Here is the news in Oregon beer for Wednesday, September 19. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often for the latest updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

McMenamins Oak Hills Brewpub (Portland) is offering up an advance tasting of this year’s Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale today starting at 4pm. “This beer starts with a smooth foundation and just a slight maltiness. The real star of this show is the fresh Cascade hops used for both flavoring and aroma. Five pounds of fresh Cascades per barrel were added in three different additions in every batch. These fresh Cascades overwhelm Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale with an earthy, raw hop decadence that can only come from fresh hops. It is a greener and more unadulterated flavor and aroma than comes from dried hops.  The citrusy, flowery and grapefruit notes usually associated with Cascade hops are still present but with an amazing fresh hop funkiness added into the mix.” Brewer Stephen Harper will be on-hand to answer questions and talk about the beer (which is 6.19% abv).

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) teamed up with Seattle’s Elysian Brewing (foremost brewer of pumpkin beers) recently to brew a special pumpkin beer, Hop Squash IPA, and this Friday the 21st both breweries will be holding court at 16 Tons in Eugene to “welcome the End of the World with Pumpkin Beer!” Both the Hop Squash IPA and Elysian’s latest Apocalypse series, Blight Pumpkin Ale: “Blight is an ale of pumpkin, brown sugar and a fiery jolt of Vietnamese hot cinnamon.  Hop Squash IPA is brewed by Elysian/Ninkasi with pumpkin, Sorachi Ace and Motueka hops.” The fun lasts from 6 to 9pm. Since this maybe the first pumpkin beer Ninkasi has had a hand in (perhaps? I don’t remember them doing one before but I may be wrong) you’ll want to get your hands on it when you can.

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River) is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and they’ve got a couple of things going on: first up, they’ve brewed a special Pale Doppelbock—“25”—which is “a complex, luxurious beer brewed with Vienna Malt and Saaz hops, extended lagering produces full bodied flavors of caramel and honey with a hoppy backbone of white pepper and lemon spice. A beer made for celebration, Full Sail 25 is an elegant Northwest Style Pale Doppelbock. 70 IBU and 9.0%abv.”  Then, on September 27th (a week from Thursday) they’ll be holding their 25th anniversary celebration at the Hood River Pub, and the Horse Brass: “The Full Sail crew invites you to join us in toasting to “25” in Hood River on September 27, 2012 at our Tasting Room & Pub at 5:00pm. At 6:00pm the celebration will continue with a toast and tapping of “25” and a showcase of Full Sail beers at Portland’s iconic Horse Brass Pub.”  Congrats on 25 great years!

Burnside Brewing (Portland) is doing a tap takeover at Landmark Saloon in Portland this Saturday the 22nd, from 2 to 10pm: “We’re breaking out some killer Burnside Brews including our new Fresh Hop Sterling Pub Draught & Plum Gose, in addition to the super rare Rum Barrel Aged Red Light District.” Sounds like a great tap list, definitely one to check out.