Happy Monday! According to Jay Brooks, on this day in 1997 Ashland’s Caldera Brewing opened their doors—cheers to Caldera! I’ve got a post about them coming up in fact. Here’s the rest of the Oregon beer news for this final week of August. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

The Little Woody returns to Bend this Labor Day weekend, taking place Friday and Saturday, September 1 and 2. This festival celebrates wood-aged beers and ciders, and as always takes place at the Deschutes Historical Museum in downtown Bend. This year’s fest features 25 breweries and cideries, all typically pouring two and sometimes more offerings. There is also a whiskey tasting on-premise. Pricing runs to $15 for basic entry, $20 for the tasting package (glass with 8 tokens), and $35 for VIP (early access on Friday). (If you buy online it’s $5 cheaper across the board.) This has always been a great Bend fest to attend!

Portland’s The BeerMongers is celebrating their 8th anniversary, starting this Friday the 1st and running into the next week! However you count it. Eight years. 2922 straight days. We’re partying!
Friday, 9/1 – Pfriem and Live Music @ 9pm featuring Ashbolt Beats Working
Saturday, 9/2 – Outdoor Beer Garden featuring Jamaican Taste PDX Pop-up and Block 15
Sunday,9/3 – Outdoor Beer Garden and Special Bottle Pours
Monday, 9/4 – Outdoor Beer Garden, IPA Day!!! & Labor Day Cookout
Tuesday, 9/5 – The Day. Customer Appreciation and Rare Beers plus a High Stakes Cribbage Tournament at 6pm winners receive Westvleteren bottles.” Cheers to 8 great years!

Other news tidbits I missed last week with the eclipse and hop tripping:

• Oregon Fruit Products has a new fruit purée blend in their Fruit for Fermentation line for brewers: Soursop and Tangerine. “The blended puree contains 90 percent soursop fruit and 10 percent tangerine. Soursop is grown in tropical countries and is known for its bright, tangy flavor, with strawberry and pineapple notes and creamy white flesh. The addition of tangerine to the mixture creates a refreshing citrus pop and enhances the tropical notes of the Soursop.” Apparently it’s creamsicle orange in color!
• After a year off, the Sasquatch Beer Fest returns, taking place at the end of September in Eugene. “Tickets to the Sasquatch Brew Fest will be available when the gates open at 12 p.m. for $10. Entrance includes a commemorative glass, two taste tickets and live music. Additional taste tickets will be available for purchase throughout the festival grounds for a dollar. The beer festival is open to everyone 21 years of age and older. Besides featuring an opportunity to taste unique, craft-brewed beer, some batches brewed specifically for the festival, the Sasquatch Brew Fest will also feature a silent auction, raffles, a beer dinner, and a home brew contest administered by the Cascade Brewer’s Society and sanctioned by the American Homebrewer’s Association and the Beer Judge Certification Program. Winner of Best of Show will be announced during the Sasquatch Brew Fest.”
• The 8th annual BenFest returns on Saturday, September 9, taking place at Gigantic Brewing. Get your tickets here now!
• The 14th annual Portland Fresh Hops Fest returns to Oaks Amusement Park on September 29 and 30, and tickets are available online from the Oregon Brewers Guild page.

GoodLife Brewing (Bend) won some medals at CANFEST in Reno! “Bringing some hardware home from America’s largest canned brewfest CANFEST, Reno’s International Canned Beer Festival 1st Place Pale American Ale for Sweet As Pacific Ale and 1st Place American IPA for Descender IPA.” Congrats!