Countdown to Christmas! Here’s the beer news for Oregon for Monday, December 19th. I’ll be updating the news throughout the day, if you have something to share feel free to contact me and I’ll post it.

Since we’re in the Christmas countdown—only six more days!—you may of course be looking for beery gifts to purchase to put under the tree of the beer people in your life. To that end, Bend Brewing (Bend) has posted a Holiday Gift Ideas album to Facebook, while Hopworks (Portland) notes that today is the last day to shop from their online store and receive the shipment(s) my Christmas. (I’ll post more shopping items as I see them.)

Speaking of Hopworks, Ezra over at the New School has posted the list of special releases Hopworks is offering this Christmas week: starting yesterday with Noggin Floggin Barleywine (of which I picked up a bottle here in Bend this weekend!), continuing tomorrow with an Imperial Stout release, and more later on in the week. Get over to Hopworks to take advantage of these specials!

Fort George Brewery (Astoria) has a Seafood and Belgian Ales Brewers Dinner this Wednesday, the 21st: five courses of delicious seafood dishes paired with Belgian ales (both from Fort George and from Belgium) plus an “intro” beer to start the evening. The cost is $65 per person (or 2 for $120 special); I don’t know if there are still seats available as the event isn’t showing up in their online store that I can see, but you can find out by calling the Pub directly at 503-325-7468.

Deschutes Brewery (Bend & Portland): Tomorrow (the 20th) is the release parties for Red Chair NWPA at both the Bend and Portland pubs. All day long at both locations you’ll be able to pick up bottles of Red Chair (which officially comes out in January) and swag, as well as enjoy pints of same and a special Red Chair-themed menu (different at each pub).

Breakside Brewery (Portland): They brewed a Dark Lager “in collaboration with the great restaurant Pok Pok. It goes great with spicy foods and at 4.8% ABV is a perfect winter session beer.” It’s on tap now and I’ll admit it—it does sound a bit tame compared to some of the other big and unusual beers Breakside brews. However, nothing beats a well-brewed, clean lager when it comes to brewing knowledge and quality control, so I’d expect nothing less here.

Speaking of unusual, Coalition Brewing (Portland) has a somewhat cryptic-sounding beer: “Did you say Pork Bao Beer? Yup, in the works for Chinese New Year.” Yes, that refers to Chinese barbecued pork… which implies a meat-based beer.

Happy hours, specials, and cheap pours:

• Migration Brewing (Portland) has $3 pints every Monday.
• Lompoc Brewing (Portland) features Miser Mondays at their “New Old” and Oaks Bottom locations, with $2.50 pints all day.
• Silver Moon Brewing (Bend): Monday is Locals Night, and they feature $2.50 pints all day long.
• Deschutes Brewery (Bend): The Bend pub features $3.50 pints from 4 to 11pm on Mondays.