Getting back into the swing of blogging after last week’s issues, so here is the Oregon beer news for Tuesday, the 24th of September. 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 updated as well.

We are so firmly ensconced in Fresh Hop Season that this Saturday the 28th there’s not one, not two, but three fresh hop festivals taking place across the state:

• The big one of course is the annual Hood River Hops Fest, taking place in (of course) Hood River and featuring over 60 fresh hop beers that will be pouring (Ezra has the list). It runs from noon to 9pm, costs $10 for the glass and 4 tokens with additional tokens for $1.
• Sisters is hosting their fourth annual Sisters Fresh Hop Festival from noon to 8pm in their Village Green Park, featuring 17 breweries this year (up from 11 last year), $5 for the glass and $1 per tasting ticket.
• And then out in Independence there is the Hop & Heritage Fest (Facebook page), a fiesta-style event starting at noon and lasting until fireworks at 9pm. Breweries will be on hand pouring some fresh hop beers and it all takes place at an actual hop yard.

Crux Fermentation Project (Bend) has their CRUXtoberfest party coming up this weekend, kicking off on Friday the 27th at 6pm and rolling through Sunday. “CRUXtoberfest is a 3 day festival that includes 3 new fresh hop biers, food specials, lots of live music and dancing, and a 16 tap outdoor pouring station for Crux brews!” They have a full slate of music planned and I’d definitely expect to see a Marzen/Oktoberfest beer on the menu as well.

Cascade Brewing (Portland): Tonight’s Tap It Tuesday event at the Barrel House at 6pm is featuring “Live” Cherry Vlad 2011: “This NW style sour ale is a blend of spiced blond quads that were barrel aged for 13 months in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels with cherries. This single barrel has huge cherry and Bourbon notes that permeate the nose as you grab the glass for your first sip. Smooth Bourbon, wood vanillin, cherries and spice dance on the palate. A strong note of cherries and classic Vlad are just enough to ponder your next beer.”

The Green Dragon (Portland) is hosting San Diego’s Green Flash Brewing for a Titanic Tap Takeover with head brewer Chuck Silva tonight from 6 to 10pm: “Meet Chuck Silva, the head brewer from Green Flash Brewing Co. and try 20 of his beers. Among those on tap will be Flanders Drive Sour, Silva Stout, Little Freak Barrel-aged Saison, New Zealand Single Hop Nelson Sauvin Pale, Cedar Plank Pale Ale, Candela Rye Barley Wine (collaboration with Cigar City), Symposium IPA, 30th Street Pale Ale, East Village Pilsner, Serrano Chili Double Stout, Green Bullet Triple IPA, Barley Wine, Belgian Blonde, Trippel, West Coast IPA, Hop Head Red, Imperial IPA, Saison Diego and Double Stout.” Titanic indeed!

Beer Valley Brewing (Ontario) posted yesterday details about their fresh hop beers coming out: “Currently shipping fresh hop Leafer Madness and a special brew called Many Farms All Fresh Hop Ale. Many Farms All Fresh Hop Ale was brewed with Cascade, Citra, El Dorado, Simcoe, and Zeus hops. 100% all fresh hops, no pellets were used in the brew. Look for 2013 fresh hop Black Flag Imperial Stout the first week of October.” Beer Valley will be pouring both Leafer Madness and Many Farms at the Hood River Hops Fest this Saturday.