Happy Hump Day! Here is the Oregon beer news for this Wednesday, November 8. 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 updated as well.

McMenamins Thompson Brewery (Salem) has their Savor in Salem beer tasting today from 5 to 7pm, featuring Lil’ Monster Pumpkin Ale: “It’s that time of year again when the leaves offer their brilliant art show and Pumpkin Ales invade the tap board! Lil’ Monster is a copper-hued ale with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg that don’t overwhelm the tasty pumpkin flavor. With the added smoothness of Flaked Barley and pouring from our Nitro tap, this creamy demon is a nice transitional beer to welcome the winter months. So raise a pint to the changing of the seasons!”

Portland’s Ecliptic Brewing has the returning release of their Callisto Blackcurrant Tripel today: “It’s back! Everyone’s favorite pink, tart and delicious beer will be returning next week. Callisto Blackcurrant Tripel will be available in the pub on draft and in 22oz bottles to-go starting November 8th at 11:00am. There will be a 3 bottle limit on bottles to-go. Callisto Blackcurrant Tripel is named after the outermost of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, and the most heavily cratered object in our solar system. This golden Belgian-style ale features traditional flavors of a sweet Tripel with the addition of tart blackcurrants. 7.5%”

The BeerMongers in Portland is hosting their tasting of Unfiltered Unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell tonight, from 4 to 7pm. This is a great chance to try a version of Urquell that you almost never see on draft!

Speaking of beers you never see on draft, The Bier Stein in Eugene is putting Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout on draft tonight from 5 to 8pm: “After more than 30 years, Samuel Smith’s is finally shipping their draught beer to the United States–one time only! The Bier Stein is proud to be one of the first places in Eugene to get a pint of the style-defining, brewer-inspiring classic ale. Grab a pint or two and a passport card– work your way through the Samuel Smith’s catalog (not all in one night!) and return the passport to be entered for a future drawing for a bar kit.”

StormBreaker Brewing (Portland) is releasing their 2017 barrel-aged Winter Coat today starting at 5pm: “Winter is almost here. That means it’s time for the this year’s Winter Coat! This year we added Dark Sweet Cherries and Wolfberries adding more complex layers to a beer that won gold at the U.s. Open Beer Championship And of course, we have been aging last year’s Winter Coat in Bull Run Distillery barrels for a full year. Try them both when we release them at the pub!”

Rogue Ales Eastside Pub in Portland is celebrating the 9th anniversary of the Green Dragon brew crew with their latest release, Descent into Darkness: “This week the Green Dragon Brew Crew is celebrating their Ninth Anniversary with a very special release from the cellar. Descent Into Darkness (2014) Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout (GD197). Built on the back of our beloved recipe for Russian Imperial Stout, a recipe that has won numerous competitions and is big, bold, clean and smooth. A multi-day collaboration between several Green Dragon brewers, this dark monster was aged in a Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey barrel for two months, then cellared for nearly four years. The full, rich flavor of five malts displays layers of chocolate and vanilla complemented with the subtle flavors of toasted oak and whiskey from the barrel.” Be there at 5pm for the anniversary tapping and toast!

Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland) is hosting the launch party for It Never Rains IPA today from 5 to 8pm: “Brewed in honor of the Blackberry and Marionberry bushes that line the stadium – It Never Rains IPA is a small batch beer brewed with the help of football Alumni Rob Beard, Morgan Flint, Jordan Kent, Max Forer and Jeff Maehl. Join us on Wednesday November 8th for the official tap night party starting at 5pm at the Widmer Brothers pub! Cheers to the Ducks and the great players who brewed a beer just for you – the fans!”

Portland’s Hawthorne Hophouse is hosting Hood River’s pFriem Family Brewers for a tap takeover and the release of their Winter Ale tonight from 5 to 8pm: “Pfriem is coming down and releasing their new winter ale at the Hawthorne Hophouse this evening. Come try some new beer and pick up some swag. Tasting flights will be available as well, flights of 7 unique beers made by our friends in Hood River.”