Here is the Oregon beer news for the final day of September 2013! As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville) has their 20th anniversary and Oktoberfest celebration this Saturday the 5th of October starting at noon. Golden Valley has partnered with the McMinnville Education Foundation with proceeds from the event going to them, and they will be offering up German food, live music, great beers (of course!) and more. Tickets are $25 in advance (which you can purchase here) or $30 at the door with children ages 6-12 only $10 (and it goes to a good cause, remember!). 20 years plus Oktoberfest? You can’t go wrong!

McMenamins Old Church & Pub (Wilsonville): This Thursday the 3rd they have a special beer tasting and meet the brewer for a beer that definitely catches my attention: Punk’d Pumpkin Stout. “This beer pours a jet black with aromas of maple, pumpkin, and vanilla. Pure pumpkin was toasted with rolled oats and brown sugar before being added to the mash. Similarly, pumpkin and roasted pumpkin seeds were added to the kettle just before flame off. Vanilla beans, bourbon, and spices were added to the fermenter along with pure maple syrup to create a pumpkin experience you will never forget.” Okay that sounds delicious and I wish I could be in Wilsonville on Thursday! It starts at 5pm and lasts until the beer is gone.

The Green Dragon (Portland) is holding their own Fresh Hop Festival today (kind of a mix between fresh hops and Oktoberfest—Brewpublic has it dubbed “Fresh Hoptoberfest”), featuring 19 “delicious fresh hop beers on tap and a live performance from the Oompah band on the patio” as well as at least six Oktoberfest beers on tap. They’ve curated a nice taplist for the fresh hop beers, and it all starts at 5:30pm tonight. Don’t miss out!

McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery (Portland) also has a limited-edition beer tasting coming up this Thursday the 3rd: Black Adder, with Apple-smoked Mosaic hops. “This concoction is a sneak preview of this year’s Black Widow… with a twist. Like Black Widow, this ale is deep black and packed full of robust notes afforded by generous amounts of black malt, roast malt, crystal malt, and licorice root. Next comes the twist. It is then dry hopped and aged with Mosaic Hops that have been smoked over apple wood. There is a lot going on here. Try and pick out each individual flavor as this very limited edition brew floods your senses.” Smoked hops—sounds a little weird I  have to admit but I’d try it. The tasting starts at 5pm.

16 Tons (Eugene) is holding a special Pumpkin Ale Fest this Friday, October 4 from 5 to 10pm, featuring more than 20 pumpkin ales and ciders. (Interesting, this is the same day that Elysian Brewing’s Great Pumpkin Beer Fest kicks off in Seattle.) There’s no cost for entry, and tasters of each beer will cost $1 to $2 (cash only). I’d expect to see some good beers on tap—but only if you like pumpkin!

Also this weekend is the last of the big Fresh Hop Festivals being produced/promoted by the Oregon Brewers Guild, the Portland Fresh Hops Fest taking place at Oaks Amusement Park Friday and Saturday: 5:30 to 8:30 Friday and noon to 8pm Saturday. There will be lots and lots of fresh hop beers available, and it will cost you $15 for the glass and 5 tickets (the usual $1/ticket scale applies).