Here is the news in Oregon beer for Wednesday, June 17. This will be the last consistent day of news this week as I’ll be heading to the Oregon Garden Brewfest, though I will try to have some posts queued up for the next two days. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Big news today for the entire Oregon brewing industry as highlighted by Pete Dunlop: Oregon’s Brewpub Bill turns 30 today! “Without the law, craft beer would have been confined to the shadows and margins of taverns and bars. Brewpubs changed the game completely. Please recall that Oregon had only two craft breweries in 1985…Bridgeport (then known as Columbia River Brewing) and Widmer. The existing law prevented them from selling any beer directly to customers. They could self-distribute to bars and taverns or go through a distributor. But distributors weren’t remotely interested in craft beer in those days. Thus, the challenge.” Go read Pete’s full post, and be sure to raise a glass to the Brewpub Bill and the breweries and individuals involved in getting it passed!

McMenamins Murray & Allen (Beaverton) has a limited-edition beer tasting today starting at 3:30pm, featuring the Crystal Brewery’s excellent (and giant at 12.77% abv) 13th Avenue Barleywine: “To commemorate the brewing of our 5,000th batch here at the Crystal Brewery, we made a massive Barleywine. Big and boozy, this ale highlights the classic breadiness of British Maris Otter malt with underlying notes of toffee and caramel. Vigorous fermentation and a special blend of yeast imparted notes grape must and crisp apple as well.”

Portland Beer Week continues with many events going on:

• All week long:
• GoodLife Brewing Tap Takeover
• Bunk’s Beer Week Beer Braised Brisket Sandwich
• pFriem Beer & Dessert Pairing Flight
• Palate Palooza
• Crux Tap Takeover at Lardo (Hawthorne)
• Breakside & Oso Market + Bar Pairing Menu
• Today (Wednesday):
• Food Carts and Beer at Carts on Foster!
• All Day Happy Hour on SMASH Pale Ale
• The Weird Beer Bonanza
• Beat The Brewers Video Game Throw down at Ground Kontrol
• 3rd Annual Mussels from Brussels
• Eugene/Springfield Staycation
• Elysian and Friends Present: Posters & Pints for Pups
• Breakside & Fremont Brewing Dinner at Old Salt

And Medford Beer Week continues today with a slew of events:

• Whiskey and Beer Pairing with Portal Brewing and Immortal Spirits @ Portal Brewing Taproom: 4pm – 7pm
• Senior Appreciation Night @ Walkabout Brewing: 3pm – 8pm
• Workers Wednesday @ The Trophy Club: 4pm – 6pm
• Seasonal Beer Release Party @ Wild River Pizza: 5pm – 7pm
• Ultimate Wing Challenge with 10 Barrel Brewing @ Buffalo Wild Wings: 5pm – 8pm
• Small Batch with Sunriver Brewing @ The Growler King at Quality Market: 5pm – 8pm
• “Heart of Darkness – Dark Ale Trail” @ BricktownE Brewing, Portal Brewing, and Beerworks: 5pm – 9pm
• Putt and Pints for Access: Cooking Matters – Sponsored by Rainier Brewing @ The Schoolhaus Brewhaus: 5:30 – Dark
• Meet the Brewer with Swing Tree Brewing @ Beerworks: 6pm – 8pm
• Opposition Brewing Exclusive Beer Dinner – Featuring Chef Braden Hitt @ Downtown Market Company: 6pm – 8pm, RSVP Only
• Southern Oregon Brewing Beer Dinner @ Southern Oregon Brewing: 6pm – 8pm
• Beer Trivia Night @ Portal Brewing: 7:30pm

The BeerMongers (Portland) is hosting a tap takeover for the Portland release of California’s Cismontane Brewing starting at 5pm. There will be bottles available and beers on tap will include: “Citizen California Common, Cali iPA , Buckwheat “Oktoberfest”, Marea Roja BBL aged Flemish Red, Blacks Twilight (soured bourbon bbl aged), 5th Anniversary (8 grain saison), and Dos Cone ES IIPA 11.5%”

The Green Dragon (Portland) has their Green Dragon Brew Crew release tonight starting at 5pm, featuring A Lighter Shade Of Helles: “The Green Dragon Brew Crew officially welcomes summer with this week’s release of Helles. A light, almost blonde session beer, the Helles style originated in the summer beer gardens of Bavaria. The word helles is German for pale. But don’t let that fool you. The Brew Crew’s Helles is mashed with rich complex malts balanced with Magnum hops for a flavor that’s bright, but not pale.”