer and will be available in cans (as were the others in the series).

Some great events coming up this weekend you should start planning for now:

• The Lucky Lab‘s 20th annual(!) Barleywine Festival returns to the Lucky Lab Beer Hall on NW Quimby this Friday and Saturday (March 3 and 4). This is a big one, folks, and frankly a bucket list fest for me some year. “We can hardly believe it’s been 20 years! This year we will have 70+ barleywines throughout the weekend. Four tickets and tasting glass for $15.00 (glass is required for tasting). 1 ticket = 4 oz. Additional tickets $2.00. Tickets are available at the festival and cash or credit/debit cards are accepted.”
• Rogue is holding their 10th annual Firkin Fest this Saturday the 4th at the former Green Dragon, their Eastside Pub: “The event will feature firkin beers from 30 of Oregon’s top breweries – Firkin beers are unpasteurized, unfiltered, naturally carbonated in the cask and served at cellar temperature. General admission session: 11am-6pm ($10). (General admission includes entrance to the fest, souvenir tasting glass, and 5 taster tickets).” Additional tickets will be $1 each.
• And Oregon City’s Coin Toss Brewing will be celebrating their first anniversary on Saturday as well: “Can you believe it’s been a year? Neither can we! We’re ready for a big celebration featuring the release of Ace in the Hohl, a brand new double IPA. Our friends from Kingsland Kitchen will be serving up awesome sandwiches & we’ll have cool raffle prizes & a few surprises too!”

The BeerMongers (Portland) is hosting a St. Archer Brewing Night tonight starting at 5pm, featuring the San Diego-based brewery: “It’s been a long time coming and we finally get to drink St Archer in Portland. With open arms, let’s welcome them. Taplist: Nelson IPL, Double IPA, and Gose.” They will also have a selection of St. Archer’s cans available.

Rogue’s Eastside Pub has Russian River Brewing’s cult classic Pliny the Younger going on tap tonight, starting at 5pm: “Pliny the Younger is returning to Portland again and we’ve got a keg. Join us Monday night to try this elusive brew. $25 for a ticket to get 4 beers: Pliny the Younger, Pliny the Elder, Supplication, and Blind Pig. Please call us directly to purchase tickets: (503) 517-0660”

Vertigo Brewing (Hillsboro) has a special beer tapping today: “We squirreled a keg of our Citra Fresh Hop away and today is the day we tap it. Come enjoy a pint before it is gone for good. Taproom opens at 4:00.”

Belmont Station (Portland) is welcoming Ninkasi Brewing for a “Dino Night” from 5 to 7pm: “Join us as we help Ninkasi introduce Megaladom, their brand new double IPA. Our good friend Ryan Brentley will hanging out giving away pint glasses and talking dino talk. The taproom will be pouring all things prehistoric including the classic Tricerahops, the newer Velocihoptor and the brand new Megaladom.”