Happy Friday, All Saints Day, El Dia de los Muertos, or whatever else whets your whistle! Here’s the Oregon beer news for the first weekend of November. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

The McKenzie Cider & Craft Beer Festival runs today and tomorrow at the Willamalane Center in Springfield, running from 5 to 11m today and noon to 11pm on Saturday. This is the second year for the Festival being put on by the McKenzie After 5 Rotary Club and the Springfield Rotary Club as a benefit for Belly-Full to help feed hungry children and their families in Springfield. They’ve got a nice lineup of brewers represented, and cost to get in is $15 (though I’m not sure what you get with that—assume usual fest guidelines apply). It’s for a good cause so make sure to check it out if you’re over in the Willamette Valley this weekend!

Breakside Brewery (Portland) is having the release party for their new Autumn Gold at Bottles in Portland today from 4 to 7pm: “Autumn Gold is a hop forward copper ale brewed to celebrate our unusually pleasant fall weather. Made entirely with Centennial hops, this “session IPA” is intensely floral with notes of lime, blueberries, and forest air. This beer is draft only and will be available throughout Oregon. As always, our brewers will be on hand to discuss the beer, share a pint and raffle off plenty of Breakside swag.”

Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City) has the release of their Bad Santa winter seasonal CDA taking place tonight at their Tillamook brewery: “Be in TILLAMOOK at the Pelican Brewery & Tap Room at 5pm for the release. Brewers will be on hand for Q&A and will be handing out samples. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you need to try this beer!”

Three Creeks Brewing (Sisters) is going to be in Portland tomorrow (Saturday the 2nd) at The Hop & Vine for a special “deconstructed” tasting of their Bourbon Barrel Big Bad Sisters Coffee Stout from 3 to 9pm. The beer itself is a collaboration with Sisters Coffee Company (local to Three Creeks) and Bull Run Distilling (from Portland) and is a hefty 9.2% abv. Head Brewer Zach Beckwith tells me: “We wanted to present a unique tasting experience where you can taste the base beer (Bulletproof Export Stout), cold pressed Sumatra from Sisters Coffee and Bull Run Temperance Trader Bourbon individually then taste the Bourbon Barrel Big Bad Sisters Coffee Stout that incorporates all 3 elements together.  I’ll be on hand along with reps from Bull Run Distilling.” This should definitely be an experience to check out, so make sure to head down to The Hop & Vine tomorrow.