I don’t know about everyone else but I could use a beer already—it’s Thirsty Thursday, after all. In lieu of that (for the moment), here’s the Oregon beer news for Thursday, September 21. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

It’s a fresh hop kind of day! First, The Bier Stein in Eugene is hosting Three Creeks Brewing for a fresh hop tasting tonight from 5 to 8pm: “Enjoy the freshness from Three Creeks as they present this year’s renditions of Cone Lick’r Pale Ale (with fresh Centennials) and Hop Wrangler Red Ale (with fresh Amarillos)! Jay will be here slinging samples.”

Then McMenamins Kennedy School (Portland) has their Extra Credit beer tasting today, featuring Back In Session Fresh Hop ISA: “Fall is in the air and what better way to celebrate than with a Fresh Hopped Session Ale? This refresher is packed full of wet Citra Hops, picked straight from the vine. This harvest ISA has flavor and aroma to spare!” That runs from 5 to 7pm.

And don’t forget the Portland Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest continues today at Burnside Brewing in Portland, pouring a variety of the freshest fresh hop beers all day long! Tonight is “Washington Night” and they will be featuring beers from Reuben’s Brews, Fremont Brewing, Georgetown Brewing, and Matchless Brewing.

Rock Bottom Brewery (Portland) today has the release and tapping party of their Rocktoberfest, proceeds of which will benefits the Pink Boots Society: “Rocktoberfest is back on tap and we know Portland couldn’t be more excited! Rocktoberfest, a complex toasted malt beer was brewed while wearing the finest Lederhose in town and listening to an acordian playing in the background. We are bringing Germany to the Brewery and you need to be apart of it. No Cover Charge. All Ages Welcome in the Brewery. $3 Rocktoberfest Pints from 5:30-6:30 all $3 pints sold will go to benefit Pink Boots Society and .25 cents of every pint there-after.” They will have other activities as well during the party from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

Belmont Station (Portland) is celebrating Oktoberfest today with both a German Bier Showcase & Oktoberfest Kickoff party and their annual Oktoberfest Stein Giveaway! The party runs from 5 to 8pm and they’ll be tasting German bottled beers, and: “To really kick things off will be tapping a ceremonial keg of Hacker Pschorr Münchner Gold Helles Lager at 5 PM.” For the Stein Giveaway: “To help immerse ourselves in true Oktoberfest tradition, and to continue our annual tradition, we will be giving away some gorgeous 1-liter steins. Here’s how to get yours: Buy a liter of any Oktoberfest bier on tap in the biercafe, and you keep the stein. It’s that simple! Limit one stein per person per day. While supplies last!”

Gigantic Brewing (Portland) has their fresh hop beer out: “Fresh hop is ready!!! This year’s fresh hop offering, “Sodbusted V, The Simcoe Strikes Back” will be on tap TODAY in the taproom. (P.S. We open at 2pm.)”

Solera Brewery (Parkdale) has their fresh hop release today as well: Billion Dollar Bunnies Fresh Hop Double IPA. “This years Fresh Hop DIPA took multiple trips to the Yakima Valley. Billion Dollar Bunnies was made with Citra and fresh Simcoe hops. Enough hop flavor and aroma to cut the smoke, while providing enough alcohol to adjust your attitude.”

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland): Their Thursday Tap Day at their Russell Street pub is featuring Fresh Hop Rada-Strata Imperial IPA: “The innovation brewers at Widmer Brothers have been busy brewing three fresh hop beers we’re tapping this season. First up is Fresh Hop Rada-Strata Imperial IPA, a collaboration with Nathaniel Schmidt from Agua Mala Brewing in Ensenada, Mexico. Nathanial and Widmer Brothers Innovation Brewmaster Tom Bleigh hand-selected fresh Meridian hops to wet hop the beer, then dry hopped it with Strata hops. The resulting unfiltered IIPA is full of fresh melon and tropical flavors, a distinct wet hop flavor, and a slight lingering bitterness. Fresh hop beers are the Beaujolais of the brewing world, so drink it while it’s fresh.”