Today is National Doughnut Day! That calls for pairing a beer with the perfect doughnut—maybe a weekend of doughnut and beer pairings! Here’s the news in Oregon beer to get you going for this weekend. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Friday, 6/2

The annual Cheers to Belgian Beers festival begins today in Portland, and runs Saturday as well. “Cheers to Belgian Beers is back for its 11th year in 2017. The Belgian-style Beer Festival will feature a single yeast strain, with which brewers will brew a unique Belgian Style beer. This year the yeast strain is B45 Gnome. In order to demonstrate the diversity the yeast strain, as well as show off the creativity of Oregon Craft Brewers, the color and strength of each brewer’s beer is determined by a dart throw. For the seventh year in a row, the festivities will be at the North Warehouse, 723 N. Tillamook Street in Portland. The outside area will be tented and food from Urban German Grill and Oregon Deli Co. will be available on both days.” Hours are 1 to 9pm Friday, and noon to 8pm Saturday. Admission is free, and for $20 you get the glass plus 8 drink tickets.

Atlas Cider (Bend) is celebrating their 4th anniversary starting Friday and running through Saturday, with a carnival at their tasting room: “For your enjoyment we are bringing in: 80 FT Ferris Wheel, ZIPPER, High Flying Swings (New!), bounce houses, Live Music -featuring MEEKOH and Portland’s DJ R+E, Food carts, Ice Cream, our new PINEAPPLE-MANGO Cider, local beer, and more. Don’t miss Bend’s ONE and ONLY CARVIVAL- $4 per ride- Noon to 11pm FRI and SAT.” It’ll be a wild couple of days with a carnival, and I’m curious about that Pineapple Mango Cider.

Imperial Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting a BENefit Friday evening from 5 to 9pm: “Ben Flerchinger, a mainstay of the Portland brewing scene and beer community, unexpectedly passed away this March, well before his time. Ben had worked at Lucky Lab for over 13 years, and served more recent stints brewing at both Gigantic and 54-40, in addition to being the force behind events such as the Lab’s Barleywine Festival, and of course the annual BenFest. Unfortunately, his passing left his wife Margaret with some medical bills. To help her and honor Ben, we will be pouring Lucky Labrador Brew Pub Benvention Imperial Mild (Ben’s last brewing brainchild), Ross Island Brewing Ben’s Porter, and Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, LLC. Wilde Appel Cider, and donating 100% of sales from those three to help with medical bills. We’ll be raising our pints and doing a sunset toast to Ben around 8:45.”

Saturday, 6/3

The Bier Stein in Eugene is hosting their 2nd annual Invitational Beer Fest on Saturday from noon to 8pm. “That’s right folks, The Bier Stein Invitational Beer Fest is back! We had a great time throwing our first outdoor fest last August despite soaring temperatures. This year we’ll beat the heat and host over 30 breweries pouring from a selection of new, seasonal, and one-off beers. Oregon Wood Fired Pizza will sling pies, and we’ll provide a bicycle valet and a convenient water station– bring your own water bottles! Admission is $20 and includes a .25L glass (for proper enjoyment of 4oz pours) and 5 beer tickets. Additional tickets are $1 apiece. Pours will range from 1-4 tickets per 4oz. pour (no double-sized pours). This is a CASH ONLY, 21+ event. Designated driver admission is $5. This year’s lineup consists of 100% Oregon beer, cider, and mead. We’ll be featuring a couple new Oregon breweries as well– stay tuned! Circadian Soda and Elevate Kombucha will also be serving their nonalcoholic beverages.” This looks like the thing to do in Eugene this weekend, so make sure to attend if you’re in the area! Hit up the Stein’s event page for the latest taplist updates.

The inaugural Sisters Homebrew Festival takes place Saturday the 3rd at Creekside Park in Sisters: “The Sisters Homebrew Festival is like many brew fests, with one distinct twist…… It’s all homebrew. Organized as a fundraiser for the Sisters Park and Recreation District and the Kiwanis Club of Sisters the event is sponsored by many local businesses listed on the sponsor page. Join us Creekside Park in Sisters on June 3rd 2017 from 1:00-6:00pm for a saturday of memorable beer, outstanding smoked meats, and great music. Our 60×150 event tent will house more than 30 taps of the best homebrew in the region. Amateur brewmasters from far and wide will be proudly providing kegs of their greatest creations for all attendees to sample. Entry to the Sisters Homebrew Festival will be $25 at the door, or $20 if purchased in advance from either the Sisters Park and Rec. District office or the Kiwanis Club of Sisters. Once inside you are welcome to as many free samples of homebrew as you like and as much great smoked bratwurst as you can eat, for as long as our supplies last.” I really like the idea of such a festival, and hope this first one is successful so it will come back next year.

Salem Ale Works is holding the grand opening of their new location on Saturday! “Grand opening of our new taproom and brewery location! Come see the beautiful new digs, fill your belly with the amazing food, and quench your thirst with your favorite SAW beer!”

Block 15 Brewery (Corvallis) has their Late Spring bottle and can release taking place Saturday at their Deschutes Street tap room location: “Join us at Block 15 Brewery & Tap Room on Saturday, June 3rd for our annual Late Spring bottle and can release! This release will include Turbulent Consequence, Pêche; Turbulent Consequence, Honey Faro; Ferme de la Ville Provision; Hypnosis; and Powder to the People.”

Portland has its annual Pints in the Pearl Festival on Saturday, taking place from noon to 9pm: “The 2nd Annual Pints In The Pearl festival is Portland’s premier festival celebrating the makers here in the Pearl District! Open to all ages with food, music, entertainment and exclusive beers poured for the event by Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House, 10 Barrel Brewing, Fat Head’s Portland, BridgePort Brewing Company, River Pig, and Back Pedal Brewing!”