Here’s the Oregon beer news for Thursday, September 13. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for the latest news updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get it updated as well.

Corvallis Beer Week rolls on, and they’ve got more great events happening today, things like: a disc golf tournament at Alton Field Farm (no I wouldn’t have thought of that either!); tastings and tours with Ninkasi and Oakshire; a BBQ and beer dinner at Murphy’s Restaurant (yum); and a big promo night at Suds & Suds.

Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville & Beaverton) has their big Oktoberfest release tonight (third and final in their Harvest series releases), starting at 4pm at both locations. It’s a 5.7% abv beer and one of my favorite styles! “This classic style Oktoberfest is brewed with crystal and carastan malts from master German maltsters the Weyerman family, uses a marzen lager yeast and finished with Saaz hops. Starting at 4pm we will have $2 pints until the first keg blows! Plus Soft pretzels with house Ale mustard, Brats and kraut and other great food specials!”

I can’t believe I didn’t catch this sooner, but the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest starts today! It runs through the weekend (Sunday the 16th), and is from 11am until midnight each night until Sunday, when it ends at 9pm. This is Oregon’s oldest and biggest Oktoberfest celebration—there’s beer, food, live music, dancing, a car show, and much, much more. Most of the events are free, but there is a cover charge to enter the various beer gardens and some of the events also have a charge. There’s plenty of beer and fun to be found, and this is definitely the weekend for it!

The Platypus Pub (Bend) is hosting a tasting tonight, featuring California’s Mad River Brewing and brewery rep Will Macleoud. The tasting starts at 6pm and it’s a good chance to check out what Mad River has to offer.

Alameda Brewing (Portland) has a big beer release taking place at Belmont Stationtonight from 5 to 8pm: their Stubs Old Crow Hazelnut Porter. Belmont Station says, “Alameda’s brewmaster Carston Haney will join us, so stop in and meet the man behind the beer. In the bottle shop we will pour free samples of Klickatat Pale Ale, Yellow Wolf IPA, Black Bear Stout and El Torero IPA. Yellow Wolf IPA and Stubbs Old Crow Porter on draft in the biercafe.”  And about the beer: “We used locally-sourced hazelnuts in the mash to give the porter’s back notes a slight nutty flavor. The nutty character does not overpower allowing the chocolate and roast flavors to dominate, leaving a smooth, well-balanced finish. Come by Belmont Station when we introduce this baby to the world & let us know what you think! 6.7% ABV, 15 IBU’s.”

The Green Dragon (Portland) has a meet the brewer tonight featuring Portland’s own Burnside Brewing, with beers pouring starting at 5 and the brewer (presumably Jason Macadam) arriving at 6. Burnside makes some excellent beers so this would make for an excellent opportunity to taste them and talk to the man who makes them. And of course then you can swing over to Burnside for more!

Rock Bottom Brewery (Portland) has a tapping of their fresh hop beer tonight from 5:30 to 6. “This year we went back to BC Hop Farm for some Centennial hops (which, so far, are my favorite for fresh hop beers). From picker to kettle in 40 minutes.”

More fresh hop goodness:

• 10 Barrel Brewing (Bend) has two fresh hops beers in the works: “The brewery smelled like a hop farm yesterday…Jimmy made the trip over the mountains to pick up some more fresh hops! This year we will have two fresh hop beers pouring at the pub…Crystal and Centennial, look out for them this fall.”
• Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) made the hop trip of their own this morning and is brewing away as we speak. And they have fresh hops on display at the tasting room as well if you want to check them out!
• Lompoc Brewing (Portland) has their fresh hop beer brewing today as well. I don’t have details yet but last year they had at least two!