Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Thursday, the 4th of October. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often for the latest news updates. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville): Today is the big release of Tannenbomb, the brewery’s seasonal Winter Warmer, and I believe at both the McMinnville and Beaverton locations there are specials: “Starting at 5pm we will be selling $3 pints till we blow the keg! Plus, great food specials and raffles (hint: think free beer!)” Tannenbomb is 8.8% abv and brewed in the English Old Ale style, and it’s a tasty warming beer, perfect for the winter months. Get some while you can!

McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery (Portland) has a limited-edition tasting today, featuring Harvest Head Pale Ale: “Come join Fulton brewer Ryan Mott who, this month, has an offering that started out as our classic Northwest pale ale, Hammerhead. The harmonious balance between hops and malt was then infused with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and clove – all the richness of Hammerhead with aromas and flavors commonly associated with Fall.” By and large I’m a fan of spicing beers this way (as long as it’s not overdone) so this is worth a look. The beer starts pouring at 5pm and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

McMenamins Old Church & Pub (Wilsonville) has their own tasting and meet the brewer today also starting at 5pm and lasting til the keg is gone: borrowing a page from Dogfish Head(!), they’re featuring Hop-Rocket Thundercone. “Daring to be deliciously and dangerously good, this is our fresh-hopped Thundercone that has undergone a hoptastic transition.  “Dry-hopped” with wet cascade hops as well as forced through a device known as a “Randal”, this is going to be  one hoppy experience.  The “Randal” is a container upon with a few pounds of wet cascade hops will be placed and the beer will be forced though these hops on its way from keg to faucet.  Doing this strips all the flavorful oils out of the hops and  provides a bright and fresh flavor  unlike anything anything you have had before.”

Today is the “Roving Release Party” in Portland for the collaboration beer “Aleias” brewed by Boneyard Beer of Bend and former Full Sail brewmaster John Harris: an “India Wheat Ale” that is 7.1% abv and limited. “Featuring a good portion of wheat malt along with pale malt and a touch of crystal then hopping it well beyond Boneyard’s RPM IPA. Simcoe and Amarillo were used exclusively throughout the process. Aleias IWA has a crisp malt character with loads of citrus and tropical hop flavor coming from  using 3.5 pounds of hops per barrel.  Aleias was dry hopped 3 times. Only 40 barrels of this 7.1% beer were produced.” The plan for the release party is to start at Belmont Station at 5pm, then the Horse Brass Pub around 6:30, and finally the APEX Bar around 8. This should make for a lively evening and a buzzed-about beer, so if you’re in Portland plan on hitting up one (or all) of these stops tonight!

Hopworks Urban Brewing (Portland) posted the picture of the latest canned offering to come from the brewery: Abominable Winter Ale. Handsome packaging, I think! According to that post they should be showing in about 3 weeks.

And speaking of holiday/winter beers, Alameda Brewing (Portland) posted the following beer news on Facebook today as well: “Get ready – We just brewed the Nightbeer Before Christmas at the new brewery. It’s going to be a big, bad, barrel aged, Russian Imperial Stout. Cheers!” That will be one to look for.