TGIF! There are a ton of beery things taking place this weekend, what with the multiple beer weeks going on right now. Here’s the rundown for this weekend of June 9. 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.

General news

Sunriver Brewing is undergoing expansion as well as planning to launch in Idaho. From the press release issued this week: “The project that broke ground in December of 2016 will increase brewing capacity from 6,000 barrels to almost 13,000 barrels per year. The expansion included doubling the size of the cellar, bringing in a new canning line and upgrading the brewhouse. The new brewhouse is a 15 barrel, four vessel, semi-automated system from JV Northwest. This upgrade will allow Sunriver Brewing to produce twice as much volume as their previous brewhouse in close to the same time. To coincide with the expansion, in June Sunriver Brewing will be launching distribution in Idaho. The brewery has partnered with the much respected CSB Beverage for distribution.” Sunriver also brought home four medals from the recent North American Beer Awards. Good things happening!

Rogue Ales (Newport): They announced the release of Paradise Pucker this week: “Rogue Ales & Spirits announces the release of Paradise Pucker, a refreshing sour ale inspired by the classic Hawaiian juice made with passionfruit, orange and guava. Rogue’s first sour, Paradise Pucker was originally released in 2016 as a small-run batch in Hawaii. Following up on its popularity in the local market, Rogue has brought the sour ale to the mainland for all to enjoy. Paradise Pucker combines fresh Hawaiian ingredients with Oregon-grown Rogue Farms hops and barley. At 6% ABV and 5 IBU, the golden-hued sour ale features a subtle tartness up front that gives way to a mild hop bitterness and finishes with notes of citrus and tropical fruit.” That sounds fairly interesting and one to try.

Friday, 6/9

Bend’s Broken Top Bottle Shop is hosting “Slider N Cider” on Friday from 6 to 9pm. It’s a gluten free event: “For this Gluten Free Event, we’re featuring ciders from 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Legend Cider Company, and Sour Mango Mead from Nectar Creek. Gluten free food will include sliders, soups, and desserts!”

Let’s hit the Beer Weeks…

Medford Beer Week:

• 3rd Annual Block Party @ The Growler King at Quality Market: 4pm – 10pm
• Beer Lovers Appreciation @ Wild River Pizza: All Day
• Growler Fill Day @ Walkabout Brewing: 3pm – 8pm
• Grand Bingo Finale with Pelican Brewing @ The Rogue Growler: 5pm – 8pm
• Dart Throw Tournament @ Opposition Brewing: 5pm – 8pm
• Gun Fight at the Beerworks Saloon with Elysian Brewing @ Beerworks Jacksonville: 5pm – 9pm
• 3 Way Release Party with Fort George Brewing @ Beerworks Medford: 5pm – 9pm
• Live Music with Jon Galfano @ BricktownE Brewing: 6pm – 9pm
• 2nd Annual Hearts and Hops Food Truck and Brewery Competition @ The Park Block at the Medford Commons: 6pm – 10pm
• Mathemagicians Night @ Portal Brewing: 7pm

Eugene Beer Week:

• Day of Sky! Free Pint Glass check in at Falling Sky Pubs
• 20% off all beer and cider at Whole Foods Market
• Funk ‘n Wild Fest Friday & Saturday at 16 Tons Bottleshop
• THREE BLIND BEERS at Falling Sky Brewhouse
• Hop Valley In-Store sampling at the Community Market
• Beats, Brews, & BBQ at Alton Baker Park
• Beergarden releases two collaboration beers, one with Yachats and one with Agrarian
• Meet the Brewer at Ninkasi
• Alameda Brewing Tasting at 17th St. Cornucopia
• Hop Valley Pint night. Sampling and swag at 5th St. Cornucopia
• Live Music & Craft Beer on the Patio! 16 Tons Cafe
• Beer and Vines: discussions on wine-inspired beers at Provisions Market Hall

Portland Beer Week:

