Happy St. Nicholas Day! This Friday is shaping up to be a chill, snowy one in Oregon (there’s even snow on the coast!) so be sure to stay warm. Here’s the news in Oregon beer for Friday, December 6, and the weekend. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

The Holiday Ale Festival continues in Portland this weekend downtown at Pioneer Courthouse Square, and on Sunday there is also an exclusive Sunday Beer Brunch from 11am to 1pm that still has tickets available for $65.

Three Creeks Brewing (Sisters): Tomorrow, Saturday the 7th, is their 3rd annual Rudolph’s Imperial Red Vertical Tasting taking place at 3pm. Featuring a barrel-aged version of 2010, as well as 2011, 2012 and 2013 editions, the tasting costs $25 and will also offer up appetizers to accompany the beers, each year paired with a specific dish. Call (541) 549-1963 for details and to sign up.

De Garde Brewing (Tillamook): Tomorrow is their first holiday celebration and release party for a slew of new beers being released in bottles and on draft: “We are hosting our newest series of bottle and draft releases in celebration of the holiday season on Saturday, December 7th from 12pm to 6pm. We will be offering FIVE different limited edition bottlings, in quantities ranging from 150 to 420 total bottles. We will limit purchases at the start, but will remove limits after 2pm IF there are any bottles remaining.” They’ve posted an impressive list of bottles for sale including a Lambic-inspired spontaneously-fermented ale.

Santiam Brewing (Salem) has a big beer release of their own tomorrow (Saturday) at both of their Salem locations: “Join us at either Santiam Brewing location this Saturday for the long awaited release of our Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout 8.9% 57 IBU. A thick, rich stout aged in 25 year old Elijah Craig Bourbon barrels.”

Pints Brewing (Portland): The New School has a story on Pints’ celebration of St. Nikolaus Day today, and there’s still time to get in: “By tapping their new winter ale “Nikolaus” on St. Nikolaus Day December 6th which is the holiday tradition that Christmas is derived from. Starting at 11:30 am Friday 12/6 PINTS will be serving the new holday ale in a glass boot! with a FREE slice of Gingerbread (on 12/6 only).”

Pelican Pub & Brewery (Pacific City): Tomorrow is their Mother’s Day! That’s the day they release their Mother of All Storms Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels and an insane 14% abv. “Mother’s Day is tomorrow! And we’ll have Vertical Tastings! This year’s line up: Stormwatcher’s Winterfest 2011, 2012 & 2013. Mother of All Storms 2011, 2012 & 2013. For a limited time, while supplies last.” I can’t believe Mother’s Day snuck up on me this time around—this is one of those release events I’d love to attend someday. If you can make it over to Pacific City tomorrow—do so!