Here we are at the last day of the month—which means only 25 days until Christmas! While you’re digesting that bit of news, here’s the beer news for November 30 (Wednesday). 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.

Today is the start of the Holiday Ale Festival in Portland, five days of specialty winter beers pouring in Pioneer Courthouse Square downtown. It opens up at 11am each day through Sunday, is 21-and-over only, and costs $35 for entry which gets you the commemorative glass and 12 tasting tickets. On subsequent days if you still have your wristband you get free re-entry. Check out the terrific beer list and plan your time accordingly.

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (Hillsboro) has their Fall Invitational beer tasting today, featuring a winter warmer-themed beer named Philosopher’s Stone: “Legend has it that a great alchemist, or philosopher, once turned lead (or maybe dirt) into gold using a magic crystal. This crystal became known as the Philosopher’s Stone. Many quests were launched to acquire this stone, but it was never recovered. Over the years, the phrase “Philosopher’s Stone” came to mean ‘that which is pursued but never obtained’ or ‘unobtainable perfection’. This particular Philosopher’s Stone is an English Strong Ale, brewed to emulate the beers of the Dark Ages.”

Bend’s Boneyard Beer is teaming up with Portland’s Lardo Sandwiches for a week-plus-long pop-up pub at both Lardo locations starting today (Wednesday the 30th) and running through December 10. They will have 13 Boneyard beers on tap, special edition merchandise, and will be holding raffle nights—the first at Lardo East tonight, the next one on December 1 (tomorrow) at Lardo West. Portland, this is a great chance to sample through many beers in Boneyard’s oeuvre!

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Base Camp Brewing for a tasting today from 5 to 7pm: “Join Dustin from Base Camp for a tasting of their new 4 Barrel-Aged Imperial Saison (brewed for their 4th anniversary), plus S’more Stout, Trailside ESB and Celestial Cascadian Dark Lager.”

Portland’s Bailey’s Taproom has their Dark Days Week of Barrel-Aged Stouts continuing today, with Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout being the featured beer(s) at the Upper Lip. They will be pouring 2016 BCBS, 2015 Vanilla Rye, Juliet, Goose Island Hombre Secreto Tropico, and more.

The Green Dragon (Portland): Tonight’s Green Dragon Brew Crew release at 5pm is RyePA: “Pale 2-row, Rye, Caramel Wheat and Vienna malts provide the foundation for this one of kind beer. Locally grown, hand-picked Columbus and Chinook hops present a gently dank and piney aroma that yields just enough to allow the spicy rye character to linger in the background. Brilliant clarity and striking polished-copper tone hint at the brewery fresh flavors of rich spicy malt and northwest hops you’re about to enjoy. Cheers!”

PFriem Family Brewers (Hood River) has a new beer on tap today: “We like to keep it interesting here at pFriem and that’s why we took a new American approach to brewing a Pale Ale by adding mango puree! Introducing, our pFriem Mango Pale – a radiant body of toasted tangerine color fills the glass, bursting with a magnificent bouquet of mango, pineapple, white wine, pear, peach, and strawberry. The effervescence gives way to a lovely, light lingering bitterness offering up just enough zing! 5.5%, 15 IBU’s”

Block 15 Brewery (Corvallis) has a new holiday beer coming out this week: “Hoppy Holidays IIPA, brewed with a sleigh-full of resinous and citrus-forward hops, sweet orange peel, and locally-foraged spruce and Douglas fir tips. Its warming malt backbone and pungent blend of citrus and spice evokes holidays past, like opening a gift box of citrus under a holiday tree! On tap at both Block 15 locations on Friday, and available in 16oz cans at Block 15 Brewery & Tap Room starting Saturday at 11:30am.”