It’s not directly related to beer, but today is Beaujolais Nouveau Day—the day in France when this year’s Beaujolais nouveau wine is released. The day is marked by festivities, fireworks, and music, and presumably much wine consumption. Cheers to that! Here’s the Oregon beer news for this November 16; as usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Saraveza (Portland) is welcoming Finnriver Cider for a cider tasting tonight from 5 to 8pm: “On tap we’ll have: Farmstead Cider, a 6.5% ABV traditional semi-sweet cider made using bruised, bitter, and bizarre apples sourced from friends, family, and neighbors of Finnriver. The final medley is then slightly sweetened to balance acidity and tannins. This gives Farmstead a unique profile and taste from year to year. Cherry Lambic Sour Cider, a 6.9% ABV lambic-style cider finished on cherries from Finnriver. In bottles we will have their Black Currant and Forest Ginger ciders so you have a little bit of the magic to take home with you! We’ll also have a coloring contest with prizes for the best and most creative cider hound in the room. We’ll have prizes for your kiddos too!! We’ll hang the winners on our fridge, just like mom and dad used to do.”

McMenamins Kennedy School (Portland) has their Extra Credit beer tasting today from 5 to 7pm, featuring Ol’ Leadbelly Coffee Porter: “This brew is bursting at the seams with coffee flavor and aroma, thanks to multiple infusions of Kenyan coffee beans roasted by our dear friends at the McMenamins Coffee Roaster. Smooth notes of chocolate and toffee add to the complexity, calling to mind the rich, sonorous chords of a 12-string guitar. Best enjoyed by the pint, this is the perfect end to any workday.”

Deschutes Brewery (Bend) is kicking up a Back Alley Pop-Up Pub at their downtown Bend pub tonight from 5 to 8pm: “Welcome back winter! With fall coming to its usual all-too-short end, the time to find our winter coats and get cozy has arrived! On Thursday, November 16th we are throwing a Back Alley Pop-Up-Pub from 5-8 PM to help us all get in the spirit, thicken our skins, and embrace the cold! Snacks, fire pits, cornhole, and of course, the best beers made for the season! Think Jubelale, Black Butte Porter, Obsidian Stout on nitro. Event info can only be found here on our page. So…share with friends, bring your friends, and let’s celebrate puffy-coat season!”

Belmont Station is hosting Seal Rock’s Wolf Tree Brewery for a beer tasting and meet the brewer tonight from 5 to 8pm: “Based out of Seal Rock, Oregon, on a family-owned and -operated cattle ranch, Wolf Tree has been around since 2013 and continues to produce some of Oregon’s most unique beers. Owner and Brewer Joe Hitselberger will be here to answer questions and to tell the story of Wolf Tree.”

Portland’s Loyal Legion is welcoming the new Level Beer for a weekend-long tap takeover and brewery showcase starting today: “Who’s Level? come find out! One of the newest Oregon breweries will be here with a large showcase of beers, perhaps Oregon’s best new brewery? come decide for yourself. Party starts Thusday with meet the brewer/brewery and special pricing on the showcase.”

Baerlic Brewing (Portland) is throwing the release party for their latest bottled beer, Collusion Dulce de Leche Russian Imperial Stout, today from 4 to 7pm: “Join us as we launch our newest Bottled seasonal release: Collusion Russian Imperial Stout brewed with house-made Dulce de Leche! We pulled an old trick out of our hat by boiling sweetened condensed milk until it caramelized into the sweetest and most delicious Dulce de Leche goo you ever tasted! We then added it to an updated Russian Imperial Stout recipe we’ve been working on for 3 years. Layers of chocolate, bittersweet cocoa and coffee with a nice caramel top note in the aroma and a slightly sweet and creamy finish, Collusion is a bruiser of a beer clocking in at 10%ABV.”

Portland Cider Company announced that they will hold their annual Wassail Holiday Party on Friday, December 1 at their Clackamas facility—at at which they will release three winter ciders: “The Wassail Holiday Party features the release of three winter and specialty ciders, including Oregon Wild, a community cider hand pressed earlier this fall with donated apples collected from the backyards of neighbors in the Portland Metropolitan area. Portland Cider will also release a very limited run of a long-time taproom holiday favorite, Winter Spice, a festively spiced cider with a little bit of a cayenne pepper kick made with 100 percent Northwest apples; and Hot Mulled Cider, a lightly spiced cider fortified with Portland Cider Co.’s own cider brandy, served warm and strong.” Put the party on your calendar and be sure to sample all the winter specialties.

And speaking of holiday and winter specialties, Lompoc Brewing is back with their overachiever status again this year, releasing seven(!) holiday beers! From the press release: “The beers will be released on Monday, Nov. 27 from 4pm to 11pm at Lompoc Sidebar, 3901 N Williams Ave. The beers will be available on tap at all other Lompoc pubs on Nov. 28. C-Sons Greetings will be Lompoc’s only holiday beer available both on draft and in bottles. This year’s lineup includes old favorites alongside some new recipes, including: Blitzen, Brewdolph, C-Sons Greetings Double IPA, Lump of Coal, Old Tavern Rat 2016, Port Barrel Aged Old Tavern Rat 2016, and Top Shelf, Old Sport.”