• Portland Fruit Beer Festival
• Official Beer Week “Hop Berry Ipa” Release Party Pub Crawl – Pub Crawl Across The City With Culmination Brewing
• A Night Of Self Distribution – If You Want Things Done Right, You Do Them Yourself
• Royale/Point Blank Launch Party – 22 Taps Of Royale, Meet The Brewer And More.
• Crux Pop-Up Pub At Side Street – Side Street Is Hosting Crux For The Entire Duration Of Pdx Beer Week.
• Grand Opening Event For Sessionable – Come Join Us For The Grand Opening Of The Newest Beer Bar In Portland.
• Beer Whiskey And Whiskey Event
• Culmination Brewing Pop-Up/Tap Takeover At Lardo Sandwiches – Westside
• Brewvana’s Tour De Funk- We Want The Funk, Gotta Have That Funk! Tap Into Portland’s Funky Beer Scene By Sharing The Best And Most Eccentric Brews Around Town!
• Crafts & Craft Beer @ Diy Bar – Make Beer-Inspired Crafts While Sipping On Craft Beer – $30 Gets You First Beer & Craft
• Woodsman Taven Welcomes Hama Hama X Georgetown Brewing – Dollar Oysters, Exclusive Beer
• Project Henry’s Beer Of The Month Release From Crux
• Jeffer’s Drops Acid…Knowledge – A Mind-Blowing Sensory Trip On Wild Beer Acidity
• 3-Way Ipa Release Party – Fort George, Great Notion, And Reuben’s Up All Night To Get Lucky

The big event of Portland Beer Week, of course, is the Fruit Beer Festival which takes place all weekend starting on Friday the 9th. “The 7th annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival is an all-ages friendly event with a wide representation of more than two dozen fruit beers and now fruited hard ciders, plus non alcoholic drinks and incredible food vendors, killer DJ’s and other activities.” They always have a terrific lineup of the most interesting-sounding fruit beers around, and tickets are still available. One of these days I’ll make it to this fest, but in the meantime if you’re around you owe it to yourself to check it out!

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop in Portland is hosting a McMenamins Milkshake IPA Tasting on Friday evening from 6 to 8pm: “As part of Portland Beer Week, we’re offering a $6 taster tray featuring several Milkshake IPAs made by McMenamins Brewers at various locations. Not familiar with the style? Let a brewer tell you all about it. When you’re done, let your voice be heard and vote for your favorite!” The beers pouring are: Malt Shop IPA, Tropical Storm IPA, Good Guava IPA, Pineapple Smoothie IPA, and Izard of POG IPA.

Saturday, 6/10

McMenamins Thompson Brewery in Salem has the 20th Annual Barley Cup Brewfest taking place on Saturday! It starts at 11am and runs all day, featuring 8 McMenamins beers, 6 guest beers, 3 McMenamins ciders, and 3 guest ciders. Here’s the PR blurb that went out: “Situated in the heart of Willamette Valley hop country, McMenamins has been celebrating great beer at Thompson Brewery in Salem, Ore., for nearly 30 years. From an early pioneer home to a traditional Bavarian restaurant and then as Salem’s first brewpub since Prohibition, Thompson has seen Oregon’s state capital change dramatically in its lifetime. There’s no better time to enjoy a brew at Thompson than at Barley Cup Brewfest, where McMenamins and guest brewers have been asked to send one keg of whatever delicious and special beer they choose. Guests can order a taster tray of Barley Cup beers and try to determine which one is their favorite brew; the winner of the Barley Cup will be decided by a popular vote among all attendees and the winning brewery will have their name and beer name forever engraved on the coveted Barley Cup trophy.” This will be a fun one!

Bend’s Craft Kitchen and Brewery is celebrating their second anniversary on Saturday with a party starting at 6pm featuring music, food, t-shirts, and naturally beer.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland) has a beer release on Saturday taking place from 1 to 4pm: Timber Jim IPA. “With an attitude of gratitude we present our collaboration with Timber Jim Serrill. Admired for climbing trees, cutting slabs off victory logs, fighting cancer, building gardens, feeding the hungry, and spreading the love, Timber Jim knows that beer can be used as a force for good in this world. Together we present this tasty Northwest-Style IPA brewed with locally sourced malted barley and hops. A portion of this beer’s proceeds are donated to Meals on Wheels People, Timber Jim’s charity of choice. Meals on Wheels has been changing lives, one meal at a time, since 1970 through neighborhood meal sites and delivery to homebound seniors. Timber Jim and the HUB crew will tap the beer at our Powell brewpub before the local soccer game on June 10.”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop has an Ex Novo and Urban Family Collaboration Sneak Peek from 2 to 4pm: “Portland’s Ex Novo Brewing Company & Seattle’s Urban Family Brewing Company collaborated to craft a Simcoe-hopped Saison aged in Sauvignon Blanc barrels. While you’re here, try a sample of Ex Novo’s offerings: Cactus Wins the Lottery, Eliot IPA, Dynamic Duo Double IPA and The Most Interesting Lager in the World.”

