Here’s the Oregon beer news for Wednesday, December 19. As usual, I’ll be periodically updating this post throughout the day with the latest news as I find it, so check back often for the latest. If you have news to share, please contact me and I can get that updated as well.

Alameda Brewing (Portland): Tomorrow, Thursday the 20th, Alameda is holding their “Phat Santa Party” from 6 to 8pm. “Join us for an awesome night of Beer & Cheese indulgence! We’ll be serving beer & cheese flights, with special thanks to the official Cheese Monger, Steve Jones and his Cheese Bar on SE Belmont. You’ll be rolling out of here a Phat Santa for sure.”

McMenamins Cedar Hills (Beaverton) has a limited-edition beer tasting tonight starting at 4pm, featuring Gingerbread Porter: “If Mrs. Claus was a home brewer, this would be her signature recipe. At first glance, the Gingersnap is just another American-style porter. However at first taste you will realize it’s much more special than that. Ginger, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg make this beer remind you of your mother’s gingerbread cookies. Only this is way better. Because it’s beer!” Sounds seasonably delicious—but when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Belmont Station (Portland) has a special LOLA Celebration going on today from 5 to 8pm: “Portland’s Ladies of Lagers and Ales (LOLA) have been very busy brewing up beers with some of the city’s finest brewers and pubs. We are excited to host them and toast their Lompoc collaboration Bourbon Wee Heavy, Wee Lola, & a keg dubbed The Lolampoc Clan (because of the coming together of good beer and great beer geeks alike).” For more details check out their event page.

Solstice Brewing (Prineville) has more of their own beers on tap and on friday (the 21st, Winter Solstice of course) will be having specials all day: “Hey everyone! The Winter Solstice is on Friday and we will have beer specials all day! There will be live music with John Shipe at 7:30 pm. Our first 3 brews will be on tap: pale, stout, and our first release of the IPA!!! We will be looking towards longer days of sun, our first beers and our incredible community! So come on down and join us in getting prepared for the holiday season with some great food and even better pints of Solstice beer to treat your palates to an early gift! Cheers!!!” I’m looking forward to trying all 3 of these beers.

McMenamins has a new seasonal beer release coming out January 4th: Red Riser IRA (India Red Ale). Here’s their page about the beer: “To celebrate the late winter months, McMenamins brewers have handcrafted a delightful India Red Ale, a beer style that is characterized by a deep garnet hue, a rich, malty mouthfeel and the hop character of an IPA. Red Riser IRA is a perfect example of this hearty modern ale style and is the first in a new series of seasonal beers that McMenamins will be rolling out in 2013 as we expand, evolve and enhance our Seasonal Beer Program.” It will be 7.1% abv and 98 IBU, something interesting to look forward to.

Laurelwood Brewing (Portland) has a new limited beer release for the holidays: St. Wenceslas Winter Bock, which they are selling at the brewery in 1-liter bottles for $10 (a great deal!). The beer is 9% abv and sounds delicious, hopefully we’ll see some of those bottles make their way to Bend.

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is hosting Washington’s Hale’s Ales tonight from 7 to 9pm for a tasting: “Join us in welcoming Hale’s, one of the original staples in the NW craft beer scene to Eugene for a special event featuring 3 unique draft offerings including: 1. Supergoose IPA 2.Wee-Heavy 3.Barrel-aged Supergoose IPA. Kelsie will be here pouring samples and talking about Hale’s and all things regarding craft beer.”