Happy Hump Day! On this Wednesday, August 16, five days before the eclipse, we are starting to see and feel the influx of people here in Central Oregon for the solar event. Stock up on your beer! I will continue with the news posts of course, and here is today’s beer news from around Oregon. 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.

McMenamins Cedar Hills (Beaverton) has their Liquid Longevity beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm, featuring Paradise City Pale Ale: “Sweet Spanish orange peel and Grains of Paradise are the highlights of this Oatmeal Pale Ale. Goldpils and Vienna Malts were mixed with Rolled Oats and Oat Malt for a bready backbone. Chinook and Simcoe Hops round out this smooth breakfast Pale Ale and provide floral and citrus flavors and aromas.”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Portland’s Fringe Meadery for a mead tasting today from 5 to 8pm: “Join Portland’s own Fringe Meadery for a sampling of some of their delicious meads: Baron von Marion – Marionberry, Blueberry Thyme – Blueberries, hibiscus, thyme, and honey, Laissez-Pear – Pear and Citrus, and Smokin’ Coyote – Lime & chipotle chili”

10 Barrel Brewing (Bend) has some dock sales today at their eastside brewery in Bend to prepare for the eclipse: “Selling 12/22 cases of Apocalypse and Out of a Office at the brewery today! $15 per case or 3 for $30! 9am-4pm!” Both beers are very appropriately named for the eclipse…

Bend’s Worthy Brewing is kicking off their Worthy Eclipse Week today, with educational talks at Worthy’s “Hop Mahal” event space. Today’s speakers are: Eleanor Latham PhD.: Someone Will Save Us, 6:30-7:15pm; and Bob Grossfeld: Eclipse Craziness – What’s the hoopla all about? 7:30-8:15pm.

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland) is holding a beer release for their returning Ace of Spades Imperial IPA tonight from 5 to 7pm at their main location: “Crank up the Motorhead! Ace of Spades is back. Our Award Winning Imperials is brewed with massive amounts of hops during just about every part of the brewing process. Available for the first time this year in bottles and draft at all three pubs!”

Corvallis’ Les Caves is hosting Seal Rock’s Wolf Tree Brewery for an evening with the brewery starting at 4:30pm: “Join us in welcoming Wolf Tree Brewery next Wednesday the 16th! We’ll have 4 of their tasty beers on draft and a representative from the brewery to talk beers!”

Rogue Ales Eastside Pub in Portland has their Green Dragon Brew Crew release today, featuring Experimental Triumph Pale Ale: “This week’s release from the Green Dragon brewers is a pale ale brewed with an experimental hop from Crosby Hop Farms known as “Exp-033”. This experimental hop, paired with familiar favorite German Magnum, gives subtle aromas of tropical fruits that transition into bright orange notes. 5.6% ABV, 45 IBUs” Tapping is at 5pm.

Portland’s Baerlic Brewing has a beer release today for their Dark Thoughts Black IPA: “Seeing as this is one of our favorite beers AND it medaled at the Oregon Beer Awards this year, we decided to roll the dice and enter it into GABF 2017! So, that means that we get to release it out of season in Draft only. Come and drink it all really fast so you can convince us to brew this beer year-round! ABOUT THE BEER: Dark Thoughts Black IPA – 6.66% ABV and 66.6 IBUs of evil radness! Dryhopped with .666 lbs/BBL each of Columbus and Mosaic hops!” Starting at 4pm.

Gigantic Brewing (Portland) has their G&T on tap today: “Perfection for patio weather, G&T was inspired by the Gin & Tonic cocktail, with lime, juniper and botanicals in the recipe. But make no mistake- it is 100% beer. It is made with pilsner malt, carahell and oats in the mash, citrusy hops late in the boil, and a fruity ale yeast for that one final push of complexity. Refreshing and delicious, it weighs in at 5.5% ABV. (You may have tried this one at OBF.)”

Sky High Brewing (Corvallis) has a new beer on tap that sounds pretty tasty! “At long last, Last Straw Strawberry Brett-Saison has made its way to the taps. Coming in at a sturdy yet quaffable 7.8% ABV, and built on a foundation of 420lbs of Stahlbush Island Farms berries. Belgian Saison, French Saison, and Brettanomyces Claussenii yeasts bring forward full complex flavors that evolve from the first sip to the last. Strong strawberry and barnyard phenolic like sweet nose, followed by a dry peppery middle body, finishing on a whole strawberry fruit note.”