Here’s the news in Oregon beer for this week of August 7 through 13—time for another summer week off so I won’t be updating the daily news posts throughout the week. As always still feel free to contact me if you have any beer news to share. (I will be updating this list throughout the day (Monday the 7th) while I’m online.)

There are a number of beer fests this week but the big one is the 15th annual Bend Brewfest taking place from Thursday the 10th through Saturday the 12th! It was moved up a week this year to avoid the craziness of the total solar eclipse, and they’ve brought in some 86 breweries and cideries to pour over 200 different beers and ciders over the three days. Don’t forget to check out the X-Tap as well, pouring rare, specialty beers at various time (schedule here). Admission is free, and you get a mug and tasting package for $20 (with additional tasting tokens $1 each). Be there for Bend’s big one!

The Coast is also the place to be this weekend, with both Rogue and McMenamins hosting fests. First up, Rogue’s Dog Days of Summer Oregon Coast Beer Fest takes place Friday and Saturday, the 11th and 12th, and their main Brewery on the Bay location in Newport: “Dog Days of Summer is the new incarnation of what was once known as Brewer’s Memorial Festival. We’re keeping the best parts (dogs, beer and live music) and making a few other changes. This year, we’ll be inviting Oregon Coast breweries to join us with their own brew selections. All ages are welcome to join us. $5 admission at the door (kids free). Proceeds will be donated to Oregon Animal Charities. Free bounce obstacle course for the kiddos!”

McMenamins 22nd annual Lighthouse Brewfest takes place on Saturday the 12th at the Lighthouse Brewpub in Lincoln City: “At this summertime, near-the-beach, bring-your-sunblock brewfest, each McMenamins brewery creates its own distinct craft beer style while the Lighthouse serves up food and drink specials and brewery tours all day long. We’ll feature 10 McMenamins Breweries and 10 guest breweries, and will showcase the festive “Tiny Brewer Art” crafted for the occasion by brewers to represent their unique beers.” There’s more about the Tiny Brewer Art here: “Each participating brewery is also asked to submit a tiny image to represent their particular brew. This collection of “Tiny Brewer Art,” always amusing if not befuddling, is displayed in the festival booklet provided to patrons, along with descriptions of the beers.”

Also on Saturday, in Oakridge, the 9th annual Oakridge Keg and Cask Festival is taking place on 1st Street right out in front of Brewers Union Local 180—of course! “This event will start kicking things off at 3 p.m. and rockin’ until 11:30 p.m. on East 1st Street between Oak and Alder in Oakridge’s Uptown District. With the breathtaking Willamette Forest as a backdrop, the event will be showcased by an exceptional assortment of MICROBREWED BEERS and REGIONAL WINES being served. Our beer guru, Ben Beamer, visits breweries from Northern California to Washington, acquiring little-known specialty beers to satisfy even the most snobbish of beer drinkers. These will be beers that you won’t find in your local retail establishments! ENTRANCE TO THE FESTIVAL IS FREE. If you are looking to do some tasting of the beers and wines, $20 gets festival attendees a souvenir logo glass for taking to the tasting booths AND FOUR TASTING TICKETS for initial tastes. Additional tasting tickets may be purchased any time during the event for $1 each.”

Here are other events and happenings for this week:

Monday, 8/7

All McMenamins locations have $8 growler fills ($10 for high gravity beers) all day long.

Deschutes Brewery is kicking off a week-long celebration of the return of their Hopzeit Autumn IPA at both the Bend Pub and the Portland Pub. Hopzeit is on tap, there will be daily food pairing specials, and (at the Portland Pub at least) you can enter for a chance to win a prize basket.

Tuesday, 8/8

Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene): Their Pints For A Cause fundraiser supports Cascadia Wildlands: “Join us at the Tasting Room for Pints for a Cause! From noon to 10pm, $1 from each pint sold in the Tasting Room will go to Cascadia Wildlands.”

Belmont Station (Portland) is hosting Ordnance Brewing for a beer tasting from 5 to 8pm: “Join Ordance’s Will Minderhout for a tasting among a nice selection Ordnance’s beers! Watch this space for updates on what he will be sampling.”

Deschutes Brewery: Tuesdays are Community Pints days at Deschutes’ Bend and Portland Pubs, where $1 of every pint sold goes to benefit a local non-profit organization for the entire month. In Bend, the beneficiary is Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades; in Portland, they are benefiting Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project. Be sure to stop in and help out with a pint or three!

