Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Thursday, August 24. Sorry I missed yesterday, I had a hop trip all day and didn’t have an opportunity to pre-schedule the post. 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.

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is hosting San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing for a “Summer of Sculpin” event from 6 to 9pm: “How many flavors of Sculpin can you imagine? A bunch, no doubt! We will tap up a bunch of variations on that IPA theme, and a few other specialties from the San Diego brewery: Sculpin, Grapefruit Sculpin, Pineapple Sculpin, Unfiltered Sculpin, A special cask of Sculpin, Sour Wench (Blackberry Sour), and Heaven Hill Barrel-aged Piper Down Scottish Ale. Our rep will be here giving away free samples of beer and Ballast Point goodies!”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting Bend’s Silver Moon Brewing today for a Summer Pairing Party from 6 to 8pm: “Beat the heat with a taster tray featuring three Silver Moon Beers and three small summertime bites.” The taster tray will include IPA 97, Mango Daze, and Salty Bog Cranberry Gose.

Montavilla Brew Works (Portland): Today they are celebrating the “birthday” of their barleywine with special tastings from 3 to 9pm: “Come celebrate a very special birthday with us on Thursday, the 24th! Our “Old Fellowship Barleywine” is turning 2 years old and it’s mellowed out nicely. One day tasting only and then we put the keg back in the cellar for a rainy day! 4 ounce taster glasses only. $3 each. No growler fills. No samples.”

Breakside Brewery (Portland) has a bottle release for a new beer called What Rough Beast kicking off today and running through the weekend: “Moving across this land, east to west, a foggy haze has filled our gaze. From the first juicy drop to the last foamy remnants of an empty (soon-to-be released) bottle, What Rough Beast entangles one’s taste buds with cloudy delight. It is with this sweet anticipation, we give an earnest nod to our easterly neighbors. For the rare opportunity to experience this haze firsthand, we are sending TWO of our beloved patrons from coast to coast, back to the birthplace of this craze. Between Thursday, August 24th and Sunday, August 27th, patrons at any 3 of our locations who purchase 4-packs of What Rough Beast will be entered to win a FREE trip (airfare + hotel) to New England.”

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland): Their Thursday Tap Day release is featuring Kirche Im Dorf Lassen: “This week at the Widmer Brothers pub we’re tapping Kirche Im Dorf Lassen (5.5% ABV, 40 IBU), a German Pale Ale created by the lead innovation brewers of Widmer Brothers and Hopworks. When Tom Bleigh (Widmer Brothers) and Christian Ettinger (Hopworks) met up to throw out ideas, the goal was to brew a lager—each of their preferred beer styles. Given the numerous lagers on tap, they opted to brew a GPA (German Pale Ale).”