Today is Repeal Day, celebrating the passage of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution that repealed Prohibition (as was established by the 18th Amendment). If not for this the beer landscape would look very different right now and I probably wouldn’t be writing Oregon beer news! Happy Repeal Day, and here’s thew news for Wednesday the 5th. As usual I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. And if you have any news to share, please contact me and I can get the updated.

Pfriem Family Brewers (Hood River) has a new beer being released today: Belgian Pale Ale, hitting the taps at their brewery at 5:30pm. “Crisp, Lime, Super Sessionable at 4.9% 20 IBU’s, we’ll be pairing it up with a FREE chicken wing braised in the Pale, sweet chili sauce, ginger and a spicy honey mustard sauce.” It might be a bit unconventional to release a light sessionable beer during the holiday season but it sure sounds tasty.

Amnesia Brewing (Portland) is celebrating their annual Amnesia Winter Ale Fest, a low-key fun event that runs from noon until 10pm this Saturday at the brewery. They’ll be featuring at least three of their own beers (doubled up with some special vintaged versions as well) and eight guest beers. $20 gets you in the door and you’ll get the 2012 mug, 10 tasting tickets, an Amnesia sticker and a coupon for a free pint at their new Washougal (Washington) location. This should be a fun event (particularly if you’re still jonesing for winter beers after the Holiday Ale Fest last weekend), try to check it out if you’re in Portland.

Belmont Station (Portland) has a tasting with Seattle’s Elysian Brewing today from 5 to 7:30pm, highlighting the latest in the brewery’s Manic IPA series. “The Seattle brewery we all know and love is unstoppable. They crank out more one-offs, seasonals, and specialty beer than anyone but the true loyalists can keep up with. Come and sample their bottle line up this night and stay a while with a seasonal Valhalla Red IPA on draft in the Biercafé.”

Double Mountain Brewery (Hood River) is landing in Eugene this week, bringing their bottled beers with them, and tonight they’re visiting The Bier Stein tonight from 7 to 9pm for a tasting and bottle release. “Double Mountain bottles are finally hitting the Eugene shelves the 1st week of December! David from Double Mountain will be here pouring samples of all 5: Kolsch, IRA, Hop Lava IPA, Vaporizer and Fa La La! We will also have a couple small batch beers on draft and David will be raffling off some cool prizes! Event runs 7-9pm!”

Sky High Brewing (Corvallis): Tonight is the release of their new Mountainous Stout and the party is in their Tap Room. “LAURENCE will be here to TALK BEER, ANGELA will sign her MS posters for those who want one, SWAG – growlers, t-shirts and a gift certificate – will fly. COME ON IN FOR A PINT!!!! 4:30-6PM”

Vertigo Brewing (Hillsboro): Big congrats to Vertigo on this news: “BIG NEWS! Vertigo Brewing was voted “2012 Best Nano Brewery of Oregon” in the Reader’s Choice Awards of Northwest Brewing News! We are so honored and humbled by this award. Thank You to all of our customers, friends and family that have made our dream possible!” Very cool, and impressive considering the large number of “nano” breweries we have in this state. Keep up the good work!

McMenamins Thompson Brewery & Public House (Salem) has a special holiday beer tasting flight (“A Snowball’s Chance in Ale”) this Friday, and one of the beers on the lineup is listed as a “holiday surprise.” Well the Thompson House published the secret on Facebook today, and it’s a killer! “Ichiban Biiru ~ “First Beer” ~The Sake Yeast fermented Ale is done! She’s rather interesting in flavor. Slight notes of Belgian style brews, soft back of malts and a hint of Cascade hops. She is fresh out of tank as of yesterday and will have a few days to sit before Friday’s release.” This sounds amazingly interesting, and I’m super intrigued by the use of sake yeast to ferment and ale; this is a beer I’d definitely love to try!

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland): Today at both brewpubs, starting at 5pm: Kentucky Christmas. One you won’t want to miss; it’s their Abominable Winter Ale aged for months in Kentucky bourbon barrels—very boozy, very vanilla-and-bourbon-y, and very tasty.