Happy weekend! We’re just over one week away from Christmas so I hope you’ve been getting ready. Here’s the news for the weekend of the 16th, broken down by day. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news, so check back often. And if you have news to share, please let me know and I can get that updated as well.

Friday:

Deschutes Brewery (Bend): Today is the release day celebration for The Abyss! The 11th version of Deschutes’ uber-popular Imperial Stout returns, and in addition the regular version, this year the Brewery also aged a version 100% in Scotch barrels, and one 100% in Brandy barrels. Both the Bend Pub and Portland Pub will be celebrating the release all day long, with sampler trays of vintage years and special Abyss-themed food menus. (Portland is doing brunch from 9 to 3.) Bottles of all three of this year’s versions will be on sale too, of course. Merry Abyssmas!

McMenamins Bagdad Pub (Portland) has their Feature Before the Film beer tasting today from 5 to 8pm, featuring the Edgefield Brewery’s Lord Snow Imperial Stout, their mint-infused beer: “As black as a crow, this strong, dark beer was brewed with fresh and dried spearmint and peppermint candies to provide a hint of the chill of winter, but its massive, thick body and warming strength help to ward that chill off. A huge supporting cast of dark malts, including a hundred and fifty pounds of Rolled Oats to add a smooth mouthfeel, provide a great depth and complexity of flavor accentuated by the herbal, faintly sweet undertones of spearmint. Grab a pint and bundle up. Winter is coming…”

The BeerMongers (Portland) is hosting a Fremont Fun Night with Seattle’s Fremont Brewing tonight from 5 to 8pm: “There are A LOT of delicious barrel aged beers and we’ll be pouring some of them.” Taplist includes “S’mores” Bonfire Ale, Mexican Hot Chocolate Winter Ale, 2016 Rusty Nail, 2016 Dark Star, and 2015 and 2016 versions of Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb.

Bend’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery is hosting an ugly sweater party (those are going around) tonight from 5 to 8pm: “Grab your ugly sweater and join Family Resource Center at Craft Kitchen and Brewery on December 16th from 5-8 p.m. for live music, delicious Craft Kitchen and Brewery libations, raffles and a visit from Santa himself!”

Barley Brown’s (Baker City) is hosting their annual Wax & Beer beer fundraiser tonight from 6 to 10pm at their downtown pub: “Barley Brown’s Beer presents our 3rd annual WAX & BEER in support of the Anthony Lakes Ski Patrol. $20 gets you a fresh wax and a FREE pint of Barley’s beer. Enjoy your beer in the tap house listening to live music by “Bag of Hammers” or outside by the fire pits while the pros take care of your gear. Music starts at 7pm. Cheers!”

Fort George Brewery (Astoria): Tonight they are hosting an “Olde English Christmas in Astoria” Brewer’s Dinner from 6 to 9pm at their Lovell Showroom: “Head Chef Jeff Graham and Fort George Brewery invite you to an Olde English Christmas on the coast. Pairing five courses of epic cuisine with special beverages from Fort George and others – Brewer’s Dinners offer an intimate gathering that educates and satiates the senses.” You can get tickets online here, or call the pub at 503-325-PINT.

Lompoc Brewing (Portland): Their 20th anniversary Zwanzig Fest wraps up today, at the Oaks Bottom Public House. At 4pm they will be tapping the special Zwanzig anniversary Marzen, and beer specials of: “Belgian Night Taster Tray featuring 2007 Brewdolph, Just Once Think Twice…Belgian Tripel, Brewdolph’s Revenge & Cherry Christmas (taster trays are $12)”

Eugene’s Claim 52 Brewing has a busy day today, co-hosting a collaboration beer release they brewed with Great Notion Brewing at their Eugene pub from 4 to 8pm: “Crowler Release of Super Humongous- Triple IPA brewed with our friends at Great Notion Brewing. This dangerously drinkable triple IPA is 11.5% and generously hopped with Motueka, Mosaic & Simcoe. #100 crowlers available. #2 per person. $16 each.”

And then Claim 52 is also going to be at The Growler Guys Eugene from 6 to 8pm for a beer tasting, through their lineup of brews.

Silver Moon Brewing (Bend) will be at the Bend West Growler Guys for a winter beer tasting from 5 to 8pm: “Stop by Friday and get ready for the weekend with Silver Moon Brewing! They will be sampling the following beers: Elf Brew, Get Sum, Maui Wowie, Demolition Man, and IPA 97.”

