Happy Friday, I hope you’re ready for this weekend! Here is the beer news for this second weekend of May. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please let me know and I can get that updated as well.

The Rogue Valley edition of The Little Woody takes place this weekend in Medford, on Friday from 5 to 10pm and Saturday from noon to 10pm. (Facebook event page is here.) “Celebrating all things fermented, The Little Woody -Rogue Valley will return to Harry David Field, home of the Medford Rogues baseball club, on May 12 and 13, 2017. The Little Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival will celebrate craft wood-aged beers from across the Northwest, along with small-batch American rye whiskeys and bourbons, barrel-aged ciders, during the third annual festival.” An entry package costs $15 in advance, and $20 at the door, which gets you the glass plus six tokens. Should be worth checking out if you’re in the Medford area.

Friday, 5/12

Portland’s Bushwacker Cider is hosting the Oregon release party for Foggy Ridge Cider from 6 to 9pm: “We are happy to host the Oregon release party of Virginia’s Foggy Ridge Cider. We’ll be tasting some of their unique ciders with Northwest Cider Brokers, using fruit not commonly found in the PNW. It’s pretty cool to see some East Coast cider make it’s way West. I got a sneak peak of some, and it’s pretty damn good!”

The Bier Stein (Eugene) has teamed up with Elysian Brewing to give away a SuperFuzz Skateboard at a party from 5 to 8pm: “You could roll away in funky style by entering the raffle to win this sweet board from Elysian Brewing. You get a ticket anytime you purchase any Elysian bottle or draught, and you can purchase additional tickets for $1. Those ticket sales go directly to kids programs at the Washington Jefferson Skatepark! Elysian rep Dave will be here running the raffle, with the skateboard as the final item raffled.”

Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop is hosting a beer tasting with Pelican Brewing starting at 5pm: “Join us for the Four Peaks Music Event with a live performance by Travis Ehrenstrom Band from 7-9 and Pelican Brewing Company samples being poured from 5-7pm!”

Saturday, 5/13

10 Barrel Brewing is celebrating their tenth anniversary at their production brewery and new pub in Bend on Saturday from 4 to 10pm. They will have specialty beers, a lineup of live music including headliners De La Soul, food trucks, and more. $10 gets you an anniversary pint glass with two fills, then $3 per beer after that. All proceeds are going to benefit local charities as well. (More here.)

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting a beer tasting with the Highland Brewery’s Ryan Lund from 2 to 4pm on Saturday: “Ryan Lund will offer two of his original beers: the Whirlwind Wheatwine and Ethiopian Sunshine Coffee Cream Ale.”

Eugene’s Claim 52 Brewing collaborated with 16 Tons Taphouse to brew up a special beer for 16 Tons’ 7th anniversary, and the end result is Purple Panda Blueberry Milkshake IPA (yes, a fruit-infused hazy NEIPA). Saturday at noon they release the beer at 16 Tons with crowlers available. “Join us at 16 Tons this Saturday May 13th for the release of our collaboration beer brewed for their anniversary. Purple Panda is an IPA brewed with Lactose, Coconut, Vanilla and Blueberries. Crowlers will be available on a first come first served basis until they are gone!”

Culmination Brewing (Portland) has a new sour ale going on tap Saturday at noon: “Saturday, 5/13 @ 12pm, Stinging Nettle Sour Ale will be on tap in the Culmination Brewing Company taproom. Stinging nettle once was a very popular addition to beer and became a favorite of the British Isles. This plant is native to the PNW and was hand foraged by Cascade Organic LLC (there is also a beer dinner in the works with Cascade Organic, more info coming soon.) The stinging nettle was added at the end of the brewing process in the whirlpool. Pilsner, wheat malts, and CZ Saaz hops were used in this brew. This beer is easy drinking at 4.8% A.B.V., and is herbal, citrusy, and tart. Come join us for a glass!”

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland): All day Saturday from when they open they will be fundraising for SOLVE: “On May 13, celebrate the SOLVE community all while enjoying a fantastic brew at Ecliptic Brewing! Think of it this way: buy a beer and benefit the environment all at the same time! 10% of all proceeds will be donated to SOLVE to continue litter cleanup efforts in the Eliot neighborhood and Portland Metro area. Ecliptic is a family-friendly, modern brewpub serving seasonal salads, burgers & sandwiches along with a variety of craft beers.” SOLVE is “a state-wide non-profit organization that takes action every day to keep Oregon clean and green.” Go have a few beers to help out a good cause!

Sunday, 5/14

Tin Bucket (Portland) continues their anniversary celebration with a couple of specialty beer releases for the day: “Our good friends at Logsdon and Ruse both made us a beer for our anniversary. Both will be on draft and keep your fingers crossed for Logsdon bottles. Here’s some info about the beers. Logsdon Sn4 Cuvée -Spontaneously fermented ale brewed with Grenache and Syrah Grapes. Ruse(name TBD) -Pineapple Brett blonde aged in wine barrels.”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop is celebrating Mother’s Day with Ruby Shandy: “It’s Mother’s Day and to celebrate we asked West Linn Brewer Jacob Wilson to make us another keg of his Ruby Birthday Shandy. So come in for a pint, and if you love it, take home a Crowler of it. Somebody’s turning 31! Happy Birthday Ruby! That magical witch has given us plenty of good times, now it’s time for us to celebrate her, and I have the perfect beer juice for the job. Lil’ Ruby and a lil’ organic lemonade to make a delicious celebration Shandy of sorts. So grab a party hat, convince the kids that this is ‘grown up’ juice, and let’s celebrate to many more years of good times with everyone’s favorite sorceress!”