Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Hump Day, Wednesday the 26th of September. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this news throughout the day, 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.

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is doing a special firkin tapping of Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA tonight from 5 to 11pm: “A firkin is a gravity fed, naturally carbonated cask of beer. This particular batch was kegged on 9/4…super freshy! We will also have FW “Oaktoberfest” Lager on draft. Be here for the live firkin tapping by Travis from FW @ 5pm!”

McMenamins Old St. Francis School (Bend) is featuring their regular Curly’s Firkin limited-edition beer tasting tonight with the recently released Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale. It’s the same Thundercone that is on tap generally at the McMenamins locations, with the twist of this one being cask-conditioned—which should frankly be amazing in a fresh hop beer (at least I would think). It starts pouring tonight at 5pm at the O’Kane’s bar and when the keg is gone, it’s gone.

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro) has their own big fresh hop event going on today: a Fresh Hop Trifecta featuring Thundercone, Double Dry-Hopped Thundercone, and Wet-Hop IPA. Head on down and try all three side-by-side; they start pouring at 6pm and will last until tapped.

The Green Dragon (Portland): Tonight they have a Green Dragon Brew Crew release featuring Snowfire IPA, starting at 5pm. “This American IPA was created using a base malt of Maris Otter pale malt with a small amount of Belgian Special B malt and brewed with a substantial amount of Citra hops. The beer is slightly sweet with a medium body. Hints of mango and grapefruit compliment the citrus forward flavor of the single hop. The brewers’ first foray into the IPA genre was initially brewed for a family wedding and named Hitchin’ Hops. This beer won the Rogue Nation Homebrewer competition earlier this year and is crisp and fresh on the pallet.” It’s 7.6% abv and 83 IBUs.

Deschutes Brewery (Bend & Portland): Next week, on October 1st and 2nd, the Bend and Portland Pubs respectively are holding the release parties and signings for this year’s Jubelale winter seasonal. The Bend event takes place on the 1st from 5 to 11pm where there will be Jubelale available (of course), a “special harvest menu” and posters of this year’s label that you can get signed by this year’s artist, Kaycee Anseth. Then the next night, the Portland Pub will be offering up the same thing (albeit with a different menu). Don’t miss your chance to get a signed poster of the label and drink some Jubelale while you’re at it!

Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City): Mark your calendars now for November 17th, because that’s when Pelican’s 2012 Mother of all Storms is officially released! This is their super-specialty barleywine that will only be for sale at the Brewery itself (or at least, only guaranteed to be at the brewery itself on “Mother’s Day”). “Sales of Mother of all Storms will open when the Pelican’s doors open for business at 8am Saturday morning. Bottles will sell for $20 each; cases of 12 bottles will be $240.” Road trip!!

Cascade Brewing (Portland) has a fresh hop beer coming out next week: “Early next week, look for our Fresh Hop Porter, w/6 lbs. per barrel of Nugget hops & a splash of fuggles in the boil. It has a spicy, herbal, dank aroma and a resinous fresh hop nose with notes of pepper and dark fruits.” This might be the first fresh hop porter that I’ve heard of!