Here’s the beer news from around Oregon for Thursday, September 6. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day so check back often for the latest news. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Belmont Station (Portland) has a tasting with Eel River Brewing from 5 to 8pm tonight: “Hailing from Fortuna California, Eel River Brewing Company is the very first completely organic certified brewery in the United States. Taste their Triple Exultation, Acai Berry Wheat, Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout, Porter, IPA & Earth Thirst Imperial IPA. Porter and Humboldt Green Imperial IPA on draft in the Biercafé.”

Portland Beer Week is teaming up with Saraveza to present a “Fresh Hops Workshop” on Saturday, September 22nd, in what sounds like a great event. “This casual event features 4 of the first fresh hop beers of the season – Total Crystalation from Ninkasi Brewing, Killer Green from Double Mountain Brewing, IPX – The Freshmaker from Hopworks Urban Brewery and Wet Hop Simcoe Pale Ale from Breakside Brewery. Each of the breweries respective owners/brewers will be in attendance to talk about their beer and brewing with fresh hops. Interactive aspects of the workshop include a Randall stuffed with fresh hops, hop infused olive oils with bread for dipping and tasting each’s properties, hop oils that can be used to dose a beer for flavor/aroma as well as a control batch of macro lager dosed and undosed and even the opportunity to hand French Press your beer with fresh hops. Later in the evening organizers will lead a discussion on brewing with fresh hops, growing and packaging hops and new regulations on Organic Hops. To discuss these subjects and more is a lineup of experts on the cutting edge of the industry.”  It starts at 6pm and there are still tickets left, though they are going quick. They cost $10.50 and you can get them on the PDX Beer Week site.

Widmer Brothers (Portland) is celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend! Friday and Saturday, the 7th and 8th, Widmer hosts the biggest Oktoberfest party in Portland: “This year marks our 8th annual Oktoberfest block party, an event that draws more than 5,000 beer enthusiasts and is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in Portland. This year, we’re extending the festivities over two days! The festival features a variety of craft beers, German-style food, accordion players, and live music throughout the day.” It’s a 21-and-over only event, but it’s free to attend—though you’ll need a stein to drink beer and will need to purchase food. “All beer and food is purchased with tokens, which cost $1 each. Patrons pay six tokens for a souvenir stein, five tokens for a full stein of beer and food items are $1-$7.”  Who’s going?

McMenamins Fulton Pub (Portland) has a limited-edition beer tasting today starting at 5pm, and lasting until the beer is tapped: Sweet Briar Golden Ale. “As the name suggests, there is a pleasant, sweet quality to this refreshing golden ale. Fulton Brewer Ryan Mott’s Sweet Briar Golden Ale is fermented with a Scottish ale yeast that gives it a crisp bready quality as well. An interesting flowery tartness arises from the use of rose hips in the latter stage of the boiling process. Sweet Briar is moderately bitter, with thehops playing a subtle role in the floral hoppy aroma and finish. Over-all this beer is designed to be lightand refreshing without compromising flavor.”  It’s 5.03% abv and when it’s gone, it is gone.

McMenamins Old Church & Pub (Wilsonville) has a meet the brewer and special tasting today as well, starting at 5pm: Bourbon Vanilla Terminator Stout which sounds great. “The Bourbon Vanilla Terminator Stout is the melding of chocolate and vanilla in the perfect medium; beer. Old Church Brewer Mark Goodwin used six whole bourbon vanilla beans and aged the brew for two months to allow the flavors to meld together into a rich and creamy experience. This brew won’t be around for long so get it while you can.”

Today was also the “Running of the Brewers” at all the McMenamins breweries that are brewing Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale: “Today is the annual “Running of the Brewers”. Early this morning fresh Cascade Hops were delivered from Sodbuster Farms near Salem and are frantically being distributed to all 22 of our breweries who are all brewing our Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale. 30 pounds of hops are added to each batch within hours of being picked from the vine. Look for it’s official release on September 21st.”  They’ve been posted photos all day of all the brewers reveling in their fresh hops. I’m looking forward to the 21st!

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): Tomorrow—Friday the 7th—is the official release for The Dissident in both the Bend and Portland Pubs! Starting at 11am you can buy bottles of this year’s Dissident (likely for $12 per bottle) with a limit of 3 per person per day. You’ll also be able to drink it of course, and each pub will have special menus on hand to pair with this sour beer specialty. The Dissident is one of Deschutes’ most accomplished beers, so don’t miss your chance to get in on this year’s release.