Happy Friday! I hope this first Friday of June is finding everyone well and beery. There are plenty of beer things going on this weekend, so here’s a rundown. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

After a successful kick off yesterday, Portland Beer Week is in full swing, and among today’s events is one of the marquee events, the Rye Beer Fest, taking place at The Eastburn starting at 4pm. Rye beers, rye cocktails (think whiskey), and rye food with live music and more. Tonight is also the release of the official PBW beer, the “India Wild Ale” collaboration between Breakside and Gigantic, at Belmont station, from 5 to 8.

And Saturday and Sunday is the Portland Fruit Beer Festival, one of the Beer Week anchor events and definitely a great overall fest to check out. It’s taking place in front of Burnside Brewing and is featuring a huge taplist of fruit beers, many of which were brewed specifically for this festival. The minimum entry package is $20 for a glass and 12 tickets, and additional tickets are $1 each. This is going to be a great weekend festival, if I were in Portland I would definitely attend. Get over there!

Fearless Brewing (Estacada) is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a party on Saturday (tomorrow) all day long at their brewery, with live music from noon to 2:30 and 5 to 8:30. And a special beer as well: “Ken has rolled back the clock to bring back one of his first home brews. We’re excited to share an exclusive batch of Old Fearless No. 1 Barley Wine with you!”

De Garde Brewing (Tillamook) is going to be in Portland Saturday as part of Portland Beer Week for a special meet the brewer and draft at The Beermongers from 6 to 9pm. “Celebrate Portland Beer Week with Trevor and Linsey from De Garde Brewing. Featured taps will include Cranberry Bu Weisse (spontaneous gin-aged berliner weisse with Oregon cranberries), Cherry Desay (barrel-aged spontaneous saison with cherries), Chenin Blanc Regards (barrel-fermented double india wild ale with wine grapes), a special Loak blend, and a special ‘Beermongers collaboration blend’ (young lambic with white pepper, spruce tips, and polaris hops). This will be a special event not to be missed!”

Medford Beer Week kicks off tomorrow, Saturday the 8th, highlighting the craft beer culture of the Southern Oregon region all week long and culminating in the Southern Oregon Craft Brew Festival next Saturday the 15th. With the growing number of new breweries in the entire Rogue Valley/Southern Oregon area, this is going to be a good week with a number of fun events going on. If you can get down towards Medford this next week, check it out!

Gose Watch: some all-important Gose news to get you through the weekend:

• Cascade Brewing (Portland) today has their Summer Gose going on draft: ” a light, slightly soured beer spiced with coriander and Sel Marin de Noirmoutier sea salt from The Meadow. Aromas of spice and soft wheat are noticed up front. Tart spices and hint of lemon dance on the palate. It finishes off with a soft lingering spice and a slight dusty lemon note. 6%”
• Oakshire Brewing (Eugene) has a new Single Batch series Gose (which will also be at the Fruit Beer Festival this weekend): “Gose the Elder {Elderberry Gose} a hazy mauve colored ale with an earthy berry aroma. This light bodied, yet dry ale, is a blend of mildly tart fruit and a thirst quenching salinity from the sea salt; with a spicy coriander tying it all together.  4.2%”
• And of course Deschutes Brewery still has their Gose on tap at their Bend Pub.

Bend Brewing (Bend) is holding an “Award Winning Tap Takeover” at their Brewpub this Sunday the 9th, to commemorate their wins at the North American Beer Awards: “We will be showcasing Ian’s hard work all day SUNDAY, JUNE 9th by having each of the four award winners on tap. (Ching Ching Sour, Wicked Medicine Belgian Strong Ale, Ludwig Pilsener & Outback X). Quantities are limited, so be sure to stop by Sunday and enjoy your favorite award winning brew before they disappear! *Ching Ching Sour and Outback X will also be available in 22oz bottles.”