Happy Friday! I hope it’s a great end to your week and you’re planning on great beer things this weekend! Here’s the news in Oregon beer to help you figure out some plans (if you didn’t have them yet). 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 updated as well.

Lagerfest kicks off tomorrow at the White Owl Social Club in Portland, the first ever, running both Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 7pm each day. “Over 40 breweries will participate and each will provide their own sophisticated take on the classic lager beer. The twenty dollar entrance fee includes ten free tastings, a Lagerfest beer drinkin’ mug, and one epicly good time! Killer food provided by Eastside Deli and White Owl Social Club!” You can buy tickets in advance online here, and with a taplist like this there’s really no excuse not to be at Lagerfest!

Oblivion Brewing (Bend): If you’re not in Portland, then don’t miss the chance to check out Bend’s (and Oregon’s) very newest brewery Saturday night at Broken Top Bottle Shop for their release party! From 5 to 7pm brewer/owner Darin Butschy will be on hand, pouring samples of their Backside IPA, Polar Star Pale Ale and Knock Out Stout, and answering questions and talking beer. Be sure to be there if you can!

Coalition Brewing (Portland) has a new Coalator beer going on tap this weekend: “This Sunday at 4pm we’ve got a brand new Coalator beer going on tap! Michael Burnett has graced us with his delicious Saison recipe, with separate batches fermented with two different yeast strains. Come check them both out before it is too late!”

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River) has new beers debuting at this weekend’s Lagerfest in Portland: “Be one of the lucky first to taste our brand new “26” Anniversary Cascade Pilsner and our Limited Edition Lager Oktoberfest both premiering this weekend at Lagerfest in PDX.” Among other things lagers are styles that Full Sail does really well, so definitely seek these out if you’re at Lagerfest; otherwise I expect we’ll be seeing them hit the shelves soon.

Deschutes Brewery (Bend) gets flagged under “Fresh Hop Watch” today as they post about this year’s edition of Chasin’ Freshies (Fresh Hop IPA): “This beer will differ in flavor because in 2012 we used fresh Heirloom Cascade hops & this year’s release will have fresh Amarillo hops harvested from Virgil Gamache Farms, Inc in Washington. Look for this fresh hop beer in September/October.”