Here’s the Friday edition of the Oregon beer news, covering the first weekend of November! As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often for updates. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

The McKenzie Cider and Craft Beer Festival is this weekend and kicks off today starting at 5pm and continues tomorrow starting at noon at the Willamalane Center in Springfield. This inaugural festival will benefit Belly-Full which helps to keep children fed in Springfield, a great cause. There will be food, live entertainment, and a nice list of breweries and cideries that will be pouring beer, including some new faces. This is definitely something to check out if you’re in the Eugene/Springfield area this weekend.

Base Camp Brewing, one of Portland’s very newest brewing operations, is celebrating their grand opening this weekend, starting today at 11! “Help us celebrate our grand opening! Beer by us, food by Pizza Box and Food Carts Portland. Stop on by and show your support for our partners, Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Friends of Outdoor School!”  They’ve had beer on tap at various locations in Portland but this weekend is all about their brewery and tap room. Ezra at the New School has a further write-up highlighting the tasting room and beers; sounds like a great space and I’m looking forward to checking them out on a future trip to Portland.

Double Mountain Brewery (Hood River) is holding an open house tomorrow (the 3rd) at the brewery from noon to 3pm to show off the new expansion featuring their new bottling line. I imagine this will be an interesting tour to check out, and of course you can avail yourself to delicious Double Mountain beers (and food) afterwards.

Southern Oregon Brewing (Medford): Today is SOB’s five-year anniversary! (Has it really been that long already?) Big congrats to them, and if you’re in Medford swing by their taproom tonight and help them celebrate! (Plus, Old Humbug just went on tap!)

Lompoc Brewing (Portland) has what is perhaps the goofiest event “two years in the making” coming up on November 14: “Geraldo Brewvera’s Return to the Vault!” It takes place at the Hedge House, from 5 to 7pm. “Join Geraldo Brewvera as he delves deep into the vault of this neighborhood landmark – what will he pull out? Be on-site and find out! Also featuring the release of Scarlet Red, taster trays from the vault & free appetizers!” Sounds like some good opportunities for some great tastings, and a funky night to boot.

Rogue Ales (Newport) is having a celebration at their Eugene Public House (makers of the Track Town Ales line) to “congratulate Chris and John” tomorrow (Saturday the 3rd) starting at 4pm: “Homebrewer Chris Studach and Rogue Ales Brewmaster John Maier were honored with back-to-back Gold Medals for Hazelnut Brown Nectar Ale at the recent Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. We are throwing them a party on Saturday, November 3rd at 4:00pm – hope to see you there for food, beer, and fun.” That could be a lot of fun—hit the McKenzie Cider and Beer Fest up in Springfield earlier in the day, then head down to Rogue for the party!

Bull Ridge Brewpub (Baker City): I’m always looking forward to updates about this brewpub since they’re currently on a tiny (homebrew-sized!) system, and there is one today: “Lazy Day Wheat Ale now on TAP!!! Counting down the days until we get our 7 bbl system!! We have been waiting 8 months and can hardly wait any longer. We have been told delivery will be December 20th, give a week or two!!!!”  Just in time for Christmas!