Today is the Autumn Equinox—the first official day of Fall, which I believe means that in addition to fresh hop beers and Oktoberfest, it’s time for… pumpkin beer! (Just kidding! Pumpkin beer really shouldn’t appear until October!) Here’s the news for the weekend of the 22nd. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

The Portland Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest continues through the weekend at Burnside Brewing, in their lot under tents. Admission is free and you pay as you go (no tasters), and each day they have a theme night with new fresh hop beers:

• Friday is Farmhouse Night, with Allegory Brewing and Little Beast Brewing
• Saturday is Bend/Central Oregon Night, with RiverBend Brewing and GoodLife Brewing
• Sunday is Kill the Keg Day with $14 growler fills of everything on tap

Friday, 9/22

Bazi Bierbrasserie (Portland) is hosting “An Evening in the Nordics” featuring spirits and ciders of Norway and Iceland starting at 5pm on Friday: “Join Jacob Grier, professional bartender and founder of Aquavit Week for an Evening in Norway and Iceland featuring cocktails with Linie Aquavit, Opal and Reverend Nat’s Jon Teiste’s Tonic Cider.” There will also be beer cocktails and pairings to accompany the Nordic drinks.

Salem Ale Works is hosting their own Fresh Hop Celebration Friday night starting at 6pm with two new fresh hop beers at their new taphouse: “Fresh Hop season is upon us! That means hop farms are harvesting and you have an opportunity to taste beer made from the freshest hops! Join us at our new taphouse in celebration of hop harvest as we release two fresh hop beers, Drip Torch Red IPA (centennial) and Farmadillo Blonde Ale (amarillo).”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting An Evening with Engine House #9 Brewing on Friday from 6 to 8pm: “Established in 1995, Engine House No. 9 is Tacoma’s oldest craft brewery. E9 was named Washington’s Mid-Sized brewery of the year in 2016 & 2017. We are putting together a taster tray featuring three of their beers and we will be pouring bottle samples throughout the evening. So come on in and give one of Washington’s best breweries a try. Prost! The Taster Tray will feature: Black Currant – a table sour ale fermented with wild yeast and barrel-aged with black currants from Sterino Farms, Redamancy – a Farmhouse Ale with stunning flavors of apricot tartness and fresh herbs mingled with subtle barnyard funk, and one surprise selection.”

Baerlic Brewing (Portland) has a bottle release of their Early Bird Hoppy Pale Ale taking place Friday from 2 to 5pm: “After many R&D batches we brewed under the monikor Test Flight (an IPA, a Session IPA and a couple of Pale Ales), we have solidified the recipe for our NEW Year-Round Bottle Beer: Early Bird Hoppy Pale Ale. Early Bird Hoppy Pale Ale clocks in at 5% ABV and is dryhopped with over 2 lbs per barrel of some of our favorite NW hops. Stylistically existing somewhere in between a Session IPA and a West Coast IPA, Early Bird Hoppy Pale is built for sessionability and balance in mind. With loads of hop character from Centennial, Amarillo, Columbus and Azacca hops, and with a really restrained bitterness, this beer begs for repeat offenders. Early Bird gets the worm! Big notes of sweet orange, pineapple and resin in a small(ish) beer so you can start early!”

Redmond’s Beer Stop Growler Fill Station is hosting their 2nd annual IPA Fest which kicks off Friday and runs through the weekend: “Stop on in and try 20 IPA’s and vote for your top three every day that you come. Only catch is you won’t know what you are trying. That’s right it’s a blind tasting. Three days of IPA’s, Vendors and Tots food truck. $30 per mug and 20 4oz taster tickets to try every IPA. Extra taster tickets are $1 per ticket. You won’t want to miss this event Mark Your Calendars Today!!! Part of our proceeds will go to HUNAH Rescue.”

Saturday, 9/23

Deschutes Brewery is bringing their Street Pub to Portland on Saturday! It’s free to attend and family friendly, and raises money for local charities, all kicking off at 2pm at the 400 block of SE 2nd Avenue. “Street Pub is a family friendly one-stop shop to try lots of our beers! With over 50 taps – from our Black Butte Anniversary Series to Pub Exclusives like Botanic Ale, Overnight Phenom, Wayfarer Cider, and Schwarz Lager to year-round favorites like Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Fresh Squeezed IPA. Since Portland is our home, you’ll also find several Innovative/Experiemental Pub Exclusive Beers that you won’t find in any other city, including a guest tap the neighborhood brewery, Wayfinder Beer. We’ll pair these beers up with culinary creations from our Executive Chef, Jeff Usinowicz and local Chefs from Wayfinder Beer & other local chefs.” This one is not to be missed!

Saturday is a big Oktoberfest day around the state! A number of them are McMenamins celebrations, so here’s the rundown:

• Occidental Brewing (Portland): Their Oktoberfest is $10 admission which gets you a glass stein and a free fill: “Are you ready for Occidental’s biggest Oktoberfest yet? You know the drill! Join us Saturday September 23rd for our biggest Oktoberfest so far. Beer will be flowing in multiple places, there will be live music and delicious food from Urban German Grill at the Wursthaus! Listen to live bands from the deck of The Wursthaus while you drink a pint of our delicious Festbier!”
• McMenamins Old St. Francis School (Bend): Oktoberfest starts at 1pm and features “Beer, music, more beer, bratwurst and hamburgers, and more—exactly how McMenamins pictures it.” Live music will be in the courtyard and Father Luke’s Room.
• McMenamins Hotel Oregon (McMinnville): Thier Oktoberfest runs all day with live music and food specials plus: “We will also be pouring 10 different German style beers in Matties Room from 2 p.m. ’til 10 p.m.”
• McMenamins Edgefield (Troutdale): The Edgefield’s Oktoberfest takes place all day and in additional the live music and activities of the others, they are also hosting an Oktoberfest Golf Tourney and an Oktoberfest Plant & Veggie sale.
• McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop is hosting a tapping of Edgefield Oktoberfest from 2 to 4pm: “The Edgefield Oktoberfest is a traditional seasonal lager, brewed in honor of the changing seasons. It pours a beautiful, crystal-clear copper color with a creamy off-white head. Subtle aromas of sweet bread and toffee greet the senses. The first sip opens up with a crisp, clean toffee flavor with a touch of sweetness and a dry, subtlety spicy, citrus aftertaste. A quaffable fall lager to celebrate the annual harvest. Prost!”

Sunday, 9/24

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) is celebrating NinkasiFest, their Eugene-flavored Oktoberfest, all day Sunday: “🍻 Celebrate Oktoberfest Lager with friends, food, music, and BEER!
💃 2PM- 6PM Live polka music on the patio w/ Beaver Country Hot Air Band
🌭 Red Five Hotdog Company servin’ up dogs all day!
🍕 Oregon Wood Fired Pizza tossin’ pies all day!
🥓 I Scream For Waffles dishin’ deliciousness all day!”