It’s the first Friday of December, and there are plenty of things to this weekend! Here’s the roundup of the news and events in Oregon beer; I won’t be updating this throughout the day like usual as I’m heading for Portland to attend the Holiday Ale Festival and sign some books this weekend. Of course feel free to get in touch with any news or events coming up.

There are several ongoing events continuing through the weekend, including the Holiday Ale Fest, Bailey’s Taproom‘s Dark Days stout celebration, and Boneyard and Lardo’s pop up pub (13 Boneyard beers on tap!). All in Portland and all worth checking out.

And shameless plugs! I myself have two Bend Beer book signing events this weekend in Portland! On Saturday and Sunday, you’ll be able to find me with a bevy of other beer writers signing and selling our books for the holidays. These books makes excellent Christmas gifts and when they are signed and personalized even better! Come see me and the others at:

• Bazi Bierbrasserie on Saturday, December 3 from 5 to 7pm for Bazi’s Meet the Writers event. I’ll be on hand with Jeff Alworth, Pete Dunlop, Niki Ganong, and Steven Shomler, and Bazi is running a fantastic deal — buy a book and get an extra 10% off your tab!
• N.W.I.P.A. on Sunday, December 4 from 2 to 5pm for their Holiday Books and Beer event. I will be joining Niki, Jeff, Steven, and Pete again along with Brian Yaeger, Matt Wagner, Cole Gerst, and possibly more. Lots of great books to choose from!

There is of course plenty more going on!

Friday

Bend Brewing Company is hosting a release party for their latest, Sno’d In Winter Ale: “Partnering with our friends at SnoPlanks and Oregon Adaptive Sports, we bring you Sno’d In Winter Ale! Come support OAS at our release party with live music by Scribbled Rhymes starting at 7pm. The best part about Sno’d In? With every beer purchase we make a donation to Oregon Adaptive Sports! Sno’d In Winter Ale is a festive take on an English Old Ale that’s sure to give you shelter from the storm on those days when old man winter is howling outside. This beer has a medium malt body and a mildly spicy hop bitterness that is accentuated by subtle additions of cocoa, molases, and holiday spices. Stoke the fire, relax, and enjoy being Sno’d In. 6.5% ABV 30 IBUs” The party runs from 5:30 to 11pm.

Zoiglhaus Brewing (Portland) has what they are calling their Inaugural Zoigl-Wort for homebrewers, where they have made up special wort (pre-fermented beer syrup) that you can purchase if you brew beer: “Whether you are new to home brewing or an old hat at triple decoction, Zoiglhaus Brewing has something for you! Purchase specially-brewed Zoigl-wort at our brewery. Bring your own carboy or purchase one from us. We brew, you ferment, bottle or keg.” Such a cool idea! This will be available from 4 to 7pm.

Seven Brides Brewing in Silverton has a launch party for their latest beer, Long Last Kiss, a Belgian chocolate porter: “A dark malt body combine with Belgian chocolate and barrel-aged bourbon infused with Madagascar vanilla beans to make this an unforgettable experience. This porter was brewed in honor of those who spent years courageously living life as if each day might be their last.” From 6 to 10pm.

Coalition Brewing (Portland): They’ve brewed Oregon’s first commercial CBD-infused beer and it’s being release today at EastBurn:”Coalition Brewing is excited to announce the release of Oregon’s first commercially produced Hemp Beer infused with CBD (canabidiol). Our mission with this beer series is to showcase a true collaboration and the union of these “kissing cousins”, hops and cannabis. These two plants, in addition to their related genetics, produce similar organic aromatic compounds known as terpenes. This beer will contain NO THC (the psychoactive element found in marijuana), but will contain an active dose of Canabidiol, commonly known as CBD.” It’s being released as part of the opening kickoff to Weed Week.

Portland’s Migration Brewing is releasing their beer in bottles for the first time, and Friday, December 2 is the bottle release of their Frankie Stout: “Our Frankie Imperial Belgian Chocolate Stout makes its annual return! Holiday flavor to ring in the season: Smooth French chocolate layered with notes of banana, dried red fruit, and toasted almonds. Come on down and pick up your 750ml bottles, and get that special spot ready in your basement to add another gem to the collection!”

Saturday

Baerlic Brewing (Portland): Saturday all day they are hosting their WoodWorker Holiday Market: “The WoodWorker Holiday Market is a celebration of all things inspired, made and evolving from nature’s most honest material—wood. From furniture to housewares; chocolate to aged cheeses; jewelry to pizza; whiskey to beer, wood has inspired scores of artisan makers in and around Portland. This is a celebration of them and we hope you’ll join us this year. Every winter Baerlic Brewing Co. brews our Old Blood & Guts American Barleywine and stows it away in bourbon barrels long enough to create a symmetry and interconnectedness among the beer and wood itself. This working of the wood, the evolution of liquid and solid, is the foundation for our ongoing WoodWorker Beer Series and the inspiration for The WoodWorker Holiday Market.”

The Commons Brewery (Portland) is celebrating their 5th anniversary on Saturday! “Five years ago we opened our doors on SE 10th Ave hoping to make make well-crafted, approachable beers. What started as a humble, garage-based projected has evolved into our current brewery and tasting room on SE Belmont St. Come help us celebrate our “Wood” anniversary with Gin, Bourbon, Brandy, Wine and Nocino barrel aged beers. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.” Since I’ll be Portland perhaps I will swing by… Congrats on five outstanding years!

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene) is hosting their 2016 Sleigh’r Ball from 5 to 10pm, sure to be a great time: “We will be pouring three, yes THREE, limited flavors of our favorite Winter Ale, Sleigh’r! With beer, food, music, prizes and a toy drive, we’ve got something for everyone! 5:30-8:30pm, live music by Electric Funeral on the patio. Red Five Hotdog Company serves up Smoked Ninkasi IPA Beer Brats and Veggie Wieners. Donate NEW toys for children ages 1-18 at the Pediatric & Adolescent Unit at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center. We are only able to accept new items due to infection prevention.” Don’t forget to dress up as festive as possible!

Roseburg’s Two Shy Brewing is celebrating an anniversary, either 3rd or 4th depending on the title vs. the description of the event: “Two-Shy Brew Co. is celebrating their 3rd(?) anniversary with the Johnson Family Band!!! Party starts at 2! Music starts at 6! Raffle drawings all day at Two Shy starting at 3 pm. The bunstuffer will have a 2 dollar item and the first beer is 2 dollars 2+2= 3 year celebration!