Here is the news in Oregon beer for Thursday, October 3rd. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville) is releasing their seasonal winter ale, Tannenbomb, at both the McMinnville and Beaverton locations today. And from 3 to 6pm, pints of Tannenbomb will be only $3 until the first keg blows, and they’re planning food specials and some free raffles. Don’t miss out!

McMenamins Old Church & Pub (Wilsonville) has a special beer tasting and meet the brewer event today for a beer the definitely catches my eye: 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.” The tasting starts at 5pm and lasts until the beer is gone.

McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery (Portland) has their own limited-edition tasting today featuring a Black Widow Porter concoction dubbed Black Adder: “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 is something I’m having a hard time getting my head around as far as flavor goes, but I’d certainly be willing to try it out!  The tasting starts at 5pm.

Pumpkin Beer Watch™:

• Fort George Brewery (Astoria) has their Drunken Pumpkin on tap today as of 4pm.
• Deschutes Brewery (Bend) has a pumpkin ale on tap now—brewer Veronica Vega let me know that “The Sage Pumpkin” is available!
• Old Mill Brew Werks (Bend) has a pumpkin beer and tap takeover planned for tomorrow: “We’re kicking off October this First Friday with a very exciting tap takeover – a Pumpkin Fest! Five handles devoted to gourd-based offerings from Elysian Brewing, New Belgium Brewing, Epic Brewing, Red Hook Brewing, and the much-anticipated release of Brew Wërks Brewing Company’s very own “Shrunken Pumpkin Ale”. Enjoy a sampling flight, a pint, or fill your favorite growler. Just be sure to hurry, because the pumpkin lovers are many and the season is short.”

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland): The New School reports on the very first beer brewed by John Harris at his new venture: “The first brew day was for a modest but sure to be tasty pale ale, a calibration brew to help work out the kinks in any brand new plumbed system, and mutual friends Charlie Devereux (previously of Double Mountain) and Charles Culp were there to help. With only a couple of very minor issues, the first beer went off without a hitch. It was great to see John back in action after over a year of being between gigs, though he has kept busy with collaboration brews while Ecliptic was being built out.” Lots of pictures and a good read to find out more about Ecliptic’s big plans.