Plank Town Brewing (Springfield): On Tuesday they are benefiting Habitat for Humanity with Drink and Dine for a cause: “Drink and Dine for a Great Cause! Tuesday, August 8, Plank Town Brewing is generously donating a portion of the evening’s proceeds to Springfield/Eugene Habitat for Humanity! Enjoy Plank Town’s excellent beer and food while supporting Habitat’s mission of providing strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.” Be down there from 5 to 9pm to help out!

Wednesday, 8/9

Belmont Station is hosting Bend’s RiverBend Brewing for a tasting from 5 to 8pm: “Bend, Oregon’s Riverbend Brewing will be in-house providing samples of a nice array of their beers.”

10 Barrel Brewing (Bend): Their annual Beer Wars IPA Fest showdown event returns on Wednesday, the 9th, at their east side brewery and (new) pub starting at 4pm: “Come and taste 30 different IPA’s from across the West. This year we’ve invited a mix of breweries including some of your local faves and regional leaders. Find out which brewery will be crowned the winner! Entry is FREE! All Ages are welcome – 21+ to drink. Purchase a tasting glass for $5 and tasting tokens for $1 each. Each token gets you a 4oz taste. Blind tasting and IPA voting: 4pm to 7pm. Proceeds from the event to benefit Central Oregon Veterans Outreach.”

Rogue’s Eastside Pub in Portland has their Green Dragon Brew Crew release, featuring Pineapple Jaggery IPA: “A favorite for this hot weather, the Pineapple Jaggery IPA brings waves of tropical flavors in a fresh IPA wrapper. Made with a generous portion of palm sugar (Jaggery) and a fresh, sliced and grilled pineapple this IPA was hopped with Citra and Merridian hops. A little residual sweetness from the pineapple is a perfect complement to the full body of the jaggery sugar.” It taps at 5pm.

Thursday, 8/10

The Bier Stein (Eugene) is welcoming Gigantic Brewing for the release of Ginormous Imperial IPA MK2 on Thursday, from 4:30 to 6pm: “Portland’s Gigantic Brewing Company is rolling out a rotating series of their Ginormous Imperial IPA using various varieties of our favorite brewing herb. Come on down and see what hops out of your glass… it’s going to be…. Gigantic!”

McMenamins Edgefield (Troutdale) has their Meet the Makers beer release and tasting on Thursday, featuring Miami Weisse – Pineapple Berliner Weisse. No description posted but that sounds like one to try! It runs from 5 to 8pm.

Sparky’s Brewing (Salem) is hosting RiverBend Brewing for a tap takeover starting at 6pm: “RiverBend Brewing will be here with beers and swag! Come celebrate with us with one of the last takeovers of summer! Starts at 6pm, drinks and food served all night long!”

Friday, 8/11

The Bier Stein is hosting Corvallis’ Mazama Brewing for the release of the collaboration beer they brewed together, Lunar Lager: “On July 12th, we set our controls for the heart of the sun! We put our heads together with Mazama Brewing and came up with an India Pale Lager recipe that is sure to lighten up your day. Using German pilsner malt and some Mecca Grade Estate Malt for character, we dosed the wort with Citra and Amarillo, and whirlpool and dry-hopped with a hefty punch of Idaho 7 hops to make the beer shine. We hope you’ll join us for the release of 8.21 Lunar Lager in 500ml bottles and on tap on Friday, August 11th– the future of this beer’s so bright, you gotta wear shades!” The release party starts at 5pm.

Ninkasi Brewing is hosting a Kegs for the McKenzie Celebration starting at 5pm Friday: “Join us as we celebrate McKenzie River Trust and their efforts to raise $6 million dollars for the McKenzie Homewaters Campaign. MRT will be there talking about the campaign and why you should donate! Ninkasi Brewing is presenting McKenzie River Trust with $50,000 for the McKenzie Homewaters Campaign from our Kegs for the McKenzie program! The event starts at 5 pm and the check presentation is at 6 pm. The first 25 people to donate to MRT that evening will receive a customized hat! Pick a hat and patch – get it pressed on the spot.”

Saturday, 8/12

McMenamins 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop (Portland) is hosting Drinking Horse Brewing from Clackamas for a tasting of their Barrel-Aged Apricot Blonde from 2 to 4pm: “Drinking Horse Brewing will be in the house pouring samples of their Barrel-Aged Apricot Blonde Ale, aged eight months in French Oak Petit Pinot barrels with apricots and Trappist yeast. Don’t miss this limited specialty!”