Beer Valley Brewing (Ontario): I don’t see enough news from the far east of the state! Beer Valley is doing a tap takeover tonight in Ontario: “Come join brewer Pete Ricks from Beer Valley Brewing at the Red Apple Marketplace in Ontario on Friday, December 16th, from 3-7 pm for a Beer Valley Tap Takeover. We will have the World Champion Black Flag Imperial Stout – 2016 Fresh Hop edition on tap as well as 2016 Fresh Hop Leafer Madness, Owyhee Amber, Pigskin Pale Ale, Dark Dawg Porter, Beer Valley Red, Mother Chukar Cream Ale, and our 2016 winter seasonal, The Gingersnapper Gingerbread Stout. We will be raffling items off at 4, 5, 6 and 7 pm. See you there.”

Klamath Basin Brewing (Klamath Falls): They are hosting a 15th Anniversary Stout tapping today at Bottles in Portland from 5 to 8pm: “Please join Klamath Basin Brewing at Bottles for a special tapping of our 15th Anniversary Stout, an Oak-Aged Imperial Stout!!! We will also be sampling some of our other brews throughout the evening! Special glassware and swag will be available to early arriving peeps!” Yes, founded in 2001, KBB is 15 years old!

Saturday:

Imperial Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting a Christmas cookie pairing event featuring Deschutes Brewery barrel-aged brews on Saturday starting at 3pm: “This year’s annual Christmas cookie pairing is with some special barrel-aged beers from Deschutes Brewery, including a new pub-only reserve beer they’re releasing to us for this special holiday event!!! The pairings include a 4 oz pour of beer and a cookie.” Hit the event page to see the pairings.

Culmination Brewing (Portland): They are releasing their Kriek Mythology on Saturday at their brewery: “This is a beer style that we continue to make yearly, and a beer that is dear to the hearts of our brewers. This years release will be on tap and in a very LIMITED amount of 750ml bottles. Kriek Mythology is reminiscent of pie cherries, aromas and flavors of baking spices, and has a finish with a refreshing bright acidity. The bottles available are lightly carbed featuring more depth of body, and the A.B.V. of this beer registers at 7.5%. There will be a limit of 1 bottle per person and there will be a few more future releases of this beer.” And, McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop will also be releasing the Kriek in bottles from 6 to 8pm.

Plank Town Brewing (Springfield): From noon to 9pm Plank Town is hosting their From the Woods Fest featuring wood-aged beers: “The wonderful flavors that we appreciate from barrels are showcased on Saturday, December, 17th at Plank Town’s annual ‘From the Woods’ Festival. Enjoy rare barrel-aged brews from guest and in-house creations on tap, nitro, and cask. We’ll start pouring these brews at NOON on Saturday, until 9PM. Entry is $10 which includes a specialty glass, 3 drink tickets, and discount on food (which can also be used at a later time).” This is definitely one to check out!

Gresham’s The Hoppy Brewer is holding a “Winter’s Welcome FestivALE” event from 3 to 10pm: “Time to celebrate the beginning of Winter with live music featuring the Jonathan Smith Trio and Plutons Organ Trio as well as an incredible draft selection offering the finest in Winter Warmers.”

Hopworks Urban Brewery (Portland) is releasing bottles of their HUB Brewer’s Whiskey on Saturday from 11am to 3pm: “We’re releasing 100 bottles of our HUB Brewer’s Whiskey on Dec. 17th from 11am – 3pm! Until now, our whiskey has only been available by the glass at our pubs. 100 bottles are going to go fast so make sure to come in early. You’ll have the opportunity to buy two bottles per person at $40/bottle. New Deal Distillery, who worked closely with us on the whiskey, will also have a variety of their bottles for sale We’ll also have special packages for sale that include HUB whiskey glassware, and holiday gift card deals. If you’re looking for some unique holiday gifts, we definitely have some fun offerings for you.”

Sunday:

Breakside Brewery (Portland): They are celebrating “A Very Clackamas Xmas” at their Milwaukie taproom from 5 to 8pm: “Please join us Sunday, at Breakside Brewery Milwaukie for holiday beer, cheer, local vendors & ugly sweaters! Cold beer will be on tap & you can pick up last minute gifts from: Breakside, Portland Cider Co., Smashed- Boozie Jams, Chris Haberman art, Fuller Foods, Carly’s Crumpets & Curds, Alena Botanica, Sans Johnny Gifts, Wood Grain Crafts, chair massage from Revive & more! White elephant gift exchange at 6:45pm (bring something weird/cool/regifted under $10 to participate). Ugly sweater contest winners announced at 7:45 (last call). Canned food drive raffle- Bring a can of food for a raffle ticket to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. (8 tix max)”