Happy Hump Day! It’s bitterly cold here in Bend (7° F at my house in Bend this morning!) which puts one in the mind for strong, warming beers—and if you’re in Portland, you’re in luck (see below). Here’s the news for Wednesday, the 4th of December. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often for updates. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Portland’s Holiday Ale Festival starts today at 11am! This is one of the biggest winter beer fests around, and second only to the Oregon Brewfest for premiere Oregon beer festivals. It takes place downtown Portland in Pioneer Courthouse Square, and will cost $30 at the door for the souvenir mug and 10 tickets (though re-entry throughout the weekend is free if you still have the wristband and mug), and additional tickets cost $1 each (fest standard). The beer list is amazing—both the “standard” and the limited—and for a good “user’s guide” and commentary on the beers I’ll point to Jeff’s post for required reading. Make sure not to miss out!

Belmont Station (Portland): Today from 5 to 8pm they are hosting a tasting with California’s Anderson Valley Brewing: “One of our perennial favorites, Anderson Valley, will be sampling some of their bottled beers in the bottle shop. We also will have at least one specialty Anderson Valley keg on tap in the bier cafe at the same time. We will be tasting in the bottle shop: Winter Solstice, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, Hop Ottin’ IPA and Brother David’s Triple.”

Ecliptic Brewing (Portland): Their new winter beer is now on tap: Filament Winter IPA. Stop in and try this winter ale from one of Oregon’s newest breweries.

Falling Sky Brewing (Eugene): They have a new beer being released to help benefit Brewpublic blogger Angelo de Ieso: Cerebral Cascadian Dark Lager. “Brewed specifically for Angelo M De Ieso II, one of our favorite managers and everyone’s favorite blogger behind Brewpublic. We will be donating 1/2 the sales from every pint served, and 100% of kegs sold to outside accounts. Featuring Simcoe, Mosaic, Calypso, and German Hallertau Mittelfruh hops.” Try to seek this out and drink as much of it as you can!

Sky High Brewing (Corvallis): Tonight they are holding the release party for this year’s edition of their Imperial Stout from 4 to 6pm: “Who’s ready for our 2013 Russian Imperial Stout and first round of Old Dude Barleywine??? WE ARE!!! 4:00-6:00 upstairs tonight.” The Barleywine is a bonus, of course!