Here’s the Oregon beer news for Thursday, December 17. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day, so check back often. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that posted as well.

Today is Deschutes Brewery‘s release day for The Abyss taking place at both of their pubs in Bend and Portland! All day long the Pubs are celebrating the release of the 2015 edition, with wax-dipped bottles for sale, special Abyss-themed menu items, and vintage flights of 5 years of The Abyss (2011 through 2015). Merry Abyssmas!

McMenamins Kennedy School (Portland) has a limited-edition beer tasting today starting at 5pm, featuring Yule Shoot Your Eye Out! “Hoppy Holidays beer drinkers! Citrus and Pine flavors abound in this holiday batch of Double IPA. The golden promise & specialty malts provide a solid base with a festive red color. The 24 pounds of hops help balance the sweetness and give it Christmas tree bouquet. Don’t miss out on this one for it only comes around once a year.”

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is hosting the release of Abraxas from Perennial Artisan Ales all day today: “We will have it on draught and in bottles, release begins when we open at 11am! In addition, we will tap Meriwether, a collaboration brew with The Commons in Portland; Hommelbier; and Jack Rose Braggot”

Full Sail Brewing (Hood River): Their December Brewmaster Dinner is tonight, featuring a theme of “Northwest Winter Bounty”; four courses paired with tasty beers including an Imperial Cherry Stout for dessert! “Our Brewmaster Dinners are held the second Thursday of each month (except for December which is the third Thursday) from October to April at our Brew Pub in Hood River. Chef Ryan Callaghan and Brewmaster Jim Kelter team up to create four delicious courses each paired with an award-winning Full Sail brew. All for just $40. Service starts at 5PM. There is limited seating. For reservations to the Brewmaster Dinners, please call our Brew Pub at (541) 386-2247.”

The Green Dragon (Portland): Tonight’s meet the brewer event is featuring Ben Engler of Occidental Brewing starting at 5pm: “Located at the base of the St. John’s Bridge in North Portland, Occidental Brewing is the kind of brewery that doesn’t see the need of clever names for its brews. They’ll let the beer speak for itself. Join us this Thursday as Brewer Ben Engler comes to the Green Dragon with four kegs of Occidental Brewing’s finest. Have a pint and then ask him about the rumors he was raised by a family of grizzly bears.”

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting a special beer tasting and meet the brewer tonight from 5 to 9pm, featuring three different beers but one special one in particular: Edgefield Extra One Year. “Four special Hogshead Whiskey barrels were filled with Edgefield Extra 2014 Barleywine last year, and those barrels have sat undisturbed ever since. This beer, already a formidable ale in its own right, has in that time matured in to a flavorful, complex behemoth and a true example of classic, barrel-aged English barleywine. This vintage of the Extra offers toffee, caramel, and warming alcohol character that has been rounded and accentuated by notes of raisin, vanilla, and oak from its year of aging.” The other two beers are Cerberus Noir (a dark Saison blend) and Apricot Wild Ale.