Medford Beer Week concludes on Saturday, with the following events:

• 9th Annual Southern Oregon Craft Brew Festival Brought to you by Beerworks and Southern Oregon Subaru @ The Park Block at the Medford Commons: 12pm – 8pm
• Beer Lovers Appreciation @ Wild River Pizza: All Day
• Photo Op in the VW @ Portal Brewing: Noon
• Selfie Saturday @ Walkabout Brewing: All Day

The Southern Oregon Craft Brew Fest is their big event, featuring some 30 breweries and cideries. According to their Facebook event page, “$20 gets you admission, festival pint glass, 8 tasting tickets, and 8 hours of fun.”

Eugene Beer Week continues with:

• Day of Sky! Free Pint Glass check in at Falling Sky Pubs
• Funk ‘n Wild Fest Friday & Saturday at 16 Tons Bottleshop
• Beats, Brews, & BBQ at Alton Baker Park
• Garden Party at Beergarden
• PIZZA & BEER BREWERS’ DINNER at Falling Sky Pizzeria
• Raise a pint for disabled Vets at 6th Street Grill
• Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp at The Bier Stein
• Baerlic Brewing at Cornucopia on 17th!
• Trivia Night at Viking Braggot

And Portland Beer Week is still gearing up:

• Portland Fruit Beer Festival
• The Weird Beer Bonanza – Weird Beers Are Not For The Faint Of Heart!
• Hopworks Timber Jim Ipa Release Party
• Crux Pop-Up Pub At Side Street – Side Street Is Hosting Crux For The Entire Duration Of Pdx Beer Week.
• Pdx Beer Week Event: Gin And Gin Barrel Aged Beer Pairing
• Beer Whiskey And Whiskey Event
• Culmination Brewing Pop-Up/Tap Takeover At Lardo Sandwiches – Westside
• Brewvana’s Beer Love In The Pearl Walking Tour
• From Garage To Pub: Startup Seminar
• Breakside Dog & Pony Cookie Party
• Crafts & Craft Beer @ Diy Bar – Make Beer-Inspired Crafts While Sipping On Craft Beer – $30 Gets You First Beer & Craft
• Prorow Bend Beer & Cider Bbq
• Sunriver Tap Takeover @ Quality Bar
• 2017 Beer Week Brew’au – Sponsored By Pono Brewing Co.

Sunday, 6/11

Eugene Beer Week concludes with:

• Day of Sky! Free Pint Glass check in at Falling Sky Pubs
• Summer Sour Sundays kick off event at Beergarden
• Elkhorn Brewing Tasting at 17th St. Cornucopia

And Portland Beer Week continues:

• Portland Fruit Beer Festival concludes
• Pdx Beer Week Event: Gin And Gin Barrel Aged Beer Pairing
• 2017 Beer Week Brew’au – Sponsored By Pono Brewing Co.
• Running Man Showcase – A Selection Of Running Mans Oregon Products On Draft
• Beer Whiskey And Whiskey Event
• Crux Pop-Up Pub At Side Street – Side Street Is Hosting Crux For The Entire Duration Of Pdx Beer Week.
• Culmination Brewing Pop-Up/Tap Takeover At Lardo Sandwiches – Westside
• Brewvana’s Groovin’ On A Sunday Afternoon Tour
• Meet The Brewers Of Georgetown Brewing At The Woodsman Tavern – Meet Many And Roger Of Georgetown Brewing
• Crafts & Craft Beer @ Diy Bar – Make Beer-Inspired Crafts While Sipping On Craft Beer – $30 Gets You First Beer & Craft
• Ruse & Upright Tap Takeover
• Firestone Walker And Hair Of The Dog Brewing Co. Beer Dinner – Eight Course Dinner With 14
• Pairings, 7 From Hair Of The Dog And 7 From Firestone Walker Brewing Co.