Here is the news in Oregon beer for this Wednesday, September 20. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

The Portland Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest kicks off today at Burnside Brewing, the first of the fresh hop festival events of the season! “Burnside Brewing Co., Portland Beer Week and Willamette Week present the 2nd annual Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest in Portland, Oregon this September 20 – 24th at 7th and NE Burnside Ave. This outdoor, partially covered beer garden features the freshest of Fresh Hop beer of the season using only undried hops picked from the bine and brewed with in under 24 hours. The Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest will feature ten taps (up two from last year) of rotating pacific northwest fresh hop goodness with daily special tappings and featured theme nights with some of the brewers.” It’s free to attend and you pay as you go; tonight’s kickoff in particular will feature beers from Level Beer, Breakside Brewery, pFriem Family Brewers, Portland Cider, Ecliptic Brewing, and Flat Tail Brewing.

McMenamins Murray & Allen (Beaverton) has their Sippin’ in the Suburbs beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm, featuring Sweet B’s Strawberry Blonde Ale: “Sweet B’s is a light, refreshing ale with a complex array of flavors. A special blend of malts provide a backbone while a select amount of Northwest whole leaf hops add a bit of citrus. The real treat is the summer flavor that comes from more than forty pounds of fresh Oregon strawberries, added straight to the fermentation tank. This one is for Sweet B.”

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River): Their 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale returns! From the press release: “Full Sail Brewing Co. is excited to release this year’s Brewmaster Reserve 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale, brewed with eight pounds of local, freshly harvested Centennial hops per barrel. Full Sail brewers Chris Davis and Greg Doss drove to B&D Farms in Saint Paul, Oregon on harvest day last month to procure fresh, wet hops from the field, immediately heading back to the brewery to work their magic on this small-batch brew that goes from farm to tank in three hours. Brewed in small batches, Brewmaster Reserve 8 Pound Pale Fresh Hop Ale is available in limited quantities from late September until it’s gone – in Brewmaster Reserve 6-packs, 12 oz. bottles and draft. 5.6% ABV, 54 IBUs.”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Level Beer for a can release party and meet the brewers event tonight from 5 to 8pm: We’re very excited to host Level Beer and be the first on the block to have their Ready Player One Saison in 6pk CANS. This version is with fresh Santiam hops. The brewers/owners Jason Barbee and Shane Watterson will be here to talk beer, where they come up with these goofy names and maybe share some secrets of whats to come.”

Laurelwood Brewing (Portland): Next Tuesday the 25th, Laurelwood will be hosting their Dine Out to Wipe Out Cancer fundraiser: “For the past fourteen years Laurelwood Brewing has partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise money to fight cancer. This year’s event marks the 15th anniversary of the fundraiser and will take place Tuesday, September 26th, at Laurelwood’s northeast Portland location at 5115 NE Sandy Blvd. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will receive 20% of the day’s sales to help those in need. Over $30,000 has been generated in the past 14 years from the Dine Out to Wipe Out fundraiser. The event offers entertainment for kids and adults alike. Balloon artist Joe Mishkin, will make an appearance at 5 pm and band Catch & Release will perform at 6 pm.” Absolutely make sure to stop by to help raise money that day!

Worthy Brewing (Bend) announced the launch of their Strata IPA in 22-ounce bottles this week. From the press release: “Strata IPA has it all. From terra firma, it has notes of pineapple and watermelon, with a whiff of herbal dankness. From the jungle canopy, the citrusy flavor of mango and passion fruit. And from the outer rim, delightful hints of peaches and pine. After launching as a draft-only offering earlier this year, Strata IPA has racked up several awards, including a gold medal at the Oregon Beer Awards in the hoppy sessionable ale category. At 6.5% ABV and 60 IBU, Strata IPA is an amazingly well-balanced beer with a unique, “terpelicious” aroma. Worthy is packaging Strata IPA in 22 oz bottles which will be available in retail outlets throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho and select regions in Northern California.”

Rogue Ales‘ Eastside Pub in Portland has their Green Dragon Brew Crew release tonight beginning at 5pm, featuring Citra IPA: “Winners of the Coastal Conservation Association of Oregon (CCA) silent auction used their brew day prize to make this wonderful Citra IPA. Straw light in color this beer is packed with hop flavor as the result of using a pound of Citra hops late in the boil. The bright orange citrus flavor of the hops greets you in the aroma and taste of this beer making it a total hop experience without being bitter or vegetal. A solid malt body produces a balanced beer but clearly hop forward brew, just like an IPA should be. Close your eyes and dream of those warm Summer days.”

Oktoberfest continues at Loyal Legion in Portland, and at Beergarden in Eugene! At tonight at Beergarden, they are welcoming Rosenstadt Brewing from Portland in from 5 to 7pm for a tasting.